Public Value Creation Research Articles

Collaboration of Stakeholders and AI in The Implementation of New Public Service in The Digital Era

This study emphasizes the importance of applying the New Public Service (NPS) concept in public service management in the digital era through a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) of five articles from Scopus (2021-2024). The analysis indicates that NPS can enhance the quality of public services in an inclusive, collaborative, and responsive manner. NPS promotes stakeholder collaboration, AI integration in services, and citizen involvement in public value creation. The main challenges in implementing NPS are bureaucratic cultural resistance and insufficient policy dissemination. This study underscores the need for leaders to develop strong commitment, improve effective communication, strengthen cross-sector collaboration, and involve the community in the transition towards NPS. Furthermore, the research highlights the necessity of an integrated public service ecosystem framework to facilitate collaboration among the government, private sector, and society, providing innovative solutions to public service challenges in the digital era.

Navigating the digital beat: a review of social media as a public engagement tool in policing

PurposeThis article explores the changing nature of social media use as a public engagement tool by police services.Design/methodology/approachA comprehensive review is conducted of academic studies from criminology and policing journals. Sources are identified from key academic databases and are analysed in relation to three decades (2000–2009, 2010–2019 and 2020 to present) to show how the use of social media has changed over time.FindingsThe way in which social media is used in policing has changed considerably over time. From initial enthusiasm, it is found that there is growing scepticism in the use of social media as a public engagement tool. After an initial proliferation in use, there is then increasing consolidation and control in response to concerns about reputational risk.Research limitations/implicationsThe research highlights underlying dynamics of engagement and retrenchment, which offer important insights for how we understand public engagement and value creation in policing and emergency services more generally. We draw on academic research from English-language academic journals, but we have endeavoured to include research from the broadest possible range of countries.Practical implicationsThis study demonstrates how the police and other public services must respond to the growing use of social media by the public to maximise value creation whilst minimising the threats that come from potential value destruction.Originality/valueThis study is the first to comprehensively review the policing and criminology literature related to social media and to apply a public engagement lens to this analysis.

Reflections on three decades of digital transformation in local governments

ABSTRACT This article draws from scholarly debates over three decades to argue for a shift in the study of digital transformation in local governments founded in the understanding that technology is an unavoidable tool for local government reform and that academic research in this field needs to be driven by real-world situations that local governments face when they undertake digital transformation processes and assess their results. The article advocates for four specific changes: 1) the acknowledgement that the relationship between the organisation and the use of technology is bi-directional, 2) the adoption of a multi and interdisciplinary perspective in the scholarship of digital transformation in local governments, 3) the study of public value creation as the result of digital transformation processes and local government reforms, and 4) the need to significantly advance the field by building on existing research and findings when a new technology comes into play.

Playing the scales: A strategy adopted by resistance coalitions for public value creation

Local actors can defend public value by mobilizing resistance coalitions against threats from higher spatial scales. Drawing on existing scholarship on resistance movements and public value creation, this paper proposes a theoretical framework for understanding how local actors can protect public value from threats of rescaling driven solely by hegemonic discourses and presents a strategy that we call “playing the scales.” Our case study analyzes a Local Action Group’s resistance to a state-imposed and EU-framed regulation that threatened local forms of value creation on the Croatian peninsula of Pelješac. Employing a longitudinal participatory approach, our findings outline the strategy of playing the scales, which involved three key tactics: gathering relevant knowledge from various scales; crafting an alternative narrative; and leveraging this narrative across scales to reshape the dominant organizational logic. The study contributes to the understanding of public value creation by showing how it can be defended by resistance coalitions that are capable of playing the scales. It also sheds light on alternative dynamics of rescaling that, rather than oppositional resistance to higher scales or attempts to scale up micro-practices can also be driven by trans-scalar alliances that inscribe the interests of local communities into dominant discourses.

Beyond outsourcing: Re-embedding the state in public value production

Public Value Theory (PVT) emerged within a broader public administration paradigm that called for the recentering of the state in the identification and management of public activities in response to the attempts of neoliberal politicians to marginalize it. PVT’s advocates remained nonetheless ambivalent about the role of the state in the production of goods and services necessary to create public value. In the decades since, public sector outsourcing has grown in scale and scope, particularly in Anglo-Saxon economies. PVT is unable to account for the implications of this mode of public value production, and why it may undermine the state’s ability to create public value over time. In this article, we argue that the disembedding of the state from the production of public value undermines its capacity for learning and adapting organizations, which are critical if the state is to respond to changing needs and demands. Because what constitutes public value evolves, so too must the resources and capabilities for producing public value be reconfigured. In other words, public value creation is contingent on innovating the means of public value production. We make the case for re-embedding the state in public value production and for public sectors to move beyond outsourcing the delivery of core services and functions.

EU Recovery Plans and Digitalization in Public Value Creation: An Exploratory Research in European Countries

EU Recovery Plans and Digitalization in Public Value Creation: An Exploratory Research in European Countries

Public sector entrepreneurship: an integrative review

AbstractPublic sector entrepreneurship (PSE) has emerged as a vital field, exploring how public servants leverage opportunities to create public value amidst unprecedented and unpredictable challenges in governance. This article navigates the expansive landscape of PSE literature, consolidating diverse theoretical perspectives and fragmented knowledge into a cohesive framework. Through an integrative and systematic review of 100 articles, we identify PSE as a multi-level phenomenon characterized by a context-dependent combination of proactivity, innovation, and risk-taking, that serves to drive change and renewal, promote resilient organizations, and resourcefully exploit opportunities for public value creation, with the ultimate aim of achieving positive societal and environmental outcomes. By proposing an analytical framework that embraces the fluid nature of PSE and integrating diverse perspectives, this study enriches our understanding of the intersection between entrepreneurship and public administration. It advocates for a nuanced, sector-specific approach to PSE, laying a solid foundation for further advancements in the field.

Understanding transversal leadership in public organizations: conceptualization and development of a measurement scale

ABSTRACT Public value creation often relies on collective efforts across organizational jurisdictions with leadership playing a central role. However, concepts and measures for understanding whether and how public leaders can influence their own employees to engage in behaviours that support work across organizational boundaries are lacking. As response, the authors propose transversal leadership, which refers to a leader’s attempts to direct, align, and commit staff towards collective efforts with actors outside their own managerial jurisdiction, and develop a useful, valid, and reliable measurement scale that discriminates from existing leadership measures and correlates with expected outcomes.

Strategic public value(s) governance: A systematic literature review and framework for analysis

AbstractThis article offers evidence‐based understanding of public value creation in multi‐actor collaborations by presenting the results of a systematic literature review of empirical studies published within the public administration field. Specifically, it focuses on two primary research questions: How do multi‐actor collaborations generate public value(s)? What types of public value(s) are created by these collaborative endeavors? Our results shed light on 12 strategic governance components for enacting public value(s) governance (PVsG) in multi‐actor collaborations, including six key public values to be considered for discerning and assessing processes of public value generation. We contribute to theory and practice by providing a unifying framework to PVsG which updates the public value strategic triangle combining Moore's managerial action‐focused approach with Bozeman's policy or societally oriented public values approach.

Digital transformation in public sector auditing: between hope and fear

ABSTRACT This paper explores the imaginaries of public sector auditors on public value creation due to digital transformation (DT). The study is based on the case of the Supreme Audit Institution (SAI) in Norway – the Office of the Auditor General (OAG). We find diverging imaginaries regarding the potential impact of DT on creating public value through enhancing public accountability that represent the gap between technological hopes and human fears regarding DT for public value creation. This gap highlights the need to properly explore the downsides of DT in the theory and practice of public sector auditing.

Sustainability and impact reporting in US higher education anchor institutions

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to assess how higher education anchor institutions (HEIs) voluntarily report their non-economic impacts. Its goals are to quantify the ease of public access to this information; strengthen the conceptual foundation for HEI impact reporting; and provide guidance for making HEI voluntary disclosures more accessible, comparable and systematic.Design/methodology/approachUsing an exploratory mixed methods design and purposeful sampling, this study analyzed voluntary public disclosures of 41 anchor institution universities in the USA to assess how they communicate their public value creation to stakeholders. Data sources included impact reports, donor reports, annual reports and sustainability reports. The study also analyzed the accessibility of this information by timing how long it took to locate.FindingsThe sampled US anchor institutions communicate their non-economic impact to stakeholders in myriad ways using a variety of formats. Time required to find the reports ranged from 37 to 50 min, with an average of 42.30 min. Disparate reporting formats inhibit comparability.Research limitations/implicationsOnly 41 anchor institutions were examined. The small sample may not be representative of the broader landscape of higher education institutions.Practical implicationsFindings offer guidance for improving voluntary nonfinancial disclosures to increase public confidence in higher education institutions while advancing community and global resilience. To strengthen voluntary disclosure practices, the study recommends using a standardized reporting format, framing HEI impact through socio-ecological resilience indicators, integrating reports and obtaining some form of assurance. These changes would enhance the credibility and comparability of the disclosures.Originality/valueThis research provides some of the first empirical insight into how US higher education anchor institutions report their value creation to the public. Its application of socio-ecological systems theory outlines an actionable conceptual foundation for HEI reporting by linking organizational, community and global resilience.

57 Nature based social prescribing for enhancing mental health and well-being

Abstract Objectives Nature Based Social Prescribing (NBSP) is a means of connecting people with non-clinical, nature-based community-led interventions delivered by 3rd sector organisations using local community assets. This research used a mixed-method Social Return on Investment (SROI) of a six-month pilot ‘Making Well’ NBSP programme to support individuals with chronic mental health conditions in Wales. Methods The ‘Making Well’ programme costs were estimated by means of SROI along projected 20% overheads, were incorporated to reflect sustainable costs as the charity develops and more accurately estimate the future social value expected to be generated. The ‘Making Well’ project delivered two separate programmes between October 2021 and April 2022. Data was collected from participants (n = 12) at baseline and eight-week follow-up along with interviews to collect in-depth data on individuals lived experience of participating in the programme. The ‘Making Well’ programme costs were estimated and financial proxies from the HACT Social Value (SV) bank were applied to identified benefits. Results The estimated cost of ‘Making Well’ programme inputs were £1,312 per participant and the net value of well-being benefits were £4,313 to £6,130 per participant, giving a range of SVR’s between £3.30 to £4.70 for every £1 invested in this NBSP intervention. The SROI forecast provides a three-year projection of the annual social value created and the estimated forecast cost of programme inputs was £797 per participant. The net value of well-being benefits was £4,313 to £6,130 per participant, giving a range of social value ratios between £5.40 to £7.70 for every £1 invested. Conclusions The SROI results demonstrate that the ‘Making Well’ programme is an effective NBSP intervention for supporting people with enduring mild to moderate mental health conditions. This SROI contributes to emerging evidence on the use of community assets and NBSP in generating a return on investment and positive social value. SROI forecasting for socially prescribed interventions delivered by local community assets, such as The Fathom Trust, can help organisations demonstrate transparent and effective investment of public funds and support optimal future social value creation and long-term public health outcomes.

Service robots and innovation: An ecosystem approach

AbstractThe proliferation of service robots has stimulated innovation across industries. These autonomous, physically embodied, and adaptable robots engage in diverse interactions, from patient care to goods delivery and hospitality services. However, the deployment of increasingly capable service robots demands not only designing user–robot interactions, but also holistic innovation management that transcends organizational boundaries and involves various societal stakeholders. Our research draws on the emerging Public Value Theory to examine the types of service robots and the innovation ecosystems that harness the expertise of public and private stakeholders and produce Public Value. Based on literature and an illustrative case study, we conceptualize service robots along characteristics such as autonomy, aesthetics, assistive roles, and user interfaces, and introduce Service Robot‐based Innovation as the ecosystem‐enabled development and employment of such robots. The service robot's autonomy and ecosystem integration are key dimensions determining innovation management practices and Public Value creation. The illustrative case, centered on long‐term care, dissects the integration of service robots across the micro (user), meso (organizational), and macro (societal) levels of the ecosystem. An ecosystem‐as‐structure approach identifies the roles and activities of stakeholders aligning around a shared value proposition of Public Value. A research agenda presents future opportunities within and across various ecosystem levels to advance scholarly understanding of Service Robot‐based Innovation.

The Drivers of Public Value Creation Through Public-Private Partnerships

The Drivers of Public Value Creation Through Public-Private Partnerships

Telework and public value creation: Evidence from Mexican public officials

This study examines the impact of telework on public value creation, drawing on data from a survey of 419 Mexican public officials and utilizing structural equation modeling (SEM) for analysis. The findings reveal a substantial positive effect between teleworking and public value creation, particularly in terms of service quality, operational effectiveness, and trust. These contributions underscore how telework can improve government efficiency and citizen satisfaction, as well as the need for telework policies adapted to government contexts. By highlighting the positive influence of telework on public value, the study underscores the significance of embracing remote work arrangements during crises and realize the full potential of this work method in critical situations. Policymakers can leverage these insights to inform their decisions and promote the sustained adoption of telework in the public sector.

How M-government Services Build Relative Trust? The Mediating Roles of Value Creation and Risk Perception

Mobile government (m-government) has been proposed as a means to rebuild public trust in government. However, there is limited discussion regarding how m-government shapes trust in the existing literature. Thus, our study aims to examine the impact of m-government services on various types of trust by using the concept of relative trust. Additionally, we investigate how public value creation, private value acquisition, and risk perception mediate the relationship between m-government use and citizens’ relative trust in government. To test our hypotheses, this study collected data from a telephone survey of 2,875 public service users in China. The findings reveal that the use of m-government services is positively associated with citizens’ relative trust in institutions but negatively associated with their relative trust in grassroots civil servants. Furthermore, perceived public and private values mediate the relationship between m-government services and citizens’ relative trust in institutions versus grassroots civil servants, with private value playing a more significant mediating role. This study provides evidence on the role of m-government services in shaping various types of citizens’ relative trust in government, including institutional trust and relational trust.

When Value is Created but There is No Record: An Eyewitness Account of Public Value Creation in a Student Resource Officer Program

Conceptualizing and measuring public value presents many challenges for researchers, particularly in those cases where the program being evaluated has visible expenses and hard to quantify outputs or outcomes. Program stakeholders might not even recognize the public value (PV) they are creating. PV theory lacks empirical research and faces the possibility of theoretical stagnation. Efforts at measuring PV have not yielded consensus. This study employs ethnography to investigate how an external observer sees the PV being created by the school resource officer (SRO) program. This paper reports the key findings from a case study into the value delivered by a controversial public program, a co-operative initiative between a regional police service and the region’s educational system. This evaluation comprised ten ride alongs with SRO program officers over a five-month period. Forty-one stories of PV being created were observed, which were then grouped into six themes/focused codes. In addition to the program’s desired outcome of building safer schools, this paper identifies five other types of PV creation. These outcomes represent important contributions to the public and allow for the potential comparison of how tax dollars are spent, informing future allocation of funds and potentially saving good programs.

Public Value Creation Through Electronic Human Resource Management in Public Sector: A Mixed Methods Approach

This study sought to evaluate the link between public value creation and e-HRM. The study draws upon public value theory to explore the role of e-HRM in value creation of public organizations. The study was conducted in Kenya in the County Government of Nyeri. A mixed methods approach was adopted, which combines quantitative surveys with qualitative interviews. The quantitative research approach involved a cross-sectional survey design. The survey respondents were 209 employees of Nyeri County Government. Data was analyzed by means of structural equation modelling (SEM). Qualitative approach involved conducting interviews. Thematization was used to analyze qualitative data. The study results show a significant relationship between quality public services, achievable desirable outcomes and development of trust and public value creation. In line with study findings, the study recommends that public sector organizations should optimize the use of e-HRM in their operations to create public value. This study is noteworthy for being one of the pioneering works to explore public value creation through e-HRM using a mixed-methodology approach.

New Avenues for Public Value Management and the Role of Nonprofit Policy Innovation Labs: Co-Experience and Social Mediavation Labs, and Twitter

The past decade has witnessed the global rise of policy innovation labs (PILs), many of which are nonprofit organizations. Policymakers have promoted PILs as a novel approach to addressing pressing economic and social issues. Concurrent with the growing importance of PILs has been the shift to public value management (PVM), which focuses on policy outcomes that benefit the public and the needs and problems in society. One relatively new process raised in the public managementliterature is co-experience, which considers stakeholders' engagement with public policies or programs within the broader context of life experience. This, the authors argue, is an important contribution to public value creation. Social media platforms such as Twitter (now X) are one tool that PILs can employ to assess and develop stakeholder co-experience. The authors analyzed 13,009 Twitter messages largely generated by stakeholders relating to 42 U.S.-based PILs.

Digital Transformation and Public Administration: The Impacts of India’s Digital Public Infrastructure

ABSTRACT Over the past decades, digital technologies have become ubiquitous, impacting and changing the ways society operates. Immense public and economic value is being created by improving access to information and resources. Hence, many public administration units around the globe continue to focus on digital transformation. Although mostly associated with digitizing services and workflow via software platforms, India’s efforts have taken a “Lego building block approach” toward technology which can be repurposed and recombined to deliver solutions at the social level. These digital public infrastructure (DPI) blocks have had significant impact on socio-economic development. In this special issue, we explore the role of DPI in digitally transforming public service delivery and in creating public value. The issue aims to make an important contribution to public administration and digital government literature, by examining India’s DPI and its positive externalities, in particular its role in financial and health inclusion. These papers include vital knowledge that can support policy processes on digital transformation and public value creation for India and other developing countries of the global South.