Leadership succession in replacement of managers in work groups: an empirical study in a municipal organization

This study investigates mediating factors between old and new managers’ leader-member exchange （LMX） qualities in replacement of managers. Drawing on past studies on leadership succession, affective reaction to prior leader’s departure is posited as a mediating factor. Furthermore, an expectation on interactional justice due to prior leaders’ treatment for followers is hypothesized as another mediating factor with old and new leaders’ LMX qualities. These hypotheses are tested with data obtained from a municipal organization （N=203）. Results shows that although affective reaction to prior leaders’ departure has not affected to LMX qualities with new leaders, an expectation on interactional justice is significantly related to LMX qualities. Finally, theoretical and practical implications are discussed