Chapter One:

Introduction to Public
Administration
 What is Public
Administration?
Public Policies

Organization/agency
P.A Management
functions

.
Public interest/goals
 What is Public
Administration?
• (Public = Government usually).

• Definition of Public Administration:

– Is the study of the management of the public
agencies that carry out/implement public policies
to achieve the public interest.
 CONT…..
Public administration is concerned with the
management of public programs.
Public administrators work at all levels of
government, both at home and abroad, and they
manage not-for profit organizations, associations,
and interest groups of all kinds.
 Example
• Human Resource Development Fund:
– Has specific public policies.
– Some of those policies is to manage their
programs of developing the people to find jobs.
– Has a structure/departments/resources & using
the management activities to organize their
agency.
 Aims of the Public Administration
Meeting the needs and expectations of the population is the basis of
public administration

Satisfy the needs and expectations of the population.

Guarantee the rights of people.
Maintain internal order.
Control national and international trade.
Manage public policies that respond to the needs of society.
Regulate the conduct of society.
 Characteristics of Public Administration:

1. It is part of executive branch of government.

1. It is related with the activities of the state.
2. It carries out the public policies.
3. It realize the aspirations of the people as
formulated
4. Public Administration is politically neutral.

5. It is Management activities.
6. It serves the public, not specific individuals.
 Importance of Public
Administration
• the basis of government (contributing in social
fairness).

• Important role in the life of the people.

• Executing policies, regulations, and programs

in the country or city.

• Providing public goods and services (such as

water).
 The Nature of Public
Administration
• Art VS. Science?

– Sometimes public administrators/managers

need to learn things such as mathematics and
projects planning.
– However, they may need special communication
skills to deal with social problems with other
employees, as an example.
 Public Administration VS Business
Administration
1) The Purpose:

– Private: to increase their profits through

customers.

– Public: to serve the public interest, and everyone

is served regardless their social status.
 Public Administration VS Business
Administration
2) Ownership:

– Private: owned by individuals.

– Public: owned by government, sometimes part of

government.
 Public Administration VS Business
Administration
3) Financial Management:

– Private: selling their products. The money will

return to the owners’ pockets (Revenues).

– Public: receiving money (financial resources) from

the government budget appropriations, although
agency may receive profits from people (e.g.
fees, charges).
 Development of Public
Administration
• Woodrow Wilson (1880s) (The father of
Public Administration)
– Wilson’s Ideas:-
(1) separating administration from politics.
(2) Business-Like practices for efficiency.
 Development of Public
Administration
• Generally, day after day the Public
Administration has become an independent
study.

• Scientists contributed to make Public

Administrstion a special field that is different
from politics or business.
 Values of Democracy
Democracy refers to a political system in
which the interests of the people at large
prevail.
Democracy involves :
 Individualism,
 Equality, and
 Liberty
Individualism : refers to the idea that the dignity and
integrity of the individual is of supreme importance.

 Equality : means that each individual has an equal

claim to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness .

liberty means that the individual citizen of a

democracy should have a high degree of self
determination.
He / She should have the maximum
opportunity to select his / her own purpose
in life and to choose the means to
accomplish them.