Multi-dimensional leadership orientation and lecturersʹ work commitment: A mediating effect in leadership effectiveness among Malaysian polytechnicʹs heads of department

The purpose of this study was to determine if Malaysian polytechnicʹs heads of department multidimensional leadership orientation effects the lecturer work commitment, and a mediating effects in leadership effectiveness as perceived by the lecturers. The department heads leadership orientation was determined by the structural, human resource, political, cultural, and educational frame used based on Bolman and Dealʹs leadership frame and Sergiovanniʹs Leadership model. A total of 841 lecturers and 76 department heads from 24 polytechnics participated in this study. Hierarchical Linear Modeling was used to determine the department headʹs multi-dimensional leadership effect on lecturers work commitment. The study proves that polytechnicʹs 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 work commitment. The department headʹs leadership effectiveness as perceived by the lecturers mediates the relationship between department headʹs multi-dimensional leadership and lecturers work commitment.