Unit 3:

Administrative
Thinkers
Fred W Riggs
Dr. Priyamvada Mishra,
Symbiosis Law School,
NOIDA
Background
 Born in China 1917
 Completed PhD in Political Science from
Columbia University in 1948.
 Administrative Theories which developed
after Second world war – offshoots of
Industrial Revolution. These theories originated
in the West and the developing countries
adopted these models, but soon realised
these models succeeded in west because of
prevailing conditions and environment
Dr. Priyamvada Mishra, Symbiosis Law
School, NOIDA
 Riggsborrowed concepts of sociology,
physics and biology to propose his theory.
Riggs used three important tools to
explain his administrative theories:
 Ecological approach
 Structural functional approach
 Ideal models

Dr. Priyamvada Mishra, Symbiosis Law

School, NOIDA
Ecological approach
 Administration and environment influence
each other
 The above interaction requires understanding
of the society and its functioning
 Ecology of Public Administration includes
study of people, area or property, physical
and social technology wants of the people,
thoughts, individuality and emergency
conditions.
Dr. Priyamvada Mishra, Symbiosis Law
School, NOIDA
Structural Functional
Approach
 The Structural Functional approach is a method of
analysing the functions that are carried out in a
society, the structures that are responsible to
discharge the functions, and the methods that are
adopted in undertaking the functions.
 Five important aspects of function:
 Economic
 Social
 Communication
 Symbolic
 Political
Dr. Priyamvada Mishra, Symbiosis Law
School, NOIDA
Ideal Models
Agraria Industria
1) Ascriptive Values 2) Achievement norms
2) Particularistic 2) Universal
3) Diffused pattern 3) Specificity
4) Limited social and spatial 4) Higher social and spatial
mobility mobility
5) Simple and Stable 5) Well developed
occupational differences occupational patterns
6) Existence of differential 6) Existence of egalitarian
stratification system class system
Dr. Priyamvada Mishra, Symbiosis Law
School, NOIDA
Criticism of Ideal model
 1) Agraria- industria is not applicable to
transitional societies
 2) not applicable to mixed societies
 3) typology assumes unidirectional
movement from agraria to industria
 Major stress on environment not
administration

Dr. Priyamvada Mishra, Symbiosis Law

School, NOIDA
New Model
 Fused
 Diffracted
 Prsimatic

Dr. Priyamvada Mishra, Symbiosis Law

School, NOIDA
Dr. Priyamvada Mishra, Symbiosis Law
School, NOIDA
Fused Model
 He selected China, Thailand to study
 These societies have no classification of functions and a
single structure carries out functions
 These societies heavily depend upon agriculture without
industrialisation and modernisation.
 Their economic system is based on barter and law of
exchange
 No separate structures exist to manage economic and
administrative affairs
 Relations between government and people are very low.
 Government is not responsible and accountable to the
people though public has an obligation to respect the
government.

Dr. Priyamvada Mishra, Symbiosis Law

School, NOIDA
Diffracted model
 There is high degree of specialisation and each
structure carries out specialised function.
 Ascriptive values cease to exist giving way to
attainment values.
 Society is highly dynamic and diffracted
 Economic system is based on market mechanism
 Communications and technology are highly
developed, government gives to priority to maintain
cordial public relations
 Government is responsive to public needs and
protects Human Rights
 Government officers don’t have coercive powers
 Public respect law of the land
Dr. Priyamvada Mishra, Symbiosis Law
School, NOIDA
Prismatic Model
 Prismatic Society has achieved a certain level
of differentiation; specialisation of roles, that is
necessary for dealing with modern
technology, but has failed to integrate these
roles.
 It has value patterns of both fused and
diffracted societies.
 Following are the characteristic features:
 Heterogeneity
 Formalism
 Overlapping
Dr. Priyamvada Mishra, Symbiosis Law
School, NOIDA
SALA model
 Riggs termed the administrative sub-system as
‘Sala Model.’
 Spanish word ‘sala’ refers to government
office, religious conference, room or a
pavillion.
 SALA officer gives preference to personal
aggrandisement than to social welfare his
behaviour and performance was parochial.
Few people accrued better benefits from
government programme ignoring interest of
majority.

Dr. Priyamvada Mishra, Symbiosis Law

School, NOIDA
Criticism
 Taylor
 Fayol
 Mayo
 Weber
 Riggs

Dr. Priyamvada Mishra, Symbiosis Law

School, NOIDA
Principles of Organisation
 Hierarchy (Line of Authority)
 Span of control
 Unity of Command
 Centralisation vs Decentralisation
 Recruitment, Training, Promotion
 Specific Objective
 Division of Work
 Parity of Authority and Responsibility
 Flexibility, Stability, continuity
 Management by excpetion
Dr. Priyamvada Mishra, Symbiosis Law
School, NOIDA