Are educational background and gender moderator variables for leadership, satisfaction and organizational commitment?

Abstract

In this study the causal effects of transformational and transactional leadership and the mediating role of trust on follower outcomes are examined. Study data were collected from 150 employees who worked within 12 organizations in the IT Department of Research and Development in Shanghai, China. Data were analyzed based on path analysis and proposed research model. The results indicate that the level of education affects subordinate job satisfaction for both transformational leadership and transactional leadership. Undergraduate and graduate levels of education affect trust in relation to subordinate job satisfaction as well as organizational commitment. Gender also impacts subordinate's job satisfaction in cases of transactional leadership, as well as trust and job satisfaction in relation to the subordinate's organizational commitment. Key words: Educational background and gender, transformational and transactional leadership behavior, trust, job satisfaction, organizational commitment, IT Department of Research and Development, Shanghai, China.