DISCRETION ACROSS PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS AND ITS IMPACT ON ORGANIZATIONAL PERFORMANCE: EVIDENCE FROM K-12 EDUCATION

Discretion is ubiquitous in both public and business administration. Public programs, laws, regulations, and rules cannot be self-implemented, and their implementation usually involves the exercise of discretion. Research on discretion in public administration, to date, has focused predominantly on normative considerations, particularly, the importance of maintaining a balance between discretion and accountability. Very few other significant research questions have been tested. My dissertation contributes to this body of literature. First, I compare managerial and staff discretion across public, private, and nonprofit sectors. Second, I examine the impact of discretion on organizational performance. Third, I examine how discretion influences citizens’ perceptions of organizational performance.