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Understanding Public and Nonprofit Managers' Motivation Through the Lens of Self-Determination Theory

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  • Chung-An Chen
  • Barry Bozeman

Abstract

Contemporary public and nonprofit management research has disproportionally emphasized the importance of intrinsic motivation (especially service motivation) but has given comparatively little attention to non-intrinsic motivation. According to self-determination theory (SDT), non-intrinsic motivation moves from identified motivation, introjected motivation, external motivation, to amotivation, depending on their disparate levels of self-determination. The authors examine empirically whether public managers differ from nonprofit managers on these intrinsic and non-intrinsic motivational styles. The findings show that public managers exhibit stronger service motivation, identified motivation, external motivation, and amotivation when compared to their nonprofit peers. In addition, public managers' strong external motivation and amotivation compromise their overall level of self-determination, suggesting that they may be less motivated by their work requirements than are nonprofit counterparts.

Suggested Citation

  • Chung-An Chen & Barry Bozeman, 2013. "Understanding Public and Nonprofit Managers' Motivation Through the Lens of Self-Determination Theory," Public Management Review, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 15(4), pages 584-607, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:pubmgr:v:15:y:2013:i:4:p:584-607
    DOI: 10.1080/14719037.2012.698853
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    1. repec:hal:journl:hal-04647992 is not listed on IDEAS
    2. Demircioglu, Mehmet Akif & Vivona, Roberto, 2021. "Depoliticizing the European immigration debate: How to employ public sector innovation to integrate migrants," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 50(2).
    3. Chengwei Xu, 2022. "Work Motivation in the Public Service: A Scale Development Based on the Self-Determination Theory," SAGE Open, , vol. 12(2), pages 21582440221, April.
    4. repec:hal:journl:hal-04646827 is not listed on IDEAS
    5. Chung-An Chen & Chih-Wei Hsieh, 2015. "Does Pursuing External Incentives Compromise Public Service Motivation? Comparing the effects of job security and high pay," Public Management Review, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 17(8), pages 1190-1213, September.
    6. Thomas A. Burnham & Jeffrey A. Wong, 2018. "Factors influencing successful net promoter score adoption by a nonprofit organization: a case study of the Boy Scouts of America," International Review on Public and Nonprofit Marketing, Springer;International Association of Public and Non-Profit Marketing, vol. 15(4), pages 475-495, December.

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