Public Administration: An Action Orientation

What is Public Administration? Public Administration is concerned with the initiating, designing, and managing public programs. Public administrators work at all levels of government, home and abroad, managing non profit org. and interest groups of all kinds. Fields of work: defense, national security, social welfare, environment, construction of roads.. Public Service is distinguished by: Its pursuit of democratic values An obligation to achieve efficiency, effectiveness + responsiveness to: elected officials, members of the legislature, and citizens. Being mindful of managerial concerns, political concerns, and ethical concerns. Developing thus the structures and process that ensure the three concerns. P.Adm Historical context It is a relatively young field of study- began as part of the late nineteenth century to reform gov. operations. Scholars and practitioners had focused on political institutions (congress or the presidency). But too little concern had been paid to administrative questions. Woodrow Wilson- his essay in 1887 marks the symbolic beginning of American P. Adm. And was reformist in nature. He realized that : It was becoming harder to run a constitution than to frame one. Public orgs would operate best if they pursued businesslike operation. He favored the idea of concentrating power in a single authority atop a centralized administrative structure. W. Wilson & Followers called for: Reforming Public structure to work more efficiently. Extending democracy ideas (liberty and justice) throughout gov and society. i.e. P. adm needs to operate efficiently while at the same time consistent with democratic values (Leonard White). Values affecting Public Adm Democracy. Separation of Authorities. What Democracy? Western view (gov. by and of the people)

(free election + freedom: of press, of movement, to criticize the gov) Russian view (gov policy in the interest of people) Democracy ! Separation of Authorities ! Legislative (enactment of legislation) Executive (implementation of policy) Judicial (interpretation of law); Thus Functions of P Adm:
Efficiency

Enforcing law

Effective ness and

Modern definitions of PADM Focus on the work of administrators in the executive branch of government, but also give attention to the administrators working the legislative and judicial branches, and even focus on the administrators in nonprofit or non-governmental organizations. Action oriented dif.

Why Study Public Administration? 1. Preparing for Administrative Positions (program managers, staff managers, policy analysts) in a wide range of government sectors, in NGOs, in private organizations public affairs departments. 2. Combining Technical and Managerial Knowledge and Training 3. Interaction of Business and Government (Policy formulation and implementation). 4. Influencing Public Organizations and Affairs. 5. Pursuing an academic career in public administration. Contrasting Business and Public Administration 1. Ambiguity 2. Pluralistic Decision Making 3. Visibility 4. Publicness 5. Complexity

1. Ambiguity In Public Organizations, the objectives may be more vague (ambiguous). They are often stated in terms of social and political objectives. The financial bottom-line is not the main consideration. Hard to assess performance (ex. Improving quality of environment) 2. Pluralistic Decision Making In public administration-especially in a democratic societymany groups and individuals have access to the decision making process. This makes the process more complicated and more difficult. In business, the decision making authorities are well defined: Manager, board of directors, chief executive officer, etc. 3. Visibility The work of the government in a democratic society is subject to constant scrutiny by the press and by the public. The work of business is not as scrutinized as that of the government. There is more privacy and less disclosure of information. 4. Publicness Whose interest is being served? Private or public? No longer bet. Profit and Service. PAdm is pursuing public purpose; Tension bet. Efficiency and Responsiveness But still totalitarian countries 5. Complexity In the political and ethical context In setting objectives In developing budgets In hiring personnel In dealing with other orgs In evaluating success and failure of progs

Issues in Public Administration Theory and Practice Politics Versus Administration Bureaucracy Versus Democracy Efficiency Versus Responsiveness

The Issue of Politics Vs. Administration According to Woodrow Wilson: Administration lies outside the proper sphere of politics Council manager plan on the local level Public Administrators participate in policy making : Through advice to policy makers; they are thus called upon to present their ideas. Through the exercise of discretion in implementation of loose legislations or laws

How can we ensure ACCOUNTABILITY? Objective/ Structural Controls (more legislative review and involvement in the admin process, or more public participation in admin process through surveys of pub. opinion) Subjective Controls (professional standards and code of ethics) The Issue of Democracy Vs. Bureaucracy The bureaucratic model has autocratic features completely at odds with democracy theory, so how can a democratic government carry out its work through authoritarian organizations ? Democratic Values Individuality Equality Participation & Involvement Bureaucratic Values Group or Organization Hierarchy Top-Down Decision Making

The Issue of Efficiency Vs. Responsiveness While public managers must operate in the most efficient way possible, getting things done quickly and with the least cost to taxpayers, They must also constantly attend to the demands of the citizens directly or indirectly . The way out : continuous ethical deliberation of both points of view case by case.

What Do Public Administrators Do? Conceptual Skills Include the ability to think abstractly, to see the organization as one whole, how it relates to the external environment, how all the functions fit together. Technical Skills Refer to proficiency in the methods, processes and techniques for accomplishing tasks, e.g. skills of an accountant in conducting an audit, skills of a doctor or mechanical engineer. Human Skills Refer to the capacity to work effectively as a member of a group, or the ability to get others to work effectively.