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Direct and indirect effects of supervisor communication on organizational commitment

Mark van Vuuren (Institute for Behavioral Research, University of Twente, The Netherlands)
Menno D.T. de Jong (Institute for Behavioral Research, University of Twente, The Netherlands)
Erwin R. Seydel (Institute for Behavioral Research, University of Twente, The Netherlands)

Corporate Communications: An International Journal

ISSN: 1356-3289

Article publication date: 15 May 2007

10308

Abstract

Purpose

In an attempt to gain insight in the contribution of organizational communication to work perceptions, this paper investigates both direct and indirect relationships between supervisor communication and employees' affective organizational commitment. Regarding the indirect relationships, individual perceptions of person‐organization fit and organizational efficacy were included in the model as mediators.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey from a Dutch provider of telecommunication services (n=456) is analyzed on the relationships between communication, commitment and the proposed mediators, using regression analysis and a confirmatory structural equation model.

Findings

Both person‐organization fit and organizational efficacy were found to partly mediate the main effects of communication and affective commitment. Following the test of mediation of fit and efficacy one by one, a test of the two mediators simultaneously in a confirmatory structural equation model led to a fitting model without any modifications. Further, the most important aspects of communication between manager and employee turns out to be the feedback from the manager, followed by the notion of the manager listening to the employee.

Research implications/limitations

Given that the analyses are based on self‐report in one organization, these results have to be handled cautiously.

Practical implications

Supervisor communication strengthens commitment via a clear view of which values are important, which goals are to be achieved, and how efficacious the organization has been in the past.

Originality/value

The results show how communication – through the managers who are seen to represent the organization – can influence employees' perception of an organization's values and capabilities.

Keywords

Citation

van Vuuren, M., de Jong, M.D.T. and Seydel, E.R. (2007), "Direct and indirect effects of supervisor communication on organizational commitment", Corporate Communications: An International Journal, Vol. 12 No. 2, pp. 116-128. https://doi.org/10.1108/13563280710744801

Publisher

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Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2007, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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