Task characteristics as a mediator of the LMX-OCB relationship

Abstract

The current study investigated the extent to which certain characteristics with job tasks mediate the relationship between leader-member-exchange (LMX) and organizational citizenship behavior (OCB). Data were collected by means of anonymous self-report questionnaires. A total of 168 employees in a Norwegian electronic warehouse participated in the study. LMX was measured by the LMX-7 scale, which assesses the quality of the social relationship between the leader and the member. OCB was measured by a 24-item scale, which measures five different facets of organizational citizenship behavior. The task characteristic scale included 14 items in total. The findings showed that the task characteristic intrinsically satisfying tasks fully mediated the relationship between LMX and the five OCB dimensions conscientiousness, sportsmanship, civic virtue, courtesy and altruism. Task feedback and routine tasks showed however no mediating effects. Hence, the degree of experienced task satisfaction seems to play an important role in the relationship between LMX quality and employee’s willingness to participate in citizenship behavior. The findings suggest that leaders should place great emphasis on enhancing intrinsic satisfaction with job tasks to promote employees’ citizenship behavior. Keywords: Leader-member-exchange, organizational citizenship behavior, intrinsic satisfaction, task characteristics, social exchange theory, substitutes for leadership.