Public administration

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Woodrow Wilson (Nobel 1919)

Luther Gulick (social scientist)

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Public administration is the implementation of government policy and an academic discipline that studies this implementation and prepares civil servants for working in the public service. As a "field of inquiry with a diverse scope," its fundamental goal is to advance management and policies so that government can function. Some of the various definitions which have been offered for the term are: "the management of public programs"; the "translation of politics into the reality that citizens see every day"; and "the study of government decision making, the analysis of the policies themselves, the various inputs that have produced them, and the inputs necessary to produce alternative policies."

History

Public administration has ancient origins, dating back to the Sumerians and Egyptians. The Roman Empire also had a sophisticated system of public administration. In the modern era, the field began to take shape in the late 19th century with the work of Woodrow Wilson, who is often considered the father of public administration in the United States. His seminal essay, "The Study of Administration," called for a science of administration and laid the groundwork for the field.

Theories of Public Administration

Public administration theory is the amalgamation of history, organizational theory, social theory, political theory, and related studies focused on the meanings, structures, and functions of public service in all its forms.

Classical Public Administration Theory

Classical public administration theory is based on the idea that there is a single, best way to organize and manage public organizations. This theory is closely associated with the work of Max Weber, who developed the concept of bureaucracy, and Frederick Taylor, who introduced scientific management.

New Public Management

New Public Management (NPM) is a management philosophy used by governments since the 1980s to modernize the public sector. NPM advocates for the use of private sector management techniques in the public sector, emphasizing efficiency, output measurement, and customer service.

Public Value Theory

Public value theory, developed by Mark H. Moore, argues that public managers should focus on creating value for the public, rather than merely implementing policies. This theory emphasizes the role of public managers in shaping and responding to the public's needs and preferences.

Functions of Public Administration

Public administration encompasses a wide range of functions, including:

• Policy formulation and implementation
• Budgeting and financial management
• Human resource management
• Public relations and communication
• Regulatory enforcement
• Service delivery

Education and Training

Public administration education typically includes coursework in public policy, management, ethics, and law. Many universities offer degrees in public administration, such as the Master of Public Administration (MPA) and Doctor of Public Administration (DPA).

Related Fields

Public administration is closely related to several other fields, including political science, sociology, economics, and law. It also overlaps with public policy, which focuses more on the analysis and creation of policies.

See Also

• Bureaucracy
• Civil service
• Governance
• Public policy
• Public sector
• Nonprofit organization