Leadership Style and Perceived Organisational Politics as Predictors of Organisational Commitment among Civil Servants in Osun State

Abstract

This study examined the dimensions of employees commitment; it assessed the relationship between leadership styles and organisational commitment among Civil Servant in Osun State; and examined the relationship between perceived organisational politics and organisational commitment among Civil Servant in Osun State. It also ascertained the relationship among leadership styles, perceived organisational politics and organisational commitment among Civil Servant in Osun State. These were with the view to establishing factors that predicts organisational commitment among Civil Servant in Osun State.

Primary data were used for the study. The data were collected among Civil Servants in Osun state. Four ministries, that is ministry of Finance, Commerce, Agriculture and Education were purposively selected for the study. These ministries were found to have high number of employees which guarantee sufficient samples from which generalization could be made to other ministries. A pre-survey visit to the Civil Service Commission showed that the ministry of Commerce had 122 staff; ministry of Education had 150 staff; ministry of Agriculture had 133, and ministry of Finance had 91 staff totaling 496 which represents the sampling frame for the study. A total of 248 participants representing 50% of the total population was selected using stratified random sampling technique. Three standardized Psychological Scales were used in the study. These were the Supervisors Behaviour Descriptive Questionnaire (SBDQ), Perception of Organisational Politics Scale (POPS) and Organizational Commitment Questionnaire (OCQ). The SBDQ was used to measure leadership style; the POPS was used to assess perceived organisational politics; and the OCQ was used to measure Organisational Commitment. Data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics such as mean, Standard Deviation and percentages and inferential statistics such as Pearson Moment Correlation and Multiple Regression.

Result showed that Civil Servants in Osun State placed higher value on affective dimension of organisational commitment. Results also showed a significant positive relationship between leadership style and organisational commitment among Civil Servants in Osun State (r (246)=0.31, p < 0.05}. Furthermore it revealed a significant relationship between perceived organisational politics and organisational commitment {r =(246) = 0.20, p > 0.05}. It further showed a joint significant relationship between leadership style, perceived organisational politics and organisational commitment { F (2,245) = 16.21, p < 0.05}.The stepwise multiple regression analysis revealed that 9.4% variation in organisational commitment is explained by the democratic leadership style, autocratic leadership style and perceived organisational politics {r= 0.324, r2 (adj) = 0.0094, F (3,244) = 9.514, P < 0.05}.