PUBLIC SERVICE MOTIVATION

“Public Service is a concept, an attitude, a sense of duty- yes,

even a sense of public morality”

Matt Foley aka Mr. Motivation

http://www.ebaumsworld.com/video/watch/36002/

Public Service

We have all had to deal with those who work in public service from disgruntled postal workers to state and federal workers. Even Politicians

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yz3bDON9bNo&feature=feedf

Decline in Support

Since the 80s there has been a steady decline in support of the public sector

Perry and Wise was quoted in saying 1 in 4 American are confident that our government will “do what is right”

According to the Rasumusenn poll 66% of polled voters have a poor impression of Congress

The Debt Ceiling Debate

Different Theories of Public Service Motivation

Rational: Participation in the process of policy formulation

Commitment to a public program because of personal identification. Advocacy for a special or private interest.

In other words, rational motives may be anchored in esteem for others as well as needs for power and self-esteem

These motives explain why an individual who is attracted to participate in public policy-making may be satisfying personal needs while serving social interests. The individuals believe that their personal interests coincide with those of the larger communit

Theory 2

Norm-Based: A desire to serve the public interest. Loyalty

to duty and to the government as a whole. Social equity.

Normative motives are based on social values and norms of what is proper and appropriate because social action ‘combines elements of voluntary individual will and collectivism represented by the internalization of social norms

they include a desire to pursue the common good and further the public interest, as well as to express a sense of duty and loyalty to the government

Theory 3

Affective: Commitment to a program from a

genuine conviction about its social importance. Patriotism of benevolence.

refer to actions that are based on human emotional responses to various social contexts. Here, emotion is used as the basis for motivation, and is tied to social contex

characterized by a desire and willingness to help others, and include altruism, empathy and other prosocial desires

Behavioral Implications of Public Service Motivation

Extent of Personal Motivation

“The greater an individual’s public service motivation, the more likely the individual will seek membership in a public organization”

Relation to Individual Performance

“In public organizations, public service motivation is positively related to individual performance”

Dependency on Performance Effectiveness

“Public organizations that attract members with high levels of public service motivation are likely to be less dependent on utilitarian incentives to manage individual performance effectively”