The Effect of Favoritism on the Discretionary Power of Administration in Selecting and Appointing Public Servants: A Case Study of Jordanian Government Administration

Abstract

The Study aims at Investigating the Prevalence of Favoritism in Jordanian Governmental Institutions, Particularly Where discretionary power in selecting and appointing public servants are concerned it also investigates the quality of these appointed officials as viewed by the sample study. The study included a random sample of (235) subjects from 5 institutions. The study was analyzed using “spss” and the results indicated the following outcomes: favoritism is a prevalent phenomenon and is greatly affected by personal factors. Discretionary power and favoritism exhibited a statically significant co-relation where selection and appointment of officials are concerned furthermore an administration enjoys wide discretionary power, and the subjects of the study believe that those appointed through favoritism are. Less qualified that the other employees. In addition Favoritism affects the efficiency of the governmental institutions. The researcher recommends that favoritism as a phenomenon should be further investigated s and that its user, reason, directions and effects be researched as well .The researcher also recommends that legislation governing public office be regulated in a manner that would control the use of discretionary power by the administration and that on independent apparatus be established to oversee that this phenomenon is eradicated by law. Key words: Favoritism; Discretionary power; Selection and appointment; Public servant; Jordanian governmental organizations