Public service motivation of generation Y in Bangkok during COVID-19 pandemic : a case study of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA)

Abstract

The goal of this study is to investigate the motivations of Gen Y working in the public sector during the covid-19 pandemic. Both quantitative and qualitative methods are used in this study. In the quantitative study, by employing the quota sampling (n=381), the data are collected based on the modified Perry and Wise measurement 14 scale of PSM by using the close-ended questions, gathered from the Gen Y government officers who are working in the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA). The researcher discovered that Gen Y officials, regardless of gender, educational level, and work function, scored high in all four public sector motivating factors (PSM). Moreover, “compassion" is the most important of the four PSM factors. In the qualitative study, by employing the volunteer sampling, the data are collected by in-depth interviews with 62 key informants who are Gen Y working in the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA). With thematic analysis, the motivating factors which were revealed by key informants are mainly extrinsic factors. The results revealed that these motivation factors are welfare, job security, retirement plan, benefit to society, honorable career, beloved job, dream job, parental socialization, career path and working time respectively. In the light of Thai context, the PSM theory on individuals' motivation should not be isolated but it should be concerned for scholars and practitioners to top up and shape the model or framework with conventional and traditional work motivation theory in both theories and practices. In brief, these findings pointed out that public service motivation concept by Perry & Wise could have a significant impact in terms of top-up or add-on theory. Furthermore, in order to find the motivations of government officers as in other context of non-western countries, we should not ignore to find both extrinsic and intrinsic motivation factors. According to this research, in terms of extrinsic factor, they are still the primary factors of Gen Y government officers. In terms of intrinsic factor, the ‘compassion’ is mostly found as same as Chinese context.