Does Stewardship Theory Provide a Viable Alternative to Control-Fixated Performance Management?

Jacob Torfing and Tina Øllgaard Bentzen
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Jacob Torfing: Department of Social Sciences and Business, Roskilde University, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark
Tina Øllgaard Bentzen: Department of Social Sciences and Business, Roskilde University, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark

Administrative Sciences, 2020, vol. 10, issue 4, 1-19

Abstract: Stewardship theory provides an interesting alternative to agency theory, which in the recent New Public Management era supported the introduction of rigorous performance management systems based on generalized mistrust in and control of public employees. However, we lack empirical validation of the feasibility and positive outcomes of the new forms of trust-based management recommended by stewardship theory. As such, there are few examples of alternative ways of boosting the motivation of public employees that can serve as beacons for public service organizations (PSOs) eager to find new ways of motivating their staff to create public value for the users of public services and society as a whole. This article aims to remedy this problem by exploring a seemingly successful empirical case of trust-based management to see whether the core principles of stewardship theory apply and how new management practices may influence the motivation and well-being of the employees, the perceived satisfaction and involvement of the users, and overall organizational performance, including cost efficiency.

Keywords: agency problem; stewardship; performance management; public service organizations; public service motivation; intrinsic task motivation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: L M M0 M1 M10 M11 M12 M14 M15 M16 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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