The role of top-level supportive leadership: A multilevel, trickle-down, moderating effects test in Chinese hospitality and tourism firms

Abstract

This study explores and tests the role of top-level supportive leadership on both individual and group members in hospitality and tourism firms, examining the trickle-down model of top-level supportive leadership through not only middle-level supportive leadership, but group cohesion and also moderation of top-level supportive leadership on both middle-level supportive leadership–service quality and group cohesion–service quality relationships, which extend and enrich the trickle-down model of leadership. Hierarchical linear modeling was used to assess a sample of 2009 employee–supervisor pairs across 112 departments in 35 Chinese hospitality and tourism firms. The results suggest that top-level supportive leadership relates positively to employees’ service quality, which trickles down through middle-level supportive leadership, excepting group cohesion; top-level supportive leadership strengthens the positive effect of middle-level supportive leadership on employee service quality, triggering positive effects of group cohesion.

Description

Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management 46 (2021) 104–113

Keywords

Hierarchical linear modeling,Supportive leadership,Group cohesion,Service quality

Citation