Exploring The Impact Factor Structure Of University Teachers' Leader-Member Exchange

Leader-member exchange (LMX) is one of frontal and hot topics in western leading research. In this paper, we define LMX as"the quality of relation between a leader and a member"as same as most researchers think. Studying the impact factor structure of university teachers'LMX can not only expand the range of LMX research, enrich the achievements in the study of leading and organizational behavior, but also help educational administrators make clear and definite the impact factor structure of university teachers'LMX, improve the validity of developing and maintaining the quality of LMX.Based on the review of comments on the current research situations about LMX, this paper investigated 808 teachers in four universities using the impact factor structure inventory of university teachers'LMX which was designed by the author and had been proved to be of good reliability and validity. Visa exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), the impact factor structure of university teachers'LMX is explored. The differences are also compared by multiple comparisons while demography variables are not same. The main results are as follows:First, the impact factor structure of university teachers'LMX is composed of five dimensions: merit standpoints, upward attitudes, personality characters, exchange behaviors, circumstances. Confirmatory factor analysis shows that it is five-dimension structure which is best in all of the impact factor structures, and its reliability and validity are good.Second, there are no significant differences in the impact factor structure of university teachers'LMX when teachers'sexes or educations are not same. Evident distinctions are identified when teachers come from different academies. While teachers'work years change, personality characters and merit standpoints dimensions also have significant differences. The dimension of upward attitudes between teachers who only have classes to students and teachers who only do businesslike work is proved to be different significantly when teachers'work characters are different.At last, discussions were made and five pieces of advice were presented according to the research results: (1) Construct good merit standpoints. (2) Correct the attitude to leaders and choose appropriate manners while commutating with leaders. (3) Cultivate good personality characters. (4) Leaders should pay attention to members and show consideration for members forwardly. (5) Organizations should try their best to make circumstances better.