Motivating the Private vs. Public Sector Managers

In: Public personnel management, Volume 22, Issue 3, p. 391-401

Abstract

This study investigates the differences in the motivation of private versus public sector managers. Five categories of intrinsic and seven categories of extrinsic rewards based on the Herzberg motivation-hygiene theory were included and managers perceptions of the importance and te relative dissatisfaction were obtained. The results of the study indicate that pay has a significantly greater motivating potential (MP) for private than public sector managers. Accourding to the study, managers in the private sector are also substantially more security oriented than their counterparts employed by the public sector. The intrinsic reward factor of recognition had higher motivating potential for public than private sector managers. The remainder of the reward factors and their motivating potentials are discussed.