UNDERSTANDING POWER DISTANCE AND SERVICE DELIVERY IN PUBLIC SECTOR OF PAKISTAN

Power distance represents the respect that hierarchical positions are accorded within an organization. Low power distance culture incubates an efficient rule-based administrative system in the public sector, where focus lies on serving the citizens of a country. This paper attempts to understand the role of power distance and service delivery in the public sector of Pakistan. A sample of 11 experienced respondents was selected from various public sector organizations for their views on the subject. The qualitative study conducted for this paper reveals that Pakistan's public sector is in a state of transition. The high power distance management style, a part of Pakistan's colonial inheritance, is slowly shifting to a low power distance management style driven by recent administrative reforms. As a result, low power distance culture is getting firmly entrenched in the public sector while displaying positive results measured by a marked improvement in public service delivery.

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