The sources of upward mobility within public sector organizations: A case study

This article identifies four primary sources of upward mobility within public sector organizations.: namely, ability, reputation, social credentials, and patronage. Ability is the Single most important source, but the other factors taken collectively are at least equally as important. Reputation rests on three factors: ability, visibility, and demeanor Social credentials comprise race,ethnicity, gender education, personality traits, attitudes and values. Reputation, social-credentials, and patronage figure as sources of upward mobility for three reasons: the fact that ability is assessed subjectively, the requirement for trustworthiness in administrative work and the fact that superiors and subordinates engage in social exchanges.