The Power of Public Values: Building Organizations That Matter

What if the true measure of an organization’s success was not just its financial results, but the positive impact it creates for people and society?

This is the promise of public values—a set of guiding principles that transcend sectors, shaping not only how governments serve citizens, but how every organization, from tech startups to hospitals to global corporations, can create meaning, trust, and sustainable value.

Public values are the invisible architecture of our shared life. They include ideals like the common good, social cohesion, human dignity, equity, accountability, transparency, and sustainability. They are also reflected in democracy, participation, protection of individual rights, responsiveness, and the pursuit of justice. These values are not abstract—they are the foundation of every decision that affects people’s lives, whether in the public sector or the private marketplace. When organizations embrace public values, they foster cultures where employees feel a sense of purpose, where stakeholders trust the process, and where communities benefit from more than just products or services.

The research demonstrates that public values are not just a governmental concern. They are relevant and vital for any organization that interacts with society. For example, a company that prioritizes transparency builds trust with its customers and partners. An organization that champions equity ensures that all voices are heard and respected, leading to more inclusive and innovative solutions. When a hospital upholds human dignity, it treats every patient as a person, not just a case—improving care, morale, and reputation. Even values like sustainability and stewardship, often associated with environmental policy, are essential for any business that wants to thrive in the long term and be seen as a responsible actor in its ecosystem.

Yet, as research on the English healthcare system reveals, organizations can lose their way when they focus solely on targets and metrics, neglecting the deeper values that give their work meaning. When management is driven only by numbers, employees may feel pressured to “game” the system, stakeholders may lose faith, and the public may suffer from declining quality and integrity. The result is a paradox: in trying to measure and manage everything, organizations risk missing what truly matters. This is not just a public sector problem. Any business or nonprofit that prioritizes short-term gains over long-term trust, or efficiency over fairness, risks eroding its legitimacy and undermining its own potential.

Further research adds another crucial dimension: the way employees perceive their organization’s publicness—the sense that their work serves a broader purpose beyond profit or compliance—has a powerful effect on engagement, innovation, and citizenship behaviors. When people feel that their organization stands for something bigger, they are more likely to go the extra mile, collaborate, and act with integrity. This “publicness” is not just a label; it is a lived experience that shapes culture, performance, and resilience.

Beyond profits, lies the enduring power of public values – the true differentiator for organizations that aspire to matter. At PublicWise, we guide leaders in strategically embedding these values into their core operations, transforming them from abstract ideals into tangible drivers of success. We help you cultivate a culture of purpose, build unwavering trust with all stakeholders, and amplify your influence, ensuring your organization not only thrives financially but also contributes meaningfully to the world. Leveraging the principles of "Organizational Publicness," authentic dialogue, and proven methodologies, we empower you to build a legacy of impact.

Public values are not just good intentions—they are practical tools for navigating complexity, building trust, and achieving sustainable success. When organizations manage with public values at the core, they create environments where employees are motivated by meaning, not just rewards; where stakeholders are partners, not just customers; and where society sees the organization as a force for good. This approach enables organizations to balance efficiency with fairness, innovation with responsibility, and ambition with humility.

Managing with public values means making them explicit, integrating them into strategy, and using them as a compass for decision-making. It means fostering open dialogue about what matters, encouraging participation, and being willing to adapt when values are in tension. It is about recognizing that values like accountability and transparency are not bureaucratic hurdles, but the foundation of trust. Equity and inclusion are not just trends, but sources of creativity and legitimacy. Sustainability is not a cost, but an investment in the future.

At PublicWise, we have made it our mission to help organizations of all kinds harness the power of public values. We draw on cutting-edge research and real-world experience to help leaders and teams clarify their values, translate them into action, and build cultures that inspire. We know that when organizations do well by doing good—wisely—they unlock new levels of engagement, innovation, and impact. We have seen firsthand how a renewed focus on public values can transform not only organizations, but the people within them and the communities they serve.

For further reading and inspiration, see the foundational works: Jørgensen and Bozeman (2007), Bevan and Hood (2006), and Dryzin-Amit, Vashdi, and Vigoda-Gadot (2022). Their research shows that public values are not just ideals, but the key to thriving organizations and a better society.

Let’s build something meaningful together. Reach out to explore how we can help your organization unlock its full potential through the power of public values.

How can "Public Values" elevate your organization's impact?

• Operationalize Values?
• Inspire Team Purpose?
• Boost Public Trust?
• Link Growth to Values?

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References

Bevan, G., & Hood, C. (2006). What’s measured is what matters: Targets and gaming in the English public health care system. Public Administration, 84(3), 517–538.

Dryzin-Amit, Y., Vashdi, D. R., & Vigoda-Gadot, E. (2022). The publicness enigma: Can perceived publicness predict employees’ formal and prosocial behavior across sectors? PLoS ONE, 17(2), e0262253.

Jørgensen, T. B., & Bozeman, B. (2007). Public values: An inventory. Administration & Society, 39(3),

Author Biography

Dr. Yinnon Dryzin-Amit is an expert in organizational and leadership development, driven by a profound passion for fostering thriving, resilient organizations and a deep sensitivity to human needs. He is renowned for translating cutting-edge behavioral science research into practical, strategic solutions across diverse sectors. As the founder of PublicWise, an innovative consultancy, he is dedicated to enhancing organizational performance and legitimacy through evidence-based frameworks, with a particular focus on the unique dynamics of "Organizational Publicness."

Previously, Dr. Dryzin-Amit served as Deputy Director General for Organizational Development in the Israeli Judiciary, where he spearheaded systemic change initiatives, cultivated organizational resilience, and designed strategic leadership development programs for judges and administrative staff. His extensive experience also includes significant contributions to the healthcare sector (Clalit Health Services) and defense establishment (IDF's Behavioral Sciences branch), where he consulted on organizational and management development, employee engagement, and process improvement. He currently shares his expertise as an Adjacent Lecturer at the University of Haifa, teaching in both the School of Public Administration & Policy and the Department of Sociology.

His research spans management, innovation, and the ecology of resilience in complex systems, reflecting his commitment to actionable insights. His publications include "Unveiling the Spirit of Publicness: Conceptualization and Validation of a Publicness Perceptions Scale" (Dryzin-Amit, Vashdi, & Vigoda-Gadot, 2024), "The Publicness Enigma: Can Perceived Publicness Predict Employees’ Formal and Prosocial Behavior Across Sectors?" (Dryzin-Amit, Vashdi, & Vigoda-Gadot, 2022), and "Beyond Individual Grit: A Multi-Level Framework for Systemic Judicial Resilience" (forthcoming, Dryzin-Amit, 2025).