Public Service Values as Antecedents of Public Service Motivation: The Role of Mode of Entry in Philippine Local Government Units

Abstract

Public Service Motivation (PSM) theory posits that individuals are driven to public institutions by intrinsic, normative, and affective commitments to public interest. While substantial scholarship has examined the outcomes of PSM, less attention has been given to how institutionalized Public Service Values (PSV) function as antecedents of motivational orientation, particularly in decentralized governance systems characterized by diverse mode of entry, career and non-career service. This study investigates (1) the relationship between Public Service Values (PSV) and Public Service Motivation (PSM) (2) whether mode of entry influences value internalization, and (3) whether Public Service Motivation varies across employment mode of entry in Philippine Local Government Units (LGUs). Using survey data from 353 employees, the study employs descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and one-way ANOVA. Findings reveal high levels of PSV (M = 3.74) and PSM (M = 3.60). A strong positive relationship was observed between PSV and PSM (r = .683, p < .001), with PSV explaining 46.6% of the variance in motivational orientation. However, no statistically significant differences were found in PSV (F(3,349) = 0.281, p = .839) or PSM (F(3,349) = 0.584, p = .626) across entry appointment categories. The results reinforce the theoretical proposition advanced by James L. Perry and Lois R. Wise that public service motivation is fundamentally value-driven rather than structurally determined. The study contributes to PSM literature by empirically positioning institutionalized values as central motivational antecedents within local governance contexts and offers policy implications for recruitment, training, and organizational culture development.