Public Administration: Meaning, Nature, Scope and Importance

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms from the lecture notes on public administration.

Public Administration

The activities of government in delivering public services, implementing policies, and managing public affairs; involves cooperation and coordination across all branches; distinct from private administration.

Private Administration

Administration of private businesses and non-governmental organizations; typically non-political and profit-driven.

Administration

Group activity involving cooperation and coordination to achieve goals; involves setting objectives and coordinating efforts to implement policies.

Administer

To care for; to look after people; to manage affairs (Latin: administrare).

Administration as a Discipline

A branch of learning taught in colleges and universities focusing on administration as an intellectual field.

Administration as a Vocation

A type of work or profession requiring knowledge and training in a branch of advance learning.

Administration as a Process

The sum total of activities undertaken to implement public policy and produce services or goods.

Administration as a Synonym for Executive/Government

The body of persons in supreme charge of affairs (e.g., Ramos/Duterte Administration).

J. William Schulze on Administration

Administration is the force that lays down the object and broad policies under which an organization and its management operate.

Organization

A combination of people, materials, tools, equipment, and space brought together to accomplish a desired object.

Management

That which leads, guides, and directs an organization toward the accomplishment of pre-determined objectives.

Leonard D. White

Public administration is an integral aspect of government; it carries out policy decisions made by political executives and operates within a governmental setting.

Woodrow Wilson

Public administration is the detailed and systematic application of law; every application of law is an act of administration.

Dwight Waldo

Public Administration is the art and science of management as applied to the affairs of the state.

Luther Gulick

Public Administration is that part of the science of administration which has to do with the government; primarily focuses on the executive branch.

James Pfiffner

Administration consists of getting the work of government done by coordinating the efforts of people to accomplish set tasks.

Meriam’s Two-Blade Metaphor

Public Administration is an instrument with two blades: knowledge of POSDCoRB and knowledge of the subject matter; both blades are necessary.

POSDCoRB

Planning, Organising, Staffing, Directing, Coordinating, Reporting, Budgeting—the common management functions across organizations.

Subject Matter View

Public Administration deals with substantive matters (defense, education, health, etc.) in addition to processes; not limited to POSDCoRB.

Integral View

Administration includes the full range of activities from manual to managerial, involving all levels of officials.

Managerial View

Administration restricted to top managerial activities; emphasizes planning, organizing, commanding, coordinating, and controlling.

Uniformity (Public vs Private Admin)

Public administration uses common and uniform laws and regulations to govern processes.

External Financial Control

Revenues and expenditures are controlled by elected representatives through a legislative body.

Ministerial Responsibility

Public administration is accountable to political masters and, through them, to the people.

Marginal Return

Public objectives are not typically measured in monetary terms; profits are not the primary measure.

Political Direction

Public administration is political and operates within a political context and framework.

Absence of Profit Motive

Public administration aims to provide services and promote social good rather than earning profits.

Public Gaze

Public administration actions are subjected to wide public scrutiny, unlike private administration.

Legal Framework

Public administration operates within a system of laws, constitutions, and regulations; actions must be legal.

Consistency of Treatment

Public officials must treat people equally and avoid discriminatory practices.

Public Accountability

Public administration is accountable to the public through various democratic institutions.

Large-Scale Administration

Public administration tends to be large, complex, and encompassing a wide range of activities.

Development Administration

A sub-discipline focusing on governance and development in developing countries to accelerate socio-economic progress.