The Impact of Bad Management Work Habits on Public Sector Performance: A Study of Local Government Manager

Abstract

An understudied subject in public administration is the nature and extent of managerial work habits. Many, if not most managers, display productive, professional work habits, such as being committed to working efficiently, acting with civility towards others and showing proper commitment to ethics. But it is anecdotally observed that some managers have unproductive work habits, too; they might frequently be tardy, arrogant or closed-minded. (1) Indeed, many organizations have at least a few managers with such exceedingly bad work habits. (2) Also, most managers, as all people, have behaviors that can benefit from improvement. The consequences of bad management work habits can be significant, such as causing problems in dealing with stakeholders, becoming obstacles in adopting and implementing modern performance management work practices, and otherwise affecting the leadership of organizations. (3)