Łukasz Sułkowski

Department of Management of Higher Education Institutions,

Institute of Public Affairs,

Jagiellonian University,

Krakow, Poland

lukasz.sulkowski@uj.edu.pl

ORCID 0000-0002-1248-2743

Public value management, deinstitutionalization, and personalized social services in local communities

Joanna Wójcik-Chodorowska

Department of Management,

WSB University,

Dąbrowa Górnicza, Poland

joanna.wojcikchodorowska@wsb.edu.pl

ORCID 0009-0004-9924-5899

Karolina Jarosz

Department of Work Pedagogy and Social Gerontology,

Institute of Management and Social Affairs,

University of the National Education Commission in Krakow,

Krakow, Poland

karolina.jarosz@uken.krakow.pl

ORCID 0000-0002-4619-6139

Stanisława Jung-Konstanty

Department of Social Policy,

Institute of Management and Social Affairs,

University of the National Education Commission in Kraków,

Krakow, Poland 

stanislawa.jung-konstanty@uken.krakow.pl

ORCID 0000-0003-0425-5193

Abstract. The aim of this article is to show how the concepts of Public Value Management, deinstitutionalization, and the personalization of social services can have a real impact on the well-being of the local community, using the example of one urban-rural communes in Poland (Małogoszcz). The theoretical part emphasizes the role and significance of community-based solutions and flexible approaches to individual needs in creating genuine public value, which influences the quality of social services and activates the local community while strengthening its potential for development. The article presents the results of an empirical analysis on a sample of 312 residents of the Małogoszcz commune, using a survey method with a custom-designed questionnaire. The study identified the most pressing issues faced by residents, including a lack of sufficient leisure-time opportunities, limited access to healthcare services, youth outmigration, and transport exclusion. The findings point to a need to improve transport solutions for people with disabilities, expand support options for seniors, and enhance counseling services within the commune. In the concluding section, the article outlines research limitations, practical implications, and directions for future research.

Received: March, 2024

1st Revision: April, 2025

Accepted: June, 2025

DOI: 10.14254/2071-8330.2025/18-2/3

JEL Classification: A13, D02, R51

Keywords: social services, Public Value Management, deinstitutionalization, personalization, local community