Organizational values: comparison of organizational features across different types of public sector organizations

Abstract

In today's era of rapid changes in societies and increased competi- tion organizational values cannot remain the same as before be- cause of demanding work conditions and public expectations. Since 1990, during the period of restor ed Lithuanian independence, the essential changes took place in the activity of public sector organi- zations in point of view of both management and values. The princi- ples of management and governme nt, attitude towards work, disci- pline and organizational inter-relationship have changed and are still changing essentially. For our study, we selected three public sector organizations – the police, school and municipality, because the changes of values taking plac e in these organizations should reflect the achievements and progress of modern Lithuanian society most clearly. The goals of the current paper are: a) to examine which organizational features may be pe rceived as top values for employ- ees of each organization, b) to examine whether there are some common organizational features that employees distinguish as most essential despite the nature of the organization, and c) to evaluate how different organizational values are rated in each organization. The results of the study confirmed the hypothesis that all three organizations should have common organizational values that are common to all public sector organiza tions, but at the same time and solely their inherent values, shaped by the specifics of the activity and the mission of the organization.