Abstract

This study of 184 R & D professionals who had Ph. D. degrees and were working in R & D centers of two Korean electronics companies was a systematic investigation of the effect of congruence in educational level('relative demography') of R & D professionals with their two supervisors, 'immediate supervisor(IS)' and 'supervisor of immediate supervisor(SIS)' on the quality of leader-member relationship, organizational and professional commitment. Based on the similarity-attraction theory and social identity theory, 5 hypotheses were drawn and tested by hierarchical multiple regression and analysis of covariance using data obtained through questionnaire survey. The differential effect of congruence in educational level between two supervisors was found. First, congruence with immediate supervisor(IS) showed a significant effect on the organizational commitment, independently of 'quality of IS-professional relationship'. However, congruence with supervisor of immediate supervisor(SIS) affected significantly on the organizational commitment through the mediator variable, 'quality of SIS-professional relationship'. Furthermore, congruence with supervisor of immediate supervisor(SIS) had a significant positive effect, not only on the quality of SIS-professional relationship, but also on the quality of IS-professional relationship. Finally, the additive effect of congruence in educational level with their two supervisors on the organizational commitment was found. The theoretical and practical implications on the these results, and the limitations of this study were discussed.