Mitigating Misconduct Behavior and Psychology among Public Service Officers through Human Governance Components: Preliminary View from Malaysia and Indonesia

Abstract

Purpose: This article shall examine the drivers influencing to mitigate the misconduct behaviour among public service officers. It shall also provide a preliminary view on the extent to which factors are able to deter misconduct amongst public officials in Malaysia and Indonesia.

Theoretical framework:  There are two levels of variables included in the conceptual framework of the current study, which are the antecedent variables of human governance factors (i.e., leadership, religiosity, spirituality, culture, training and development, recruitment and selection, integrity and internal control policy, rewards, knowledge sharing) and mitigating misconduct behavior. The model has a direct relationship between human governance factors and misconduct behavior. Rotten Apple theory and Theory Planned Behavior shall form the basis of the conceptual framework for this study.

Design/methodology/approach: We plan to investigate the key attributes in human governance in order to mitigate the misconduct behaviour among public service officers in Malaysia and Indonesia.

Findings:  This study illustrates that all the variables are vital in in mitigating misconduct behavior among public service officers. The public service officers will be involved in misconduct behavior when the organization fail to capture the problem. Based on the rotten apple theory, unethical behavior affects others in the same systems. Hence, the issue of ethical among public service officers need to be taken into consideration which will affect the reputation of organizational performance.

Research, Practical & Social implications:  Future research should focus on the comparative discussion for both government agencies and private agencies. It is because human governance concept is not merely cover for the government sector, but it can be related to the private sectors and even MNC.

Originality/value:  The proposed of nine elements of human governance can be used as a strategic tool to mitigate the issue of misconduct behavior among public service officers from Malaysia and Indonesia perspective. This is in accordance with the research conducted by previous researchers, which implied that to reduce the issue of misconduct behavior such as corruption, it is vital for the regulatory authorities to carry out the proper rules and initiatives related to misconduct behavior practices.

Keywords: Misconduct Behavior, Public Service Officers, Human Governance, Malaysia, Indonesia