The relationship between the individual and organizational results and leader-member exchange: An empirical study

Earlier studies on leadership, it was generally assumed that the leader has a similarperception of all followers. Howewer, according to leader-member exchange (LMX) theory,different kinds of interactions are developed between the leader and each subordinate.This study, examines effect, contribution, commitment and professional respectaspects and effects of LMX quality on individual and organizational results in amultidimensional approach. The dependent variables are job satisfaction, organizationalcommitment, turnover intent and quality level, while the independent variable is the qualitylevel of leader-member relation.The study is conducted in Afyonkarahisar Kocatepe University, Faculty of Medicinebetween April-September 2006, and 189 faculty members were interviewed. The necessarydata for the study are gathered through survey and investigation. The relationship between thequality level of LMX and individual and organizational results are examined and it is aimed tofind out if there is a difference in relations according to the demographic characteristics offaculty members and their work units.The data gathered through survey study are analyzed by using SPSS 10.0 packageprogram. For the statistical analysis, pearson correlation, ordered logistic regression analysis,variance analysis and TUKEY-HSD tests are used.This study finds, a statistically meaningful and positive relation between the quality ofLMX relation and job satisfaction, organizational commitment and job performance. Contraryto these findings a statistically meaningful but negative relation is found between the qualityof LMX and turnover intent of the members of Medical Faculty. A statistically meaningfulrelation is also found between individual and organizational results and sub dimensions ofLMX: effect, commitment, contribution and professional respect, but insignificant relation isidentified between commitment level and job performance. LMX quality levels of malefaculty members are found higher than that of female faculty members, and a positive relationbetween working period and job performance perception is also observed.As a conclusion, it is understood that quality level of LMX relation at AfyonkarahisarKocatepe University Faculty of Medicine has an important effect on individual andorganizational results.