Role-based paternalistic exchange: Explaining the joint effect of leader authoritarianism and benevolence on culture-specific follower outcomes

An-Chih Wang (), Yanyu Chen (), Miao-Sui Hsu (), Yi-Chieh Lin () and Chou-Yu Tsai ()
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An-Chih Wang: China Europe International Business School
Yanyu Chen: National Sun Yat-Sen University
Miao-Sui Hsu: National Sun Yat-Sen University
Yi-Chieh Lin: National Sun Yat-Sen University
Chou-Yu Tsai: Binghamton University, State University of New York

Asia Pacific Journal of Management, 2022, vol. 39, issue 2, No 3, 433-455

Abstract: Abstract We propose a new construct—role-based paternalistic exchange, or followers’ awareness of and engagement in a family-like exchange relationship with leaders that builds upon both leaders’ parent-like role and followers’ child-like obligation. We use this construct to explain the joint effect of leader authoritarianism and benevolence, the essential components of paternalistic leadership, on two culture-specific follower outcomes in Chinese settings: emic organizational citizenship behavior and deference to supervisor. Using three independent samples, we develop a unidimensional measure. We then employ another sample to test how leader authoritarianism and benevolence relate to role-based paternalistic exchange and, thereby, the two follower outcomes indirectly. Our results indicate that, in contrast to authoritarianism- or benevolence-dominant paternalistic leadership, classical paternalistic leadership (the balanced display of leader authoritarianism and benevolence) has the greatest potential to facilitate role-based paternalistic exchange, which, in turn, positively relates to the two follower outcomes. These results suggest that role-based paternalistic exchange advances our understanding of how paternalistic leadership enhances emic outcomes in Chinese settings.

Keywords: Authoritarianism; Benevolence; Deference to supervisor; Organizational citizenship behavior; Paternalistic leadership; Polynomial regression (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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DOI: 10.1007/s10490-020-09732-y

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