THE INFLUENCES OF SUBORDINATE PERSONALITIES AND JOB CHARACTERISTICS ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LEADER BEHAVIOR AND SUBORDINATE MORALE

Abstract

This research aimed to examine the influence of subordinate personality characteristics (emotional stability and social activity), job characteristics (variety, autonomy and cooperation requirement), and occupational level on the relationship between perceived leader behavior and subordinate morale.The main results are as follows:(1) The relationship between the leader's performance-oriented behavior (P behavior) and satisfaction was more positive for emotionally stable subordinates than for emotionally unstable subordinates.(2) The relationship between P behavior and cohesiveness was more positive for socially active subordinates than for socially inactive subordinates.(3) The relationship between P behavior and cohesiveness was more positive for a job high in variety and a job high in cooperation requirements than for a job low in variety and a job low in cooperation requirements.(4) The relationship between P behavior and morale increased with occupational level in general.(5) The relationship between the leader's group maintenance oriented-behavior (M behavior) and morale was found positive. This relationship was more positive for a job low in variety than for a job high in variety. Autonomy and cooperation requirements did not moderate the relationship beween M behavior and morale. In general the influence of moderators on the relationship between M behavior and morale was not so significant as the one between P behavior and morale.