Leadership styles and self-efficacy in determining transfer intentions of safety training

2018 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 65-76 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michela Vignoli ◽  
Marco Giovanni Mariani ◽  
Dina Guglielmi ◽  
Francesco Saverio Violante

Purpose This study aims to investigate the factors that can influence the transfer process of training in open skills, i.e. non-technical skills (NTS). Specifically, according to the model of the transfer process, the aim of this paper is to analyse the effects of both personal (e.g. self-efficacy) and work environment (e.g. safety leadership styles) antecedents of intention to transfer. Design/methodology/approach A total of 88 workers belonging to two different plants of the same chemical company filled in a questionnaire at the beginning (T1) and at the end (T2) of the training intervention. The majority of the sample was composed of men (95.5 per cent), with the mean age being 45.19 years old, and they had worked in the same company for an average of 17.2 years. Personal (self-efficacy) and organizational (transformational and passive leadership) factors were measured at T1, while intention to transfer was measured at T2. To investigate the combined effect of both personal and environmental characteristics on the transfer process, a moderation analysis was conducted following the Preacher and Hayes approach. Findings Results showed that all the antecedents investigated (except for passive leadership) impacted on the intention to transfer. Furthermore, high levels of self-efficacy combined with higher levels of transformational leadership resulted in higher levels of intention to transfer. Research limitations/implications The sample size is quite small, and effective transfer of NTS has not been measured. Practical implications Results suggest that organizations should focus on fostering self-efficacy of the trainees and transformational leadership of the supervisors so as to facilitate the transfer process of NTS. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study which has considered both individual and contextual characteristics to analyse the transfer process of NTS.

2016 ◽  
Vol 35 (6) ◽  
pp. 778-788 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saša Baškarada ◽  
Jamie Watson ◽  
Jason Cromarty

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to answer calls for more research on how leaders may promote organizational ambidexterity (i.e. exploitation and exploration), and how such behaviors relate to transactional and transformational leadership styles. Design/methodology/approach – The findings presented in this paper are based on semi-structured interviews with 11 senior leaders in Australian Defence. Findings – This paper identifies three organizational mechanisms that leaders rely on to promote exploitation, and five behaviors that leaders rely on to promote exploration. These mechanisms and behaviors closely match transactional and transformational leadership styles, respectively. Originality/value – This paper provides support for the leadership ambidexterity construct, and for the thesis that transformational leadership is appropriate in the context of exploratory innovation, while transactional leadership is appropriate in the context of exploitative innovation.


2018 ◽  
Vol 56 (1) ◽  
pp. 6-25 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiao Jia ◽  
Jin Chen ◽  
Liang Mei ◽  
Qian Wu

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to answer the following two questions: What are the influences of the top managers’ different leadership styles on organizational innovation? What is the mechanism by which the different leaderships exert different effects on organizational innovation? Design/methodology/approach To test the hypothesized model, a data set based on 133 MBA part-time students from Tsinghua University and Zhejiang University in China was built, after interviewing several top managers as a pilot study. With the help of SPSS macro, hierarchical regression and bootstrapping analysis, the paper analyzes the effects of two leadership styles on innovation performance, through the mediation mechanism of openness involving open breadth and open depth. Findings The results indicate that transformational leadership enhances, while transactional leadership reduces, the organizational innovation performance. The openness breadth and openness depth not only mediate the beneficial effect of transformational leadership on innovation, but also mediate the deleterious effect of transactional leadership on innovation. Originality/value This study empirically explores the different functions of transformational leadership and transactional leadership for leading organizational innovation performance. Furthermore, a new form of organization is an open design or strategy that allows more external knowledge and resources to be absorbed, which is claimed as a new paradigm for organization innovation. This study integrates the concepts of breadth of openness and depth of openness on the basis of open innovation literature, as an intermediate mechanism to explain the different effects of the two forms of top managers’ leadership.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  

Purpose The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between transformational leadership and volunteers' performance and the role of self-efficacy as a mediator in this relationship. Design/methodology/approach This is a study based on responses to a questionnaire completed by a sample of volunteers in a voluntary sector organization in Hong Kong. This was an application of intrinsic motivation theory. Findings 1. Transformational leadership is positively associated with volunteers' performance, both in-role and extra-role. 2. The positive relationships between transformational leadership and volunteers' performance, both in-role and extra-role, are mediated by self-efficacy. Research limitations/implications This research has originality in that it studies these relationships in a voluntary sector organization. It uses questionnaire responses for data and hence there is no direct observation or measurement of volunteer performance. Practical implications Voluntary service organizations need to focus on issues of intrinsic motivation and personal development for volunteers. Originality/value This study has originality in enhancing the understanding of mechanisms mediating the relationship between transformational leadership and volunteers' performance.


2019 ◽  
Vol 42 (7) ◽  
pp. 837-858 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Tahlil Azim ◽  
Luo Fan ◽  
Md. Aftab Uddin ◽  
Munshi Muhammad Abdul Kader Jilani ◽  
Sumayya Begum

Purpose Given that individual creativity is a critical element to achieving organizational competitiveness, the purpose of this study is to attempt to investigate how transformational leadership (TL) drives employee creative process engagement (CPE) by improving their creative self-efficacy (CSE). Design/methodology/approach Analysis has been performed based on 194 responses from information and communication technology firms using a cross-sectional survey design. The study follows a deductive research approach to test the hypotheses. It uses SmartPLS2 and IBM SPSS 21 for a structural equation model. Findings The investigation finds that TL significantly predicts CPE, and CSE partially mediates the TL–CPE relationship. The result demonstrates that TL shapes an organizational climate conducive to the employees’ CPE by building employees’ self-efficacy. Research limitations/implications The study sample was drawn from a single sector of the Bangladeshi economy. The sampling design represents a limitation, for which the findings cannot be broadly generalized. Replications and augmentations of the study in various industrial areas will help test the robustness and generalizability of the discoveries. Practical implications TL and CPE are desirable organizational outcomes across all cultures. From a practical standpoint, the outcomes demonstrate that TL is linked to CPE and CSE among information and communication technology employees. This study extends the appropriateness of CSE into Asian countries. Notably, it provides additional insight into a contemporary TL model that can unequivocally impact leadership development in the Bangladeshi information and communication technology firms. Managers or chief executive officers in the small and medium enterprises are expected to exhibit TL attributes by designing a supportive organizational climate that will motivate employees to exhibit creative activities. Social implications TL transforms employees’ psychological state to get them to engage in creative processes, benefiting the organizational stakeholders by their unconventional creative behavior. The TL-driven innovative outcome through employees’ CPE contributes to the development of social well-being. Originality/value This paper adds significance to the extant literature regarding the determinants of the mediating impact of CSE on TL and CPE from the viewpoints of information and communication technology firms, particularly from developing countries, such as Bangladesh. It also contributes to reconcile the findings of the previous studies around the globe in both developed and developing countries.


2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 277-303 ◽  
Author(s):  
Van Dong Phung ◽  
Igor Hawryszkiewycz ◽  
Daniel Chandran

Purpose Studies have examined the influence of knowledge-sharing factors on attitudes and intentions to share knowledge; thus, there is a need to add to the limited research to examine individuals’ actual knowledge-sharing behaviour (KSB). Drawing upon the social cognitive theory (SCT) and transformational leadership, this study aims to develop a new research model which modifies the standard SCT model and augments it with other theories to examine academics’ KSBs. Design/methodology/approach Questionnaire surveys based on literature and pilot study were conducted with 785 academic staff from four Vietnamese public universities. This study applied structural equation modelling to test the proposed research model and hypotheses. Findings The findings show that environmental factors (subjective norms, trust) and personal factors (knowledge self-efficacy, enjoyment in helping others) had positive impacts on KSB; KSB had a strongly positive effect on innovative behaviour; and transformational leadership positively moderated the effects of subjective norms, trust and knowledge self-efficacy on KSB. Interestingly, psychological ownership of knowledge was found to have insignificant associations with KSB. Practical implications The study findings can be used by university leaders, academic staff and researchers in other similar contexts. Originality/value Until now, to the best of the researchers’ knowledge, no studies have applied SCT as a primary lens, in which transformational leadership positioned in a focal behaviour also affected KSB, to investigate research on KSB in organisations, especially in institutions of higher education.


2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (8) ◽  
pp. 1171-1186
Author(s):  
Jeremy Galbreath ◽  
Douglas Hoffman ◽  
Gabriel Gonzalez ◽  
Mohammed Quaddus

PurposeThis is an exploratory study with the purpose of empirically testing and advancing knowledge on the relationship between top management team (TMT) leadership styles and a service recovery culture. A further test explores a contingency perspective, examining if gender diversity on the TMT shapes this relationship.Design/methodology/approachWe examine the perceived TMT transformational leadership style, as well as the moderating effect of TMT gender diversity. Relying on both survey and archival data, our hypotheses are tested with a sample of 234 public firms based in the United States. Moderated hierarchical regression analysis is used as the statistical approach.FindingsResults suggest that perceived TMT transformational leadership is positively associated with a service recovery culture. When accounting for TMT gender diversity, the relationship between perceived TMT transformational leadership and a service recovery culture is positively moderated.Research limitations/implicationsThe study represents a sample of for-profit public firms operating in the United States and should not be taken as a general population sample. The findings could vary relative to other countries, private companies and non-profit organizations.Originality/valueThis is the first known study to explore the relationship between TMT leadership styles, TMT gender diversity and a service recovery culture. The study extends findings with the respect to the impact of TMT leadership and gender diversity on organizational development, as well as offers new insights into the antecedents of a service recovery culture.


2015 ◽  
Vol 30 (8) ◽  
pp. 970-985 ◽  
Author(s):  
Su-Ying Pan ◽  
Katrina Jia Lin

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine a behavioral mechanism linking transformational leadership (TFL) and subordinates’ task performance and its boundary conditions. The authors examined the mediation role of subordinates’ feedback-seeking behavior and the interactive effect of self-efficacy and dyadic tenure on the transformational leadership-task performance link. Design/methodology/approach – Paper and pencil surveys were administered to 239 supervisor-subordinate dyads from different industries in Taiwan. Confirmatory factor analysis was conducted to test the discriminant validity of the main variables. Hierarchical linear regression and bootstrapping were used to examine the moderated mediation effect. Findings – First, subordinates’ feedback-seeking behavior mediates the relationship between TFL and subordinates’ task performance. Second, self-efficacy mitigates this mediation process when dyadic tenure is low, whereas self-efficacy enhances this mediation process when dyadic tenure is high. Research limitations/implications – The use of a cross-sectional design prevents us from drawing causal conclusions. Practical implications – This study suggests that for high-self-efficacy subordinates, organizations should try to shorten the period required to familiarize oneself with transformational leaders. In contrast, for low-self-efficacy subordinates, organizations should try to enhance their self-efficacy over time to ensure that they are capable of implementing transformational leaders’ expectations in the long run. Originality/value – This empirical study examines a behavioral mechanism in the TFL-task performance link. In addition, by addressing the interactive effect of TFL, self-efficacy and dyadic tenure, it resolves theoretical conflicts and enables us to better understand the effectiveness of TFL in different contexts. A Chinese sample is also unique and valuable.


2017 ◽  
Vol 46 (8) ◽  
pp. 1890-1914 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rui-Hsin Kao

Purpose Improving employees’ change-oriented organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) is important because of the work content and service nature of the National Immigration Agency (NIA). The purpose of this paper, which targeted immigration workers using the work design model (knowledge oriented), leadership types and organizational climate as perspectives, is to study immigration workers’ change-oriented OCB. Inspecting the knowledge-oriented work characteristics (KOWCs) of the NIA of Taiwan to find ways of stimulating change-oriented OCB through employees’ high self-efficacy is also critical. The investigators also explored how transformational leadership and organizational climate directly affect employees’ change-oriented OCB in a cross-level organization. Design/methodology/approach The subject of this research is the frontline immigration workers of Taiwan’s NIA, with its entire staff on duty at the country’s airports and ports as targets of the research. This study used a total of 312 questionnaires. Findings At the group level, transformational leadership shows significant positive influence on organizational climate. KOWCs can positively influence self-efficacy and affect change-oriented OCB on an individual basis; similarly, self-efficacy can also positively impact the individual’s change-oriented OCB. In addition, transformational leadership and organizational climate have a contextual effect on the outcome variable on an individual basis. Originality/value This finding is helpful for researching and practicing implications of HRM, such as in further understanding how the motivation from work characteristics, organization’s environment and interpersonal networks can increase employees’ change-oriented OCB.


2014 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 174-194 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claire Mason ◽  
Mark Griffin ◽  
Sharon Parker

Purpose – This paper aims to investigate whether leaders whose transformational leadership behavior improves after training exhibit different psychological reactions compared to leaders whose leadership behavior does not improve. Design/methodology/approach – The authors followed 56 leaders taking part in a transformational leadership training program. Questionnaire measures of leaders’ self-efficacy, positive affect, perspective taking, and transformational leadership behavior were obtained pre- and post-training. Findings – Leaders whose self-efficacy, perspective taking and positive affect increased over the training period also reported improvements in their transformational leadership behavior. In addition, leaders whose positive affect increased were more likely to receive improved transformational leadership behavior ratings from their supervisors, team members and peers. Research limitations/implications – The study supports the proposition, derived from social cognitive theory that change in transformational leadership behavior is related to change in leaders’ psychological attributes. Further research is required to establish the direction of this relationship and whether leaders’ psychological reactions represent a means through which the effectiveness of leadership interventions can be improved. Practical implications – Leaders’ psychological reactions should be monitored and supported during developmental interventions. Effective leadership training interventions are important not only to achieve change in behavior, but to avoid negative psychological outcomes for leaders. Originality/value – The study is unusual because it explores the relationship between leader attributes and leadership behavior longitudinally, in a training context. The longitudinal analysis, focussing on change in leaders’ psychological attributes, allowed us to explain more variance in leaders’ reactions to training.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document