Module Two: How do we understand public value?
TOPIC 2.6: Why Public Sector Value Statements?
What are values in the public sector context?
A value is an embedded belief system about which an individual or group has strong feelings and guides their behaviour. We will look at values in various dimensions during the PSMP. In Unit 1, we implicitly examine them at a systems level as we discuss issues such as ‘liberal democracy’, ‘justice’, ‘responsiveness’, ‘rule of law’, and ‘accountability’ (list can continue); and also, explicitly, when we examine organisational value statements (E.g. APS Values and Codes of Conduct), as tools to guide behaviour and accountability.
Most jurisdictions have a set of whole-of-government values which they publish. Individual departments and agencies may also have their own separate sets of values. The list here was accurate at the start of 2024.
| Jurisdiction | Espoused Values |
| APS | Impartial, Committed to Service, Accountable, Respectful, Ethical |
| ACT | Respect, Equity, Diversity |
| NSW | Integrity, Trust, Accountability, Service |
| NT | Accountability, Commitment to Service, Ethical Practice, Impartiality, Respect, Diversity |
| QLD | Customers First, Ideas into Action, Unleash Potential, Be Courageous, Empower People |
| SA | Service, Professionalism, Trust, Respect, Collaboration and Engagement, Honesty and Integrity, Courage and Tenacity, Sustainability |
| VIC | Responsiveness, Integrity, Impartiality, Accountability, Respect, Leadership, Human Rights |
| WA | Not available |
| TAS (DPAC) | Excellence, Customer Focus, Working Together, Professional, Respect |
Comparative values as per PSMP learning materials review 2024
15 min
- What have you noticed about this list? About what are you curious?
- Were you aware of the values in your jurisdiction, or organisation, and can you repeat them from memory?
- Have there been any changes in your jurisdiction since this list was published?
- What do you think these changes reflect?
- What assumptions might you make about the purposes, culture or style of the public sector, which has values in addition to, or different to, your jurisdiction, by looking at the values espoused.
- How do you use the values espoused in your workplace?
Differences between public and private sector values
‘Managerialist’ reforms, encouraging private sector approaches in the way the public sector views clients as customers, have been common across the public sectors of many countries, including Australia’s, over the last several decades. Arguably, they have led to more customer-focused approaches to service and product.
At a philosophical level, a simple private sector value such as this (e.g. customer service) in a public sector environment may create issues. A number of jurisdictions (above) have “Service” in their value set. It is still difficult to receive high satisfaction scores for some customers especially in compliance areas, or from illegal immigrants or inmates of correctional centres, but it still adds purpose to your endeavours by using customer categorisation to segment service. Such an approach can also add confusion as you endeavour to sort out who is the customer (is it the end user, the Minister, the wider community?). ‘Customer-led service’ can lead to issues of public sector agencies being ‘captured’ by a customer (E.g. public servants in a mines agency advocating for the interests of the miners at the expense of the community, or disability workers advocating for clients rather than merely administering policy or service). In spite of this, values can provide guidance to knowledge workers who are expected to contribute in a complex array of situations, geography, and processes, which defy continuous supervision.
Recommended
30 min
Consider the Values Statements for your jurisdiction and compare with others:
| Australian Public Service | Queensland | New South Wales | Victoria |
| South Australia | Tasmania | Northern Territory |
Reflection
Ponder the difference between Private Sector vs Public Sector Values and the ideas of accountability which operate in both domains. You may wish to visit the websites of one or two private sector organisations and compare their values with your own jurisdictional values.
- Does the public sector get rewarded or praised for shutting out a competitor?
- What role does the Board play in a private organisation and does this compare to role of Parliament or Cabinet? Whose interests does a Board represent?
- Imagine you were a private sector operator running your part of the public service – what would you be doing differently?
Deeper Learning
45 min