Factors Affecting Public Service Motivation: A Comparative Analysis of Public & Private Sector Employees

Abstract

This study examined public service motivation (PSM) in public sector and private sector organizations, and various factors that were found to influence PSM. Furthermore, we also analyzed the effect of PSM on employees’ job satisfaction (JSA) for both sectors. The factors identified were rewards, working relations, career growth (CGA), Job Security (JSE) and workplace attributes (WPA). Data was collected from close ended likert scale type questionnaire. A sample of 220 professionals from various fields of private sector and 200 government sector employees were used to test a partial mediation model using structural equation modeling. Independent Samples T-test was done to compare the means of variables in public and sectors. Findings showed that there was no significant difference among rewards, PSM, JSE and working relations of public and private sector employees. However, there was a significant difference between JSA, WPA and CGA. The findings also suggested that Rewards (whether intrinsic or extrinsic) and Workplace attributes had no significant impact on the job satisfaction and public service motivation of public and private sector employees, whereas working relations, career growth opportunities and job security play a vital role in public service motivation and job satisfaction level of employees as these have significant impact to job satisfaction, with PSM as a mediating factor. These results have implications for managers who are interested in improving Human Resource Practices in Public Sector Organizations and private sector organizations. As investments in HPHRPs are positively associated with PSM and desirable employee outcomes, managers should endeavor to ensure that sufficient resources are allocated to implement HR practices.