Differentiating Relationships in the Workplace: A Cultural Perspective

Abstract

This study aimed to examine the constructs that constitute relationship differentiation in leader-member exchange relationships, which would provide unique theoretical insights and pragmatic applications for communication in the Malaysian workplace. Six-hundred questionnaires were distributed to employees of government, semi-government, and private organizations (N=479).  Results revealed that leader conceptual skills, communication openness, and trust contributed towards organizational citizenship behavior. Cultural considerations were invoked to explain certain findings of this study.Keywords: Leader-Member Exchange (LMX), Communication DialogueJEL Classification: M14