Exploring rule-following identity at the frontline: The roles of general self-efficacy, gender, and attitude toward clients
By: Keulemans, Shelena
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Material type: 
BookPublisher: Public Administration: An International Quarterly Description: 99(4), Dec,, 2021: p.694-710.
In:
Public Administration: An International QuarterlySummary: The way in which street-level bureaucrats relate to rules has intrigued scholars for decades. This article revisits the classic idea that street-level bureaucrats' rule-following identity reflects their personal insecurity and penchant for control. Building on this perspective of emotional needs, we investigate how general self-efficacy, gender, and attitude toward clients affect this identity. We expect general self-efficacy to suppress a strong rule-following identity by stimulating street-level bureaucrats' internal sense of control. We furthermore expect that this relation is stronger for women bureaucrats and bureaucrats who hold a positive attitude to clients. Contrary to expectations, survey data (n = 1407) show that this identity strengthens as general self-efficacy beliefs increase. Gender and attitude to clients do not affect this relationship. These findings suggest that rule-following identity reflects street-level bureaucrats' confidence in their abilities to work complex rule sets to fulfill task requirements, rather than desire for control or to reduce insecurity. – Reproduced
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Articles
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Indian Institute of Public Administration | 99(4), Dec,, 2021: p.694-710 | Available | AR127950 |
The way in which street-level bureaucrats relate to rules has intrigued scholars for decades. This article revisits the classic idea that street-level bureaucrats' rule-following identity reflects their personal insecurity and penchant for control. Building on this perspective of emotional needs, we investigate how general self-efficacy, gender, and attitude toward clients affect this identity. We expect general self-efficacy to suppress a strong rule-following identity by stimulating street-level bureaucrats' internal sense of control. We furthermore expect that this relation is stronger for women bureaucrats and bureaucrats who hold a positive attitude to clients. Contrary to expectations, survey data (n = 1407) show that this identity strengthens as general self-efficacy beliefs increase. Gender and attitude to clients do not affect this relationship. These findings suggest that rule-following identity reflects street-level bureaucrats' confidence in their abilities to work complex rule sets to fulfill task requirements, rather than desire for control or to reduce insecurity. – Reproduced
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