Table 1.

Definitional components and exemplifying relations of work values to nomological network.

Definitional component	Nomological network
Individuals perceive their “own values as inherently desirable, worthy and good.” Thus, work values reflect what is perceived as important to people at work. Individuals want to act in ways that allow them to promote their work values and attain the underlying goals.	Conceptualization of eudaimonic wellbeing (Bojanowska et al., 2022; Waterman et al., 2008) and value-based behavior to enhance wellbeing (Sheldon and Krieger, 2014) Conceptualization of meaning of work (England, 1967; Lysova et al., 2019; Rosso et al., 2010; Shea-Van Fossen and Vredenburgh, 2014)
Due to the social desirability of work values, they can be utilized to work toward a common goal with others.	Social identity theory (Tajfel and Turner, 1979) Organizational identification (Weisman et al., 2023), person-organization fit (Kristof-Brown et al., 2023; Van Vianen, 2018) and identity leadership (Haslam et al., 2022)
Work values are hierarchically ordered. Thus, the extent to which specific work values motivate actions depends on the subjective work value hierarchy and relative importance.	Value-based interventions and potentially even voluntary value change through changing the hierarchy of important beliefs (Russo et al., 2022)
Work values as cognitive representations of basic motivations and broad goals are more easily accessible for individuals and can be used to reflect and communicate about them, and consciously direct behaviors in specific situations.	Self-affirmation theory (Rader et al., 2024; Sherman and Cohen, 2006): Conscious access to work values enables individuals to secure mental resources and cope with stressful situations at work when reflecting on their important guiding principles (Russo-Netzer and Atad, 2024).
Personal work values form a sense-making system which is used as standards to evaluate and justify choices of oneself and others.	Explaining intergroup and intragroup conflict, when team behaviors oppose individuals work values (Krueger et al., 2022).