A QUANTITATIVE EXAMINATION OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LEADERSHIP AND ORGANIZATIONAL COMMITMENT IN EMPLOYEES OF FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS by Kimberly Ann Maiocco Doctoral Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Business Administration Liberty University August 2017 Abstract The objective of this research was to examine the relationship between leadership practice and organizational commitment in employees in faith-based organizations. The research utilized Bass and Avolio's Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ) Leader Form and Meyer and Allen’s Three-Component Model (TCM) Employee Commitment Survey. The purpose of the research was to determine whether there was a relationship between leadership style and organizational commitment. Attributed idealized influence (IIA), behavioral idealized influence (IIB), inspirational motivation (IM), and contingent reward (CR) predicted affective commitment. Attributed idealized influence (IIA), inspirational motivation (IM), intellectual stimulation (IS), individual consideration (IC), active management-by-exception (MBEA), and transactional leadership predicted continuance commitment. Intellectual stimulation (IS) and passive management-by- exception (MBEP) predicted normative commitment. Transformational leadership predicted all commitment types (affective, continuance, and normative). Although a slight linear relationship was discovered, there was no statistical significance between the variables of leadership style and organizational commitment of employees in faith-based organizations. Keywords: leadership, commitment, motivation, and faith-based A QUANTITATIVE EXAMINATION OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LEADERSHIP AND ORGANIZATIONAL COMMITMENT IN EMPLOYEES OF FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS by Kimberly Ann Maiocco Doctoral Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Business Administration Liberty University August 2017 ___________________________________________________ Date: __________ Dr. Eric Richardson, Chair ___________________________________________________ Date: __________ Dr. Kendrick W. Brunson, Committee Member ___________________________________________________ Date: __________ Dr. Gene Sullivan, DBA Program Director __________________________________________________ Date: __________ Dr. Dave Calland, Dean, School of Business Dedication To my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ “who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.” Titus 2:16. Thank you for giving me purpose. To my husband, Christopher, thank you for your redeeming love and encouragement through the journey of our marriage. Special thanks for the many times you drove to the beach while I worked toward this goal! Looking towards many more years of walking the beach together. To my four incredible children, Christian, Jonathan, Michael, and Chelsea, may you “walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.” Colossians 1:10. May you always value a Biblical education and share that opportunity with your children. To my three grandchildren, Caleb, Carly, and Katie Grace, and all future grandchildren, may you always “love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.” Deuteronomy 6:5. To my dad, Dr. Gene Webb, for inspiring me to pursue academic excellence, through your encouragement and own pursuit of higher education, but mostly, for praying for our family. To my mom, Greta Joyce Cain Webb Murphy, you started this doctoral journey with me, but went home to the Lord before it was completed. You are the most incredible woman I have ever known, thank you for being my mom. This work is dedicated to your memory. “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” 2 Timothy 4:7. Acknowledgments The completion of this this research would not be possible without the incredible support of Liberty University’s Doctoral of Business Administration Cohort 3, the most incredible group of men and women I have had the privilege to work with in academic endeavors. I am thankful for your encouragement and support over this journey. I am thankful for Dr. Gene Sullivan and his guidance and wisdom of the DBA program at Liberty. Your sincerity and desire for our success was most evident. I am thankful for Dr. Eric Richardson, Dr. Val Candy, and Dr. Joseph Thomas for their help, guidance, and patience through this process. Without your dedication, this would have been an impossible task. Table of Contents List of Tables .......................................................................................................................v List of Figures .................................................................................................................. viii Section 1: Foundation of the Study ......................................................................................1 Background of the Problem ...........................................................................................2 Problem Statement .........................................................................................................4 Purpose Statement ..........................................................................................................5 Nature of the Study ........................................................................................................6 Research Question .........................................................................................................6 Hypotheses .....................................................................................................................7 Theoretical Framework ..................................................................................................7 Definition of Terms......................................................................................................10 Assumptions, Limitations, and Delimitations ..............................................................12 Assumptions .......................................................................................................... 12 Limitations ............................................................................................................ 13 Delimitations ......................................................................................................... 14 Significance of the Study .............................................................................................15 Reduction of Gaps................................................................................................. 15 Implications for Biblical Integration ..................................................................... 15 Relationship to Field of Study .............................................................................. 17 A Review of the Professional and Academic Literature ..............................................18 Faith-Based Organization Employees ................................................................... 19 i Organizational Commitment ................................................................................. 21 Traditional Theories of Motivation ....................................................................... 24 Leadership Theory ................................................................................................ 30 Trait Theory of Leadership ................................................................................... 35 Behavioral Theories of Leadership ....................................................................... 38 Theories of Organizational Commitment ............................................................. 56 The Multidimensional Nature of Organizational Commitment ............................ 62 Contemporary Studies Linking Leadership and Commitment ............................. 63 Research Variables ................................................................................................ 66 Transition and Summary ..............................................................................................66 Section 2: The Project ........................................................................................................68 Purpose Statement ........................................................................................................68 Role of the Researcher .................................................................................................69 Participants ...................................................................................................................71 Research Method and Design ......................................................................................72 Research Method .................................................................................................. 72 Research Design .................................................................................................... 75 Population and Sampling .............................................................................................78 Data Collection ............................................................................................................81 Instruments ............................................................................................................ 81 Data Collection Technique ..................................................................................