Public Value Creation Research Articles

Noneconomic public value creation by private ventures: scale development and empirical validation in the academic entrepreneurship context

AbstractPublic value as such and contributions to public value by entrepreneurial universities have been of increasing interest to scholars over the past two decades. However, due to the lack of an adequate measurement scale, scholars have yet to link these research streams properly. While public value research acknowledges the multidimensionality of the construct, academic entrepreneurship research has rather approximated it using different unidimensional economic proxies. As a consequence, there is limited scholarly consensus about public value creation through spin-offs and other academic start-ups. To mitigate this issue and complement existing proxies, our study develops and validates a measure of noneconomic public value creation in the academic entrepreneurship context, capturing the subdimensions of social value creation, customer value creation, and efficient value creation. We employ a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods. The initial item pool incorporates relevant prior literature and insights from multiple pretests. Using two comprehensive surveys of academic entrepreneurs from Germany and Austria, we quantitatively confirm the reliability and validity of the final three-dimensional 11-item scale and its applicability to the intended context. Furthermore, we pave the way for future research by examining how the university entrepreneurial climate relates to public value creation.

Revitalizing Heritage: The Role of Urban Morphology in Creating Public Value in China’s Historic Districts

In the context of historical districts becoming a key to the urban transformation and high-quality development of Chinese cities, this paper investigates the regeneration of historic environments in China, emphasizing the creation of public value through urban morphology. By analyzing five distinct case studies—Chengdu KuanZhai Alley, Shanghai TianZiFang Alley, Guangzhou EnNing Road, Taiyuan ZhongLou Street, and Beijing NanLuoGu Alley—this study explores the relationship between urban form and public value creation from 2000 to 2020. The research posits that the spatial attribute of “public nature” is central to the regeneration process, highlighting the importance of understanding how urban spaces can foster community engagement and social interaction. An evaluation system is constructed to assess the regeneration of historic areas based on spatial “publicness” and people’s perceptions, addressing the need for a more nuanced approach to urban planning. The findings reveal that effective urban regeneration not only preserves historical significance but also enhances the quality of public spaces, thereby contributing to social equity and cultural integrity. This study aims to provide valuable insights for urban planners and policymakers, advocating for a public value-oriented approach to the renewal of historic districts that balances economic development with the preservation of cultural heritage. The integration of public value concepts into heritage management is crucial for creating vibrant urban environments that resonate with community needs and aspirations.

Dynamic capabilities in the public sector: Research agenda in the context of digital transformation

Dynamic capabilities, which were initially developed for the private sector but have increasingly been applied to public sector organizations, can be used to frame the analysis of digital transformation. This article considers the research agenda on the capabilities enabling public sector organizations to implement digital transformation, manage multi-stakeholder collaborations, and improve service delivery in a changing environment. There are five emerging areas of dynamic capabilities in the public sector: conceptual discussion, management and performance, measurement frameworks, innovation and public value creation, and digital transformation. Future research agendas should focus on understanding multiple actors involved in the digital transition, and longitudinal and comparative studies.

Klang Valley Property Development and Construction Industry: A Case Study of Public Value Creation

Klang Valley Property Development and Construction Industry: A Case Study of Public Value Creation

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.