This study examines the concepts of supervisory leadership and subordinate motivation. One issue in the exercise is the extent of influence of general organizational structure on the varying dimensions of the major variables. Thus, the study attempts to distinguish between public and private sector organizations and then, in light of the observed distinctive elements comprising each set of organizations, considers the effect of the defined dichotomy on supervisory leadership and subordinate motivation. The empirical results are based on questionnaire responses from a random sample of individual pairings of supervisors and subordinates. The rate of return for this mail survey was 73.3% and the primary statistical techniques used in the analysis, multiple regression. / The inquiry attempts to synthesize several relevant theories including the Contingency and Expectancy Theories as well as various personality and trait theories. It then focuses on the Path-Goal Theory of leadership and aruges that this theory is based on certain linkages between supervisor and subordinate which heretofore have not been examined. The study develops a model describing these linkages and defines concepts fundamental to an understanding to the proposed linkages. / The major hypothesis of the study indicates that higher levels of subordinate motivation occur in situations where the following linkages between supervisor and subordinate exist: (a) the supervisor has knowledge of the reward items that the subordinate values, (b) the supervisor has control over these reward items, (c) the supervisor defines appropriate work behaviors for the subordinate to engage in, and (d) the subordinate expects to receive the valued rewards after engaging in the defined behaviors. Secondary hypotheses suggest differences between public and private organizations in the ability of the supervisor to control reward items, the subordinate's expectation of receiving valued rewards for engaging in appropriate behaviors, and the actual level of subordinate motivation. Results of the study indicate a significant association between the supervisor-subordinate linkages stated above and a construct of subordinate motivation. No significant differences are observed on the specified variables between any organization studied, be they public, private, or otherwise. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 42-11, Section: A, page: 4926. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1981.

This study was designed to examine the applicability and usefulness of contingency theory within the Saudi setting. According to this theory, to understand the structure and function of public bureaucracy, one must understand the external environment which influences that bureaucracy through constant daily interaction with it. To achieve this goal, cross-organizational analysis was conducted among four governmental organizations serving four district subenvironments (districts). The analysis involved four environmental forces employed as independent variables: family status, religious piety, education, and preferred conflict avoidance style. Seven organizational characteristics represented the dependent variables: power structure, formal communication, informal communication, direct supervision, formalization and standardization, the effectiveness of the general coordination mechanism, and the quality of personal treatment received by the employees from the public. The data were collected by questionnaire from two sources in each district: 125 public employees of public organizations serving the four districts, and 347 clients of those governmental organizations. / The study demonstrated that there were limitations on the applicability and usefulness of the contingency theory because none of the environmental forces utilized by the study had significant impact on the following formal structural characteristics: power structure, formal communication, direct supervision and formalization and standardization. On the other hand, the theory was useful in defining the organizational characteristics influenced by the impact of the overall environment and the environmental forces which generated such impact. The organizational characteristics were informal communication, effectiveness of the general coordination mechanism, and the quality of personal treatment of employees by the public. The independent variable of family status was strongly correlated positively with the dependent variable of dependence on informal communication and the quality of personal treatment received by employees from the public. Religious piety was positively correlated with the effectiveness of the general coordination mechanism. On the other hand, education was found to be negatively correlated with effectiveness of the general coordination mechanism. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 46-04, Section: A, page: 1081. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1985.

The purpose of this study was to explain variability among decision making processes in a public organization using the decision making model introduced by Astley et al. (1982). They integrate the two theoretical perspectives with regard to decision making processes, the cognitive or behavioral and the political. The cognitive aspect is represented by the concept of "topic complexity" and the political aspect by the concept of "political cleavage." / In order to provide evidence of the applicability of this model to public organizations, the study was designed to examine decisions made within the Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services (HRS) Headquarters in Tallahassee, Florida. Three major questions were addressed in this study: (1) Can differing patterns exist for carrying out the decision making process? if so, (2) Can these patterns be distinguished from one another? and (3) How can such variation be explained? / Results of the statistical analyses performed indicate that the two explanatory variables examined, political cleavage and topic complexity, are not able to distinguish between patterns of decision making processes. Contrary to what Astley et al. (1982) suggest, interaction of the Department of HRS with its environment is based more upon coordination and cooperation than conflict and contest. In this context, topic complexity of an issue takes on different meaning. What might appear to be a highly complex issue can really be a simple decision when examined within the content of institutionalized practices and procedure. Thus, environmental constraints and the set of assumptions and laws governing interactions are more important in shaping decision making processes than the complexity of an issue. / Finally, three patterns of decision making as a process were identified. These patterns were determined by characteristics and constraints (publicity, deadlines, etc.) typical of public organizations that appear to be more important in distinguishing patterns of decision making process than topic complexity and political cleavage. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 46-04, Section: A, page: 1086. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1985.

This research examined government officials' perceptions of the factors associated with contract service delivery. Open-ended interview questions and a questionnaire were developed to examine the viewpoints of those most involved in the process--the city officials. The major research objective was to determine the subjective importance of normative, legal, administrative, and economic factors on the decision to contract services. / Thirty-seven interviews were conducted with regional directors, mayors, and other local officials; 200 questionnaires were distributed to directors of municipal branches, directors of local ministerial offices, and members of bid committees in these organizations. The response rate for the questionnaire was 60%. / A number of factors are seen to affect the feasibility and attractiveness of contracting for public services--most notably, avoidance of government rules and regulations. Other equally important issues addressed include the efficiency and effectiveness of contracted services, the ability of the contracting agency to monitor the process, the availability of providers, the potential for corruption, service output measurability, and the ability to create and sustain competition. Other factors such as city size, location, and type of service provided were found to be associated with the perceived desirability of contracting. Benefits and difficulties common to the practice of contracting are identified and reforms suggested. / Overall, the results show that government officials believe that contracting public goods and services to private firms can be beneficial only under certain conditions: (a) competition among private providers, (b) use of appropriate contracting procedures by the government, and (c) effective governmental oversight and monitoring. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 51-01, Section: A, page: 0288. / Major Professor: Richard Chackerian. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1989.

The objectives of this study are to initiate the sorting out of the many and varied effects of environmental and internal factors on local government budgetary decision making and to consider the outcomes of local government budgeting in light of these influences. The ultimate purpose of this study is to build a new budgetary model for local governments which better reflects the reality of budget practice. Combining incremental and expenditure determinants approaches provides a useful framework to this problem. Merging these approaches builds upon the strengths of each while offsetting their respective weaknesses. / Dade County, Florida, is selected as a case study and the data on total appropriation and ten functional areas over a twenty-six year time period have been collected. Initially, twenty-three explanatory variables deemed to be important in explaining local government budget making were gathered, and were reduced to eight factors by using principal component analysis. The Hatanaka two stage least squares technique was used for the analysis. / The economic base and intergovernmental aid are the two most important factors associated with the level of local government spending. It was found that, however, incrementalism is not as powerful as found by other studies in explaining local government budget decisions. The several programs in which incremental decision making prevail are allocational in nature. / Executive leadership appears to have significant impacts on several programs. Although no systematic pattern of influence was revealed, it is likely that executive leadership plays a major role in determining the goals and policies of the government during times of retrenchment by controlling and adjusting department budget requests to the fiscal capacity that the government can encompass. / A "Capacity-Process" budget model was developed based on the findings of this study. This budget model is descriptive in nature and contains major variables found important in this study. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 50-12, Section: A, page: 4096. / Major Professor: Gloria A. Grizzle. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1989.

This study tested the impact of information change, represented by reform in the budgetary system, on congressional behavior. While congressional attitudes toward budgetary reform are not well documented, the significance of member behavior should not be overlooked, as the information used during congressional hearings, as well as members' outlook, greatly influences the final outcome. / The underlying premise was this: If program information were to be provided, would the participants in the budget process utilize it in making their budgetary decisions rather than continuing to rely on the traditional, object-of-expenditure type of information? / The study focused on the House Appropriations Subcommittees because of their large role in budgetary matters and the impact of the subcommittees' decision-making processes on their members' behavior. Hearings transcripts for FY1964-FY1984 meetings of these committees were examined and content analyzed. Five federal agencies and their three corresponding appropriations subcommittees were the sample for this research. The Planning-Programming-Budgeting system and the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 are the two budgetary interventions examined in the study. / The findings show that the congressional participants in the hearings were not impressed with new information, as there was no sudden increase in program-type inquiry; however, members also did not adhere solely to the traditional type of inquiry. During the period studied, there was no evidence that information reform influenced the subcommittees' orientation toward more questions related to program; nor did trends emerge in other types of inquiries. The three subcommittees chosen have found satisfactory patterns of inquiry over the period covered, with each subcommittee having its own orientation in gathering information appropriate for its members' behavior. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 50-03, Section: A, page: 0788. / Major Professor: Gloria Grizzle. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1989.

The concept of trust is of major theoretical and instrumental significance in the study of organizations. Despite the extensive literature detailing the implications of trust in organizational life, there has been little systematic study of its determinants. The objective of this research is to develop and test a model of trust formation in organizations. The parameters of the model are based on the theory that the existence of trust is the result of key organizational and individual attributes. Results from this study confirm these ideas. / An employee's level of organizational trust is found to be associated with (a) the nature of supervision, (b) job characteristics, (c) locus of control, (d) public service motivation, and (e) gender. Moreover, it also correlates with the degree of goal congruence between a worker and an organization climate. Organizational leaders are viewed as responsible for creating conditions of trust because of their control of its most significant determinants. / Implications of these findings suggest connections between trust, the type of workplace governance represented by its antecedents, and the political ideology of public employees. Trust may also represent a viable test variable to be employed to create common ground between scholars interested in intraorganizational experiences and those concerned with political attitudes and behavior. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 49-12, Section: A, page: 3865. / Major Professor: James S. Bowman. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1988.

This study will analyze the efficacy of the Governors' Formal Power Indices as predictors of budget outcomes in the states. Governors have had a history of weakness in the American states that has only recently been reversed. In 1965, political scientist Joseph Schlessinger devised a method for measuring these formal powers. Other political scientists, Dometrius and Beyle, have created variations of his method. / The appropriations process is the most important policy-making process in any government. This study will measure the ability of the governors to influence the appropriations process and determine if that influence is related to any of the indices of formal powers. / Thirty states have responded to requests for detailed information on their Governor's Recommended Budget and Legislative Appropriations in three periods: late 1970s, early 1980s, and most recent. The percentage of the governor's recommendations that were appropriated is computed for each of five program areas and total appropriations. These six items are the dependent variables. The independent variables are the indices of Governors' Formal Powers reported above. / Three major conclusions emerge from this research. First, the various state legislatures have become more powerful vis-a-vis the governors over the time of this study. Second, the formal gubernatorial powers do not influence the ability of the Governor to have budgetary successes. Third, the influence of the gubernatorial powers is more evident in program areas where the Governor has exhibited personal interest. / Other findings include the determination that the four indices vary in their predictive and statistical power. The components of the indices also vary in their ability to explain budget outcomes. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 51-11, Section: A, page: 3897. / Major Professor: Thomas R. Dye. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1990.

Purpose of the study. The purpose was to determine the applicability of time-series models to revenue forecasting in Florida cities. / Procedure. Revenue data for were collected for five fiscal years (60 months) in twelve cities. Participating budget officials were interviewed to obtain information regarding forecasting expertise. / Data for Fiscal Years 1982 through 1985 were fit with seven time-series models ranging in complexity from the moving average to Box-Jenkins, in order to obtain forecasts for Fiscal Year 1986. / Mean Absolute Percentage Error and Mean Percentage Error of the techniques tested were compared using one and two way analysis of variance and nonparametric analogs. / Findings. At the annual horizon, the judgmental-naive forecasts of the local officials were generally more accurate than those arrived at with the models utilized in the study. Consistent with findings in the 1982 M-Competition of time-series models, no one model consistently outperformed any other in terms of accuracy or bias. However, curve fitting was significantly less accurate than the other models tested. / Interviews indicated a paucity of knowledge of forecasting methods on the part of local officials. Revenue forecasts were made primarily on an annual basis. Local officials engaged in intentional underforecasting of revenue to protect themselves against potential revenue shortfalls. / Conclusions. Data analysis and interviews produced the following conclusions: (1) At the annual forecast horizon, the currently utilized naive-judgmental forecasting methods generally outperformed the methods tested in terms of bias and accuracy. (2) Aggregation of sources improved the forecast accuracy of the models tested. (3) Large general fund balances in the communities studied minimized the need for improved forecast accuracy. (4) Lack of methodological expertise on the part of local officials may preclude implementation of the models tested. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 49-12, Section: A, page: 3865. / Major Professor: Gloria A. Grizzle. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1988.

This research examines a question of importance to government administration: does the application of different organizational control structures and processes result in different levels of organizational performance? / U.S. distributors of electric energy were the locus of the study. Three discernible patterns of organizational control have emerged to regulate the performance of these distributors: (1) Public Service Commission controls, (2) controls embodied in contracts to purchase electric energy from the national government, and (3) controls embodied in financing arrangements with the Rural Electrification Administration. This operational arena provides an opportunity to observe the effect of the application of the different control structures and processes on organizational performance. / Individual distributors were scored on their relative efficiency utilizing Data Envelopment Analysis, a method which does not rely on the pricing system or on unified measures of inputs or outputs to provide a measure of relative efficiency. Mean relative efficiency scores were compared across the various control systems. Additionally, a regression model which includes controls for environmental factors and control system interactions was used to enhance the analysis of mean relative efficiency scores. / The findings imply that organizational performance does vary with the choice of organizational control structure and process. And, it is suggested that organizational performance may be associated with the level of bureaucratization found in the control system. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 51-12, Section: A, page: 4274. / Major Professor: Gloria A. Grizzle. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1990.