Introduction to Administration science
Chapter 1: Conceptual Approach
Administrative Sciences
■ Administrative Sciences is defined as the study of the process through
which elements in society exercise power, authority, and influence to make
decisions and policies related to public life, as well as economic and social
development.
• The Purpose of this Study is to define administration and public
administration according to various renowned scholars and to demonstrate
the scope and nature of the discipline of public administration
I. Definition of Public Administration: Various Scholars
► Various writers and scientists define public administration variously for various reasons.
► For instance, Leonard D. White defines Public Administration as consistency of all those
operations having for their purpose the fulfillment or enforcement of public policy:
■ However, a broad view suggests that scholars of public administration have expressed two
divergent views on the nature of public administration, that is, an integral view and managerial view;
Meanings and definitions of public administration
It is difficult if not impossible to define the concept of public administration in
one sentence. Waldo (1967) corroborated this fact by asserting that "the
immediate effect of all one sentence or one paragraph definition of public
administration is a mental paralysis rather than enlightenment and
stimulation".
In the words of Arora (1985), "to define a subject is to fix its boundaries or
if this turns out to be fuzzy, its essence and core characters can be
identified". However, this has proven to be so intricate a problem that public
administration is said to be suffering from a "crisis of identify".
The English word "administration" has been derived from Iwo Latin words "ad" "ministare" meaning
"to minister to" or "to serve" or "to manage". Thus, in simple parlance, administration means the
"management of affairs" or looking after people.
► It is a management process found in all kinds of organization from household to the
accomplished common goals, an administrative activity is assumed to have been involved. In other
words every group activity involves administration.
John A. Veig: "Administration is determined action taken in pursuit of conscious purpose. It is the
systematic ordering of affairs and the calculated use of resources, aimed at making those things
happen which we want to happen and simultaneously preventing developments that fail to square
with our intentions. It is the marshaling of available labour and materials in order to gain that which
is desired at the lowest cost in energy, lime and money."
► Pfiffner: "Administration is the organization and direction of human and material resources to
achieve desired ends."
L.D. White: "The art of administration is the direction, coordination and control of many persons to
achieve some purpose or objective."
Luther Gulick: "Administration has to do with getting things done; with the accomplishment of
defined objectives."
► George E. Berkley: "Administration is a process involving human beings jointly engaged in working
towards common goals."
► Brooks Adams: "Administration is the capacity of coordinating man and often conflicting social
energies in a single organism, so adroitly that they shall operate as a unity."
Keith Henderson:" Administration is the arrangement of men and materials in the rational carrying
out of purposes."
► Ordway Tead: "Administration is a variety of component elements which, together in action,
produce the result of a defined task done. Administration, primarily, is the direction of people in
association to achieve some goal temporarily shared. It is the inclusively process of integrating
human efforts so that a desired result is obtained." He further adds, "Administration is the central
power house of the motivational impulsion and spirit which makes the institution drive to fulfill its
purpose."
►D. Waldo: "Administration is a type of cooperative human effort that has a high degree of
rationality."
The concept of administration is defined by various writers in the following ways:
E.N. Gladden: "Administration is a long and slightly pompous word, but it has a humble meaning. for
it means, to care for or look after people, to manage affairs... is determined action taken in pursuit of
a conscious purpose."
Felix A. Nigro: "Administration is the organization and use of men and materials to accomplish a
purpose."
➡ Herbert A. Simon: "In its broadest sense, administration can be defined as the activities of groups
cooperating to accomplish common goals."
• To a layman or amateur, public administration means public service or public management. Some
people even refer to public administration as the activities of the executive branch of government
either at the national, state or local level.
The word "public" refers to people of a define territory or state. As the will of the people of a state is
represented by the government, the word "public" also connotes specialized meaning: Therefore,
when government carries out any act of administration, it is called "public administration".
