Unit II –Introduction to Public Administration

Objectives of the topic:

• To define and explain the meaning and nature of Public Administration.

• To compare the traditional and emerging fields of PA.

• To identify the goals of PA.

• To explain the core ideas of PA.

• To understand the basic concerns of PA.

• To discuss the foundational elements of government and PA.

• To trace the origin of PA.

Definitions of Public Administration

• Systematic processes and dynamics of the management, operations, or administration of the

affairs of the state which includes the entire gamut of the government service in the national
and sub national politics which also includes government officials and public employees.

• Public Administration is concerned with the institutional framework of government, its socio-
economic and political milieu, and the behaviour of the individuals who man the bureaucratic
machine. (Robert Presthus, Public Administration )

• Public Administration is detailed and systematic execution of public laws. (Woodrow Wilson)

• Public Administration is the management of men and materials in the accomplishment of the
purpose of the state. ()Leonard D. White / Dwight Waldo (1955)

• Public Administration is concerned with managing change in pursuit of publicly defined societal
values. (Robert B. Denhardt)

• It is concerned on normative political values in the delivery of public good and on the
administrative thrusts of the civil service like accountability, transparency, efficiency…………..

• As viewed by the public…….. PA is the political role of the government towards its people , the
services it offered. It primarily centered on the delivery of services.

• Is what the government does; what the government chooses to do or not to do.

Fields of Public Administration

A. Traditional Fields
a. Local and Regional Governance and Administration
b. Fiscal Administration
c. Public Policy analyses and program Administration
d. Organizational and Personnel Management
 B. Emerging Subfields of PA
a. Public Enterprise Management - privatization
b. Voluntary Sector Management - civil society, NGO’s, alternative service providers in
the community development programs
c. Spatial Information Management - support tools enabling the use of all kinds of
spatial data/information which can be processed immediately and can be
transported easily. (e-governance, e-commerce, e-finance)

Concerns of Public Administration

• Not only to those activities in carrying out or implementing the policies and programs of the
government but also to the process and contents of these policies and programs.

• To cooperative human action whether within the public bureaucracy, the private sector or in
NGO aimed at delivering services to the people.

• With public policies and programs, their formulation and implementation and the socio cultural,
economic and political factors bearing on them.

• The systematic study of institutions and processes and the interplay of factors involved in
authoritative decision making on goals, in implementing them, and in achieving desired results.

• How government services or policies are delivered and implemented; preferably in the most
efficient and responsive manner; how programs and policies are evaluated; how they
accomplish the desired goals.

• Center on the institutions of public bureaucracy within a state, the organizational structure
which form the basis of public decision making and implementation; and the arrangement by
which public services are delivered.

• Financial Administration (budgeting, accounting, purchasing, borrowing, tax assessment)

Classical Public Administration Concerns

• Management of human factors in government (maintaining good relations between government

and citizens, and between dep’t heads or bureau chief and the rank and file employees.)

• Methods of administrative organization (structure, coordination, control)

• Personnel Administration (training, recruitment, promotion, morale of public employees)

Goals of Public Administration

• Pursuing public good;

• Ensuring efficiency and effective delivery of a public service;

• Improving the quality of life;

• promoting social justice, and,

 • Promoting equity, transparency, accountability, and accessibility in public service.

ever changing dependent on the needs of time and the society

Core Ideas of Old Public Administration

• The forces of government is on the direct delivery of services through existing or through newly
authorized agencies of the government.

• Public policy and administration are concerned with designing and implementing policies
focused on a single political defined objectives.

• PA plays a limited role in policy making and governance; rather they are charged with the
implementation of public policies.

• The delivery of services should be carried out by administrators accountable to elected official
and given limited discretion in their work.

• Administrators are responsible to democratically elected political leaders.

• Public Programs are best administered through hierarchical organizations, with managers largely
exercising control from the top of the organizations.

• The primary values of public organizations are efficiency and rationality.

• Public organizations operate most efficiently as closed systems thus citizen involvement is
limited.

Fundamental Powers of State

• Police Power

• Taxation Power

• Power of Eminent Domain

Functions of Sate

• Essential functions

• Service functions

• Business functions

Essential functions of a state

• The state must perform in order to accomplish/uphold or promote its power and authority so as
to affirm its existence as a state.

• Maintenance of armed forces for defense against foreign invasion

 • Maintenance of police forces for the suppression of lawless violence and apprehension of
criminals.

• Maintenance of the courts for the prosecution and punishment of crimes and settlement of
legal disputes.

• Maintenance of foreign service for the conduct of international relations.

• Maintenance of tax collecting and record keeping agencies for the execution of other functions.

Origin and Development of Public Administration

• As old as the civilization of Greece and Mesopotamia

• Existed in all societies

• Practices and expressed in the Code of Hammurabi, in Confucianism

• Originated from monarchial Europe

• Manifested way back in the mid 17th century and early 18th century in Prussia

References:
1. Holzer, M. & Schewester, R. Public Administration: An Introduction. Armonk, NY: M.E.
Sharpe
2. Shafrtz,J.M., Russel, E.W. and Borick C, Introducing PA, Abingdon, UK: Routledge,
2015.
3. Joaquin G. Bernas, SJ. The 1987 Philippine Constitution A Comprehensive Reviewer
2012, Rex Printing Co., Inc.QC.

4. Public Administration and Public Affairs, 12 th Ed. Nicholas Henry, PEARSON, 2013

5. Ricardo S. Lazo, Introduction to Political Science Rex Book Store Manila, Philippines
2009.
6. Philippine Politics Democratic Ideals and Realities, the Department of Political
Science Ateneo de Manila University, Ateneo de Manila University Press QC 2014

7. Mark O. Dickerson, Thomas. An Introduction to Government and Politics A

Conceptual Approach 7th Ed,