Collaborative Research Postgraduate Students' Seminar Series  

by Prof. Bo Wen 

Introduction 

1. Public Service Motivation, Performance-Contingent Pay, And Job Satisfaction of Street-Level Bureaucrats

Does job satisfaction of street-level bureaucrats depend on intrinsic public service motivation (PSM) or extrinsic performance contingent pay? Which factor exerts a more substantial impact on job satisfaction? Drawing on a dataset of 220 front-line public service workers in Hong Kong, this study examines the nuanced relationship among PSM, performance contingent pay, and job satisfaction. The findings show that both PSM and performance-contingent pay elevate the job satisfaction of street-level bureaucrats through a shared mediator – perceived job control. Furthermore, PSM, as an intrinsic motivator, exerts a stronger impact on job satisfaction than performance contingent pay. 

2. Revolutionizing Civic Engagement: Exploring Government's Strategic Use of Memes, Slangs, and Trendy Videos on Bilibili to Captivate Generation Z Audiences

As traditional civic participation faces a decline among Generation Z, governments are adapting their approaches by leveraging the pervasive influence of social media. This research delves into innovative strategies employed by the Chinese government to engage Generation Z citizens through rich media content on video-based platforms. Our focus is on 3,801 videos from Bilibili, a prominent video-sharing platform in China. Utilizing regression analysis, we identify that recreational, collaborative, meme-infused videos, and distinct language features significantly contribute to heightened levels of engagement, spanning viewing, feedback, opinions, sharing, and followers' growth. Employing topic modeling, we further delve into the public's favorable attitudes (e.g., excitement, desires) and concerns (e.g., potential credibility loss) regarding these strategies. Our findings establish connections between these strategies and theories of entertainment education, co-design, dialogic communication, and Internet memes. Furthermore, we offer practical insights for governments aiming to construct vibrant and effective online citizen communities, particularly tailored for Generation Z. 

Speaker’s Bio  

Bo Wen is currently serving as an associate professor with tenure in the Department of Government and Public Administration (DGPA) at the University of Macau (UM). Prior to joining UM, he held the position of Assistant Professor (tenure-track) in the Department of Public and International Affairs, previously known as the Department of Public Policy, at the City University of Hong Kong (CityU). A graduate of the University of Southern California, Dr. Wen specializes in research areas that encompass public personnel management, organization theory, regulatory governance, and policy implementation. His scholarly contributions have been featured in reputable journals such as Public Administration Review, The China Quarterly, The American Review of Public Administration, International Public Management Journal, and Journal of Contemporary China. Recognized for his academic achievements, Dr. Wen has received a grant from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC), the Outstanding Reviewer Award from Public Administration, and the Mosher & Mosher Award from the American Society for Public Administration. 

Enquiries 

For enquiries, please contact [email protected].  

Hosted by 

• School of Graduate Studies, Lingnan University 

Co-organiser 

• The Education University of Hong Kong 

Inter-institutional Collaborative Scheme 

Organising Committee  

• Professor Joshua MOK Ka-ho 
• Professor Maggie LAU Ka-wai 
• Professor AMOAH Padmore Adusei 

• Dr. Jane TIAN-zhen 
• Ms. Emily WONG Shuk-wai 
• Ms. Cora SIU Wai-shan  

The programme is generously supported by the University Grants Committee through the Teaching Development and Language Enhancement Grant.