Summary of Previous Lecture Definition of Public Administration

Summary of Previous Lecture • Definition of Public Administration

Occupational Definitions of Public Administration • Public administration is an occupational category. – It is whatever public employees in the world do. • Most of the public employees in the Pakistan would not describe themselves as administrators, but they are. • Public administration is an essay contest. – People in bureaucratic careers tend to rise and fall on how well they can write. In a game of shuffling paper, the person whose memorandum ends up on top wins. – Oral presentations are also useful, but writing is more decisive

Occupational Definitions of Public Administration • Public administration is idealism in action. – Many people enter public service careers because they are idealists; they believe in and seek to advance noble principles. – Idealism draws people into public administration because it provides them with worthwhile and exciting things to do with their lives.

Occupational Definitions of Public Administration • Public administration is an academic field. – The study of the art and science of management and incorporates as its subject matter all of the political, social, cultural, and legal environments that affect the running of public institutions. – Cross-disciplinary – political science, sociology, business administration, psychology, law, anthropology, medicine, forestry, and so on.

Occupational Definitions of Public Administration • Public administration is a profession. – A body of academic and practical knowledge that is applied to the service of society. – A standard of success theoretically measured by serving the needs of society rather than seeking purely personal gain. – A system of control over the professional practice that regulates the education of new members and maintains both a code of ethics and appropriate sanctions.

From the academic perspective • Defines the study of public administration as a program that prepares individuals to serve as managers in the executive arm of local, state, and federal government and that focuses on the systematic study of executive organization and management. • Includes instruction in the roles, development and principles of public administration; the management of public policy; executive-legislative relations; public budgetary processes and financial management; administrative law; public personnel management; professional ethics and research methods.

What the Public Administration should do? 1. Preservation of the polity (state, institution) 2. Maintenance of stability and order 3. Institutionalization of socioeconomic change 4. Management of large-scale commercial services 5. Ensuring Growth and Economic Development 6. Protection of Weaker sections of society 7. Formation of Public Administration 8. Influencing Public Policies

Scope and Nature- Two Perspectives 1. Broader Perspective: Include all the activities having for their purpose the fulfillment of public policy. • “Public Administration is detailed and systematic application of law’” (Woodrow Wilson, 1887) • “Public Administration consists of all those operations having for their purpose the fulfillment or enforcement of public policy as declared by a competent authority” (White, 1926)

Narrow Perspective 2 - Narrow Perspective: Only the activities concerned with the executive branch of government. • The emphasis is on public administration with the functions and activities of the executive only. • Emphasizes the managerial aspects

Scope of the Subject • At fullest range, public administration embraces every era and activity under the jurisdiction of public policy • By established usage, the term has come to signify primarily the organization, personnel practices and procedures essential to effective performance of the civilian functions entrusted to the executive

The what and the how • Pfiffner identify that public administration is concerned with what and how of the government.

The What • Technical knowledge of a field which enables an administrator to perform his task (Subject matter) • There are four groupings of subject matter 1. What government does- determination of objectives, internal administrative policies and plans and range of governmental business. 2. How a government organizes its staff, and finances its work that is the structure of government organizations

The What … 3 - How administrators secure cooperation and teamwork. Study of such problems as administrative responsibility, leadership, direction, coordination, delegation, headquartersfield relationships, supervision and public relations 4 - How administration is held accountable? This means study of internal control, and control of administrative activities by the legislature and the courts.

How of the Administration • Techniques of management

Summary