This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Theobald, R. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                   What's this?

Enhancing Public Service Ethics

More Culture, Less Bureaucracy?

University of Westminster

The last decade has seen mounting pressure on public sector organizations to become more "businesslike, " especially to open themselves up to the play of market forces and the real needs of customers. An important component of the business ethos that is being urged on the public sector is an emphasis on organizational culture and "getting the culture right. " This article looks at the relevance of the culture perspective to the problem of ethical conduct in the public sector The concept of organizational culture is examined critically in the light of some recent examples of attempts to effect a culture change in national and local government in the United Kingdom. The article concludes that there is a fundamental incompatibility between the imposition of a market-driven philosophy and the need for the openness and accountability that are indispensable features of all public service organizations.

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M. H. Morris, S. Coombes, M. Schindehutte, and J. Allen Antecedents and Outcomes of Entrepreneurial and Market Orientations in a Non-profit Context: Theoretical and Empirical Insights Journal of Leadership and Organizational Studies, May 1, 2007; 13(4): 12 - 39. [Abstract] [PDF]

				M. B. Melchior and A. Melchior A Case for Particularism in Public Administration Administration Society, July 1, 2001; 33(3): 251 - 275. [Abstract] [PDF]

				M. S. Haque Significance of Accountability under the New Approach to Public Governance International Review of Administrative Sciences, December 1, 2000; 66(4): 599 - 617. [PDF]