Aiming to reduce the difficulty of managing and motivating knowledge workers (k-workers), and promote the psychological well-being of them in Chinese hospitals, this study examines how k-workers’ leader–member exchange (LMX) influences their task performance and the mediation effect of organizational citizenship behavior (OCB). Through a self-administered survey, valid questionnaires were collected from 384 k-workers in Chinese hospitals, and partial least squares structural equation modeling was employed for data analysis. The findings show that LMX is positively related to OCB and task performance, and that OCB mediates the relationship between LMX and task performance. This research has theoretical implications and also provides practical suggestions on how to manage, motivate, and inspire k-workers, and promote the psychological well-being of them, and finally enhance the organizational performance in Chinese hospitals.

In this study we aimed to promote Chinese public sector development and reduce the difficulty of management and motivation of knowledge workers (k-workers) in the public sector. We investigated if servant leadership influences leader–member exchange (LMX) and if k- workers’ LMX influences their task performance, as well as examining the mediating role of organizational citizenship behavior (OCB). We collected questionnaires from 383 k-workers in 10 Chinese public sectors via a self-administered survey, and used partial least squares structural equation modeling for data analysis. Results show that servant leadership had a positive relationship with LMX, LMX was positively related to OCB and task performance, and OCB had a mediating effect in the LMX–task performance relationship. Our results have theoretical implications, and our practical suggestions for managing, motivating, and inspiring k-workers will help promote the organizational performance of the Chinese public sector.

PurposeThis study examines the effect of knowledge workers' (k-workers') leader-member exchange (LMX) on task performance and the mediation effect of affective commitment and organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) in China.Design/methodology/approachIn this study, 384 qualified questionnaires will be collected from k-workers in China by using a self-administered survey, and the partial least square structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) technique was employed for data analysis.FindingsThis finding showed that LMX has positive relationship on affective commitment, organizational citizenship behavior and task performance. The result also confirmed the mediation effect of organizational citizenship behavior on the relationship between LMX and task performance.Originality/valueThis research provide some implement to manage, motivate and inspire the k-workers and finally promote the organizational performance.