INTRODUCTION TO PUBLIC
ADMINISTRATION
INTRODUCTION
• Traditionally Public Administration was considered as a
part of political science. But in Modern age the nature of
state-under went change and it became from police state
to social service state.
• As a consequence, the Public Administration, irrespective
of the nature of the political system, has become the
dominant factor of life.
• The modern political system is essentially ‘bureaucratic’
and characterized by the rule of officials. Hence modern
democracy has been described as ‘executive democracy’
or ‘bureaucratic democracy’.
• The administrative branch, described as civil service or
bureaucracy is the most significant component of
governmental machinery of the state.
EVOLUTION OF PUBLIC
ADMINISTRATION
• Public Administration has evolved over time.
• In early stages,It was believed Public Administration was
restricted to provision of security both internal and
external, without a hand in the economy and social life of
the citizens.
• Later, government was advised to enter the social and
economic arena of a country.
• It is at this point that the government started providing
social services like running schools, hospitals,
communication, markets, roads and railways.
PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
• Public administration is both an academic discipline and a field of
practice.
• It is the implementation of government policy and an academic
discipline.
• Centrally concerned with the organization of government policies,
programs and behavior of non elected officials.
• Includes police officers, municipal budget analysts, administrators,
city managers, census analysts, and cabinet secretaries.
• Includes Legislative activities, taxation, national defense, public order
and safety, immigration services, foreign affairs and international
assistance.
• Administration of government programs and activities that are purely
• Public administration emerges as a science
which is primarily concerned with the means
for implementing political values.
• Involve activities such as:
protecting the environment
providing recreation
harmonizing labor management relations
safeguarding the public health
educating the young
aiding the old etc.
WHY PUBLIC POLICIES ARE PUBLIC?
Formulation - policies are formulated in public institutions e.g.
ministries or councils.
Debate - policies are debated in public institutions e.g. by the Cabinet
and the Legislature.
Legal Reviews - policies are legally reviewed by public institutions such
as courts of law or judiciary.
Legal Backing - Polices are backed by a law or specific act of parliament
e.g. the Investment Act, Public Order Act, the Education Act, the Chiefs
Act etc.
Enforcement - Policies are enforced by coercive apparatus of the state –
the army, the police, Air-force and Zambia National Service.
Funding - Policies are funded for purposes of implementation by public
resources collected through the median of taxation.
ADMINISTRATION
Definition
Administration is defined as an activity that occurs whenever there are
groups of people. Groups of people can be referred to as social
collections or social organizations.
TWO CATEGORIES OF SOCIAL ORGANIZATIONS
Natural Social Organization Artificial Social Organization
Membership is involuntary. Membership is voluntary.
Examples of a natural social Members can choose to belong to
organization are the family, the such an organization or not. (e.g.
clan, the tribe etc. Marx Weber’s concept of
bureaucracy)
POLITICS AND ADMINISTRATION
Politics
• instrument for allocating and distributing goods and services.
• task of managing conflict between different groups of people and
individuals by peaceful means. This may be achieved by
negotiations, bargaining, compromising, voting etc.
• struggle of political actors within the context of a given political set
up. Its strategic objective is the acquisition of power in the state.
Political structures include the legislature, the judiciary, the executive
through which political functions are performed is the starting point of
the relationship between politics and administration.
Summary of differences between Public and Private/Business
Organizations
Public Administration Private/Business Administration
Services are mandatory Services are less mandatory
Services are mandatory and monopolistic e.g. Services are competitive
the army, the police, ZAF etc.
Services offered are governed by legal Services offered are less legalistic
provisions
Supply of services is not dictated by market Market forces are prime factors
forces
Public agencies are under constant review by Agencies are not under consta
established institutions e.g. commissions, established institutions
parliament etc.
Public sector activities are more exposed to Less exposed to the public
the public [e.g. the public can have access to
the Auditor-General’s report]
Workers are more unionized Workers are less unionized
Services mostly are of poor quality Services are of high qualit
According to Gerald Caiden, the following are
crucial roles assumed by Public Administration in
the contemporary society:
• Preservation of the Polity
• Maintenance of stability and order
• Institutionalization of socioeconomic change
• Management of large scale commercial services
• Ensuring growth and economic development
• Protection of the weaker sections of society
• Formulation of public opinion
• Influencing public policies and political trends
INFORMAL ORGANIZATIONS
ELTON MAYO
• Informal organizations arose as a result of the Hawthone
studies which were conducted in the Western Eclectic
Organizations in the 1930s.
• The founding father of these studies was Elton Mayo.
• These studies showed that an informal organization arises
from social interaction.
• Informal organization emphasizes importance of people
and relationships.
• Formal organization emphasizes official positions in terms
of authority and responsibility.
Functions of Informal Organizations
Group Solidarity - efforts to preserve their beliefs,
values and life styles.
Social satisfactions - spirit of Team work.
Communication networks - members needs and
wants are discussed. They quickly pass on messages
to each other and help each other easily.
Patriotism - They cultivate feelings of patriotism
which are vital for the overall success of the group.
Challenges of Informal Organizations
• Resistance to Change
• Role Conflict
• Rumors
• Conformity
Benefits of Informal Organizations
They make a more effective total system.
They lighten workload on the organization.
They help get the work done.
They fill-in the gaps in a Manager’s abilities.
They give satisfaction and stability to work groups.
They provide a safety valve for employee emotions.
They encourage Managers to plan and act more carefully .
Public Administration
Services are mandatory
Services are mandatory and monopolistic
e.g. the army, the police, ZAF etc.
Services offered are governed by legal
provisions
Supply of services is not dictated by market
forces
Public agencies are under constant review by
established institutions e.g. commissions,
parliament etc.
Public sector activities are more exposed to
the public [e.g. the public can have access to
the Auditor-General’s report]
Workers are more unionized
Services mostly are of poor quality
Most of the services are free
Services and activities are funded using tax
payer’s money
There is political influence in the provision of
goods and services
Has no external financial control even when
they borrow
Private/Business Administration
Services are less mandatory
Services are competitive
Services offered are less legalistic
Market forces are prime factors
Agencies are not under constant review by
established institutions
Less exposed to the public
Workers are less unionized
Services are of high quality to stand
competition in the market
You pay for all the services
Private money is used in provision of
goods and services.
