Servant Leadership and Work Effort: Mediating Roles of Public Service Motivation and Organizational Commitment
Keywords:
Servant Leadership, Public Service Motivation, Organizational Commitment, Work Effort
Abstract
This study examines how servant leadership relates to employees' work effort through public service motivation and organizational commitment in a local government agency. It addresses limited evidence on a serial mechanism that integrates these four constructs while treating work effort as direction, intensity, and persistence rather than as job performance. A quantitative explanatory survey was conducted among 108 employees selected purposively from a population of 171 employees at the Cooperative, Industry, and Trade Department of Kotabaru Regency, Indonesia. Data were analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling in SmartPLS 4. Servant leadership was positively associated with public service motivation (β = 0.659, p < 0.001) and organizational commitment (β = 0.300, p = 0.013). Public service motivation predicted organizational commitment (β = 0.567, p < 0.001) and work effort (β = 0.302, p = 0.019), while organizational commitment predicted work effort (β = 0.439, p < 0.001). The direct servant leadership-work effort path was not significant (β = 0.155, p = 0.108). However, all three specified indirect effects were significant. The findings show that servant leadership is linked to work effort primarily through employees' public-service orientation and organizational attachment.
References
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Cropanzano, R., & Mitchell, M. S. (2005). Social exchange theory: An interdisciplinary review. Journal of Management, 31(6), 874-900. https://doi.org/10.1177/0149206305279602
De Cooman, R., De Gieter, S., Pepermans, R., Jegers, M., & Van Acker, F. (2009). Development and validation of the Work Effort Scale. European Journal of Psychological Assessment, 25(4), 266-273. https://doi.org/10.1027/1015-5759.25.4.266
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Kim, S. (2009). Revising Perry's measurement scale of public service motivation. The American Review of Public Administration, 39(2), 149-163. https://doi.org/10.1177/0275074008317681
Lee, K., Allen, N. J., Meyer, J. P., & Rhee, K.-Y. (2001). The three-component model of organisational commitment: An application to South Korea. Applied Psychology: An International Review, 50(4), 596-614.
Liengaard, B. D., Sharma, P. N., Hult, G. T. M., Jensen, M. B., Sarstedt, M., Hair, J. F., & Ringle, C. M. (2021). Prediction: Coveted, yet forsaken? Introducing a cross-validated predictive ability test in partial least squares path modeling. Decision Sciences, 52(2), 362-392. https://doi.org/10.1111/deci.12445
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Meyer, J. P., & Allen, N. J. (1997). Commitment in the workplace: Theory, research, and application. Sage.
Meyer, J. P., Stanley, D. J., Herscovitch, L., & Topolnytsky, L. (2002). Affective, continuance, and normative commitment to the organization: A meta-analysis of antecedents, correlates, and consequences. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 61(1), 20-52. https://doi.org/10.1006/jvbe.2001.1842
Norawati, S., Lutfi, A., Zulher, & Basem, Z. (2022). The effect of supervision, work motivation, and interpersonal communication on employee performance and organizational commitment as variables intervening. International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Business Development, 5(1), 92-104. https://doi.org/10.29138/ijebd.v5i1.1602
Perry, J. L. (1996). Measuring public service motivation: An assessment of construct reliability and validity. Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory, 6(1), 5-22.
Perry, J. L., Hondeghem, A., & Wise, L. R. (2010). Revisiting the motivational bases of public service: Twenty years of research and an agenda for the future. Public Administration Review, 70(5), 681-690. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-6210.2010.02196.x
Perry, J. L., & Vandenabeele, W. (2015). Public service motivation research: Achievements, challenges, and future directions. Public Administration Review, 75(5), 692-699. https://doi.org/10.1111/puar.12430
Perry, J. L., & Wise, L. R. (1990). The motivational bases of public service. Public Administration Review, 50(3), 367-373.
Ryan, R. M., & Deci, E. L. (2000). Intrinsic and extrinsic motivations: Classic definitions and new directions. Contemporary Educational Psychology, 25(1), 54-67. https://doi.org/10.1006/ceps.1999.1020
Setrojoyo, S. M., Rony, Z. T., Sutrisno, Naim, S., Manap, A., & Sakti, B. P. (2023). The effect of intrinsic motivation, organizational culture on employee performance with organizational commitment as an intervening variable. International Journal of Professional Business Review, 8(7), e02436. https://doi.org/10.26668/businessreview/2023.v8i7.2436
Shmueli, G., Sarstedt, M., Hair, J. F., Cheah, J.-H., Ting, H., Vaithilingam, S., & Ringle, C. M. (2019). Predictive model assessment in PLS-SEM: Guidelines for using PLSpredict. European Journal of Marketing, 53(11), 2322-2347. https://doi.org/10.1108/EJM-02-2019-0189
van Dierendonck, D. (2011). Servant leadership: A review and synthesis. Journal of Management, 37(4), 1228-1261. https://doi.org/10.1177/0149206310380462
van Dierendonck, D., & Nuijten, I. (2011). The servant leadership survey: Development and validation of a multidimensional measure. Journal of Business and Psychology, 26(3), 249-267. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10869-010-9194-1
Van Iddekinge, C. H., Arnold, J. D., Aguinis, H., Lang, J. W. B., & Lievens, F. (2023). Work effort: A conceptual and meta-analytic review. Journal of Management, 49(1), 125-157. https://doi.org/10.1177/01492063221087641
Alif, M. I., & Nastiti, T. (2022). Empowering leadership in creativity and work-effort: An elucidation through the psychological empowerment and self-leadership of the millennials generation. Gadjah Mada International Journal of Business, 24(3), 269-288. https://doi.org/10.22146/gamaijb.61306
Blau, P. M. (1964). Exchange and power in social life. Wiley.
Campbell, J. P., McCloy, R. A., Oppler, S. H., & Sager, C. E. (1993). A theory of performance. In N. Schmitt & W. C. Borman (Eds.), Personnel selection in organizations (pp. 35-70). Jossey-Bass.
Campbell, J. P., & Pritchard, R. D. (1976). Motivation theory in industrial and organizational psychology. In M. D. Dunnette (Ed.), Handbook of industrial and organizational psychology (pp. 63-130). Rand McNally.
Cropanzano, R., & Mitchell, M. S. (2005). Social exchange theory: An interdisciplinary review. Journal of Management, 31(6), 874-900. https://doi.org/10.1177/0149206305279602
De Cooman, R., De Gieter, S., Pepermans, R., Jegers, M., & Van Acker, F. (2009). Development and validation of the Work Effort Scale. European Journal of Psychological Assessment, 25(4), 266-273. https://doi.org/10.1027/1015-5759.25.4.266
Deci, E. L., Olafsen, A. H., & Ryan, R. M. (2017). Self-determination theory in work organizations: The state of a science. Annual Review of Organizational Psychology and Organizational Behavior, 4, 19-43. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-orgpsych-032516-113108
Eva, N., Robin, M., Sendjaya, S., van Dierendonck, D., & Liden, R. C. (2019). Servant leadership: A systematic review and call for future research. The Leadership Quarterly, 30(1), 111-132. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.leaqua.2018.07.004
Giyanti, D., Setyowati, N. W., & Dharmanto, A. (2022). Pengaruh servant leadership dan komitmen organisasi terhadap peningkatan kinerja (Studi kasus pada pegawai di Kelurahan Pekayon Jaya, Kecamatan Bekasi Selatan, Kota Bekasi). Jurnal Inovasi Penelitian, 2(8), 2451-2464. https://doi.org/10.47492/jip.v2i8.1124
Greenleaf, R. K. (1970). The servant as leader. Center for Applied Studies.
Hair, J. F., Jr., Hult, G. T. M., Ringle, C. M., Sarstedt, M., Danks, N. P., & Ray, S. (2021). Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) using R: A workbook. Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-80519-7
Henseler, J., Ringle, C. M., & Sarstedt, M. (2015). A new criterion for assessing discriminant validity in variance-based structural equation modeling. Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, 43(1), 115-135. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11747-014-0403-8
Huang, W.-L., & Jayasingam, S. (2024). Maximizing work effort: Harnessing perceived training opportunities and intrinsic motivation. Asian Journal of Business and Accounting, 17(2), 321-354. https://doi.org/10.22452/ajba.vol17no2.9
Isbat, Gursida, H., Yusnita, N., Sunaryo, W., & Hadiyat, Y. (2025). Linking servant leadership and adversity quotient to organizational commitment in the Indonesian public sector: The mediating role of work motivation. TPM: Testing, Psychometrics, Methodology in Applied Psychology, 32(2), 352-364.
Kim, S. (2009). Revising Perry's measurement scale of public service motivation. The American Review of Public Administration, 39(2), 149-163. https://doi.org/10.1177/0275074008317681
Lee, K., Allen, N. J., Meyer, J. P., & Rhee, K.-Y. (2001). The three-component model of organisational commitment: An application to South Korea. Applied Psychology: An International Review, 50(4), 596-614.
Liengaard, B. D., Sharma, P. N., Hult, G. T. M., Jensen, M. B., Sarstedt, M., Hair, J. F., & Ringle, C. M. (2021). Prediction: Coveted, yet forsaken? Introducing a cross-validated predictive ability test in partial least squares path modeling. Decision Sciences, 52(2), 362-392. https://doi.org/10.1111/deci.12445
Meyer, J. P., & Allen, N. J. (1991). A three-component conceptualization of organizational commitment. Human Resource Management Review, 1(1), 61-89. https://doi.org/10.1016/1053-4822(91)90011-Z
Meyer, J. P., & Allen, N. J. (1997). Commitment in the workplace: Theory, research, and application. Sage.
Meyer, J. P., Stanley, D. J., Herscovitch, L., & Topolnytsky, L. (2002). Affective, continuance, and normative commitment to the organization: A meta-analysis of antecedents, correlates, and consequences. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 61(1), 20-52. https://doi.org/10.1006/jvbe.2001.1842
Norawati, S., Lutfi, A., Zulher, & Basem, Z. (2022). The effect of supervision, work motivation, and interpersonal communication on employee performance and organizational commitment as variables intervening. International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Business Development, 5(1), 92-104. https://doi.org/10.29138/ijebd.v5i1.1602
Perry, J. L. (1996). Measuring public service motivation: An assessment of construct reliability and validity. Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory, 6(1), 5-22.
Perry, J. L., Hondeghem, A., & Wise, L. R. (2010). Revisiting the motivational bases of public service: Twenty years of research and an agenda for the future. Public Administration Review, 70(5), 681-690. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-6210.2010.02196.x
Perry, J. L., & Vandenabeele, W. (2015). Public service motivation research: Achievements, challenges, and future directions. Public Administration Review, 75(5), 692-699. https://doi.org/10.1111/puar.12430
Perry, J. L., & Wise, L. R. (1990). The motivational bases of public service. Public Administration Review, 50(3), 367-373.
Ryan, R. M., & Deci, E. L. (2000). Intrinsic and extrinsic motivations: Classic definitions and new directions. Contemporary Educational Psychology, 25(1), 54-67. https://doi.org/10.1006/ceps.1999.1020
Setrojoyo, S. M., Rony, Z. T., Sutrisno, Naim, S., Manap, A., & Sakti, B. P. (2023). The effect of intrinsic motivation, organizational culture on employee performance with organizational commitment as an intervening variable. International Journal of Professional Business Review, 8(7), e02436. https://doi.org/10.26668/businessreview/2023.v8i7.2436
Shmueli, G., Sarstedt, M., Hair, J. F., Cheah, J.-H., Ting, H., Vaithilingam, S., & Ringle, C. M. (2019). Predictive model assessment in PLS-SEM: Guidelines for using PLSpredict. European Journal of Marketing, 53(11), 2322-2347. https://doi.org/10.1108/EJM-02-2019-0189
van Dierendonck, D. (2011). Servant leadership: A review and synthesis. Journal of Management, 37(4), 1228-1261. https://doi.org/10.1177/0149206310380462
van Dierendonck, D., & Nuijten, I. (2011). The servant leadership survey: Development and validation of a multidimensional measure. Journal of Business and Psychology, 26(3), 249-267. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10869-010-9194-1
Van Iddekinge, C. H., Arnold, J. D., Aguinis, H., Lang, J. W. B., & Lievens, F. (2023). Work effort: A conceptual and meta-analytic review. Journal of Management, 49(1), 125-157. https://doi.org/10.1177/01492063221087641
Published
2026-09-07
How to Cite
Nurmasitah, N., & Rahmawati, R. (2026). Servant Leadership and Work Effort: Mediating Roles of Public Service Motivation and Organizational Commitment. International Journal of Education, Vocational and Social Science , 5(04), 422-440. https://doi.org/10.63922/ijevss.v5i04.6405
Contact Person +6282139474255
Email : ijevss@citakonsultindo.or.id / editor.ijevss@gmail.com
