Abstract
The concept of leadership feedback attribution is complex in its applicability in defining the organizational behavior. The concept of leadership can be broadly defined as the intrinsic ability to internalize a setting with the intention of empowering a group or team to proactively and creatively contribute towards problem solving (Martinko & Gardner, 1987). Leadership feedback attribution is a process which is inclusive of setting, strategic planning, managing resources, and deploying the needed resources to realize specific objectives (Knowlton, 1980).
At the same time, it defines the desired performance level, sustainable organizational behavior, and the level of job satisfaction (Weiner, 1985). This paper reviews the influence of leaders’ feedback attributions on subordinates behavior, performance, and job satisfaction within the US Hospitality Industry. The paper is based on a comparative analysis of leadership feedback attribution in relation to causal attribution theory, goal setting theory, and abusive supervision theory.
Specifically, leaders’ feedback attributions are reviewed in terms of its influences on subordinate performance, behavior, emotions, job satisfaction, and achievement among others. The dependent variable is the feedback attribution while the independent variables are personal ability, social ability, and structural motivation.
Introduction
Research background
There are several types of leaders’ feedback attributions in organizations. For instance, addressing feedback with anger may result in abusive supervision. On the other hand, addressing feedback as evaluation that is based on the results of poor performance may not give the ideal picture for proactive organizational behavior module. As a result, the subordinates may feel disengaged and might not display optimal performance. Organizational commitment, job satisfaction, and involvement are critical elements within an effective organizational culture.
As a manager within an organization, job satisfaction should be the top priority towards the subordinates. Reflectively, job satisfaction translates into effective workforce since satisfied employees will meet their needs while fulfilling the organization’s work values. Besides, strategies promoting job satisfaction accommodate equity among the employees, in terms of rewards and treatment. The generic components of satisfaction among the employee not only promote a healthy work culture, but also a proactive and flexible labor force (Arvey and Dewhirst, 1976).
It is therefore important to review the impact of different leaders’ feedback attributions within the Hospitality Industry in the US and their influence on the quality of organizational behavior. The analysis will be based on the causal attribution theory, goal setting theory, and abusive supervision theory.
The causal attribution theory denotes leadership feedback attribution to a system which reviews the party who is influenced by an impression to carry out a unique action (Brown, 1984). This system is designed to continuously monitor the frequency of the recommended actions. In relation to organizational behavior, the internal factors such as organizational structure, hierarchy of leadership, and supervisory module have direct influence on the performance and response of subordinates in terms of ability and the effort.
The goal theory consists of a system that monitors controlled and uncontrolled activities of the subordinates within an organization with the intention of basing the feedback channel on the goals and organizational practices. For instance, an exaggerated or biased feedback report by a supervisor may demoralize the employees, especially when the feedback does not reflect on the reality of the moment. As a result, performance may be negatively affected since subordinates may resort to performing within their comfort zones.
The abusive supervisory theory limits the feedback system to the opinion of a supervisor, which might be very irrelevant, non-consultative, and sometimes very arrogant. As a result, a quantifiable paradigm shift in perception may not be linked to correlation between behavior and performance of an individual. Thus, the subordinates may allocate low time and commitment in achieving organizational efficiency. It is acceptable to state that the abusive supervisory model that is not aligned to proactive thinking will not ensure creation of a good rapport with personal wellness within the goals of any organization.
Research problem statement
Previously, the leadership feedback channel was depicted as a linear process in which a supervisor directly conveyed messages to the subordinates and tracks their performance. In the twenty-first century, the feedback models are interactions of transaction processes where both the supervisor and the subordinates have an influence on each other as they interact within the realms of organizational cultural context.
Organizational communication captures the concepts of efficiency, efforts, ability, and strategies in place to accomplish an effective organizational behavior (Chan & Mcallister, 2014). Reflectively, different leaders’ feedback systems are used by supervisors in different organizations. For instance, the attribution model continuously monitors the frequency of the recommended actions.
On the other hand, goal theory monitors controlled and controlled activities of the subordinates within an organization. In addition, the abusive supervisory theory limits the feedback system to the opinion of a supervisor, which might be very irrelevant and is prone to abuse of power. These feedback systems directly influence the subordinate performance, behavior, emotions, job satisfaction, and achievement.
The need for leaders’ feedback efficiency necessitates more research in the area of feedback systems and their impacts on organizational behavior within the Hospitality Industry of the US. It is for this reason that the research will attempt to provide a framework for organizational behavior as directly influenced by the type of leaders’ feedback and response by the subordinates.
The dependent variable is the feedback attribution while the independent variables are personal ability, social ability, and structural motivation. At the end of the research, organizations within the Hospitality Industry, that want to improve organizational behavior and increase their commitment to efficiency, will have mechanisms that they can use to decide on the most appropriate feedback style.
Research hypothesis
Null hypothesis
Different leadership feedback styles have an influence on the quality of organizational behavior in the US Hospitality Industry.
Alternative hypothesis
Different leadership feedback styles do not have an influence on the quality of organizational behavior in the US Hospitality Industry.
The research aims and objectives
Taking the role and importance of different leadership feedback styles into consideration, this particular research study aims to analyze the degree to which different leadership feedback styles influence the quality of organizational behavior in the US Hospitality Industry. The research study also has particular sub-objectives that are mentioned below:
- To analyze the importance of different leadership feedback styles in the US Hospitality Industry.
- To explore the different leadership feedback styles adopted by five selected restaurants operating in the US Hospitality Industry.
- To investigate the impact of different leadership feedback styles on the quality of organizational behavior in the US Hospitality Industry.
Research questions
- How effective are different leadership feedback styles in the orientation of organizational behavior within the US Hospitality Industry?
- What is the relevance of leadership feedback style in different organizational behavior systems within the US Hospitality Industry?
- How effective is the role of an organizational culture in organization behavior sustainability as part of the feedback strategy within the US Hospitality Industry?
Significance of the study
Organizational behavior effectiveness determines the level of performance of an organization and business sustainability amidst competition, in terms of effort and ability of the subordinates. This research will assist the organizations within the Hospitality Industry in the US to implement effective leadership feedback styles that promote efficiency and sustainability of employee performance. It will be a compilation of best leadership feedback style practices among establishments with effective organizational behavior system. The study will also provide recommendations on how organization can effectively manage their organizational behavior, as part of the active leadership feedback channel, in order to guarantee job satisfaction among the subordinates.
Limitations of the study
Insufficient information exists concerning different leadership feedback styles and their influence on effective organizational behavior within the US Hospitality Industry. The study will not be a magic bullet in the leadership feedback style and effective organizational behavior proposal. It will only provide structures that must be combined with the values and goals of a particular organization to ensure effective behavior as a management strategy.
Therefore, organizations within the US Hospitality Industry cannot implement the recommendations without reflecting on external and internal weaknesses in different organizational behavior systems and leadership feedback styles. If too much emphasis goes to emerging trends, then the case study organizations will not learn about the fundamentals of the practice that got those firms to their market positions.
Literature Review
Different feedback attribution styles
Over the last few years, the roles and responsibilities of managers within a company have significantly changed. According to Arvey and Dewhirst (1976), leadership feedback style can be explained as the overall leadership approach practiced by managers towards their subordinates. Further, there are several types of leadership feedback styles in terms of managing the subordinates of an organization.
Management style can undoubtedly have a huge impact on how the employees perform. For example, employees in multinational organizations are free to decide their way of working and their managers follow a relaxed leadership feedback style, since it is suitable within such business environments (Chan & Mcallister, 2014). On the other hand, government and public sector firms follow a stricter leadership feedback style due to the high level of bureaucracy (Brown, 1984).
According to Grenny (2012), each type of leadership feedback style serves a purpose grounded on the kind of operations and business environment and the situation. The highly efficient management styles are those that can help the managers to develop a good operating environment for all the individuals involved and motivate employees to put in their maximum efforts (Grenny, 2012). Moreover, it is believed that management styles also have an impact on the quality of organizational behavior within distinct industries such as the Hospitality Industry (Chan & Mcallister, 2014).
According to Jian et al. (2012), management style has a strong impact on employee motivation and ability to learn in an organization. Besides, highly effective managers differ in leadership styles based on knowledge and skills, the type of task, and time restrictions among other factors. These actions inspire and encourage optimal performance among employees (Jian et al. 2012).
On the other hand, Knowlton (1980) notes that leadership feedback styles differ in different sectors and industries. The author is categorical in stating that different operation systems determine the type of leadership style a company is practicing. Irrespective of the leadership style, the author concludes that leadership feedback styles have an impact on organizational behavior in terms of motivation and performance among the subordinates (Knowlton, 1980).
US Hospitality Industry
Several literatures indicate that the US Hospitality Industry is steadily growing in terms of scope and production (Price Waterhouse Coopers, 2014). The scope involves the increasing number of employees, while production involves management techniques that have been employed to ensure sustainable growth (Ernst & Young, 2012). This requires organizations within the industry to put in place suitable management techniques to ensure effective retention and attraction of employees. Moreover, proper communication between the staff members and top management is considered as an important factor behind the success of any business (Ernst & Young, 2012).
Since different leaders’ feedback styles have different impacts on the organizational behavior, organizations’ choice of feedback styles greatly depends on the effectiveness of communication that a particular management style could offer (Locke & Latham, 1990). For instance, in the case of autocratic management style, there is a lack of communication between top management and employees, since the employees are not involved in decision making (Locke & Latham, 1990).
They are given instructions, which they need to follow. Secondly, in the case of democratic management style, the level of communication is higher as compared to the autocratic one, since the employees are involved in company’s practices to some level. Besides, managers practicing the democratic style of management show willingness to delegate duties to the employees as part of the organizational functionality (Martinko & Gardner, 1987). In the ideal, the attribution process in the leadership feedback style should encourage the subordinates to employ their own knowledge and make decisions when suitable. In this style, the level of communication between employees and with top management is generally good (Locke & Latham, 1990).
However, an abusive supervision approach is prone to demoralization since the feedback report may not display the actual events on the ground. Besides, supervisors practicing this approach may abuse their authority by promoting nepotism and excessive criticism without giving the subordinates a chance for personal growth and development (Martinko et al. 2013). In this type of management style, communication is not effective, since the employees might not feel the need to communicate with other colleagues or top management before making decisions or performing any task because of fear of displeasing the supervisors (Martinko et al. 2013).
In summary, these leaders’ feedback styles are practiced across different organizations within the Hospitality Industry of the US. As mentioned above, the feedback styles have different impacts on organizational behavior effectiveness. Theoretically, organizations practicing the abusive supervision style have the weakest organizational behavior and communication systems.
Organization behavior and effective business
Proper communication between the management and employees determine the success of any organization (Ernst & Young 2012). In fact, different leaders’ feedback styles have different impacts on the organizational communication channel. Thus, the choice of a management style is directly proportional to the effectiveness of communication in that particular restaurant (Moss & Martinko, 1998).
Organizational and leadership ethics determine the level of participation by the employees and interventions passed through a feasibility test for implementation to initiate a cultural shift in the organization. Besides, communication ethics defines content policy based on the need to address work related habits in order to create a friendly workplace environment (Tepper, 2007).
As a result of properly structured organizational behavior ethics, the work environment becomes holistic, that is, soft and socially friendly to the staff. Besides, healthy ethical communication culture creates structural goals which develop norms, expectations of specific behavior display and appropriate guideline controlling interaction with one another. Basically, “the effect of deviant behaviors may primarily impact individuals who are emotionally reactive-highly sensitive to insults, easily offended, and who perceive threats in seemingly innocent exchanges” (Jian et al. 2012, p. 689).
Aspired ideals of a stable organizational behavior model include the need for an organization to strive to develop a good culture by fostering a strong alignment with the monitored path of achieving its goals, missions and vision. The model has written rules of engagement, expected behavior, and repercussions for deviation. The aspect of organization behavior system should be made effective in order to minimize conflicts of interest. Thus, the concept of aspired and profiled structures must be laid down to aid exchange of information, professionalism and pro-activeness in issue based interaction between the supervisor and the subordinates (Wilhelm, Herd, & Steiner, 1993).
The part of principles in an effective organizational behavior model encompasses laid down rules to enable the organization to be more efficient. This is in the form of a well organized hierarchy of workforce from management with administrative roles to service providing workers. Managers are empowered by the organization’s constitution to perform the role of prefects and offer leadership solutions upon consultation with one another. To control group behavior, desirable leadership attributes are necessary, which are possessed by the managers gained over time in experience (Moss & Martinko, 1998).
Therefore, “actions are most often attributed to four causes: effort and ability (both internal and dispositional causes), luck, and task difficulty (both external and situational causes)” (Knowlton, 1980, p. 151). Whenever there is a strong professional relationship nurtured on the values of appreciation and respect within an organizational communication model, hidden talents are easily displayable for business sustainability (Tepper, 2007).
Effective organization behavior system is acquired through creativity inspiration in communication systems in organizations. When successfully carried out, redundancy and emotional strains are kept at bay, as constant interaction is a means of boosting confidence and personality which is a recipe for good organizational culture. Moreover, self evaluation skills in communication ethics encompass actual and expected outcome. Therefore, “because employees engage in behavioral roles that can maximize their sense of cognitive balance or consistency, they are motivated to perform the job in a manner that is consistent with their self image” (Jian et al. 2012, p. 686).
Other factors associated with inhibiting proactive behavior in organizations are inappropriate organizational structures, work pressure, entrenched attitudes towards learning, and emphasis on meeting targets. Fear and resistance to change in organizations that are characterized by high levels of bureaucracy and inter-functional rivalry are the main reasons that impede performance (Weiner, 1985).
Leadership and management in organizations
The concept of leadership can be broadly defined as the intrinsic ability to internalize a setting with the intention of empowering a group or team to proactively and creatively contribute towards problem solving (Moss & Martinko, 1998). The main characteristics of leadership include adaptability, empowerment, commitment, contribution and critical problem solving skills. The aspect of adaptability effects the adjustments that may be required in exercising influence over a challenge.
Through these adjustments, a person exercising leadership may be in a position to model a unique setting that reassures and discerns the wants and desires of the subordinates. The aspect of empowerment involves inspiring self-esteem and confidence among the subjects to align their feelings to specific intuition or instinct. These elements determine the effects of an organizational behavior system on subordinate performance in terms of effort and ability (Brown, 1984).
Hospitality Industry organizational effectiveness
Organizations function best when the intra and intercommunication systems are perfect. Therefore, successful organizations manage information continuously. The practice of information management involves the science of processing information to facilitate informed decision making among managers. Thus, in reviewing performance based on feedback received, it is important to handle the voluntary information with care to boost trust and confidentiality which form the pinnacle of organizational behavior (Brown, 1984). Therefore, it is critical to balance the feedback with the goals of such an organization as a remedy towards inclusiveness and active participation which translates into desirable performance.
To increase productive behavior, it is vital to create a healthy work environment and personal growth perspectives that apply to all situations, since the problems that each individual faces at an interpersonal level ultimately affect the group. In carrying out an in-depth enquiry to each employee’s personal life, organizational psychologists should endeavor to determine which behavioral therapy best suits the individual. Thus, through properly designed training procedures, talent promotion, and motivation, productive behavior internalization will present that individual with the best alternative ways of solving problems faced in role execution (Grenny, 2012).
Research Methodology
Research Techniques
The researcher will be fully involved in preparing both quantitative and qualitative research phases, implementing the survey and interviews and analyzing the data gathered. A sense of neutrality will be maintained and the researcher will conduct research as an explorer, whose goal is to establish the link between leaders’ feedback styles and effectiveness of organizational behavior systems within the US Hospitality Industry. The large scale questionnaire survey for the quantitative phase will help identify which competencies and feedback styles are most common, while the qualitative phase will help focus on actual management methods used and communication channels in different organizations (De-Rada, 2005).
Research Approach
This research will be conducted using research survey study approach. The researcher chose qualitative approach rather than quantitative, because the scope of the research is focused, subjective, dynamic, and discovery oriented. The qualitative approach is best suited to gain proper insight into the situation of the case study. Besides, qualitative data analysis is more detailed than quantitative one.
Moreover, this approach will create room for further analysis using different and divergent tools for checking the degree of error and assumption limits. The researcher will use direct interviews with open ended and close ended questionnaires to target respondents (De-Rada, 2005).
Data, to will be collected through one-on-one interviews, will be scrutinized in detail. Each question asked will be comprehensive to ensure that respondents have an opportunity to give deep and answers that provide an insight into the research problem by use of Google docs software. Transcription will then be done to each of the recorded interview process. For each response from each participant, the recorded transcripts will be perused to coin relevant and most appropriate response. Factually, instances of divergent or convergent opinions by one or more respondents will be marked appropriately (De-Rada, 2005).
Use of the qualitative research approach will facilitate understanding of the individual attributes that contribute to poor performance. Attributes of the subjects under study will be qualitatively studied through observation where the researcher will collect data using an observation schedule during the interview process.
This will allow the researcher to enter observed qualitative behavior indicative of lack of motivation in an organization. Quantitative methods used in this study will generally apply to the analysis of the collected data where analytical tools such as chi square, regression and correlation methodologies will be used. These methodologies will help in identification of statistical patterns in the data on motivation collected from organizations using questionnaires and interviews (De-Rada, 2005).
In order to collect the data necessary for this study, several steps will be taken to ensure that appropriate care is taken to protect the participants. The participants will be given consent forms which outline the topic of discussion and any relevant information that the participant might need before agreeing to be interviewed. Once consent is obtained, interviews will set up with the selected participants, in which the author of this study will act as the interlocutor with the participant, giving semi-structured individual interviews that will be conducted in the English language so that communication is given depth that might not be allowed in interviews conducted in a language that is secondary to the participants (De-Rada, 2005).
Research Samples
This research will target managers and supervisors randomly chosen from organizations within the US Hospitality Industry, since they have the knowledge of the feedback attribution and systems management strategies that regulate the effectiveness of communication and performance. A sample space of 200 participants will be interviewed. The sampling criterion that will be used in the initial sampling plan represents the true picture of the activities on the ground. Adaptation of this sample plan as authentic would not compromise the aspect of comparative study in decision making, that is, it gives room for comparison to another set of data.
Justification of the methods to be used
Use of the qualitative research approach will facilitate understanding of the individual attributes of organizational behavior as influenced by the leaders’ feedback attribution. Attributes of the subjects under study will be qualitatively studied through observation, where the researcher will collect data using an observation schedule during the interview process. This will allow the researcher to enter observed qualitative behavior indicative of lack of motivation in an organization.
Quantitative methods used in this study will generally apply to the analysis of the collected data where analytical tools such as chi square, regression and correlation methodologies will be used. These methodologies will help in identification of statistical patterns in the data on motivation collected from organizations using questionnaires and interviews. For interviews, as long as an interviewee agrees to be recorded, the interview will be recorded. This will ensure that all points made by the interviewee are documented and available for consideration in the analysis.
The collected quantitative data will be coded and passed through Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), version seventeen. In the process, cross tabulation will be used to compare and contrast perception on the transition and the actual position of the same in the US. In order to quantify the relationship between the independent and dependent variable, ANOVA will be essential besides figures, charts, and tabular representation of correlation analysis (De-Rada, 2005). Therefore, ANOVA analysis will attempt to establish if there exists a statistical equality between the mean of the two groups of data.
Research hypothesis
In order to capture a comprehensive understanding of the perspectives related to leaders’ feedback attributions and their influence on organizational behavior, it is essential to reflect on the factors that influence subordinate performance as part of the supervisory approach in an organization. This study will aim at testing one hypothesis. The null hypothesis is that different leadership feedback styles have an influence on the quality of organizational behavior in the US Hospitality Industry.
The alternative hypothesis is that different leadership feedback styles do not have an influence on the quality of organizational behavior in the US Hospitality Industry. It is possible, as already indicated in the past literature research, that leaders feedback attributions have an influence on subordinates behavior, performance, and job satisfaction. In order to test this hypothesis, the researcher will consider the different types of feedback when framing the questions to capture the elements of subordinates behavior, performance, and job satisfaction in relation to the supervisory approach in a particular organization.
Conclusion and application
Summary of issues discussed
The use of the qualitative research approach will facilitate understanding of the influence of leaders’ feedback attributions on subordinates behavior, performance, and job satisfaction within the US Hospitality Industry. Attributes of the subjects under study will be successfully studied through direct participation where the researcher will collect data using an observation schedule, during the interview process. This methodology will help in identification of statistical patterns in the data collected.
The evaluation methodology will be used in completing this paper. The literature review suggests that organization behavior, in terms of performance through effort and ability, is directly influenced by the type of leadership feedback attribution approach by supervisors towards their subordinates. It is apparent that management style has a strong impact on employee motivation and ability to learn in an organization. Besides, highly effective managers differ in leadership styles based on knowledge and skills, the type of task, and time restrictions upon their subordinates among other factors.
Managerial implications
The initial step towards actualization of an ideal workplace involves research and creation of an informed and practical system of tracking and managing the performance feedback. Within the leadership feedback channel, the aspects of motivation, personal growth, and achievement may inspire activation of an ideal organizational behavior. Thus, managers may use the findings of the study to review their feedback attribution approaches towards promoting and sustaining optimal performance. Besides, the findings may equip supervisors with the necessary knowledge of how to promote an engagement environment for sustainable business.
Contribution to the study
The findings of the study may facilitate accurate prediction of the impacts of different feedback systems on the effectiveness of organizational behavior. Besides, the findings will provide the link between subordinate performance and effective organizational leadership approach.
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