Job role ambiguity as a mediator between workplace communication and positive work outcomes

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the mediating relationship of job role ambiguity between the frequency of workplace communication and perceptions of Leader Member Exchange (LMX), global job satisfaction, and satisfaction with supervisor. A total of 99 lower and upper-division business students (M = 47; F = 52) with a mean age of 25, participated by answering a paper and pencil questionnaire. Participants worked more than 15 hours per week.

Results showed various significant relationships between workplace communication and perceived LMX as well as the relationships between LMX and global job satisfaction and satisfaction with supervision were also significant. An exploratory analysis showed that workplace communication had a significant relationship to proximal variables such as satisfaction with supervisor and LMX than global job satisfaction. Hypothesized empirical support for the mediation hypotheses were not found, because the needed correlational relationships among the mediator Gob role ambiguity), the initial variable (frequency of workplace communication) and the outcome variables did not exist or approach statistical significance.