Public administration | Theoretical Foundations

Structuralism

• Views workers like cogs in a machine

Fredrick Windslow Taylor

Structuralism

• Scientific management / Taylorism

• Importance of hierarchal structures and micromanagement of employees

Pre-humanism

• Wanted a more human centred approach

• Thought structuralism was cold and impersonal

Humanism

• Efficiency requires paying attention to workers needs, and managers should be sensitive to this

Elton Mayo

Humanism

• Human needs and psychological well-being are essential for productivity and satisfaction

Span of control concept

(Luther Gulick & Lyndall urwick)

Structuralism

• Pattern of relationship between superiors and their subordinates

Departmentalization

(Luther Gulick & Lyndall urwick)

Structuralism

• Departments should be organized by their purpose

  • Line departments

  • Staff departments

Abraham Maslow

• Humanism

• Hierarchy of needs

What are the two branches of contemporary theory?

1) Participatory management

2) New public management

Participatory management

Umbrella term that covers other approaches

• Likes workers being involved in decision making

• Wants to democratize the decision making process by resolving conflict in the workplace

What did Peter Drucker think about Weber’s criteria for an efficient organization?

He thought the characteristics of Weber’s criteria were actually powerful forces of misdirection

What was Peter Druckers main contribution point to Participation management?

• Management and employees are too focused on their specializations and they prioritize this over the good of the organization

Who invented MBO? (Management by objectives)

Peter Drucker

Management by Objectives

Focusing too much on specialization and hierarchy can distract from the main goal of the organization

Organization Development (+ its purpose)

Tries to ensure than an organization is flexible and adaptive

• Purpose is to identify barriers to change

Total Quality Management

Quality control shouldn’t just be one organizations job—it should be built into everything the organization does

What is Total Quality Managements catchphrase?

“Get it right the first time”

New Public Management (NPM)

Greater emphasis on performance and results

• Running government like a private sector business

What were David Osborne and Ted Gaebler’s 4 reccommendations for New Public Management?

1) Shrink bureaucracy

2) Treat citizens like customers

3) Alternate delivery mechanisms

4) Private-public partnerships for service delivery

What is New Public Management’s catchphrase? What does it mean?

“Steering but not rowing”

• Private sector models of management are superior to public ones