An empirical study of communication patterns, leadership styles, and subordinate satisfaction in R&D project teams in Korea

Abstract

The relationships between leader-subordinate interpersonal communication and subordinate satisfaction were empirically examined in conjunction with leadership for 199 researchers of small R&D project teams of six government-sponsored research institutes in Korea. The official communication was more positively related to showing consideration than initiating structure of leader behavior. The non-official communication was positively related to showing consideration but not significantly related to initiating structure. Subordinate satisfaction was differently related to the official and non-official communication according to the leadership types. Finally, several theoretical and managerial implications are discussed. © 1991.