Beyond LMX Differentiation: An Indigenous Approach to Leader-Member Relationship Differentiation

Abstract

It has been established in the literature that leaders differentiate among their followers; however, this line of research has been dominated by Western leader-member exchange (LMX) approach. In this paper, we looked at leader-member relationship differentiation from an indigenous, leader-member guanxi (LMG) perspective. Using a sample of 60 groups and 228 employees, we examined the dual effects of LMG differentiation on employees’ job satisfaction, organizational commitment, turnover intention, and co-work helping behaviors after controlling LMX, LMX median, and LMX differentiation. The results of this study supported the proposed dual effects of LMG differentiation: on the one hand, LMG di..