Management and Marketing - Theses

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Author: Brar, Jagvinder Singh × Type: Masters Research thesis ×

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    Are you the only one laughing?: The influence of leader humour during feedback in determining leader-member exchange quality
    Brar, Jagvinder Singh ( 2014)
    This project examined the influence of leader humour during feedback and how this impacted upon the leader-member exchange from the perspective of the subordinate. Humour has previously been shown to be a potentially useful and powerful tool for management however it has also been shown to be an event which can work both for the advantage and disadvantage of the leader. Using the leader-member exchange, affective events theory and organisational justice frameworks, this study identified that leader humour is valuable in determining the quality of the leader-member exchange. The use of humour in this context can cause emotional reactions for its recipients that translate into affective events at work. Humour was distinguished between positive and negative types of humour. Humour fit was developed as a measure of humour compatibility between a leader and member dyad. Interactional justice was split into its components of interpersonal justice and informational justice. Survey-based research was used to quantitatively test the proposed hypotheses. This was achieved via a survey-based field study and its findings provide further understanding on the benefits and, indeed, the hazards associated with humour in the context of the leader-member exchange. Key findings identified that humour was mediated by affect in relation to the quality of the leader-member exchange thus providing support in viewing the use of humour as an event that produces an emotional reaction. It was also identified that informational and interpersonal justice moderated the relationship between leader humour use and affect. The findings suggest that the use of positive humour by the leader during feedback improved the leader member-exchange quality, while the use of negative humour by the leader during feedback attenuated the leader-member exchange quality. These findings provide implications for management practice. Humour was empirically demonstrated to be an important tool in the context of feedback and a means by which leaders can improve their relationships with subordinates.