According to this view, public administration has
- Comprehensive Scope : public administration encompasses all the activities which are undertaken to accomplish the given objective. Therefore, it is the sum total of managerial, technical, clerical and manual activities.
- Inclusive : administration constitutes the activities of all persons from top to bottom. Eg DM to Peon
- Supporter : L.D. White and Dimock.
- Contextual Variability: Administration varies based on the subject matter of the relevant agency, differing between different spheres of operation.
The POSDCORB view was advocated by Luther Gulick. It emphasizes seven key elements or functions of administration: POSDCORB – Planning, Organizing, Staffing, Directing, Coordinating, Reporting, and Budgeting.
However, It’s criticized for prioritizing techniques over essential subject matter knowledge.
- Not All Agencies Are Alike: The idea that all administrative agencies face the same problems overlooks the fact that each agency deals with its own set of challenges.
- Specialized Services vs. Standard Tools: While POSDCORB deals with standard administrative tools, the essence of administration lies in providing specialized services like defense, health, and education etc. Each service requires its own techniques and the development of a tailored ‘local POSDCORB’ based on its subject matter.
Thus, Public administration must address both administrative techniques and substantive concerns. As Lewis Meriam put it, it’s like a pair of scissors: one blade represents administrative techniques (POSDCORB), and the other represents knowledge of the subject matter.
The study of public administration encompasses various approaches that have evolved over time to understand and analyze the complexities of governmental operations. Here are the main approaches:
- Philosophical Approach: Focuses on underlying principles and ideals guiding administrative activities, drawing insights from philosophical works like Plato’s Republic and John Locke‘s Treatise on Civil Government.
- Legal Approach (Juridical/Juristic Approach): Examines public administration within legal frameworks, emphasizing constitutional structures, powers, functions, and limitations of public authorities. Advocates include Frank J. Goodnow.
- Historical Approach: Studies public administration through historical developments, analyzing how administrative systems evolved over time. Examples include L.D. White’s studies on American federal administration and historical texts like Kautilya’s Arthashastra.
- Case Method Approach: Uses detailed narratives of specific administrative events or decisions to reconstruct administrative realities and provide practical insights. Popularized in the USA during the 1930s.(Theorists: Dwight Waldo)
- Structural Approach: Analyzes the organizational structure of public administration, including hierarchical relationships, division of labor, and formal processes. Focuses on efficiency, coordination, and effectiveness within administrative systems.
- Human Relations Approach: Emphasizes human factors such as interpersonal relationships, motivation, morale, and communication in public administration. Highlights the social aspects and leadership role in organizational effectiveness.
- Notable Works: Mary Parker Follett’s works on organizational behavior ; Elton Mayo’s research on the Hawthorne studies
- Behavioural Approach: Examines individual and group behavior within organizations, drawing from psychology and sociology. Seeks to predict and explain administrative behavior through empirical research and behavioral theories. {Advocates : Herbert A. Simon and Chester I. Barnard}
- Systems Approach: Views public administration as a complex system comprising interrelated parts (subsystems, inputs, processes, outputs, feedback loops). Emphasizes holistic understanding and adaptation to internal and external environments.
- Notable Works: Chester Barnard’s works on systems and organizational theory
- Comparative Approach: Compares administrative systems, practices, and policies across different countries or regions to identify similarities, differences, and lessons learned. Facilitates cross-cultural understanding and policy transfer.
- Notable Works: Fred W. Riggs’s Administration in Developing Countries: The Theory of Prismatic Society (1964)
- Ecological Approach: Considers the environmental context (natural, social, economic, political) influencing administrative decisions, policies, and outcomes. Highlights interconnectedness between administrative systems and broader ecological contexts. {Advocates :Â by F.W. Riggs}
- Development Approach: Examines public administration in the context of economic and social development, focusing on its role in achieving development goals and addressing governance challenges in developing countries.
- Conceptualization of Development Administration by Edward Weidner and F.W. Riggs
- Public Choice Approach: Applies economic theories to analyze administrative decision-making, assuming individuals act in self-interest. Examines bureaucratic incentives, regulatory capture, and the influence of interest groups on public policies. {Advocates : by Vincent Ostrom, and others}
- New Public Management (NPM): Emerging in the late 20th century, NPM emphasizes market-based principles in public sector management. It advocates for decentralization, competition, performance-based management, and customer orientation.
- These theories and approaches provide a comprehensive framework for analyzing different facets of public administration, from philosophical foundations and legal frameworks to organizational dynamics, decision-making processes, and comparative institutional analysis.
