Executive Search Firms' Consideration of Person-Organization Fit

Largely what is known about P-O Fit stems from research conducted in business organizations. Surprisingly with such an important position as a college or university president, P-0 Fit has not been empirically studied in the presidential selection process, much less from the perspective of the executive search firms that conduct these searches.This qualitative case study sought to determine to what extent executive search firms that specialize in presidential searches in higher education considered and used the concept and characteristics of P-O Fit, which included the components of organizational culture in the selection process of public and private college and university presidents. This study uncovered three essential findings in the executive search firm process: shifting role boundaries, traditional role expectations and limitations due to tradition.