Who Brought Bernadine Healy Down
Who Brought Bernadine Healy Down
Identify and discuss the public service culture present in the case and explain why Wise argues that public service motivation is found more in the government than in the private sector
Public service cultures are those set-spoken and unseen rules in an institution or an organization. Public sector motivation is the way people respond to this rules whether positively or negatively. There are three forms of public motivation namely rational, norm-based and effective motivation. Rational motivation refers to when an individual wants to serve in advocating for a particular policy or rule that is important to him. Norm-based motivation can be said to be when the public servant is loyal to his duties while effective motivation is the pursuit of a noble course, that is, by heart.
In the case of Bernadine Healy, public service culture presents itself inform of rational motivation. It is evidently seen that Healy follows what is of interest to her rather than what her heart tells her. Moreover, as the directors say, “red cross is about what your heart feels not what you think is right” (Sontag, 2001). Wise argues that public service motivation is felt more in the government as compared to the private sector. This is true because in many private sector institutions, there is a kind of dictatorial leadership leaving no room for suggestion. In a government institution, the civil servants are free to make any suggestions and perform their work as they please
Discuss if Healy’s motivation for accepting the Red Cross presidency is in line with public service motives?
Public service culture is an important tool in an institution because they are used in motivation of employees therefore they motivate. Healy’s motivation for accepting the Red Cross presidency was in line with the public service motives since she was out to do well and help others. It is stated that Healy was diagnosed with brain tumor and she had only three months to live but her miraculous recovery made her to be more motivated to work for Red Cross since it was a chance to help others. This type of motivation was seen by the board as a tool for change, heart and blood (Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transport Authority, 2000). The board of directors required somebody who knew about blood and these were some of the qualities they saw in Healy.
Discuss what the case study indicates about the modern complexities of professional personnel in the public setting Modern complexities are those new rules or changes may be in technology, leadership or even on work structure. It can be described further by stating that individuals are also affected by the surroundings they work in therefore having an effect on their modern complexities (Lale, Moloney & Alexander, 2010). In this case, there was a change when Healy was appointed leading to change in leadership and some rules. In a public setting, it is a very difficult change since there is a lot of resistance. It is clearly seen when Healy tries to check up on the Director of Red Cross New Jersey. She is met with a lot of resistance by the board. This clearly indicates the modern complexities in a public setting.
Does the Wise reading offer some specific answers to contemporary problems of public personnel motivation? If so, how?
For motivation to happen, tools like salary, employee relations either in sectors or between the seniors and the juniors together with employee interaction must be implemented (Los Angeles County Metropolitan transport Authority, 2000). This is because it offers solutions. It states that in any form of public setting, money is a very good form of motivation. In addition, personnel free space to perform duties with minimum supervision is also a very good form of motivation. For instance, the president who was before Healy was under paid. This is because the difference of his salary and Healy’s was double; hence, he was not motivated in performing his duties. In the second case, Healy was always under critism in every decision she made, she was not accorded any space to perform his duties.