PIVOTAL CONTROVERSIES AND FRAMEWORKS Flashcards
PIVOTAL CONTROVERSIES AND FRAMEWORKS
Rosenbloom, David H. (1984)-Public Administrative Theory and the Separation of Powers
PIVOTAL CONTROVERSIES AND FRAMEWORKS
Rosenbloom, David H. (1984)-Public Administrative Theory and the Separation of Powers
Public Administration faces a problem in that is has been derived from three differing and incompatible values which have different traditions, emphasizes different values (managerial, political, legal), requires different organizational structures, and views individuals differently. This has resulted in PA being pulled in three different directions. Nonetheless, there is opportunity to reconcile these values without compromising political values.
PIVOTAL CONTROVERSIES AND FRAMEWORKS
Rosenbloom, David H. (1984)-Public Administrative Theory and the Separation of Powers
The managerial approach
PIVOTAL CONTROVERSIES AND FRAMEWORKS
Rosenbloom, David H. (1984)-Public Administrative Theory and the Separation of Powers
The managerial approach to PA emerged during the orthodoxy period and as proposed by Woodrow Wilson was predicated on the idea of the adoption of sound-business-like principles (centralization, hierarchy, span of control unity of command). The core values of this approach is efficiency (can do with the least energy), effectiveness (what government can do properly), and economy (can do with the least possible cost of human and financial resources). Was primarily concerned with efficiency, separating politics from administration, and the use of Scientific Management to attain efficiency and economy-one best way to do things at the least possible cost. Relies on the ideal-bureaucracy structure of hierarchy, specialization of tasks, merit-based promotion, politically-neutral administrator, and efficiency. Individuals are viewed as impersonal or mechanized. Clients i.e. citizens are also depersonalized in order to promote efficiency, economy and effectiveness because attempts to attend to the individual grievances of citizens will result in an impact of efficiency.
PIVOTAL CONTROVERSIES AND FRAMEWORKS
Rosenbloom, David H. (1984)-Public Administrative Theory and the Separation of Powers
The Political Approach
PIVOTAL CONTROVERSIES AND FRAMEWORKS
Rosenbloom, David H. (1984)-Public Administrative Theory and the Separation of Powers
The political approach to PA is concerned with responsiveness of administrative agencies to elected officials particularly in a government where agencies are allotted some degree of autonomy/discretion. Unlike the managerial approach and its politics-administration dichotomy, the political approach is based on empirical reality, and the notion that administration does influence policy (Appleby, 1949). The political approach is concerned with the values of representativeness, political responsiveness, and accountability. The value of the political approach (accountability i.e. red tape, meeting with citizens, time consuming) can come into conflict with value of the managerial approach (efficiency and economy). Organizational structure is not vertical (like the management approach) but instead there are no clear lines of hierarchy/specialization/unity because agencies in a democratic/pluralistic state are accountable to many different actors-elected officials, interest groups, the courts, and the chief executive. In this view the individual is viewed as a member of an aggregate group and does not depersonalize the individual.
PIVOTAL CONTROVERSIES AND FRAMEWORKS
Rosenbloom, David H. (1984)-Public Administrative Theory and the Separation of Powers
The legal approach
PIVOTAL CONTROVERSIES AND FRAMEWORKS
Rosenbloom, David H. (1984)-Public Administrative Theory and the Separation of Powers
The legal approach to PA is derived from three inter-related sources including: (1) administrative law as defined by White (1926) as the context that protects private rights, gives legitimacy to the bureaucracy, determines competencies of the administrator, and dictates the repercussions for violation of private rights; (2) Judicilization which brings administrative decision-making under the purview of administrative law and established procedure to safeguard individual rights; (3) Constitutional law to protect the rights of citizens from administrative decisions. The courts have sought to discourage administrators from violating individual citizen rights might making them less immune from civil suits for violating citizen rights. The legal approach is concerned with the values of due process, individual substantive rights, and equity/fairness. The organization structure is represented in the judicial trial/hearing and the individual is viewed as a unique individual with a unique set of circumstances i.e. every person is entitled to their day in court which allows the individual the opportunity to explain their individual circumstances. Hence the constitution is a means to ensure that the different branches of government does not abuse their prescribed powers.
PIVOTAL CONTROVERSIES AND FRAMEWORKS
Rosenbloom, David H. (1984)-Public Administrative Theory and the Separation of Powers
PIVOTAL CONTROVERSIES AND FRAMEWORKS
Rosenbloom, David H. (1984)-Public Administrative Theory and the Separation of Powers
Because the legitimacy of the three approaches are without question, the three approaches must all me maintained and reconciled so that a theoretical core of PA can be developed which encompasses values (political approach), organizational structure (managerial approach), and a focus on the individual (legal approach).
PIVOTAL CONTROVERSIES AND FRAMEWORKS
**Simon, Herbert (1946)- The Proverbs of Administration
PIVOTAL CONTROVERSIES AND FRAMEWORKS
**Simon, Herbert (1946)- The Proverbs of Administration
Four commonly referenced principles of administration are proposed to be proverbs (sayings that are contradictory or at odds with each other). While principles should be relatively simple, clear, unambiguous, and easily submitted to scientific testing. However, some commonly accepted principles (as suggested by Simon) are in fact proverbs that are at odds with one another and seemingly contradict. The incompatibility of these principles raises the question of whether there can be a true construction of an administrative theory. A theory of administration details how an organization should be constructed and operated to accomplish its work efficiently. While Simon does not critique the intended outcome (reaching efficiency) of these principles, he does critique whether they are truly as important as they are purported to be.
PIVOTAL CONTROVERSIES AND FRAMEWORKS
**Dahl, Robert, A. (1947)-The Science of Public Administration: Three Problems
PIVOTAL CONTROVERSIES AND FRAMEWORKS
- *Dahl, Robert, A. (1947)-The Science of Public Administration: Three Problems
- Attempts to develop a science of administration predicated on natural science has resulted in the disregarding of factors such as normative rules, individual psyche/human behavior, and cultural impacts. The first problem is that developing a science of administration has been misleading because it is impossible to exclude other pertinent normative values beyond efficiency. The second problem is that the science of administration has failed to incorporate the study of certain aspects of human behavior. Most problems of PA encompass human beings and as such a study of PA should address how humans behave and are expected to behave under particular circumstances. The third problem is that scholars have ignored the relationship between public administration and its social setting. Assumptions are made that the science of administration is applicable in every general setting (universal).
