Organization and Strategy Seminar（2016-08）

Topic：Moving From Abuse to Reconciliation: A Power-Dependency Perspective on When and How a Follower Can Triumph Over Abusive Supervision

Speaker:Hui Liao,University of Maryland

Time: Monday, 11 July, 10:00-11:30 am

Location:Room 217, Guanghua Building 2

Abstract:

Despite the burgeoning research on abusive supervision, the extant literature does not fully examine how the followers can (1) successfully reduce the occurrence of abusive supervision over time, and (2) influence their leaders to engage in reconciliatory behaviors following abusive supervision. Using power-dependency theory as our framework, we first examine the specific state of power-dependency that fosters abusive supervision. Then, we identify coping strategies that the follower can use to address the antecedent of abusive supervision–follower’s asymmetric dependence on leader. Specifically, we hypothesize that through follower’s approach balancing operations, the leader is more likely to regard the abused follower as someone who is instrumental to his or her pursuit of goals and resources, resulting in a reduction in future abuse and an increase in leader’s future reconciliation. After developing and validating measures of balancing operations (Study 1), we test the hypotheses using a three-wave panel design with field data from a real estate company (Study 2). In addition, we strengthen our conclusions by replicating our results through a different field sample in a commercial bank (Study 3). The findings’ theoretical and practical implications for workplace abusive supervision are discussed.

Introduction:

Hui Liao is the Smith Dean’s Professor in Leadership and Management in the Department of Management and Organization at the University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business. She received her Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota's Carlson School of Management. Her current research interests includeleadership and leadership development, proactivity and creativity, service quality, and human capital. She has conducted field research in the United States, China, Switzerland, Singapore, South Korea, Japan, the UAE, and other cultural contexts, involving both small business and multinational companies’ worldwide operations. Her work has appeared in journals such as theAcademy of Management Journal,Journal of Applied Psychology,Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes,Organization Science, andPersonnel Psychology. She received theCummings Scholarly Achievement Awardfrom the Academy of Management’s Organizational Behavior (OB) Division, theScholarly Achievement Award and the Early Career Achievement Awardfrom the Human Resources (HR) Division, and theDorothyHarlow Distinguished Paper Awardfrom the Gender and Diversity in Organizations (GDO) Division. She also received the Distinguished Early Career Contributions Award from the Society for Industrial-Organizational Psychology (SIOP). She has served as an Associate Editor forPersonnel PsychologyandOrganizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, and will serve as an Associate Editor for theAcademy of Management Journalstarting this July.

//www.rhsmith.umd.edu/directory/hui-liao

Your participation is warmly welcomed!