Introduction to Public

Administration
Course Objectives

Explain What is Public Administration

Define Public Administration
Differentiate between Public and Private Administration

Describe the Nature of Public Administration

Describe the Various Approaches to Public Administration

Explain Gulick’s Principles of Organizational Structure Design

Explain Gulick’s POSDCORB

Describe the Types of Budgets in Public Administration

Explain the New Public Management Model

Explain the New Public Management Model 2 (NPM Model 2)

Introduction

• You must know that in the

olden days, there were
various kingdoms which
were ruled by monarchs.

• So, how do you think the

kingdom was run?

• Do you think it was the

king who directly
managed the
administration of the
kingdom?
Introduction

• No, of course not! In the

olden days, the
administrative functions were
managed by a chosen few
people who were responsible
for general administration
functions such as maintaining
law and order and collecting
revenues with little or no
welfare activities.

• These administrators were

selected by the monarchs and
were no better than their
personal servants.
Introduction

• However, as monarchy was

replaced by a democratic,
socialist or a capitalist state
and with the advent of
industrial revolution; the
Government forayed into
trade and commerce.

• Next, the industrial

revolution gave way to
Imperialism, Nationalism and
Internationalism which added
on to the widening avenues
of Government duties and
responsibilities.
Introduction

• As times changed, the

objective of public
administration also
underwent a change and by
the nineteenth century; an
organized approach to public
servants and public
administration was adopted.

• This approach was based on

an exhaustive legal
framework replacing the
patriarchal and hereditary
function with bureaucracy.
Introduction

• Hence, public administration

today has become an integral
part of the Government, the
State, the People and the way
they function with each other
because all aspects of
citizen’s life are influenced
and decided by the
government.

• Public Administration is
especially crucial because it is
not enough to make policies
and laws on paper.
Introduction

• The interpretation and

translation of those policies
and laws into actions and
carrying them out is the
difficult part.

• The public administrators

therefore have to play an
important role in running the
government as machinery.

• Let us now learn about

‘Introduction to Public
Administration’ in detail.
Definition - Administration
Marx defines ‘Administration’ as:
“Administration is determined
action taken in pursuit of a
conscious purpose. It is the
systematic ordering of affairs and
As per the calculated use of resources
Marx aimed at making those happen
which one wants to happen.”

Frederic K. Lane defines

‘Administration’ as:
“Organizing and maintaining
As per
human and fiscal resources to
Frederic K. attain a group’s goals.”
Lane
 What is Public Administration?

‘Public
Administration’
is like any other
administration
which is carried
out in public
interest.
 Differences between Public & Private Administration

• In order to function efficiently,

the public sector organizations
are borrowing heavily from
the business knowledge,
administration and process
orientation of the private
organizations.

• However, there still remains a

considerable difference
between these two
administrative practices.
 Similarities between Public & Private Administration
The following are some of the similarities between public and private
administration:
They also share the
The accounting same pool of The managerial aspects of
aspects like manpower planning, organizing,
maintenance of coordinating and
accounts, filing, controlling are the same
statistics and for public and private
stocking are the administration
same
Integral View

Integral View Integral View:

• The ‘Integral View’ is all encompassing

and consists of sum total of all
managerial, clerical, technical and
manual activities and employees from all
Managerial View levels.
• This view was endorsed by L. D. White
and Dimock.
• It may differ from one agency to another
depending on their sphere of work.
 Historical and Legal Approach
2

• Historical and Legal Approach:

o The ‘Historical and Legal Approach’ to the study of Public

Administration focuses on the administrative systems, process
and policies practiced in the past and then try to interpret
them relevantly in the context of present times.

o Some scholars feel that this approach provides rich details

regarding what did and did not work in the past.
Tip

• The ‘Principle of Unity of Command’

implies one subordinate-one
superior relationship.
• Every subordinate is answerable and
accountable to one boss at one
time.
• This helps in avoiding
communication gaps and feedback
and response is prompt.
• ‘Unity of Command’ also helps in
effective combination of resources,
that is, physical, financial resources
which helps in easy co- ordination
and, therefore, effective
organization.
 Gulick’s POSDCORB

Planning Staffing Coordination Budgeting

Organizing Directing Reporting

Significance of Budget in Public Administration

The modern democracies

have the legislatures playing
an important role in the
managing of public finances.

The taxes that are collected

and the revenues that are
generated by the
government through several
means are to be used for
the development and
welfare of the society.
New Public Management Model

The term ‘New Public Management’

was coined by scholars from UK and
Australia (Hood 1991 and Hood and
Jackson 1991), to propose a new
point of view towards the
organizational design in the public
sector.

‘New Public Management’ means the

introduction of new institutional
economics to public management
and pattern changes in policy making.
Core Themes of the New Public Management
The core themes of the ‘New Public Management’ were:

• A strong focus on financial control, value for money and

increasing efficiency

• A command and control mode of functioning, identifying and

setting targets and continuance monitoring of performance,
handing over the power to the senior management

• Introducing audits at both financial and professional levels,

using transparent means to review performances, setting
benchmarks, using protocols to improve professional behavior

• Greater customer orientation and responsiveness and

increasing the scope of roles played by non public sector
providers
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