Public Value Dimensions: Developing and Testing a Multi-Dimensional Classification

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articlepeer-review

Further integration of the public value literature with other strands of literature within Public Administration necessitates a more specific classification of public values. This paper applies a typology linked to organizational design principles, because this is useful for empirical public administration studies. Based on an existing typology of modes of governance, we develop a classification and test it empirically, using survey data from a study of the values of 501 public managers. We distinguish between seven value dimensions (the public at large, rule abidance, societal interests, budget keeping, efficient supply, professionalism and user focus), and we find systematic differences between organizations at different levels and with different tasks, indicating that the classification is fruitful. The aspiration is to enable more precise analyses of value conflicts and improve the integration between the public value literature and other parts of
the Public Administration discipline.
Original languageEnglish
JournalInternational Journal of Public Administration
Volume35
Issue number11
Pages (from-to)715-728
Number of pages13
ISSN0190-0692
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2012

ID: 33563067