The Influence of Pull Factors on Inter-organisational Labour Mobility in the Public Sector: The Moderating Role of Transformational Leadership

Abstract

This study assesses how pull factors affect inter-organisational labour mobility,includingtheroleof transformational leadership as a moderator. With the aid ofSmartPLS3.2.7, quantitative data from a survey of 333 employees of governmentagencieswereanalysedusingPartialleastSquaresStructuralEquationModeling.Theresultsrevealedthatbothcompensationandtraininganddevelopmentpositivelyinfluenceinter-organisationallabourmobility.Furthermore,results indicated a significant moderating effect of transformationalleadership on the influence of compensation on inter-organisational labourmobility,and thattransformational leadershipmoderates the influence of trainingand development on inter-organisational labour mobility. Consistent with SocialExchange Theory and Herzberg ' s Two Factor Theory,the results haverevealedthe relevance ofpull factors in explaining inter-organisational labour mobility.Furthermore,theresearchhasprovidedhumanresourcemanagers,allmanagerial personnel and policymakers with insights into the interaction effectbetween pull factors and transformationalleadership on inter-organisationallabourmobilitytoenhanceemployeeretention.Theresultssuggestthatorganisations should establish transformational leadership training programs, soas to equip all managerial personnel with thevitalemployees retention skills.Thestudy has theoretically verified that under the influence of the Social ExchangeTheory, transformational leadership can interact with pull variables and diminishtheir effects on inter-organisational labour mobility in the Tanzanian setting, thusadding new knowledge to the current labour mobility model.The limitations ofthis study form avenues for further research. For instance, considering theinteraction effect of pull and push factors and transformational leadership oninter-organisational labour mobility may generate additional insights.Keywords: Pull factors, compensation, training and development, transformational leadership,turnover intention/ inter-organisational labour mobility.