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Authoritarian leadership and task performance: the effects of leader-member exchange and dependence on leader

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  • Zhen Wang

    (Renmin University of China)

  • Yuan Liu

    (Renmin University of China)

  • Songbo Liu

    (Renmin University of China)

Abstract

This study examines how and when authoritarian leadership affects subordinates’ task performance. Using social exchange theory and power dependence theory, this study proposes that authoritarian leadership negatively influences task performance through leader-member exchange (LMX). This study further proposes that the effect of authoritarian leadership on LMX is stronger when a subordinate has less dependence on a leader. A two-wave survey was conducted in a large electronics and information enterprise group in China. These hypotheses are supported by results based on 219 supervisor-subordinate dyads. The results reveal that authoritarian leadership negatively affects subordinates’ task performance via LMX. Dependence on leader buffers the negative effect of authoritarian leadership on LMX and mitigates the indirect effect of authoritarian leadership on employee task performance through LMX. Theoretical contributions and practical implications are discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhen Wang & Yuan Liu & Songbo Liu, 2019. "Authoritarian leadership and task performance: the effects of leader-member exchange and dependence on leader," Frontiers of Business Research in China, Springer, vol. 13(1), pages 1-15, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:fobric:v:13:y:2019:i:1:d:10.1186_s11782-019-0066-x
    DOI: 10.1186/s11782-019-0066-x
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    Cited by:

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