Date of Conferral

2018

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Psychology

Advisor

Gwynne Dawdy

Abstract

People who telecommute or work in virtual settings report higher satisfaction from increased flexibility and autonomy. However, relationships with leaders are more difficult to build, particularly as leadership in virtual workplaces tends to be less hierarchical. It is known that leader-member communication is an important aspect of employee job satisfaction and a significant problem exists for leaders who are ill-prepared to function in the leadership role required by a virtual workplace. The purpose of the quantitative study was to examine if employee job satisfaction predicts attitude toward virtual workplace setting and if this relationship is moderated by leader-member communication and leadership style. The theoretical frameworks that guided the study were the job demands-resources model and media richness theory. Relationships between variables were explored using correlation and multiple regression, while controlling for moderating variables. 145 of the 295 telecommuters fit the parameters. The findings revealed a significant relationship between attitude toward telecommuting and job satisfaction. The leader-member exchange and transformational leadership styles significantly and positively affected the relationship between attitude and job satisfaction, while passive avoidant leadership style significantly and negatively affected the relationship between attitude and job satisfaction. These findings can help leaders as they aim to improve communication for the growing number of employees who telecommute.

Included in

Psychology Commons

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