Search results
1 – 10 of 11Lan Li, Xingshan Zheng, Siwei Sun and Ismael Diaz
The present study aims to ascertain the relationships between subordinate moqi and leader behaviors, by primarily discussing how and when subordinate moqi is associated with…
Abstract
Purpose
The present study aims to ascertain the relationships between subordinate moqi and leader behaviors, by primarily discussing how and when subordinate moqi is associated with leadership empowerment.
Design/methodology/approach
A self-report study was conducted by recruiting 334 employees from 13 firms. All concepts were rated on a seven-point Likert-type response scale. Linear regression analysis (conducted in MPLUS 7) was conducted to verify the hypotheses.
Findings
First, subordinate moqi showed positive association with empowerment. Second, trust-in-supervisor mediated the relationships between subordinate moqi and empowerment. Third, subordinates' power distance orientation (PDO) could moderate the subordinate moqi – leader empowerment relationship. When subordinates reported higher PDO, the relationships between subordinate moqi and empowerment were more robust; likewise, subordinate moqi would have more significantly indirectly impacted empowerment via trust-in-supervisor.
Originality/value
Though researchers have discussed the impacts of subordinate moqi on subordinates' outcomes, the impact of subordinate moqi on supervisors' attitudes or behaviors remains unclear. The relationships between subordinate moqi and supervisor empowerment behaviors are empirically ascertained by emphasizing the leader-subordinate dyadic process. The findings here suggested that subordinate moqi boosted subordinates' trust-in-supervisor, and moqi would also predict the behaviors of leader empowerment. This study extended the PDO literature by identifying the moderating role of PDO in the subordinate moqi – leader empowerment behavior relationship.
Details
Keywords
Qi Zhang, Xingshan Zheng, Yao Yao and Francisca N.M. Dube
Building on the person–supervisor fit theory, this paper examines how and when leader–follower moqi congruence positively impacts task performance.
Abstract
Purpose
Building on the person–supervisor fit theory, this paper examines how and when leader–follower moqi congruence positively impacts task performance.
Design/methodology/approach
With data collected from 174 leader–follower dyads in 41 project teams in Shanghai, China, the authors use polynomial regression and response surface plots to test the hypotheses on the effects of leader–follower moqi congruence.
Findings
Leader–follower moqi congruence positively affects followers' task performance, mediated by coordination. Task coordination was of higher quality when the congruence is achieved at a high level of moqi than at a low level. The effect of leader–follower moqi congruence on task performance (mediated by coordination) was weaker when leader-member exchange was low than when it was high.
Originality/value
This study identifies why leader–follower moqi can improve coordination and task performance. It extends person–supervisor fit theory and is an enhancement for moqi research and practice.
Details
Keywords
Xingshan Zheng, Ismael Diaz, Xiaotao Zheng and Ningyu Tang
The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationships between supervisor-subordinate deep-level similarity and employee taking charge behavior. Face consciousness (FC) and…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationships between supervisor-subordinate deep-level similarity and employee taking charge behavior. Face consciousness (FC) and managerial competency of inclusion (MCI) are examined as moderators.
Design/methodology/approach
Responses from 193 employees and 51 supervisors were examined using hierarchical linear analysis to assess the relationship between the study variables because employee responses were nested within supervisor.
Findings
Supervisor-subordinate deep-level similarity is positively associated with employee taking charge behavior. Employee FC moderates the relationship between deep-level similarity and taking charge. MCI also moderates the relationships between deep-level similarity and taking charge.
Research limitations/implications
The study is cross-sectional; longitudinal studies are needed to examine the relationships among study variables over time. This work should also be extended to the western context. The findings highlight deep-level similarity as predictive of taking charge while also identifying MCI and FC as important for understanding what predicts taking charge.
Practical implications
The findings can be used to develop managerial training programs that foster competency of inclusion. It is possible to develop organizational interventions (selection and training) to maximize employees and manager congruence/fit.
Originality/value
This study is a novel contribution that investigates facet of proactive behaviors. Examining the moderating roles of FC and MCI further elucidates how similarity fosters taking charge behaviors.
Details
Keywords
Lan Li and Xingshan Zheng
This study attempts to develop and test the model regarding work engagement as a mediator and role stress as a moderator to explain how and when subordinate moqi affects employee…
Abstract
Purpose
This study attempts to develop and test the model regarding work engagement as a mediator and role stress as a moderator to explain how and when subordinate moqi affects employee voice.
Design/methodology/approach
A two-wave online survey was conducted, and 217 supervisor–subordinate dyads’ data were collected. This study's hypotheses were tested using linear regression analysis.
Findings
The results demonstrated that subordinate moqi is associated with employee voice. The increase in subordinate moqi can enhance employee work engagement and then promote employee voice. Furthermore, employee role stress moderates the relationships between work engagement and employee voice and the indirect effects of subordinate moqi on employee voice via work engagement.
Originality/value
From the perspective of job resources, this study ascertains that work engagement plays a mediator role in explaining how subordinate moqi affects employee voice and fills in the gap of the mediating mechanism between subordinate moqi and employee voice. Moreover, this study extends the understanding of role stress by emphasizing its positive role rather than its negative function which is highly discussed in previous research.
Details
Keywords
Ningyu Tang, Xingshan Zheng and Chiyin Chen
This paper aims to apply and integrate the existing literature of inclusion to develop a multi-level theory of organizational inclusion for the more and more diverse workforce.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to apply and integrate the existing literature of inclusion to develop a multi-level theory of organizational inclusion for the more and more diverse workforce.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper first analyzes the issue of workforce diversity in China, and then reviews the concept of organizational inclusion. After that, this paper develops a multi-level model of organizational inclusion catering to Chinese diversity issue.
Findings
This paper outlines a series of propositions on how organizational, group, interpersonal and individual factors affect inclusion at both organizational and individual levels, and the consequences of inclusion in the workplace.
Originality/value
This paper is the first research to discuss the inclusion management in Chinese context. This paper proposes a multi-level theoretical model of organizational inclusion to guide empirical studies on the integration of the diversity in workplace in China.
Details
Keywords
Mingyan Chen, Xingshan Zheng and Bingqing Wu
Integrating the reciprocity and equity lenses, this study explores the curvilinear relationship between leader humility and employee organizational citizenship behaviors (OCBs) by…
Abstract
Purpose
Integrating the reciprocity and equity lenses, this study explores the curvilinear relationship between leader humility and employee organizational citizenship behaviors (OCBs) by introducing psychological entitlement and perspective taking, and constructing a moderated mediation curvilinear model aiming to provide a more comprehensive understanding of why and how leader humility affects OCBs.
Design/methodology/approach
Using multisource, three-wave data collected from 261 employees and 55 supervisors in China, we adopted multi-level modeling analysis to test the moderated mediation curvilinear model that links leader humility to OCBs.
Findings
We found a curvilinear relationship between leader humility and psychological entitlement, and psychological entitlement mediated the curvilinear indirect relationship between leader humility and OCBs. Furthermore, employees' perspective taking buffered this curvilinear indirect effect.
Originality/value
Following social exchange theory and prior research discussing the potential benefits and drawbacks of leader humility, this study developed and tested a moderated mediation curvilinear model of the relationship between leader humility and OCBs. Our study thus provides a more balanced and dialectical perspective on understanding the effects of leader humility and enriching the leadership process model. This study also offers actionable strategies for leaders and organizations to optimize the benefits of humble leadership.
Details
Keywords
Lan Li, Xingshan Zheng and Qi Zhang
The present study aims to determine the effect of adopting voice on subordinates' work engagement based on organization-based self-esteem (OBSE).
Abstract
Purpose
The present study aims to determine the effect of adopting voice on subordinates' work engagement based on organization-based self-esteem (OBSE).
Design/methodology/approach
Three variables were rated according to the seven-point Likert-type response scales. To control the effect of common method variance, an online survey was conducted to collect data from 206 samples at Chinese firms by employing a two-wave and time-lagged approach. In addition, structure equation modeling analysis was adopted to verify the hypotheses with Mplus 7.
Findings
Leaders' adoption of employee voice shows a positive association with employee OBSE and work engagement. OBSE is positively associated with work engagement and mediates the effect of adopting voice on work engagement.
Practical implications
As suggested from the mentioned results, organizations are required to encourage leaders to adopt employees' reasonable voice that can be an effective management tool impacting employee work engagement.
Originality/value
Though existing studies have discussed the effects of leader behaviors on subordinates' work engagement, the effect of leaders' adoption of employee voice on employee work engagement has been rarely studied. Based on the job demand-resource model, this study fills the gap by empirically examining the effect of adopting voice on work engagement. As indicated by the findings here, leaders' adoption of employee voice enhances employee OBSE, thereby facilitating work engagement. The present study provides insights to stimulate employee work engagement.
Details
Keywords
Xingshan Zheng, Tomas Thundiyil, Ryan Klinger and Andrew T Hinrichs
Utilizing attribution theory, the purpose of this paper is to propose a more nuanced theoretical understanding of role clarity – supervisor satisfaction trajectories. The authors…
Abstract
Purpose
Utilizing attribution theory, the purpose of this paper is to propose a more nuanced theoretical understanding of role clarity – supervisor satisfaction trajectories. The authors also identify leadership characteristics that moderate these trajectories: supervisor developmental feedback (SDF) and interpersonal justice.
Design/methodology/approach
In this field study, survey responses were collected from 334 employees. Data were submitted to hierarchical polynomial regression.
Findings
The impact of too much role clarity was dependent on the level of interpersonal justice and SDF. When these moderators were high, too much role clarity had a decremental effect on supervisor satisfaction. When these moderatos were low, high role clarity was depicted by an asymptotic trajectory.
Research limitations/implications
Cross-sectional data were collected from a single source. Future research might attempt to replicate findings using longitudinal designs and multiple data sources. Proposed mediating mechanisms might be measured and incorporated into tests of the theoretical models.
Practical implications
When managing employee role clarity, more is not always better. Decision makers should examine supervisor-subordinate characteristics to predict employee responses to increased levels of role clarity. Even under optimal conditions, one should expect decreasing marginal returns from role clarity interventions.
Originality/value
This is the first study to explore nonlinear relationships between role clarity and supervisor satisfaction. This is also the first study to explore moderators of role clarity trajectories.
Details
Keywords
Xingshan Zheng, Ismael Diaz, Ningyu Tang and Kongshun Tang
The purpose of this paper is to examine optimism and how facets of subordinates’ psychological characteristics, such as their attitudes and personalities, are similar to their…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine optimism and how facets of subordinates’ psychological characteristics, such as their attitudes and personalities, are similar to their direct supervisors’ (as person-supervisor deep-level similarity or P-S deep-level similarity) in order to understand their interactions with job insecurity in predicting employee job satisfaction.
Design/methodology/approach
Empirical study had been conducted. Sample firms in this study consist of eight state-run electric power companies and 16 licensed chemical companies in central Hubei Province in China. In total, 368 valid samples were included in the analyses (with a valid return rate of 73 percent). All constructs were rated on a five-point Likert-type response scale. In order to diminish the possibility of common method biases, the authors used participants’ dyad supervisors to rate P-S deep-level similarity and P-S guanxi. The authors tested the hypotheses by implementing hierarchical linear regression.
Findings
The results show that when certain demographic variables (e.g. age, gender, education, post, employment type, income proportion, position) and P-S guanxi are controlled, optimism and P-S deep-level similarity significantly interact with job insecurity to predict job satisfaction. Job satisfaction is bolstered when job security increases among those who report a high level of both optimism and P-S deep-level similarity.
Originality/value
Researchers have found that job insecurity has negative effects on job satisfaction (Sverke et al., 2002). But there is a lack of understanding about the mechanism of how job insecurity affects job satisfaction. In this study, the authors found that optimism and P-S deep level similarity could jointly moderate the relation (and direction) between job insecurity and job satisfaction. The work illustrates how positive traits (such as optimism) and psychological factors (such as P-S deep-level similarity) could affect employee job satisfaction with different levels of job insecurity.
Details
Keywords
Xingshan Zheng, Ismael Diaz, Yin Jing and Dan S. Chiaburu
The purpose of this paper is to conceptualize, understand, and measure positive and negative aspects of supervisor developmental feedback (SDF) and investigate their relationships…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to conceptualize, understand, and measure positive and negative aspects of supervisor developmental feedback (SDF) and investigate their relationships with task performance.
Design/methodology/approach
In Study 1, common themes in SDF were identified and a set of SDF items were developed to capture the positive and negative SDF domain. Study 2 entailed the administration of the items to respondents to examine the dimensionality of the items through exploratory factor analysis. In Study 3, using confirmatory factor analysis we further examined the extent to which positive and negative developmental feedback (PSDF and NSDF) were conceptually distinct from each other and different from an existing general measure of supervisor feedback.
Findings
Study 1 and Study 2 yielded evidence that positive and negative SDF are distinct yet related constructs. Positive SDF predicted employee task performance. The positive SDF by negative SDF interaction predicted task performance.
Research limitations/implications
The authors provide criterion-related validity evidence by examining the predictive validity of positive and negative SDF on subordinate task performance (reported by supervisors). Future research should examine the role of positive and negative SDF in predicting job performance in other samples and cultural contexts and for other outcomes, including organizational citizenship.
Originality/value
This research refines the SDF domain by identifying positive and negative domains of the SDF construct. The authors propose and test the joint influence of positive and negative SDF. The novel findings point to the importance of supervisors providing both positive and negative feedback to enhance performance.
Details