What is this thing called fit in Chinese? Scoping and systematic reviews of Chinese language studies of Person–Organization fit

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore how person–organization (PO) fit has been represented in studies conducted in mainland China and Taiwan and published in English-language journals, and how it has been translated, operationalized and developed within mainland Chinese-language scholarship. Design/methodology/approach This paper adopted narrative, scoping and systematic review methodologies to examine studies of PO fit conducted in mainland China and Taiwan and published in English-language journals and Chinese-language PO fit scholarship published within the mainland Chinese academic literature. Findings We found that Western definitions and measurement practices dominate both studies of PO fit conducted in mainland China and Taiwan and published in English-language journals and mainland Chinese-language studies of PO fit. These studies commonly rely on translated instruments that operationalize PO fit as perceived value alignment. At the same time, there are emerging efforts to contextualize and reinterpret the construct through relational, cultural and philosophical frameworks that emphasize harmony, role propriety and collective obligations. These contrasting patterns reveal that PO fit travels effectively as a measurement and modeling template but only partially as a cultural idea. By integrating evidence across linguistic outlets, we identify multiple pathways through which PO fit becomes localized and highlight opportunities for developing more culturally grounded conceptualizations and measures that capture forms of alignment salient in Chinese organizational life. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first review to integrate studies of PO fit conducted in mainland China and Taiwan and published in English-language journals with mainland Chinese-language scholarship on PO fit.