PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION

It is a art and science of managing public progrmmes and polices ,

ensuring their effective execution for the benefit of society

Study of the decision making , analyzing of policies , various inputs that

have produced them , the inputs necessary to produce alternative
policies .
Public administration professionals work to , Ensure public safety,
Provide public services, Maintain infrastructure, and Further the
interests of the general public.
Public administration professionals work with elected officials,
community leaders, nonprofits, and private partners. They use
their expertise in management and public policy to make positive
changes in their communities.
Public administration is different from business administration
because of its values, goals, and organizational structure
The evolution of public administration as a separate discip line
can be divided into phases, starting with the
Politics/Administration Dichotomy in 1887 and continuing to the
present:
 Politics/Administration Dichotomy: 1887–1926
 Principles of Public Administration: 1927–1937
 The Challenge: 1938–1950
 The Crisis of Identity: 1950–1970
 Public Administration as Public Administration: 1970–Present
Woodrow Wilson is credited with establishing public
administration as a separate subject of study in 1887.
 From 1887 to 1926, the primary focus in public administration
evolution was the "politics-administration dichotomy," which
essentially meant separating political decision-making from the
implementation of policy by the administrative branch, with
Woodrow Wilson being the key figure advocating for this distinct
division as a foundation for the study of public administration as a
separate discipline; this period is considered the first stage in the
development of public administration theory.
Key points about this period:
 Woodrow Wilson's contribution:
In his 1887 essay "The Study of Administration", Wilson argued
that public administration should be studied as a distinct field
separate from politics, focusing on efficiency and effectiveness in
policy implementation.
 The Dichotomy concept:
This theory proposed that while politicians set the agenda and
make decisions, administrators should neutrally carry out those
policies without political interference.
 Focus on efficiency:
The main goal of this approach was to achieve efficient
government operations by applying scientific management
principles to administrative tasks.
Criticisms of the Politics-Administration Dichotomy:
 Oversimplification of reality:
Critics argued that politics and administration are inherently
intertwined, and a complete separation is not always practical.
 Potential for bureaucratic abuse:
A strict separation could lead to administrators acting without
sufficient public accountability.
Overall, the 1887-1926 period marked the initial development of
public administration as a field of study, primarily focused on
establishing a clear distinction between political decision-making
 and administrative implementation, with Woodrow Wilson's
"politics-administration dichotomy" as its central concept.

From 1927 to 1937, the evolution of public administration

principles focused heavily on identifying and applying universal
"principles of administration," marking a period often called the
"Golden Age of Principles" where scholars believed that
discovering and implementing these principles could significantly
increase the efficiency and economy of public administration,
essentially establishing public administration as a distinct field of
study with a focus on scientific management practices.
Key points about this period:
 Central theme:
The core belief was that there existed a set of universal
administrative principles applicable to all organizations, which
could be discovered and applied to improve public
administration.
 W.F. Willoughby's influence:
W.F. Willoughby's 1927 book "Principles of Public Administration"
is considered a pivotal text in this era, advocating for the
application of scientific management principles to public sector
operations.
 Focus on efficiency:
The primary goal during this period was to maximize efficiency in
government operations by applying these discovered
administrative principles.
 Criticism of the "principles" approach:
While this period established public administration as a distinct
field, later critiques argued that the idea of universal principles
was overly simplistic and failed to account for the complexities of
different administrative contexts
 Between 1938 and 1950, public administration faced a significant
"era of challenge" where the previously dominant "principles of
administration" were heavily criticized and questioned, primarily
due to the growing recognition that politics and administration
were deeply intertwined, leading to a rejection of the strict
"politics-administration dichotomy" and paving the way for a more
behavioral approach to public administration study, with key
figures like Herbert Simon playing a pivotal role.
Key points about this period:
 Challenge to the "Principles of Administration":
Scholars like Chester Barnard and Herbert Simon argued that the
idea of universal, unchanging principles of administration was
flawed, as real-world situations were too complex and context-
dependent to be governed by simple rules.
 Rejection of Politics-Administration Dichotomy:
Critics pointed out that administrative decisions were inherently
political, as they often had significant policy implications, making
a clean separation between the two impossible.
 Rise of the Behavioral Approach:
Herbert Simon's influential book "Administrative Behavior" (1947)
advocated for a more nuanced understanding of decision-making
within organizations, focusing on individual behavior and
psychological factors rather than rigid principles.
 Focus on Human Relations:
This era also saw increased emphasis on the importance of
human factors within organizations, including employee morale,
motivation, and interpersonal relationships.
Important figures and their contributions:
 Chester Barnard:
 Published "The Functions of the Executive" which challenged the
traditional view of authority and highlighted the importance of
informal organizational structures.

 Herbert Simon:
Through "Administrative Behavior," he introduced the concept of
"bounded rationality" and argued that decision-making is often
based on limited information and personal biases.
Overall Impact:
This period marked a major shift in the study of public
administration, moving away from the rigid, idealized principles of
the earlier era and towards a more realistic understanding of
administrative processes that acknowledged the complex
interplay between politics and administration
The "crisis of identity" in public administration refers to a period in
the field's evolution where scholars and practitioners struggled to
define its distinct boundaries and theoretical framework, largely
due to its close ties to political science, leading to confusion about
what constitutes the unique subject matter of public administration
itself; this phase is often considered to have occurred roughly
between the 1940s and 1970s.
Key points about the crisis of identity:
 Roots in Woodrow Wilson's work:
The concept of public administration as a separate field is often
traced back to Woodrow Wilson's "The Study of Administration"
(1887), where he advocated for separating politics from
administration. However, this initial separation was not fully
realized, leading to ongoing debate about the field's distinct
identity.
 Influence of political science:
During the "crisis of identity" period, public administration was
often seen as a subfield of political science, leading to a
 dependence on political science theories and methods, which
sometimes blurred the lines between the two disciplines.
 Criticisms and new perspectives:
As the field progressed, scholars started to criticize the
traditional, "scientific management" approach to public
administration, leading to the emergence of new perspectives like
behavioralism, systems theory, and post-structuralism. These
new perspectives further challenged the established
understanding of public administration, contributing to the identity
crisis.
 Impact on research and practice:
The lack of a clear identity resulted in challenges for public
administration scholars in defining research questions,
developing appropriate methodologies, and applying theories to
real-world situations.

Beyond the crisis:

 Emergence of new approaches:
To address the identity crisis, scholars began to focus on
developing distinct theories and methodologies specific to public
administration, incorporating concepts like ethics, accountability,
and citizen participation.
 Comparative public administration:
Comparing public administration practices across different
countries also helped to clarify the unique aspects of the field and
develop a broader understanding of its principles.

Since the 1970s, public administration has significantly

evolved, marked by the rise of "New Public Management" (NPM)
which emphasized privatization, deregulation, and efficiency-
 focused approaches, transitioning from the earlier classical model
focused on bureaucratic hierarchy to a more market-oriented
perspective, with a growing focus on citizen participation and
accountability in recent years; this shift was largely spurred by the
"New Public Administration" movement that emerged in the late
1960s, advocating for greater social equity and responsiveness in
government operations.
Key points in the evolution of public administration since 1970:
 New Public Administration (NPA):
This movement, originating around the 1968 Minnowbrook
Conference, challenged the traditional bureaucratic model,
advocating for increased citizen participation, social equity, and
responsiveness to diverse community needs.
 New Public Management (NPM):
Emerging in the 1980s, NPM emphasized applying private sector
management practices to public services, including performance-
based budgeting, privatization, and contracting out services to
achieve greater efficiency.
 Focus on Performance and Accountability:
With NPM, a greater emphasis was placed on measurable
outcomes and accountability mechanisms to assess the
effectiveness of government programs.
 E-Government and Digital Governance:
The advent of technology led to the integration of digital tools in
public administration, facilitating online service delivery,
transparency, and citizen engagement.
 Post-NPM Era:
Criticisms of NPM, including concerns about the potential for
reduced public service quality and social equity issues, led to a
more nuanced approach that sought to balance market-based
strategies with citizen-centric values.
 Emerging Trends:
Recent developments in public administration include a growing
focus on sustainability, data analytics, collaborative governance,
and addressing complex issues like climate change and public
health emergencies.
Important aspects of this evolution:
 Shift in Values:
From a primary focus on efficiency and neutrality, public
administration began incorporating values like social equity,
citizen empowerment, and responsiveness.
 Increased Emphasis on Management Techniques:
NPM brought in new management practices like performance-
based budgeting and contracting out services.
 Role of Technology:
Technological advancements have significantly influenced how
governments interact with citizens and deliver services.
 Global Influences:
International trends in public administration, including reforms in
other countries, have influenced the evolution of practices in
different regions.