Public Administration is the implementation of government policy and also an academic discipline that studies this implementation and prepares civil servants for working in the public service. As a field, it encompasses a broad range of activities including:
- Formulation of policies
- Management of public programs
- Execution of laws
- Management of public funds
- Management of human resources in the public sector
History
The study of public administration can be traced back to:
- The ancient civilizations where bureaucratic systems were used to manage large empires. For instance, the Ancient Egypt had a well-structured administration.
- The 19th century, when modern public administration began to emerge as a distinct discipline. This was largely influenced by the need for effective governance in the wake of industrialization and the growth of democratic governance systems.
- Woodrow Wilson's essay in 1887, "The Study of Administration," which is often cited as a foundational document for the discipline, emphasizing the need for a science of administration separate from political science.
Context and Development
Public administration has evolved significantly:
- Early 20th Century: The focus was on efficiency, influenced by the Scientific Management movement and later by Human Relations Movement, which emphasized the human aspect of work.
- Post-World War II: There was an increase in the complexity of government roles, leading to a broader scope of public administration, including:
- The New Public Administration movement, which focused on social equity and responsiveness to public needs.
- The emergence of New Public Management in the 1980s and 1990s, promoting efficiency, market orientation, and performance measurement in government.
- 21st Century: The discipline has been influenced by globalization, digital technology, and the need for sustainable development, leading to:
- E-Government initiatives to enhance government transparency and efficiency.
- Increased focus on collaborative governance, involving multiple stakeholders in decision-making processes.
Key Concepts
- Bureaucracy: A system of government in which most of the important decisions are made by state officials rather than by elected representatives.
- Public Policy: The principled guide to action taken by the administrative executive branches of the state with regard to a class of issues in a manner consistent with law and institutional customs.
- Governance: The process of decision-making and the process by which decisions are implemented (or not implemented).
- Public Service Ethics: The ethical principles that guide the behavior of public servants.
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