(Relation of Human Capital and Critical Thinking Tendency in Public Administration: A Research on Civil Cervant)

Abstract

Purpose – In this study, it is aimed to determine the relationship between human capital and critical thinking tendency in public administration. Design/Methodology/Approach – Quantitative research method was used in the research and a questionnaire was applied. The population of the study consists of 300 personnel working in a public institution subject to the Civil Servants Law No. 657. Sample selection method was used in sampling. A total of 208 personnel were reached and as a result of the evaluation, 8 questionnaires were excluded from the analysis. SPSS 22.0 and Amos 22.0 programs were used to analyze the data obtained from 200 participants and frequency analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, reliability analysis and correlation analysis were performed respectively. Findins –As a result of the research, it was determined that the personnel perceived the human capital of the institution as medium (2.80), and the tendency of critical thinking to be high (4.14). At the same time, a positive meaningful relationship was found between human capital and critical thinking tendency. The strongest positive relationship is between human capital and its sub-dimensions (employee qualifications and institution practices) and participation dimension. Discussion – According to the resaults of the research, public institutions have to apply methods to develop their human capital. One of these methods should be strengthening the critical thinking tendencies of the personnel. In the information age, it is a wrong approach to see public personnel as a loyal employee performing only the tasks assigned to him. On the contrary, employees in the public sector should also be individuals who are questioners, take responsibility, develop their services, make suggestions, open to innovation, have cognitive maturity and are proactive.