nature and scope of
public administration
Introduction
● Public administration, the implementation of government policies. Today public
administration is often regarded as including also some responsibility for determining
the policies and programs of governments.
● In general sense, administration can be defined as the activities of groups co-operating
to accomplish common goals.
● Public administration is the management of affairs at all level of government. Public
administration is wider field of administration.
● Public Administration consists of the activities undertaken by the Government to look
after it’s people or to manage it’s affairs
Background
Public Administration as an academic discipline is of recent origin whereas
public administration as an activity is as old as the human civilization.
The publication of Woodrow Wilson’s essay, ' The Study of Administration '
in the Political Science Quarterly in 1887 , laid the foundation for a
separate and systematic study in public administration.
With the emergence of the concept of welfare state or social service state
the functions of the state have increased manifold
Definition
Basically administer is a english word which is originated from
the latin word ad and minister. It means to serve or to manage.
Administration means management of affairs, public or private.
Scholars Definition
Different scholars have defined public administration in different ways...
Woodrow Wilson, the pioneer of the social science of Public Adminstration says in his book
‘The study of Public Administration, published in 1887 “, Public Adminstration is a detailed
and systematic application of law.”
Simon stated: by public administration is meant the activites of the executive branches of
the national, state, and local government.
On the other hand, Waldo articulated: Public administration is the art and science of
management as applied to the affairs of the state.
Actually, public administration is an integrated and correlated to serve the People by
formulation and implementation of public policy. It covers a vast area and its scope is spread.
Nature of Public Administration
Administration In terms of nature, there are also two divergent views in public administration.
The first one is Integral view and Managerial view.
Nature of Public
Administration
1. Integral view 2. Managerial view
Integral view
To the integral view school, public administration is a
sum total of all the activities undertaken in pursuit
of and in fulfillment of public policy.
Therefore, the integral view shows the vastness
and multiplicity of the scope of public
administration in any nation state.
Managerial view
# Luther Gulick - important champion of the managerial view
# Viewed as getting the work of government done
# Consisting of the managerial functions of top administrators
# Emphasizes the basic POSDCORB functions of managers
# Denotes the work of the chief executive as a general manager
# Excludes the activities of the non-managerial personnel
# Controls the activities of all others
# Getting things done, not doing things
# Getting things done with the accomplishment of objectives
# Emphasis on managerial techniques
Scope of public administration
Public Administration is the detailed a systematic execution of
public law. Every particular application of law is public
administration.
Narrow perspective
or
POSDCoRB
Planning: Planning is the process of making plans for something.
According to Koontz and O' Donnell planning is deciding in advance what to do
how to do and who is to do it.
Organizing: organizing involves formally, classifying,defining and synchronizing the
various sub-processes or subdivisions of the work to be done.
Staffing: Staffing refers to the continuous process of finding, selecting,evaluating, and
developing a working relationship with current or future employees.
Directing: Directing refers to a process or technique of instructing,guiding, inspiring,
counselling and leading to the subordinates to achieve a definite goal.
Coordinating: Coordinating is the process of organizing people or groups so that they
work together properly and well.
Reporting: Reporting is providing information about serious wrongdoing that you have
become aware of your workplace or place of study.
Budgeting: A budget is a calculation plan the process of creating a plan to spent your
money.
Broad perspective or
subjectmatter view.
Prof. Woodrow Wilson and L D While are main exponent of this perspective.
They have taken a very broad approach about the scope of Public Adminstration.
According to Woodrow Wilson-
“Public administration is detailed and systematic application of law. Every particular
application of law is an act of administration.”
Leonard D. White-
“Public Administration consists of all those operations having for their purpose the fulfilment
or enforcement of public policy.”
A Public administration refers to activities of all three branches (executive,
legislative and judicial) of the government. That means in broader sense
public administration deals with all the work process of the three branches
of the government.
B Scope of Public Adminstration is like a cooperative group. It
consist of all from class one officer to class four employees.
C Public Adminstration is a part of the political process. It has an
important role in the formulation of public policy at all levels, from
national to grassroot. It is closely associated with numerous private
groups and individuals in providing services to the community. It
has been influenced in recent years by the human relations
approach.
Prevailing View
Prevailing View:
1. Administrative Theory
2. Applied Theory
2. Applied Administration
1.Administrative Theory
Political Functions
Organisational Theory
Educational Functions
Behaviour
Social Welfare administration
Public Personnel Administration
Financial Functions
Foreign Administration
Conclusion
The success of the government is dependent on the ability of public
administration. The future of civilized government rests upon the ability to
develop a service and philosophy and practice of administration competent
to discharge the Public functions of civilized society.
• Public administration has to play a very significant role as an instrument of development
and change. The administration of a country reflects the genius of its people and
embodies their qualities, desires and aspirations.
• The basic function of public administration includes -implementing social security
measures, promoting economic growth, executing policies etc.
• There are two divergent views regarding the nature of the study of public
administration. These are integral and managerial view.
• Scope of public administration is broad. Public administration has been worked
in study of governmental organization, financial administration and
administrative function.
• Public administration includes the totality of government activity,
encompassing exercise of endless variety and the techniques of organization
and management whereby order and social purpose are given to the effort of
vast numbers.
Thank you
