Employeesʹ perceptions of Malaysian managersʹ leadership styles and organizational commitment

Using Bassʹ (1990) framework of transactional and transformational leadership, this research investigated the employeesʹ perceptions of the prevalent leadership style among Malaysian managers and its impact on organizational commitment. The Malaysian society with its social complexity has much to offer to the understanding of cultureʹs effect on leadership style and organizational commitment. Data were collected in a survey on a sample of 40 respondents chosen among employees working in cargo companies. Results showed that leadership tends to be more transformational than transactional. Evidence supporting a positive relation between transformational and transactional leadership and organizational commitment has been found.