Public Organizations and Mission Valence: When Does Mission Matter?

Given the service- and community-oriented nature of organizational goals in the public sector, it is not surprising that public management scholars have highlighted the potential of the missions to be an asset of public organizations. To date, however, little empirical research has investigated ways in which these benefits can be cultivated. The present study of mission valence-based on a sample from a single organization-has formative and developmental value. The authors find that organizational goal clarity, public service motivation, and work impact can increase an organization's mission valence. In addition, the findings validate the importance of mission valence by illustrating its effect on two important human resource outcomes, job satisfaction and absenteeism.