Abstract In this paper we investigate differences between the organizational values of ministries and semi-autonomous executive agencies (quangos) that operate at arms’ length. Quangos are expected to operate more business-like, hence they can be expected to value profitability and other NPM-related values higher than ministries. Value incongruence between quangos and ministries is hypothesized to decrease their level of trust. These hypotheses are tested, using combined data from two Dutch surveys (n=324). The results confirm the expectations, although different types of quangos have different degrees of value (in)congruence, which may lead to variations in the quality of the relationship with their parent ministry.

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doi.org/10.1007/s11115-010-0112-9, hdl.handle.net/1765/21065
Public Organization Review
Department of Public Administration

van Thiel, S., & van der Wal, Z. (2010). Birds of a feather: the effect of organizational value congruence on the relationship between ministries and quangos. Public Organization Review, 10(4), 377–397. doi:10.1007/s11115-010-0112-9