Administration vs.

Management
 to administer vs. to manage
• synonyms in some contexts
• differences in meaning in other contexts

When applied to public and private

organisations, the dominant perception is that:

• Public organisations are administered

• Private organisations are managed
 Public vs. Private Organisations
Similarities
1. Both types of organisations have goals
2. Both use resources to achieve those goals
3. Both are held accountable to their
stakeholders for the decisions they make
for the ways they use resources
4. The people responsible for making the
decisions and carrying out the policies and
objectives, in both types of organisations,
are clearly performing the same role:
• Planning
• Organising
• Coordinating → managing
• Controlling

• Administration in both types of organisations

involves establishing procedures which are
designed to:
● link policy with practice
● ensure consistency
● facilitate control
 The main contrasts between
administrative and management systems (1)
Administrative systems Management systems

• Objectives are • More clearly identified

expressed in very goals and objectives,
general terms and are with specific deadlines
rarely reviewed or and targets – more
changed – less precision
precision • The criteria of success
• The main criteria of are achieving targets,
success are avoiding usually expressed
mistakes and getting quantitatively
things right
 The main contrasts between
administrative and management systems (2)
Administrative systems Management systems

• The economical and • The economical use of

efficient use of resources is
a secondary task
• Focus on role where
responsibilities are clearly
defined and there is
limited delegation;
structures tend to consist
of long hierarchies; there
is a tendency to caution
and to refer problems
upwards
resources is of primary
importance
• The task is central; there
are shorter hierarchies,
more delegation and a
willingness to make
decisions
 The main contrasts between
administrative and management systems (3)

Administrative
Management systems
systems
• The role of the • The manager is a
administrator is protagonist, looking
more one of for opportunities,
arbitration and rule fighting resources
interpretation an taking initiatives
• →less involvement • →more involvement
 Administrative vs. Management Systems

Administrative Systems Management Systems

• mechanistic structures, • more flexible

with long chains of structures with less
command and narrow hierarchy
spans of control • task-oriented
• heavily bureaucratised • maximise individul
• foster defensive and discretion
passive behaviour • high level of
• role and status are – in decentralisation and
most cases – routinised wider span of control
to constrain discretion
 Administrative vs. Management Systems
Criteria of Success
Administrative Systems Management Systems

• Mistake avoidance • Achieving the goals set

• Satisfying public for the organisation
expectations of fairness • Making the appropriate
• Averting political decision, given the
controversy elements of risk and
• Achieving consensus, uncertainty involved
conformity and • The ability to recognise
consistency in practice and seize opportunities,
react quickly to changed
circumstances and make
profits or avoid losses