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18-01-2021

Mechanisms of perceived accountability in Korean NPOs: activating the dynamics of NPM-driven and confucian-driven cultures

Authors: Min Young Kim, Hyo Joo Lee, Kyoung Ryoul Min

Published in: Quality & Quantity | Issue 6/2021

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Abstract

Non-profit organizations (NPOs) have been recognized as critical performers not only in the enhancement of social values and civic integration but also in the construction of a global civil society, which can impact shareholders’ policies and conventions. To examine how NPOs perform in this manner, this study follows two paths: (1) it empirically examines how public service motivation and organizational culture can enhance perceived accountability through hierarchical multivariate regression; and (2) it provides statistical results and presents future research directions through network analysis using interviews with experts. Finally, we report the results of the analysis and suggest useful theoretical and practical implications for future research on NPOs.

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A core theme in agency theory is that method principals can be used to mitigate the control problem that arises from the possibility that employees may benefit from concealing their level of ability, work effort, and integrity from employers (O’Connell and Yusuf 2018: 1367).

Korean civil society was formed in earnest after the country’s economic development followed by its adoption of political democracy; thus, the historical background differs from that of Western civil society. Therefore, Korean civil society is still highly tied to politics. Further, Korean NPOs’ initiatives, dynamics, governance, and trust have varied depending on the regime. After the June Democracy Movement in 1987, the main role played by Korean NPOs was one of advocacy. In 2005, however, the number of NPOs that provide social services exceeded the number of NPOs dedicated to advocacy due to increased interests in quality of life and social welfare (Park 2015: 45–47). Considering that the characteristics of Korean NPOs differ from those of Western countries, the survey data used in this research is meaningful for the analysis of the perceptions and behaviors of Korean NPOs employees, although the data were collected in 2013. The authors accept that the current political context may differ from that of 2013 because the survey was conducted under the Conservative Government (Park Geun-hye administration) in contrast to the present Democratic Government (Moon Jae-in administration) that has promoted NPOs’ activities by establishing public centers to support them. However, the data are still significant, as they allow us to compare employees’ perceptions of accountability assessed in 2013 and future data set, considering that recent accusations of financial irregularity and embezzlement of The Korean Council for Justice and Remembrance for the Issues of Military Sexual Slavery by Japan is an ongoing major issue (Ock 2020). The issue has triggered a lawsuit regarding the return of donations, discouraging the culture of giving and demanding the establishment of stricter laws to guarantee NPOs’ transparency and accountability. Due to this scandal, NPOs’ accountability is currently regarded as more crucial than ever in Korea. Thus, the authors are convinced that the present study is timely.

In this study, we analyzed the moderating effects of two types of organizational culture on accountability. Due to statistical bias, we did not utilize a quasi-experimental method, which controls the process of collecting samples. As one of the reviewers suggested, collecting samples based on types of organizational culture would provide more obvious results as long as there are no differences in the proportion of demographic characteristics between the two samples.

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Title: Mechanisms of perceived accountability in Korean NPOs: activating the dynamics of NPM-driven and confucian-driven cultures
Authors: Min Young Kim
Hyo Joo Lee
Kyoung Ryoul Min
Publication date: 18-01-2021
Publisher: Springer Netherlands
Published in: Quality & Quantity / Issue 6/2021
Print ISSN: 0033-5177
Electronic ISSN: 1573-7845
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11135-020-01084-5

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