Assessment of meritocracy, accountability, and public service reforms in Ethiopia: evidence from public organizations in the Northwest Region
Ethiopia’s commitment to public service reform and meritocratic principles faces challenges, particularly legal and moral violence in the study area. The objective of this study is to investigate the effects of meritocracy on public service reform, mediated by accountability. The study applied an ex...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2025-12-01
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| Series: | Cogent Business & Management |
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| Online Access: | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/23311975.2025.2492388 |
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| author | Worku Lemlemu Ferede Yalew Endawoke Gedif Tessema |
| author_facet | Worku Lemlemu Ferede Yalew Endawoke Gedif Tessema |
| author_sort | Worku Lemlemu Ferede |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Ethiopia’s commitment to public service reform and meritocratic principles faces challenges, particularly legal and moral violence in the study area. The objective of this study is to investigate the effects of meritocracy on public service reform, mediated by accountability. The study applied an explanatory design and a quantitative approach through a structured questionnaire-based survey (n = 354) with randomly sampled respondents in public organizations in the northwest region of Ethiopia. The reliability and validity of scale items were tested. The data were analyzed using SEM-PLS version 4. The results revealed that meritocracy and accountability had a direct effect on public service reform. Additionally, the study demonstrated a partial mediation of accountability, shaping the relationship between meritocracy and public service reform. Organizations that prioritize meritocracy witness enhanced accountability and public service reform, emphasizing the effectiveness of merit-based systems. The study’s unique interdisciplinary approach and mediation explorations within public organizations are deemed original, laying the groundwork for future research on challenges in public service contexts. Finally, it is recommended for government officials and policymakers to prioritize the local context and a merit-driven system, ensuring an accountability mechanism that addresses complexities in Ethiopian public service reform effectiveness. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-669617f797e441ecaff00d226ce1f1bc |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2331-1975 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Cogent Business & Management |
| spelling | doaj-art-669617f797e441ecaff00d226ce1f1bc2025-08-20T02:27:41ZengTaylor & Francis GroupCogent Business & Management2331-19752025-12-0112110.1080/23311975.2025.2492388Assessment of meritocracy, accountability, and public service reforms in Ethiopia: evidence from public organizations in the Northwest RegionWorku Lemlemu Ferede0Yalew Endawoke1Gedif Tessema2Department of Management, College of Business and Economics, University of Gondar, EthiopiaDepartment of Psychology, College of Social and Humanitarian Science, Bahirdar University, EthiopiaDepartment of Management, College of Business and Economics, University of Gondar, EthiopiaEthiopia’s commitment to public service reform and meritocratic principles faces challenges, particularly legal and moral violence in the study area. The objective of this study is to investigate the effects of meritocracy on public service reform, mediated by accountability. The study applied an explanatory design and a quantitative approach through a structured questionnaire-based survey (n = 354) with randomly sampled respondents in public organizations in the northwest region of Ethiopia. The reliability and validity of scale items were tested. The data were analyzed using SEM-PLS version 4. The results revealed that meritocracy and accountability had a direct effect on public service reform. Additionally, the study demonstrated a partial mediation of accountability, shaping the relationship between meritocracy and public service reform. Organizations that prioritize meritocracy witness enhanced accountability and public service reform, emphasizing the effectiveness of merit-based systems. The study’s unique interdisciplinary approach and mediation explorations within public organizations are deemed original, laying the groundwork for future research on challenges in public service contexts. Finally, it is recommended for government officials and policymakers to prioritize the local context and a merit-driven system, ensuring an accountability mechanism that addresses complexities in Ethiopian public service reform effectiveness.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/23311975.2025.2492388Accountabilitypublic servicemeritocracyreformsManagement & OrganizationPublic Management |
| spellingShingle | Worku Lemlemu Ferede Yalew Endawoke Gedif Tessema Assessment of meritocracy, accountability, and public service reforms in Ethiopia: evidence from public organizations in the Northwest Region Cogent Business & Management Accountability public service meritocracy reforms Management & Organization Public Management |
| title | Assessment of meritocracy, accountability, and public service reforms in Ethiopia: evidence from public organizations in the Northwest Region |
| title_full | Assessment of meritocracy, accountability, and public service reforms in Ethiopia: evidence from public organizations in the Northwest Region |
| title_fullStr | Assessment of meritocracy, accountability, and public service reforms in Ethiopia: evidence from public organizations in the Northwest Region |
| title_full_unstemmed | Assessment of meritocracy, accountability, and public service reforms in Ethiopia: evidence from public organizations in the Northwest Region |
| title_short | Assessment of meritocracy, accountability, and public service reforms in Ethiopia: evidence from public organizations in the Northwest Region |
| title_sort | assessment of meritocracy accountability and public service reforms in ethiopia evidence from public organizations in the northwest region |
| topic | Accountability public service meritocracy reforms Management & Organization Public Management |
| url | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/23311975.2025.2492388 |
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