Examining the application of SOC-29 and MLQ in the South African Banking Industry

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Orientation: This study examines the application of the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ) and the Sense of Coherence-29 (SOC-29) within the South African banking industry. It evaluates the appropriateness, efficacy and potential impact of these instruments and offers insights for enhancing employee resilience, improving organisational adaptability and advancing leadership practices in the sector.Research purpose: This study aims to address whether the SOC-29 and MLQ maintain their factor structures and psychometric properties when applied to banking employees.Motivation for the study: There has been limited research on the underlying constructs and measurements of the SOC-29 and MLQ. This evaluation’s findings will help enhance the accuracy and utility of both instruments.Research approach/design and method: A quantitative, positivistic, cross-sectional research design was employed to collect primary data from 150 employees working in South African banks.Main findings: The exploratory factor analysis identified a three-factor structure: F1 – Comprehensibility, F2 – Manageability and F3 – Meaningfulness, all showing improved goodness-of-fit indices. Manageability emerged as the most representative factor, while comprehensibility was the least representative.Practical/managerial implications: Understanding the applicability of the SOC-29 and the MLQ in a banking setting is crucial for HR professionals, organisational psychologists and management teams who seek to leverage these tools for employee assessment, development and organisational improvement.Contribution/value-add: Banks’ critical role in the economy, competitive nature and unique challenges make the study’s outcomes essential for empowering banking organisations to adopt a more scientific approach to employee assessment and development, leading to a well-supported workforce.