Abstract:
Influence tactics are goal-oriented behaviors that individuals use to obtain
desired outcomes. Thus, it is important to understand immediate superiors’ use of
upward influence and its effects on organizational outcomes particularly on
subordinate job satisfaction. This research argues that the upward influence of immediate superiors will
moderate the relationship between subordinate satisfaction with supervision and
subordinate job satisfaction. Data were gathered from 120 employees of Petron
Corporation to test the hypothesis. Results indicate that subordinate’s perceived
upward influence moderated the relationship between subordinate satisfaction with
supervision and job satisfaction—such that immediate superiors perceived by their
subordinates as possessing greater upward influence were the recipients of higher
performance ratings and produced subordinates who were satisfied with their jobs. Moreover, findings indicate that upward influence on higher management was
exerted more for work-related decision areas rather than strategic decision areas.
Implications of these findings reflect that (1) employees put a great value on their
supervisor’s upward influence (2) and supervisors are main contributors in
organizational satisfaction. Moreso, organizations who make use of supervisors’ linking-pin function effectively increase their influence and may indirectly use this as a motivational strategy. Even with significant findings, the researcher recommends improvement
through employing a different sampling procedure and providing qualitative data.
Also, the researcher recommends for the organization to review the research
findings so as to build or adapt a training program that will produce more effective, if
not influential, supervisors.
