Third Edition Dr. Wasim Al-Habil. Chapter Defining Public Administration

2 Chapter One Defining Public Administration

3 “ Public Administration (PA) can be defined from political, legal, managerial, and occupation perspectives. ”

4 Key Topics Public Administration & Politics Public Administration & Politics Public Administration as an academic field Public Administration as an academic field Woodrow Wilson & Public Administration Woodrow Wilson & Public Administration Public Administration as a profession Public Administration as a profession Public Administration and Citizens Public Administration and Citizens

5 Administration The management and direction of the affairs of government and institutions; a collective term for policymaking officials of government; the execution and implementation of public policy. The management and direction of the affairs of government and institutions; a collective term for policymaking officials of government; the execution and implementation of public policy.

6 Management A word that refers to both to the people responsible for running an organization and to the running process itself; the numerous resources (employees and machines) to accomplish an organizational goal. A word that refers to both to the people responsible for running an organization and to the running process itself; the numerous resources (employees and machines) to accomplish an organizational goal.

7 What is the Executive Branch? The part of government responsible for applying and or administering the law. The part of government responsible for applying and or administering the law. Thus a president, governor, or mayor and the supporting bureaucracies are the executive branches of their perspective jurisdictions. Thus a president, governor, or mayor and the supporting bureaucracies are the executive branches of their perspective jurisdictions.

8 Who is the Professional employee? A member of an occupation requiring specialized knowledge that can gained only after intensive preparation. A member of an occupation requiring specialized knowledge that can gained only after intensive preparation. Professional occupations tend to posses three features: Professional occupations tend to posses three features: 1. Academic & practical knowledge 2. Measurement of standard success 3. Control over professional practice

9 What is Public Administration? Whatever governments do for good or ill. Whatever governments do for good or ill. It ’ s public administration ’ s political context that makes it public. It ’ s public administration ’ s political context that makes it public. It is distinguished form the private or business administration. It is distinguished form the private or business administration.

10 What is Public Policy? Decision-making by government. Decision-making by government. Governments are constantly concerned about what they should or should not do. Governments are constantly concerned about what they should or should not do. And whatever they do or do not is public policy. And whatever they do or do not is public policy.

11 What is Public Interest? The universal label in which political actors wrap the policies and programs that they advocate. The universal label in which political actors wrap the policies and programs that they advocate.

12 What are Regulations? The totality of government controls on the social and economic activities of its citizens. The totality of government controls on the social and economic activities of its citizens. The rulemaking process of those administrative agencies charged with the official interpretation of laws. The rulemaking process of those administrative agencies charged with the official interpretation of laws.

13 What is Red Tape? The ribbon that was once used to bind government documents. The ribbon that was once used to bind government documents. The term now stands as a symbol of excessive official formality and over attention to prescribed routines. The term now stands as a symbol of excessive official formality and over attention to prescribed routines.

14 Public Administration: Art & Science PA as an academic field is the study of the art and science of management applied to the public sector. PA as an academic field is the study of the art and science of management applied to the public sector. PA does not only concern about management. PA does not only concern about management. PA incorporates as its subject matter of the political, social, cultural, and legal environments that affect the running of public institutions. PA incorporates as its subject matter of the political, social, cultural, and legal environments that affect the running of public institutions. It is inherently cross-disciplinary. encompassing so much of other fields (political science, sociology, business administration, and law). It is inherently cross-disciplinary. encompassing so much of other fields (political science, sociology, business administration, and law).

15 Public Administration & Woodrow Wilson As a field of study, PA is traditionally traced to Woodrow Wilson ’ s 1887 article “ The Study of Public Administration. ” As a field of study, PA is traditionally traced to Woodrow Wilson ’ s 1887 article “ The Study of Public Administration. ” The discipline of PA, after developing as part of political science, emerged as an independent field in the second half of the 20 th century. The discipline of PA, after developing as part of political science, emerged as an independent field in the second half of the 20 th century.

16 Public Administration as a Profession PA offers significant opportunities for idealism in the pursuit of public service. PA offers significant opportunities for idealism in the pursuit of public service. The provision of public services - whether by career public servants or by contracted private sector employees – remains the every essence of public administration. The provision of public services - whether by career public servants or by contracted private sector employees – remains the every essence of public administration.

17 Review