Confucian Values in Public Organizations: Distinctive Effects of two Interpersonal Norms on Work Attitudes and Public Service Motivation

Abstract

Much effort has been invested in the research of work-related values in public organizations but little attention is paid to the importance of personal values. We delve into this underexplored domain through the lens of Confucianism and focus on two Confucian values: (i) submission to authority and (ii) male dominance. We expect that submission to authority is a positive predictor of work morale because it is consistent with the command hierarchy and formal control in bureaucracies. In contrast, male dominance should be a negative predictor as it contradicts equality of opportunity in public organizations. This is significant as personnel practices in public organizations are deemed a role model for business organizations. Statistical findings based on data collected in Taiwan support both hypotheses. We conclude that public personnel practices, especially the hiring process, can benefit from our findings.