Social Aspects of Professional Development Management of Russian Federal Tax Service Civil Servants: Results of Empirical Research

Abstract

This article focuses on professionalism and professional development of public service employees (civil ones). The goal of the study was to examine professional motivation of these employees and to carry out an empirical study of professional attitudes of Federal Tax Service (FTS) executives in the Russian Federation. Sociological approach (based on management sociology) and concepts of new public management, public service motivation and achievement motivation were used in the study. It is shown that professionalism of the employees is formed by virtue of their professional attitudes and professional achievements motivation. It is emphasized in management, that it is necessary to find out and take into consideration professional attitudes defining an employee’s willingness to professional development, and efforts he/she applies. The study reveals the structure and main types of professional attitudes of managers — Federal Tax Service executives in Russia. The results of gender analysis of the professional attitudes of the managers are presented as well. The formal survey method (Work Test) was used to identify professional attitudes of the heads of tax offices. The survey involved 90 heads of tax offices from different regions of Russia. It was found out that the dominating attitudes in the structure of professional attitudes of the heads of tax offices are those aimed at professional and qualification development and creative type of work. The dominating type of the executives surveyed is that of “experts-creators”, which means a strong focus on professional development, creative type of work, as well as internal work motivation. The research did not confirm the hypothesis that the attitudes of the career growth and algorithmic type of work (doers) dominate in the structure of professional attitudes of the tax office executives. The gender analysis of the data obtained showed that female executives dominate among tax offices executives. Selective data do not give grounds to reject the hypothesis that female heads are more focused on professional and qualification development and creative type of work than male ones; however, this dependence is not of any significance. Recommendations of how to implement the obtained results for human resource professionals of the Federal Tax Service in Russia are offered. The study contributes to the development of new public management, public service motivation, (issues of public service employees’ professional development motivation and management), as well as to the testing of the method of finding out professional attitudes of the employees indicated. The study is of practical significance for strategic planning and management of public service employees’ professional development and implementation of the Concept of Personnel Policy of the Federal Tax Service of the Russian Federation.