Journal article
Nationality diversity and leader–Member exchange at multiple levels of analysis: Test of a cross-level model
Equality, diversity and inclusion an international journal, Vol.38(1), pp.20-39
02/11/2019
DOI: 10.1108/EDI-03-2018-0054
Abstract
Purpose
The diversity literature has yet to investigate relationships between diversity and leader–member exchanges (LMX) at multiple levels of analysis. The purpose of this paper is to test a multilevel model of nationality diversity and LMX. In doing so, the authors investigate the role of surface- and deep-level diversity as related to leader–member exchange differentiation (LMXD) and relative LMX (RLMX), and hence to subordinate job performance.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors test a multilevel model of diversity and LMX using multisource survey data from subordinates nesting within supervisors. The authors do so in a context where diversity in nationality is pervasive and plays a key role in LMXs, i.e., a multinational organization in Dubai. The authors tested the cross-level moderated model using MPlus.
Findings
The results suggest surface-level similarity is more important to RLMX than deep-level similarity. The relationship between surface-level similarity and RLMX is moderated by workgroup nationality diversity. When workgroups are more diverse, there is a positive relationship between dyadic nationality similarity and RLMX; when workgroups are less diverse, similarity in nationality matters less. Moreover, LMXD at the workgroup level moderates the relationship between RLMX and performance at the individual level.
Originality/value
This study is one of very few to examine both diversity and LMX at multiple levels of analysis. This is the first study to test the workgroup diversity as a cross-level moderator of the relationship between deep-level similarity and LMX. The results challenge the prevailing notion that that deep-level similarity is more strongly related to LMX than surface-level diversity.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Nationality diversity and leader–Member exchange at multiple levels of analysis: Test of a cross-level model
- Creators
- Shaun Pichler - Department of Management, California State University, Fullerton, California, USABeth Livingston - Department of Management, Henry B. Tippie College of Business, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USAAndrew Yu - Department of Management, Eli Broad College of Business, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USAArup Varma - Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USAPawan Budhwar - Aston Business School, Birmingham, UKArti Shukla - Imdaad LLC, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Equality, diversity and inclusion an international journal, Vol.38(1), pp.20-39
- DOI
- 10.1108/EDI-03-2018-0054
- ISSN
- 2040-7149
- eISSN
- 2040-7157
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 02/11/2019
- Academic Unit
- Management and Entrepreneurship
- Record Identifier
- 9984083843102771
Metrics
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