Why group size makes a difference for leader–member exchange quality

2020 ◽  
Vol 48 (12) ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Hu Li ◽  
Shiqi Huang ◽  
Li Liu

Previous studies have shown the positive effect of high-quality leader–member exchange (LMX) on members' task performance, but further research is needed to establish if this effect varies according to boundary conditions. In this study we examined the effect of group size on the LMX process by constructing a framework integrating social exchange and social comparison theories. We predicted that decreasing group size would enhance the relationship between LMX and members' task performance. Specifically, we anticipated that the positive relationship between LMX and task performance would be strongest for members working in small groups with high LMX differentiation. By analyzing data collected from 368 supervisor–subordinate dyads employed at 39 bank branches in southeast China, we found that the positive relationship between LMX and task performance was stronger for employees working in smaller groups than for those working in large groups. However, the three-way interaction term was not significant. The findings enhance understanding of the role played by group structure factors in the process of how LMX influences members' task performance.

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaoli Che ◽  
Zhecheng Guo ◽  
Qinyuan Chen

Aiming to reduce the difficulty of managing and motivating knowledge workers (k-workers), and promote the psychological well-being of them in Chinese hospitals, this study examines how k-workers’ leader–member exchange (LMX) influences their task performance and the mediation effect of organizational citizenship behavior (OCB). Through a self-administered survey, valid questionnaires were collected from 384 k-workers in Chinese hospitals, and partial least squares structural equation modeling was employed for data analysis. The findings show that LMX is positively related to OCB and task performance, and that OCB mediates the relationship between LMX and task performance. This research has theoretical implications and also provides practical suggestions on how to manage, motivate, and inspire k-workers, and promote the psychological well-being of them, and finally enhance the organizational performance in Chinese hospitals.


Author(s):  
Çağlar Doğru

In this research, the relationship between perceived organizational support (POS) and leader- member exchange (LMX) with contextual performance is analyzed on the basis of social exchange theory and the norm of reciprocity. To achieve this, data was collected from 314 employees working in twenty-five bank branches in Ankara, Turkey. According to the correlation analysis, it has been found statistically significant that POS and LMX have positive relationships with contextual performance. Besides, affect, loyalty, contribution and professional respect dimensions of LMX have positive and significant relationships in terms of statistics with contextual performance. According to multiple regression analysis, the positive effect of POS on contextual performance has been found statistically significant. Similarly, the positive effect of LMX on contextual performance has been found statistically significant, too. Again, it has been identified that the positive effects of affect, loyalty, contribution and professional respect dimensions of LMX on contextual performance are statistically significant.


2017 ◽  
Vol 45 (5) ◽  
pp. 1927-1957 ◽  
Author(s):  
Allan Lee ◽  
Geoff Thomas ◽  
Robin Martin ◽  
Yves Guillaume

Leader-member exchange (LMX) theory proposes that leaders develop different quality relationships with those they manage and this is predictive of work performance. While LMX quality has been viewed as univalent (ranging from low to high quality), this paper proposes that it can also be bivalent in nature (i.e., coexisting positive and negative thoughts towards the relationship), which we refer to as LMX ambivalence. A survey measure of LMX ambivalence is developed, and through three validation and two main studies, it is shown to have construct, discriminant, and incremental predictive validity beyond that of LMX quality. Hypotheses concerning LMX ambivalence and task performance are tested in two main studies and show that (1) LMX ambivalence is negatively related to performance regardless of LMX quality, (2) high levels of perceived support from the organization (Study 1) or coworkers (Study 2) nullify the negative association between LMX ambivalence and performance, and (3) high LMX ambivalence leads to more negative affect and in turn lower task performance, but only when coworker support is low (Study 2). These results show the importance of viewing LMX quality not only in terms of its absolute level (low vs. high quality) but also as a bivalent construct where both positive and negative cognitions can coexist. They also demonstrate the value of social support in buffering the negative effects of LMX ambivalence. Furthermore, our findings extend a central tenet of LMX theory by implying that LMX quality varies not only within groups (i.e., LMX differentiation) but also within leader-follower dyads.


2014 ◽  
Vol 42 (1) ◽  
pp. 79-88 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hu Li ◽  
Zhiyu Feng ◽  
Chunlin Liu ◽  
Dejun Cheng

Relative leader-member exchange (RLMX) is a reflection of the social comparison process, and employees go through a process of social exchange when they display specific behaviors and attitudes in their workplace role, with psychological contract (PC) fulfillment playing a mediating role between these 2 social processes. We conducted a survey to analyze paired leader-staff samples in 39 bank branches in order to examine the influence of RLMX on employees' work behaviors and the mechanism that operates between these 2 factors. The results showed that RLMX affected employee task performance and innovative behavior, and that PC fulfillment played a full mediating role in this relationship.


Author(s):  
Zhen Wang ◽  
Yuan Liu ◽  
Songbo Liu

AbstractThis study examines how and when authoritarian leadership affects subordinates’ task performance. Using social exchange theory and power dependence theory, this study proposes that authoritarian leadership negatively influences task performance through leader-member exchange (LMX). This study further proposes that the effect of authoritarian leadership on LMX is stronger when a subordinate has less dependence on a leader. A two-wave survey was conducted in a large electronics and information enterprise group in China. These hypotheses are supported by results based on 219 supervisor-subordinate dyads. The results reveal that authoritarian leadership negatively affects subordinates’ task performance via LMX. Dependence on leader buffers the negative effect of authoritarian leadership on LMX and mitigates the indirect effect of authoritarian leadership on employee task performance through LMX. Theoretical contributions and practical implications are discussed.


Author(s):  
Yan Shen

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to reveal the influence of organizational identification (OI) on organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) directed toward organization (OCB-O) and OCB directed toward individuals (OCB-I), and explore the moderating effects of turnover intention (TI) and the differences of the moderating effects of supervisors’ ratings of leader–member exchange quality (LMX-L) and subordinates’ ratings of LMX quality (LMX-S) in the process.Design/methodology/approachBased on social exchange theory, this study took administrative staff of private small and medium enterprises in China as population. A paired-samples design was used, and 437 valid paired samples were collected finally. Data analyses were conducted by using structural equation modeling.FindingsOI indicated a positive influence on both OCB-O and OCB-I. TI showed a negative moderating effect on the positive relationship between OI and OCB-I, but no significant moderating effect on the positive relationship between OI and OCB-O. LMX-L and LMX-S were not in one same direction and showed different moderating levels. LMX-L had no significant effects on the relationship between OI and OCB-O, nor did on the relationship between OI and OCB-I. On the other hand, LMX-S strengthened both the positive relationship between OI and OCB-O, and the positive relationship between OI and OCB-I.Originality/valueThis study explored the relationships from social exchange perspective, found that OCB-O and OCB-I had different formation mechanisms and should be explored as distinct variables, and confirmed that it was necessary to use the paired-samples design when studying dyadic phenomena.


2017 ◽  
Vol 120 (6) ◽  
pp. 1137-1159 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gukdo Byun ◽  
Ye Dai ◽  
Soojin Lee ◽  
Seungwan Kang

Based on social exchange theory, this study examines the influence of leaders’ trusting behavior and competence in in-role activities on members’ perceived leader–member exchange (LMX) relationships. Our study proposes that a leader’s trust in a member contributes to the member’s perceived LMX, and that the leader’s competence in in-role activities moderates this relationship. Furthermore, our study suggests that perceived LMX mediates the relationship between the leader’s trust and members’ task performance. Finally, the study proposes that the leader’s competence moderates the mediating role of LMX in transmitting the effect of the leader’s trust on members’ task performance. Analyses of the data collected from soldiers and platoon leaders in the South Korean army support these hypotheses.


2013 ◽  
Vol 41 (7) ◽  
pp. 1115-1123 ◽  
Author(s):  
KeXin Guan ◽  
ZhengXue Luo ◽  
JiaXi Peng ◽  
Zhen Wang ◽  
HaiTing Sun ◽  
...  

We examined the relationship among team networks, leader-member exchange (LMX), and team identification in the workplace. Social network theory, social exchange theory, and social identity theory served as references for our theoretical propositions and analyses. We collected data from a sample of 223 teams of military personnel, serving in the artillery in West China. We found that the team networks had a significant effect on team identification. Further, the variance and the mean for LMX in teams interacted in influencing team identification (β =-.893, p < .01). Our findings indicated that creating productive networks in teams would be useful to enhance team identification, the effect of which may be carried on through to building exchange relationships between leader and follower.


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