Reconciling Competing Values in Public Administration

Abstract

This article reports research on the administrative role concept. The authors use the inductive research technique Q-methodology to probe the belief systems of 69 public administrators about their administrative roles and responsibilities. Results show that these administrators perceive five distinct roles. The authors labeled these roles stewards of the public interest, adapted realists, businesslike utilitarians, resigned custodians, and practical idealists. There is slight evidence of a neutral competence role as suggested by the Pendleton Act of 1883, Woodrow Wilson, and others (resigned custodian) but more support of a proactive administrative role (steward of the public interest) that overlaps with the role described by recent scholars such as the Blacksburg group. Another important finding is that three of the role conceptions appear to reject being responsive to the desires of elected officials. The five roles are examined in more detail, and the implications for future research are discussed.

Public Choice Economics and Public Pension Plan Funding

“…It has been noted that, based on self-reported survey data, some public administrators see themselves as stewards of the public interest and are committed to social goals and the formulation of good public policy (Selden et al, 1999). In this regard, public pension plan activism has extended into social investing.…”

Towards a Role-Oriented Governance Approach: Insights from Eight Forest Climate Initiatives

“…Our study of eight distinct global forest climate governance formats follows a comparative qualitative case study approach [44]. In order to carve out the variety of authoritative roles in polycentric governance, we follow a dual strategy.…”

“…The classical view in the public administration literature is that administrative roles encompass a "cohesive set of job-related values and attitudes" [44]. More specifically, attitudes that are assumed to ensure responsible behaviour.…”

Contextualized measures of public service motivation: the case of Spain

“…Previous research on public values has produced various typologies. In the US, Selden, Brewer and Brudney (1999) defined five profiles of public administrators depending on whether they were interested in the definition of public policies, efficiency, neutrality and administrative procedure, social equity or they were pragmatists giving priority to getting things done over other values. Kim et al (2012) created a new dimension of PSM including public values that were selected by an international group of researchers.…”