The relationship between manager's use of power and employees' work variables in nationalised commercial banks in Bangladesh

Abstract

This thesis investigates managers' use of power and its relationship to employees' organisational commitment and job satisfaction and any other potential factors influencing the relationship in Nationalised Commercial Banks (NCBs) in Bangladesh. Earlier research focused only on employees' perceptions of managers' use of power in NCBs, and findings indicated a positive relationship between managers' use of power and employees' perceptions. The present research differs from the previous studies by linking managers' use of power with employees' organisational outcomes. The objective was to gain insights into ways in which the management of NCBs might use their power to enhance the levels of employees' commitment and job satisfaction. Data were collected from several sources. Likert-type questionnaires were distributed to 600 employees in three NCBs and semi-structured interviews were conducted with 36 branch managers and four experts on banking. Complete questionnaires (in total 321) were included for data analysis using multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) and stepwise regression analysis. Both the bank managers and experts on banking interview transcripts were coded according to the interview schedule questions. The findings indicated a relationship between managers' use of power and procedural justice, and employees' organisational commitment and job satisfaction in NCBs. In the quantitative findings no significant relationships were found between gender, age, and education level, and power, procedural justice, commitment, and job satisfaction.The qualitative findings, however, suggested that employees' age and education level were related to criterion variables; but the findings indicated there was no relationship between gender and criterion variables. The results of this study provide insight into how the management of NCBs can enhance the level of their employees' commitment and job satisfaction.;To improve managers' use of power and its relationships with employees' commitment and job satisfaction in NCBs in Bangladesh, there have to be changes at the individual and organisational levels. At the individual level improving managers' power bases would involve basic education and specific job-related training. Managers should also be encouraged to enhance their skills through continuous self-learning. At organisational level top management should provide appropriate reinforcements for managers in learning about and improving their power bases.