LMX AND WORK OUTCOMES: THE MEDIATING ROLE OF DELEGATION IN THE MALAYSIAN BUSINESS CONTEXT.

Abstract

The present study addresses the call for empirical examinations of the relationship between leader-member exchange (LMX) and delegation and their impact on work-related outcomes. It contributes to the leadership literature by linking the two bodies of knowledge, by testing the mediating role of delegation in the LMX-work outcomes relationship. Data were collected from 215 employees and their 94 different immediate supervisors from various manufacturing and service organizations in northern Malaysia. Supervisors rated leader-member exchange (LMX-L) and organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) scale items, whereas subordinates rated LMX-M, perceived delegation, and affective commitment scale items. Results showed that perceived delegation fully mediated the relationship between LMX-L and organizational commitment and between LMX-M and OCB-Altruism and OCB-Conscientiousness. Practical implications of the study findings and directions for future research are discussed.