Does Core Task Matter for Decision-Making?

This article sets out to test the hypothesis that differences in fundamental
job characteristics (service vs. regulation) affect discretionary streetlevel
decision-making. The hypothesis was tested by examining whether
systematic variation could be found in the moral assessments on which
street-level bureaucrats performing different types of core tasks base their
decisions. The issue was addressed in a comparative case study comprising
three institutions, which differ systematically as far as variables of tasks
are concerned. Findings showed that differences in core tasks do affect
discretionary decision-making, as divergent moral assessments determine
and justify decision-making across different core tasks.