The Effect of Democratic Leadership on Public Organization Performance with Mediation of Employee Commitment: A Case Study of Oromia Region, Ethiopia

Abstract

This study investigates the impact of democratic leadership on public organization performance in the context of Oromia, Ethiopia, with a particular focus on the mediating role of employee commitment. Democratic leadership is characterized by participatory decision-making, inclusive practices, and empowering employees in the decision-making process. The study aims to understand how democratic leadership influences public organization performance and whether employee commitment mediates this relationship. The research adopts a mixed-methods approach, combining qualitative and quantitative data collection techniques. The qualitative phase involves in-depth interviews with key stakeholders, including public sector leaders and employees, to gain insights into their perceptions of democratic leadership, employee commitment, and organizational performance. These qualitative findings inform the development of a structured survey instrument for the quantitative phase. The quantitative data collection involves surveying a sample of public sector employees in various departments and levels within the Oromia region. The survey measures variables related to democratic leadership, employee commitment, and public organization performance. Data analysis includes confirmatory factor analysis to assess the validity and reliability of the measurement scales, followed by structural equation modeling to examine the direct and indirect effects of democratic leadership on public organization performance, mediated by employee commitment. The study hypothesizes that democratic leadership positively influences employee commitment, which in turn positively impacts public organization performance. The mediation analysis will test the significance of the indirect effect and the strength of the mediation relationship. The findings of this study will contribute to the understanding of the relationship between democratic leadership, employee commitment, and public organization performance in the specific context of the Oromia region. The results will provide valuable insights for policymakers, public sector leaders, and managers seeking to enhance organizational performance through effective leadership practices and employee engagement. Additionally, the study will contribute to the existing literature on leadership and organizational behavior in the context of public organizations in developing countries.