Date of Conferral

2017

Degree

Doctor of Business Administration (D.B.A.)

School

Management

Advisor

Kathleen Barclay

Abstract

Organizations in the public sector in Qatar have a reputation for delivering inefficient services. Leaders lack an understanding of motivational factors affecting public sector employee performance. The purpose of this correlational research was to examine the relationship between leadership styles and employee motivation in public companies in Qatar. The independent variables were the transformational, transactional, and passive-avoidant leadership styles. The dependent variable was employee motivation. The moderator variables were employee age and salary. A sample of 92 employees from 4 public sector organizations in Qatar responded to the online survey. The full range leadership theory served as the theoretical foundation for describing leadership styles of managers as perceived by employees. Self-determination theory served as the theoretical foundation for describing employee motivation. A hierarchical regression model was developed, and results of the study indicated a significant positive correlation between transformational and transactional leadership styles used by managers and employee motivation levels, with a standardized beta coefficient (β) above 0.6, and a significant negative correlation between passive-avoidant leadership style and employee motivation levels, with a standardized beta coefficient (β) below -0.57. Age moderated the relationship between transformational leadership and motivation. Salary moderated the relationship between passive-avoidant leadership and motivation. Leaders of public organizations in Qatar may use the results of this study to better support employee motivation and engagement. The study may contribute to social change by helping managers improve organizational performance and increase efficiency levels.

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