The relationship between servant leadership, follower trust, team commitment and unit effectiveness
Date
2007-03
Authors
Dannhauser, Zani
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch
Abstract
A study of the literature revealed that the content and the structure of several
constructs that are used in research in the framework of Positive Organisational
Behaviour are subject to doubt. It also became clear that the relationship between
the constructs (servant leadership, trust, team commitment, and unit effectiveness)
could profitably be investigated further. A study to obtain more clarity about these
aspects was therefore planned and executed. In order to conduct this exploratory
survey research, an electronic web-based questionnaire was used as the method of
data gathering. The questionnaire was programmed and posted for a period of three
weeks on the portal of the company where the survey was conducted. A total of 531
respondents from the vehicle sales division of the particular organisation participated
in the study. Sales persons (n=417) who were working in 100 dealerships in the
automobile business completed three questionnaires. The three questionnaires were
the rater version of the Servant Leadership Questionnaire of Barbuto and Wheeler (a
self-report version also exists), the Workplace Trust Survey developed by Ferres, the
Team Commitment Survey of Bennett. The sales persons assessed the level of
servant leadership of their superiors (sales managers) and their own levels of trust
and of team commitment. The sales managers (n=114) assessed the effectiveness of
the sales persons who reported to them by completing the Team Effectiveness
Questionnaire developed by Larson and LaFasto. The Directors who were
responsible for the marketing of the products of the organisation completed an
internal questionnaire on the performance of the sales function in the dealerships.
Answers were sought to five research questions, dealing with the content of the
constructs, their configurations, their interrelations and biographic and organisational
variables that could possibly have an influence on the constructs.
Description
Thesis (PhD (Industrial Pshychology))--University of Stellenbosch, 2007.
Keywords
Dissertations -- Industrial psychology, Theses -- Industrial psychology, Leadership, Teams in the workplace, Trust, Commitment (Psychology), Organizational effectiveness