Team -Member Exchange and Trust Contexts: Effects on Individual Level Outcome Variables Beyond the Influence of Leader -Member Exchange.

Abstract

Researchers and theorists have recognized the importance of multilevel research to gain a better understanding of organizational behavior. In particular, there is a need to assess leader-member exchange in the context within which the relationship takes place. This study assessed the associated effect of leader-member exchange and two contextual variables, team-member exchange and trust context, on individual performance, organizational citizenship behavior, fairness perceptions, and job satisfaction. At the individual level, supervisor ratings of leader-member exchange were positively associated with performance, organizational citizenship behavior directed at both individuals and the organization, fairness, and job satisfaction. Contextual effects were found for both team-member exchange and trust context. Each variable predicted incremental variance in organizational citizenship behavior, fairness perceptions, and job satisfaction beyond that explained by leader-member exchange. Contextual effects were not found for performance. Implications of the results for research and practice are discussed.