Foundations of Public Administration

Mr. Joshue R. SantiagoSpecial Operations Officer IV

Office of the Vice Mayor, Manila

The Challenge

We will create a Learning Environment to explore and implement socially just and democratic public service, thus We:

§         think critically and creatively; §         communicate effectively; §         work collaboratively; §         embrace diversity; §         value fairness and equity; §         advocate powerfully on behalf of the public; and §         imagine new possibilities and accomplish positive

change in our workplaces and in our communities.

Mission Statement

There will be a lecture type presentation of topics and the students will be assigned to prepare their reports through Powerpoint Presentation as part of the students’ project.

Open Discussion after every Presentation is encouraged to provide opportunity to expound on topics at hand.

Short Quizzes will be given before the end of every meeting.

Final Examination will be conducted on the last day of the meeting in order to gauge the learning outcome of the students.

Methodology

Foundations of Public Administration is the first subject in a year long core program for BPA students. Through interdisciplinary study, collaborative learning, speaking across differences, and personal engagement we will address the following four questions throughout the four (4) meetings:

1)      What is public administration? 2)      Who are public administrators? 3)      Why does public administration matter? 4)      What are the Issues and Challenges in Public

Administration?

Course Description

Nature and Scope of Public Administration The Environment of Public Administration Administrative Theories and Organization for

Public Affairs Management Techniques and Processes Management of Human Resources Fiscal Administration

Topic Outline

Accountability and Ethics in the Public Service Regulatory Functions and Processes Special Economic Zones and Local

Governance Public Enterprise and Economic Development Issues and Challenges in Public Administration

Topic Outline

We show up to all classes on time. We are prepared, listen, and share our views. What is said in this room stays in this room.

We respect others. We disagree with ideas, not people.

We do no harm as we engage in the learning process. We are honest.

We do our best work. We turn in our work on time.

We actively and enthusiastically engage in learning. We invest in ourselves. We create a safe place.

We have fun.

Our Agreements

Attendance 10%Quizzes20%Report 20%Project 20%Finals 30%Total 100%

Grading System

Part I: Meaning, Nature, Scope and Significance of Public Administration

Views of Public Administration

What, Why, When, Where, Who & How?

According to Waldo (1955), PA has dual usages: as a field of practice and a field of study. The meaning invoked is the activity or process of administering public affairs and carrying out governmental functions.

Views of Public AdministrationAs a Field of Practice

Example of PA practices Enacting a law Making decision on the best policy concerning an issue Formulating the MTPDP Maintaining peace and order Processing of claims Building roads and bridges Issuance of license Setting standard and Processes

Tendero (2000) explained about processes in the continuing changes in a society. What direction is our society being headed to? How to confront the various conflicts and problems? Who should be responsible?

Views of Public AdministrationAs a Field of Practice

Areas of Concern AGENDA -Absence of a blueprint reflects lack of vision POLICY - Absence of consistent framework spells success or failure PLANS & PROGRAMS - Absence of a plan leaves the fate of society to chance, a possibility of hit and miss in operations and will show ineffectiveness.

PA is concerned with discovering and advancing theoretical and practical knowledge in the field using scientific methods and other social sciences use

Views of Public AdministrationAs a Field of Study or Discipline

PA differs from political science in its emphasis on bureaucratic structure and behavior and its methodologies (Rossenbloom, 1989)

Example of PA as a field of study Empirical studies Case method analysis Surveys Quantitative analysis

Example of PA as a field of study how a policy is made and implemented The interrelationship between government institutions Human Resource development Impact of environmental regulation on communities and economic activities the behavior and attitude of public officials as the perform their official duties Leadership styles of public managers Mechanisms adopted by poverty-focused programs The relations of government and the citizens

What is the PA subject matter or focus to be studied?

It has practical use for government, particularly in improving government performance

it prepares persons for careers in public service and trains them to be good public administrators

What is also considered an applied discipline?

As an Art:

PA involves creativity, leadership, a good sense of the intangibles in administration. This view is closely to the practice of PA

Views of Public AdministrationAs: Both an Art and a Science

As a Science:

There is a body of knowledge or theories that can explain or predict phenomenon or variables in the field of PA The PA theories and concepts are built based on empirical research using systematic methods These theories can be used not only to explain but also improve the art and practice of PA (Bautista, 1990)

Views of Public AdministrationAs: Both an Art and a Science

Waldo, 1955

Definition of PublicAdministration

PA is the organization and management of men and materials to achieve the purposes of government PA is the art and science of management as applied to the affairs of the state

Caiden, 1971

Definition of PublicAdministration

is a cooperative group effort in a public setting covers all three branches – executive, legislative and judicial and interrelationships has important role in the formulation of public policy and is , thus, part of the political process as a field of study and practice , it has been influenced by human relations approach is closely associated with numerous private groups and individuals in providing services to the community

Fry, 1989

Definition of PublicAdministration

PA is policy-making. It is not autonomous, exclusive or isolated policy making.

PA is one of a number of basic political processes by which this people achieves and controls governance

Rossenbloom, 1989

Definition of PublicAdministration

PA is the action part of government. The means by which the purposes and goals of government are realized. PA as a field is mainly concerned with the means for implementing political values PA differs from political science in its emphasis on bureaucratic structure and behavior and its methodologies PA differs from administrative science in the evaluative techniques used by non profit organizations because profit-seeking organizations are considerably less constrained in considering public interest in their decision-making structures and the behavior of their administrators

Rossenbloom, 1989

Definition of PublicAdministration

The process of PA consists of the actions involved in effecting the intent or desire of a government . It is thus the continuously active, “business” part of government, concerned with carrying out the law, as made by the legislative bodies (or other authoritative agents)and interpreted by courts, through the processes of organization and management

De Guzman, 1993

Definition of PublicAdministration

From a very broad perspective, PA may be viewed to refer not only in activities carrying out or implementing policies and programs of the government but also to the processes and contents of these policies and programs

From a broader perspective, PA may refer to the cooperative human action whether within the public bureaucracy, the private sector or in nongovernmental organizations aimed at delivering services to the people

Public and Private AdministrationCriteria Public

AdministrationPrivate Administration

1.Relations to environment

subject to public scrutiny; public demand and expectations; political pressures

Less exposed to public inspection; internal processes are kept from public; response to public guided by market dynamics

2. Accountability Accountable to the public; transparency in transactions is expected

management accountable to owners of firms/corporations

3. Measure of performance

general public satisfaction is the gauge in the improvement in the quality of life

profit is bottomline

4. Nature of goods and services

open to all availment based on ones ability to pay

Bautista, Victoria. (Cited in Supplementary Readings.) Caiden, Gerald. (Cited in the Supplementary Readings.) Fry, Brian. “Five Great Issues in the Profession of public Administration” in Jack Rabin, W. Bartley Hildreth, Gerald J. Miller (eds). Handbook of Public Administration, New York: Marcel Dekker, 1989.Ocampo, Romeo. “Toward a Review of Research and knowledge in Philippines Public Administration” in Victoria A. Bautista, Ma. Concepcion P. Alfiler, Danilo R. Reyes, Proserpina D. Tapales (eds.) Introduction to Public Administration in the Philippines; A Reader, Quezon City: College of Public Administration, University of the Philippines, 1993.Rosen bloom, David H. and Deborah D. Goldman. “The Practice and Discipline of Public Administration: Competing Concerns” in David Rosen bloom (ed) Public Administration: Understanding Management, Politics and law in the Public Sector, New York: Random House, 1989. Module Introduction to PA, Open University, UP, NCPAG, Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines Tenedero, Avelino P. “Theory and Practice of Public Administration in the Phils.

Referrences