Looking down from above: Measuring downward maintenance communication and exploring Theory X/Y assumptions as determinants of its expression

AbstractThe present study examined the degree to which superiors’ downward maintenance communication could be predicted from their Theory X/Y assumptions. In the first phase of the study, a self-report measure of downward maintenance communication was developed. Principal components analysis yielded three categories of maintenance communication: Downward Confirmation, Downward Conflict Avoidance, and Downward Civility. Regression analysis was performed in phase two. As hypothesized, Theory X orientation was a significant negative predictor of Downward Confirmation, and Theory Y orientation was a significant positive predictor of both Downward Confirmation and Downward Civility