A framework for assessing impacts of leadership competency on police project performance: Mediating role of job satisfaction and moderating role of project type

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is, primarily, to investigate the relationships of the project leader's competencies with job satisfaction, and their impact on project performance. The second objective is to determine whether job satisfaction plays a mediating role in the relationship between leadership competency and project performance. The third objective is to examine the moderating role of project type in the relationship between job satisfaction and project performance.

Design/methodology/approach

To address the primary aims, a questionnaire‐based survey was used to measure the project leader’s competency, the job satisfaction of team members, and the performance of projects in the Taiwanese police departments. The structural equation modeling (SEM) approach was used to validate the research model.

Findings

The results show that job satisfaction mediates the effects of leadership competency on project performance. Furthermore, these results prove that complexity, workload, method, and project duration have a moderating effect on the relationship between job satisfaction and project schedule success.

Research limitations/implications

The research was limited to inspecting projects in the Taiwanese police departments. The data analyzed in this study are project‐specific.

Practical implications

This paper reports on the findings about leadership benefits and provides recommendations for improving police project performance.

Originality/value

This research is the first to provide empirical evidence that supports the expectation of improving police project performance by developing leadership competencies. Findings from this study are helpful to project leaders in deciding whether to develop certain competencies.

Citation

Yang, L., Yen, H. and Chiang, Y. (2012), "A framework for assessing impacts of leadership competency on police project performance: Mediating role of job satisfaction and moderating role of project type", Policing: An International Journal, Vol. 35 No. 3, pp. 528-550. https://doi.org/10.1108/13639511211250785