Exploring the values in the Italian public sector using the tri-axial model

Purpose – The purpose of the paper is to explore the values in the public sector in Italy using the tri-axial model and explore the reasons why these values are important for the Italian public sector. Design/methodology/approach – An online questionnaire was prepared in Italian and sent to the public sector employees all over Italy. Findings – The findings demonstrate that Italian public sector is 100 percent economic-pragmatic according to the tri-axial model. One of the reasons of this result is the reforms made in the public sector which have stressed the importance of values like efficiency and professionalism. Research limitations/implications – The main limitation of the study is the sample size. Further research should focus on increasing the number of the sample as well as compare the regions in Italy. Practical implications – The conclusions derived from this research suggest that Italian public sector employees perceive themselves as economic-pragmatic. Originality/value – This study is the first study that maps the values in the public sector in Italy using tri-axial model.