Quality of Vertical Dyad Linkages: Congruence of Supervisor and Subordinate Competence and Role Stress as Explanatory Variables

Abstract

Supervisor and subordinate competence and role stress were ex amined as explanatory variables of the vertical exchange within supervisor/subordinate dyads. Three hypotheses were proposed to examine these linkages: (1) subordinate competence is directly related to the vertical exchange between supervisors and subordi nates; (2) this competence/exchange relationship is moderated by the role stress experienced by the parties; and (3) the subordinate competence/exchange relationship is moderated by the supervisor's competence. These hypotheses were tested using a heterogeneous sample of (626) supervisor-subordinate dyads within social service organizations. Multiple hierarchical regression that included inter action terms supported the first and third hypotheses. As subordi nate competence increased, the vertical exchange reported increased. The results also demonstrated that congruence between supervisor/ subordinate competence resulted in higher level exchanges than did incongruence in competence levels.