Introduction to Public

Administration

Prof. Josefina B. Bitonio, DPA

Part I: Meaning, Nature,
Scope and Significance of
Public Administration
Views of Public
Administration
Views of Public Administration
As a Field of Practice
According to Waldo (1955), PA has dual usages: as a
field of practice and a field of study. The meaning
invoked is the activity or process of administering
public affairs and carrying out governmental
functions.
Example of PA practices
 Enacting a law
 Making decision on the best policy concerning an issue
 Formulating the MTPDP
 Maintaining peace and order
 Processing of claims
 Building roads and bridges
 Issuance of license
 Setting standard and Processes
Views of Public Administration
As a Field of Study or Discipline

PA is concerned with discovering and advancing

theoretical and practical knowledge in the field using
scientific methods and other social sciences use

PA differs from political science in its emphasis on

bureaucratic structure and behavior and its
methodologies (Rossenbloom, 1989)
Example of PA as a field of study
 Empirical studies
 Case method analysis
 Surveys
 Quantitative analysis
What is the PA subject matter or
focus to be studied?
Example of PA as a field of study
 how a policy is made and implemented
 The interrelationship between government institutions
 Human Resource development
 Impact of environmental regulation on communities and
economic activities
 the behavior and attitude of public officials as the perform
their official duties
 Leadership styles of public managers
 Mechanisms adopted by poverty-focused programs
 The relations of government and the citizens
What is also considered an applied
discipline?

 It has practical use for government,

particularly in improving government
performance
 it prepares persons for careers in public
service and trains them to be good public
administrators
Views of Public Administration
As: Both an Art and a Science

As an Art:

PA involves creativity, leadership, a good

sense of the intangibles in administration.
This view is closely to the practice of PA
Views of Public Administration
As: Both an Art and a Science
As a Science:
There is a body of knowledge or theories that
can explain or predict phenomenon or variables in
the field of PA
 The PA theories and concepts are built based on
empirical research using systematic methods
 These theories can be used not only to explain
but also improve the art and practice of PA
(Bautista, 1990)
Definition of Public
Administration

Waldo, 1955

Wlado
 PA is the organization and management of men
and materials to achieve the purposes of
government
 PA is the art and science of management as
applied to the affairs of the state
Definition of Public
Administration

Caiden, 1971

 is a cooperative group effort in a public setting

 covers all three branches – executive, legislative and
judicial and interrelationships
 has important role in the formulation of public policy and
is , thus, part of the political process
 as a field of study and practice , it has been influenced by
human relations approach
 is closely associated with numerous private groups and
individuals in providing services to the community
Definition of Public
Administration

Fry, 1989

 PA is policy-making. It is not autonomous, exclusive

or isolated policy making.

 PA is one of a number of basic political processes by

which this people achieves and controls governance
Definition of Public
Administration

Rossenbloom, 1989

 PA is the action part of government. The means by which the purposes

and goals of government are realized. PA as a field is mainly concerned
with the means for implementing political values
 PA differs from political science in its emphasis on bureaucratic
structure and behavior and its methodologies
 PA differs from administrative science in the evaluative techniques
used by non profit organizations because profit-seeking organizations are
considerably less constrained in considering public interest in their
decision-making structures and the behavior of their administrators
Definition of Public
Administration

De Guzman, 1993

 From a very broad perspective, PA may be viewed to

refer not only in activities carrying out or implementing
policies and programs of the government but also to the
processes and contents of these policies and programs
 From a broader perspective, PA may refer to the
cooperative human action whether within the public
bureaucracy, the private sector or in nongovernmental
organizations aimed at delivering servi9ces to the people
Definition of Public
Administration
Rossenbloom, 1989

 The process of PA consists of the actions involved in

effecting the intent or desire of a government . It is thus
the continuously active, “business” part of government,
concerned with carrying out the law, as made by the
legislative bodies (or other authoritative agents)and
interpreted by courts, through the processes of
organization and management
Public and Private Administration

Criteria Public Administration Private Administration

1.Relations to environment  subject to public  Less exposed to public
scrutiny; public demand inspection; internal
and expectations; political processes are kept from
pressures public; response to public
guided by market dynamics
2. Accountability  Accountable to the  management
public; transparency in accountable to owners of
transactions is expected firms/corporations
3. Measure of  general public  profit is bottomline
performance satisfaction is the gauge in
the improvement in the
quality of life
4. Nature of goods and  open to all  availment based on
services ones ability to pay
 Reference:
 Bautista, Victoria. (Cited in Supplementary Readings.)
 Caiden, Gerald. (Cited in the Supplementary Readings.)
 Fry, Brian. “Five Great Issues in the Profession of public Administration” in Jack
Rabin, W. Bartley Hildreth, Gerald J. Miller (eds). Handbook of Public
Administration, New York: Marcel Dekker, 1989.
Ocampo, Romeo. “Toward a Review of Research and knowledge in Philippines
Public Administration” in Victoria A. Bautista, Ma. Concepcion P. Alfiler, Danilo R.
Reyes, Proserpina D. Tapales (eds.) Introduction to Public Administration in the
Philippines; A Reader, Quezon City: College of Public Administration, University of
the Philippines, 1993.
Rosen bloom, David H. and Deborah D. Goldman. “The Practice and Discipline of
Public Administration: Competing Concerns” in David Rosen bloom (ed) Public
Administration: Understanding Management, Politics and law in the Public Sector,

New York: Random House, 1989.

 Module Introduction to PA, Open University, UP, NCPAG, Diliman, Quezon City,
Philippines