The Impact of the LMX of Employees in Shipping on Job Stress: The Moderating Effect of Organizational Structure and Political Skill

Abstract

Purpose This study aims to investigate the effect of Leader-Member Exchange (LMX) on job stress, as well as the moderating effects of organizational structure and political skill. Design/Methodology/Approach The subjects of the study were employees in domestic shipping and logistics industries, and 435 questionnaires were collected for analysis. Findings First, it was found that LMX significantly reduced job stress. Second, the study shows that formalization moderated the effect of LMX on job stress. Specifically, the negative effect of LMX on job stress was stronger as formalization increased. However, it was confirmed that the moderating effect of centralization was not statistically significant. Third, political skill moderated the effect of LMX on job stress. Specifically, the negative effect of LMX on job stress was stronger as political skill increased. Research Implications These findings indicate evidence that formalization and political skill are important factors between LMX and job stress. It was confirmed that formalization has an effect on the perception and stress of employees in the organization. In addition, it was found that the intensity of job stress may vary depending on the level of network management ability. This research further expands the discussion of LMX research and suggests managerial implications by demonstrating the effect of LMX on job stress in the workplace.