Relationship of multi-dimensional leadership with lecturers work commitment: A study on Malaysian heads of polytechnic’s academic departments

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine if Malaysian polytechnic’s heads of department multi-dimensional
leadership orientation affects the lecturer commitment and mediating effects in leadership effectiveness as perceived
by the lecturers. The department heads leadership orientations was determined by the structural, human resource,
political, cultural, and educational frame used based on Bolman and Deal’s reframing the organization perspective
and Sergiovanni’s leadership model. Eight hundred forty-one lecturers and 76 department heads from 24 polytechnics
participated in this study. Hierarchical linear modeling was used to determine the department head’s multidimensional leadership effect on lecturers commitment. The study proves that polytechnic’s heads of department
practiced multi-dimensional leadership, with human resource frame as the predominant frame. There is a significant
relationship between human resource and cultural frames and lecturers commitment. The department head’s
leadership effectiveness as perceived by the lecturers mediates the relationship between department head’s multidimensional leadership and lecturers’ commitment.