Underlying assumptions of public service motivation: a view from the developing world

ABSTRACT

Based on a qualitative study of public service motivation (PSM) among public employees in Pakistan, the authors formulate a model of contextual factors influencing public-service-motivated behaviours. Through an analysis of 36 interviews, the research finds that because of their different cultural background Pakistan public employees did not identify with the principal motivational structure generally associated with PSM. While Pakistan public employees exhibited empathy and compassion, they did not relate them to public service. The antecedents for these motives were primarily their Islam religion. Employees showed inclinations for the pursuit of power, job security, and implicit opportunities for corruption as motives for seeking public employment. The contextual factors not only directly influenced employees’ behaviours more strongly than PSM, but they also tended to undermine the effect of PSM as a strong influencer for employees to think of serving society at large. The authors conclude that assumptions about PSM in a developing country such as Pakistan are not irrational but are embedded in local rationalities that admittedly countervail the ethical foundations of public service. These local rationalities seem widely accepted among public employees in Pakistan. The findings of the study can be related to other developing countries, particularly South Asian countries.

KEYWORDS:

• Public service motivation
• Pakistan
• Post-Colonial societies
• contextual factors
• developing countries

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No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Ethical disclaimer

Authors have no conflict of interest for this paper.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Aisha Azhar

Aisha Azhar is an assistant professor in the School of Governance and Society, University of Management and Technology, Lahore, Pakistan. She was a Fulbright Scholar from Pakistan for her doctoral studies at the Florida State University. Her research and teaching interests include non-profit management, public management, disaster management, public service motivation, and women empowerment.

Trui Steen

Trui Steen is Professor at KU Leuven Public Governance Institute, Vice-Dean Research at the KU Leuven Faculty of Social Sciences and Director of the KU Leuven Doctoral Program Social Sciences. She is interested in the governance of public services and the role of different stakeholders, including public sector professionals, civil society and citizens. Her research interests include co-creation and co-production of public services, public sector innovation, and local governance.