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Prosocial rule breaking at the street level: the roles of leaders, peers, and bureaucracy

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  • Casey J. Fleming

Abstract

Rules and rule behaviour are keys to understanding modern organizations. This study examines prosocial rule breaking (PSRB), a view of workplace rule violations that eschews assumptions of invariably self-interested, utility-maximizing workers. Using survey data of child welfare social workers, the study tests the influences of leaders, peers, and bureaucratic attributes on PSRB-related attitudes and behaviour. The results indicate formalization and threats of punishment diminish employees’ willingness to break rules for others while rule consistency and co-worker rule violations trigger PSRB. Findings suggest public managers must acknowledge both formal and informal organizational attributes to better understand PSRB among front line workers.

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  • Casey J. Fleming, 2020. "Prosocial rule breaking at the street level: the roles of leaders, peers, and bureaucracy," Public Management Review, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 22(8), pages 1191-1216, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:rpxmxx:v:22:y:2020:i:8:p:1191-1216
    DOI: 10.1080/14719037.2019.1619817
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    Cited by:

    1. David Jancsics & Salvador Espinosa & Jonathan Carlos, 2023. "Organizational noncompliance: an interdisciplinary review of social and organizational factors," Management Review Quarterly, Springer, vol. 73(3), pages 1273-1301, September.
    2. Merve Gozde Durmaz & Gulten Gumustekin, 2023. "A Study to Determine The Antecedents of The Prosocial Rule Breaking Behaviour: A Qualitative Practice for Hotel Businesses," Istanbul Management Journal, Istanbul University Business School, vol. 0(94), pages 49-64, June.
    3. Hyesong Ha & Hyunkang Hur, 2024. "Public Agents’ Empowerment and Rule-Breaking Behaviors: Evidence from Panel Analysis of U.S. Federal Agencies," Public Organization Review, Springer, vol. 24(1), pages 407-431, March.
    4. Betzelt, Sigrid & Bode, Ingo, 2022. "Emotional regimes in the political economy of the "welfare service state": The case of continuing education and active inclusion in Germany," IPE Working Papers 178/2022, Berlin School of Economics and Law, Institute for International Political Economy (IPE).
    5. Weißmüller, Kristina Sabrina & Zuber, Anna, 2022. "Understanding the Micro-Foundations of Administrative Corruption in the Public Sector: Findings from a Systematic Literature Review," OSF Preprints z9bcy, Center for Open Science.

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