Kevin manages a group of eight project engineers, all of whom have worked for the company for over five years. Almost every day, Kevin and Joe, Carlos, and Kim, who are three of his subordinates, go to the cafeteria and play bridge while eating lunch. Joe, Carlos, and Kim receive very good performance reviews and are typically given the most challenging projects. What theory best explains this situation?

a. Laissez-faire leadership
b. Transactional leadership
c. LMX
d. Transformational leadership
e. House's path-goal theory

c. LMX