Glenn Houtgraaf, MSc
Innovation vs. Risk Management: Same sides to the same coin
This research focuses on the simultaneous presence of Innovation Management and Risk Management and analyses their mutual dynamics. Based on a Delphi-method research design, we aim to analyse the underlying goals and values in an attempt to determine to which degree the two management styles interfere and where options for integration may lay. This research is currently in its design phase.
Bureaucracy Sapping Public Servants’ Motivation through Inhibition of Dopamine
This research focuses on the neurobiological mechanisms underlying the negative effects of bureaucratic dimensions on public servants’ motivation. By means of a lab experiment, it measure the effects of public sector bureaucratic conditions on public servants’ intrinsic motivation through measuring Eye Blink Rates that represent levels of dopamine in the brain. This research is currently in its design phase.
The Dark Side of Public Sector Creativity
This research is the third phase of the research project ‘The Creative Public Servants’ which aims at scrutinising disputable forms of creativity; creative rule-bending. By means of large-n experimental survey vignette design, we aim at measuring creative-rule-bending by public servants and their motivations for doing so. This research is currently in its design phase.
Demotivating Bureaucracy Sapping Public Servants’ Creativity
This research is the third phase of the research project ‘The Creative Public Servants’ which aims at explaining public sector creativity as a unique construct consisting of multiple pragmatic dimensions in light of its bureaucratic context. By means of a cross-sectional survey design, we aim at developing a causal model for explaining public sector creativity. Departing from explorative findings regarding salient factors that stem from our diary study, we apply Structural Equation Modelling techniques to develop a causal model. This research is currently in its design phase.
Measuring Public Sector Creativity: Development of a validated scale
This research is the third phase of the research project ‘The Creative Public Servants’ which aims at measuring public sector creativity as a unique construct consisting of multiple pragmatic dimensions. By means of a multi-wave large-n survey design, we aim at developing a measurement scale for public sector creativity and the degrees of presence of its idiosyncratic dimensions. We apply Structural Equation Modelling techniques and several construct validity tests in order to provide a validated scale for adequate measurement of public servants’ creativity. This research is currently in its design phase.
Lack of Slacking: The causal dynamics underlying the effect of teleworking on creativity and efficiency as facets of work performance
This research is an additional single-author piece for the second phase of the research project ‘The Creative Public Servant’ which serves the purpose of exploring how teleworking affects public servants’ performance in terms of creativity and efficiency. Through a revolutionary method in the discipline of Public Administration, namely a longitudinal qualitative diary study combined with focus groups, we will map these effects and their causal dynamics. To this end, we ask 140 public servants working in four public executive agencies to fill out a diary on their work-related creative experiences once every other week for a period of six months. Currently, this research is in in review at Public Administration Review.
Public Sector Creativity: Idiosyncratic Stimulators and Inhibitors
This research is the second phase of the research project ‘The Creative Public Servant’ which serves the purpose of exploring the idiosyncratic factors that stimulate and inhibit creative processes in public sector organizations. Through a revolutionary method in the discipline of Public Administration, namely a longitudinal qualitative diary study, we will map the factors that most notable affect public sector creative processes. To this end, we ask 140 public servants working in four public executive agencies to fill out a diary on their work-related creative experiences once every other week for a period of six months. Currently, this research is in review at Public Management Review.
The Creative Public Servant
‘The Creative Public Servant’ is a NWO Open Competition funded research project which aims at filling the hiatus in the literature regarding creativity in the public sector. Creativity is the origin of every innovation, so too in the public sector. However, creativity in the public sector is undefined and underexamined whilst the stereotypical public servant is often deemed uncreative. Therefore, this research project aims at shedding light on multiple aspects of creativity in the public sector. This fundamental research project will at least feature four, ambitious and unique, research methods namely a diary study, an experiment, a systematic literature review with a twist and a thorough quantitative anaysis based on a large scale survey. For a period of four years, Glenn Houtgraaf, MSC will conduct the research under supervision of promotor Prof. Dr. Sandra van Thiel and co-promotor Dr. Peter Kruyen.