A quantitative study into the impact of leadership on employee motivation in an Irish civil service department

OByrne, Joanna (2021) A quantitative study into the impact of leadership on employee motivation in an Irish civil service department. Masters thesis, Dublin, National College of Ireland.

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Abstract

Purpose:
The purpose of this paper is to investigate if leadership impacts employee motivation in an Irish civil service department. To advance the understanding of the role leadership has in the civil service this paper will examine any link(s) between leadership, motivation, public service motivation and job satisfaction.

Methodology:
A quantitative research approach was undertaken whereby questionnaires were issued to a cohort of administrative civil service staff, from one department. Participants were asked to rate effective leadership as they perceive it alongside other dimensions such as motivation, public sector motivation and job satisfaction elements. The data analyses was undertaken with 106 respondents’ valid questionnaires where statistical measures were tested and investigated for relevance and impact.

Findings:
This study found that leadership in the civil service does not significantly impact motivation but does influence PSM. Based on the data, staff are principally influenced by work satisfaction and work satisfying dimensions.

Practical Implications:
This study will provide an insight into the influencing factors that improve or disprove employee motivation. Leaders /managers can use this information to improve and increase motivation and performance in the pursuit of organisational goals.

Research Limitations:
The limitations experienced with this study relate to the biases associated with self-reporting and the subjectivity of perception. The sample population for this study was from one civil service department and other research involving public service organisations have been on a grander scale so in comparison, this is a small-scale study.

This research was undertaken during a worldwide pandemic, so the normal working and academic environments were altered drastically.

Originality and value:
Research on the public sector in Ireland is deficient and there is a definitive lack of investigation around the subjects of effective leadership and motivation impactors in an Irish civil service context.

Keywords:
Leadership, civil service, public sector, employee motivation, public service motivation, job satisfaction, job satisfying dimensions.

Item Type:	Thesis (Masters)
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Leadership; civil service; public sector; employee motivation; public service motivation; job satisfaction; job satisfying dimensions
Subjects:	J Political Science > JN Political institutions (Europe) > Ireland > Government Departments H Social Sciences > HM Sociology > Leadership H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor > HD28 Management. Industrial Management > Human Resource Management > Leadership H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor > HD28 Management. Industrial Management > Human Resource Management > Performance Management > Motivation H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor > Issues of Labour and Work > Quality of Work Life / Job Satisfaction
Divisions:	School of Business > Master of Science in Management
Depositing User:	Clara Chan
Date Deposited:	10 Feb 2022 15:48
Last Modified:	10 Feb 2022 15:48
URI:	https://norma.ncirl.ie/id/eprint/5415

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