Beyond Efficiency or Justice: The Structure and Measurement of Public Servants’ Public Values Preferences

2019 ◽  
Vol 52 (4) ◽  
pp. 499-527 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xuejun Wang ◽  
Ziqi Wang

The public values preferences of public servants play an increasingly important role in understanding their administrative behaviors in the era of public value management. Researchers, however, tend to choose proxy or simplified variables to measure public values preferences, resulting in incomplete understanding of the underlying structure. Based on survey data in China, this study develops a five-dimensional scale of public servants’ public values preferences and verifies the scale’s predictive validity by adopting public service motivation and work performance as the criteria. From this study, we call for the establishment of a public values-based public personnel management system.

Communicology ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 74-88
Author(s):  
D.A. Kemenev

The article investigates the imageological aspect of mentor’s communicative competence in public service and reveals the communicative functions of mentor’s image in relation to the mentees. The author determines the communicative skills necessary for the mentor in all processes and stages of this personnel technology. Based on the analysis of scientific publications, the author discloses and justifies the role models of mentor’s behavior in relation to the mentees from the perspective of the mentor’s image, authority, and communicative competence. The author has conducted an expert survey among public servants, which allowed identify the main professional, business, moral, psychological, and integral qualities that are the most effectively developed by the public servant in the process of performing mentor’s functions. As a result, the author suggests a structural-logical model of the communicative competence of a mentor in the public service in the process of perceiving its communicative knowledge, skills, and competencies for achieving the effectiveness of mentoring.


Public Voices ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 67 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sharon Mastracci

In this paper, the author examines public service as depicted in the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer (BtVS). First, she shows how slaying meets the economist’s definition of a public good, using the BtVS episode “Flooded” (6.04). Second, she discusses public service motivation (PSM) to determine whether or not Buffy, a public servant, operates from a public service ethic. Relying on established measures and evidence from shooting scripts and episode transcripts, the author concludes Buffy is a public servant motivated by a public service ethic. In this way, BtVS informs scholarship on public service by broadening the concept of PSM beyond the public sector; prompting one to wonder whether it is located in a sector, an occupation, or in the individual. These conclusions allow the author to situate Buffy alongside other idealized public servants in American popular culture.


2019 ◽  
pp. 114-122
Author(s):  
Nataliіa Sorokina

The article is devoted to the study of organizational culture in public service. The essence of the concept of organizational culture is considered. It has been determined that organizational culture is an interdisciplinary phenomenon which concern several fields. Therefore, there is no single approach to understanding of this concept. It is indicated that organizational culture is a distinguishing feature of every organization and is a decisive factor in the success / the failure of the whole group. In the article, the author conducted a sociological survey among public servants. The purpose of the survey was to find out what major changes have occurred in the organizational culture of public service in recent years. Based on empirical data, it has been found that changes in organizational culture are very slow. Respondents noted that the majority of elements of organizational culture remained constant, such as: the culture of appearance; the individual independence and the responsibility; the interaction of members of the organization with each other; the physical and psychological comfort; the motivation to work. It is proved that a favorable socio-psychological climate in public authorities is very important. So, the high performance indicators of the authorities, the low staff turnover, the high level of labor discipline, and the absence of tension and conflicts in the group depend on it. The important elements of organizational culture, such as the motivation to work, the culture of appearance, the communication links both within the organization (between public servants) and outside (public relations) are analyzed. It is indicated that the leader plays a key role in communication. He must directly participate in the formation of a favorable moral and psychological climate in the group. It has been established that the process of changing organizational culture is quite complicated, requires time and effort, and high level of professionalism of leader. Changes very often cause discontent of the group, they are often perceived painfully. A strong organizational culture generates a positive image of the public service, which in is turn an important factor in raising confidence in public authorities. Therefore, it is necessary to continue to studied organizational culture, to monitor its formation, to improve and to regulate its changes.  


Author(s):  
Наталья Касаткина ◽  
Natalya Kasatkina

Improving the efficiency of public service is an important area for overcoming the crisis in relations between the state, society and a citizen. Modernization of civil service of Canada is carried out in a number of ways. Changes were made in a recruitment order for civil service by means of expansion of the powers of persons competent to solve these issues in ministries and government departments. One of the directions for improving the quality of the civil service was an increase in the level of training of public servants. Coordination of the educational process in various government departments is carried out by the Canadian School of Public Service. The system of human resources planning has been introduced. The quality of public services provided is improved with help of timely providing them in compliance with all requirements of a particular government department, and taking into account the rights of citizens by achieving a balance between the services provided and the money spent for this purpose and regular monitoring and evaluation of the dynamics of the providing process of services. One of the areas of modernization of the public service is the introduction of strict control over of public servants’ ethical standards. Actions that lead to a conflict of interest are legislatively prohibited. Strict bans in Canada are implied regarding the employment of persons who replace public office after the end of their career. As a result of the measures taken to fight corruption, including a sphere that is largely susceptible to corruption risks, Canada is among top ten countries with the least corruption. Achievement of positive results in the activities of civil servants became possible due to the state’s special attention to the issues of its modernization.


Humanus ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 174
Author(s):  
Farera Erlangga ◽  
Aldri Frinaldi ◽  
Lince Magriasti

AbstractThis reasearch started from the writer’s pre-observation in a local institution of Padang City administration, Social and Human Resource Office of Padang City. Thepre-observation shows problems in leadership and motivation of public servants. Theproblem derives from the lack of support of the leaders about the needs of the workersthat can motivate them to do their jobs, and the lack of guidance by the leaders inconducting tasks. It can be seen from the empty office after lunch because most workersgets home early, especially when the office heads are going out. Theworkers’ lack ofmotivation affect the performance and lack of responsibility for their job assignment,and many workers do their job carelessly when the heads are not present. Thisquantitative reasearch is correlational. The population is the 72 public servants in theSocial and Human Resource Office of Padang City. The sample is measured using slovinformula, and resulted in 68 samples. Descriptive analysis of the paternalistic leadershipstyle shows that 73,03% respondents agree, while the public servants’ motivation showsrespondents agree 78,10%. The result of simple regression analysis shows thatpaternalistic leadership style influences the workers’ motivation as high as 18,2%, with44,1% strength where tcount> t; which is 3,990 > 1,682.Key words : Paternalistic Leadership Style, Work Motivation, Public Service tableAbstrak Penelitian ini dilatar belakangi dari hasil pengamatan awal penulis di salah satuSKPD di Kota Padang yakni pada Dinas Sosial dan Tenaga Kerja Kota Padang yangmenunjukkan bahwa masih terdapatnya masalah mengenai kepemimpinan dan motivasikerja pegawai yang ditunjukkan oleh masih kurangnya perhatian pimpinan terhadapkebutuhan pegawai yang bisa memotivasi pegawai dalam melaksanakan tugas, masihkurangnya bimbingan pimpinan kepada pegawai didalam pelaksanaan tugas, masihkurangnya motivasi kerja pegawai dalam melaksanakan tugas yang diberikan KepalaDinas Sosial Kota Padang, setelah jam istirahat suasana kantor sepi karena parapegawai banyak yang sudah pulang, apalagi jika pimpinan tidak ada di tempat,Rendahnya motivasi pegawai yang berdampak pada kinerja dan kurangnya rasatanggung jawab pegawai terhadap pekerjaannya, dan banyak pegawai yang asal-asalanmengerjakan tugas-tugasnya pada saat pimpinan tidak berada di tempat. Penelitian inimerupakan penelitian kuantitatif dengan jenis korelasional. Populasi penelitian iniadalah keseluruhan pegawai Dinas Sosial dan Tenaga Kerja Kota Padang berjumlah 72orang. Dengan pengambilan sampel menggunakan rumus slovin, sehingga didapatsampel dalam penelitian ini sebanyak 68 orang. Berdasarkan hasil analisis deskriptifuntuk gaya kepemimpinan paternalistik yang diterapkan untuk kelangsugan hidup organisasi di Dinas Sosial dan Tenaga Kerja Kota Padang berada dalam kategori yangtinggi dengan perolehan tingkat capaian responden sebesar 73,03%, sedangkanmotivasi kerja pegawai Dinas Sosial dan Tenaga Kerja Kota Padang juga berada dalamkategori yang tinggi dengan tingkat capaian responden sebesar 78,10%. Hasil analisisregresi sederhana menunjukkan bahwa bahwa gaya kepemimpinan paternalistikberpengaruh signifikan terhadap motivasi kerja pegawai pada Dinas Sosial dan TenagaKerja Kota Padang yaitu sebesar 18,2 %, dengan kekuatan sebesar 44,1% dimana nilaithitung> ttabel, yakni  3,990 > 1,682.Kata kunci : Gaya Kepemimpinan Paternalistik, Motivasi Kerja, Pegawai  


2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. 275-282 ◽  
Author(s):  
Curtis Ventriss ◽  
James L Perry ◽  
Tina Nabatchi ◽  
H Brinton Milward ◽  
Jocelyn M Johnston

Abstract This essay responds to the prevailing political environment of estrangement that can be seen in the growing distrust of public institutions, intensifying levels of political polarization, and rising support for populism, particularly in the United States. These trends have contributed to a diminished sense of publicness in public administration, including an erosion of public values and political legitimacy, and an increasingly cynical view of the value, role, and purpose of public service in the modern polity. We argue that public administration must respond actively to this estrangement and seek to repair and strengthen the links between democracy, public administration, and public values through scholarship, connections to practice and the public, and education.


2012 ◽  
Vol 40 (5) ◽  
pp. 725-733 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chyi-Lu Jang

The relationship between the Big Five personality traits (Costa & McCrae, 1992) and public service motivation (PSM) was examined using a questionnaire survey of 277 public servants employed by 3 local governments in Taiwan. Regression analysis results indicated that extraversion was positively related to attraction to policy making, but negatively associated with self-sacrifice. Agreeableness was positively correlated to compassion. Conscientiousness was positively related to commitment to the public interest, compassion, and self-sacrifice. Neuroticism was negatively associated with commitment to the public interest and compassion, but positively with attraction to policy making. Openness to experience was positively correlated with all dimensions of PSM. In summary, personality traits can function as strong predictors of public service motivation.


2020 ◽  
pp. 002085232095521
Author(s):  
Rose Cole

To what extent can the public service bargain framework be applied to non-partisan ministerial advisors? Public service bargains are defined as ‘explicit or implicit agreements between public servants – the civil or uniformed services of the state – and those they serve’. The public service bargain framework has increasingly been used as an analytical tool with which to examine the elements of the bargain as experienced by various actors in different jurisdictions. The elements of the public service bargain framework are explored through the experiences of a distinct subgroup of non-partisan advisors – portfolio private secretaries – serving in the politicised environment of ministers’ offices. The minister’s office has been characterised as the ‘purple zone’ where politics (represented by the colour blue) and administration (represented by the colour red) converge to transform political will into administrative action. This qualitative research article: briefly reviews the public service bargain literature; describes the actors and setting; gives voice to their experience of the public service bargain; applies the public service bargain heuristic; and reveals new insights into how the public service bargain operates with dual principals. Points for practitioners The public service bargain framework allows for dual principal–single agent relationships within public administration settings. Applying the public service bargain heuristic to this group of non-partisan advisors: enables a view of how the public service bargain operates at different levels (macro, meso and micro); shows that the public service bargain for these advisors has changed over time in response to administrative reforms; and demonstrates that these advisors are professionally and personally affected through the misaligned expectations of dual principals.


2016 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 238-254 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christina Andrews

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to present a framework integrating theoretical insights, empirical research and practical advice emerging from public service motivation (PSM) and self-determination theory (SDT). It aims at demonstrating that, while PSM shows the relevance of public values for motivation, SDT explains how context affects it. Taking the two theoretical approaches as complementary to one another and by pointing out their “static” and “dynamic” features, the framework provides a theoretical foundation for organizational practices aimed at enhancing motivation in the public services. Design/methodology/approach – The framework is based on a review of PSM and SDT theoretical concepts and empirical studies; the analysis examines the implications and contributions of each approach to the understanding of motivation in the public services. Findings – The paper demonstrates that PSM and SDT are complementary theoretical approaches and that this complementarity can provide clearer guidance to practitioners and widen the understanding of motivation in the public services. Research limitations/implications – The framework considers only a few features pertaining motivation in the public services, such as public values, basic needs satisfaction, prosocial behaviour and socialization. Further research should explore additional factors. Practical implications – The framework provides an explanation of why some practices are likely to enhance motivation in the public services, while others are likely to deplete it. Originality/value – The framework does not limit itself to proposing the theoretical integration of PSM and SDT, but connects this integration to organizational practices.


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