Theory and Practice in Public Administration

What is Public Administration?Given that there have been several immerging meanings defining what Public Administration is, these would simply mean that the concept of this field has a wide account of discussions. However, I would like to simply define this field as the democratic way of implementing policies, services, and procedures made solely for the interest of the people and for the establishment of programs and projects which lead to the development of the countrys economic status and its physical structure. With this, it expresses that Public Administration attends to the demands of services of the states people and their rights to achieve a growing economic status and a peaceful and convenient place to live in.On the other hand, to further explain and support my claim of what Public Administration is, Dwight Waldo, an American political scientist, claimed that Public Administration has dual usages. According to him, Public Administration is perceived to be as a field of practice and a field of study. Waldo keenly invoked that PA is an activity or process of administering public affairs and carrying out governmental functions. Additionally, he also added that PA is a field of study or discipline is concerned with discovering and advancing theoretical and practical knowledge in the field using scientific methods and other social sciences use. Examples of which are 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, and the relations of government and the citizens.Perspectives of Public AdministrationThe three (3) perspectives of Public Administration are: 1) Traditional/Conventional PA; 2) New Public Administration; and 3) New Public Management. These had been differentiated in different thematic points as it is shown in the table below.Thematic PointsClassical Public AdministrationNew Public AdministrationNew Public Management

Context Stability, Predictability, Orderliness in Environment

Assumes a Mechanical Model of Man

Belief in Primacy of Organization Goal (Internal Orientation) Turbulence, Temporariness, Uncertainty Assumes an Authentic and Humanistic Model of Man Belief in Primacy of Societal/Individual Goal (external orientation) Poverty, Low standards of living, Globalization, Economic Integration

Belief in Primacy of Customer Service Satisfaction

Values Efficiency Economy Effectiveness Relevance Social Equity Client-Orientedness Accountability Transparency Predictability Participation Effectiveness Efficiency Result-oriented

Structure Bureaucratic Non-bureaucratic Decentralized Debureaucratization

Processes O & M Personnel Fiscal Distributive Integrative Boundary-Exchange Socio-Emotional Reinventing the Government Re-engineering the Public Sector

From the table, we can see that Traditional/ Conventional Public Administration was strictly governed by policies which makes it highly bureaucratic. This model of administration actually rests in important ways on the articulation by Max Weber of the nature of bureaucracy. Additionally, it emphasized top to bottom form of management, that is, a system of control in which policy is set at the top and carried out through a series of offices, with each manager and worker reporting to one superior and held to account by that person. The bureaucratic system is based on a set of rules and regulations flowing from public law; the system of control is rational and legal. The role of the bureaucrat is strictly subordinate to the political superior (Pfiffner, 2010). Second perspective of PA is the New Public Administration. This highlights the importance of democratic citizenship, public interest, public policy and services to citizens. First, a new theory should start with the ideal of democratic citizenship. The public service derives its true meaning from its mandate to serve citizens to advance the public good. This is the source of motivation and pride of all those who choose to make it their life, whether for a season or for an entire career. Second, a New Public Administration theory would propose a unifying vision of policy, politics and policy implementation as one circular, integrated, and interactive process that brings together all relevant actors. This principle of active and democratic interactions would replace the doctrine of strict separation a doctrine that has long been discredited but is still considered as a point of reference, particularly when things go wrong. The new theory would recognize the fact that both policy makers and administrators are actively involved in all aspects of policy research, policy development and policy implementation. It would help elected officials and professional civil servants act responsibly, ethically and in accordance with democratic principles. It would also recognize that, in the twenty-first century, discretion is necessary in policy implementation and, thus, would help to explore how the exercise of discretion could be informed by citizens choices and participation. Finally, the new theory would help to address the issue of professional responsibility and accountability (Bourgon, 2007).Lastly, the Public New Management, on the other hand, New Public Management (NPM) is the label given to a series of reforms from the 1980s onwards, to improve the efficiency and performance of western governments and/or public sector organizations. NPM points to the failures and inadequacies of public sector performance over time, and locates the problem in the nature and processes of public sector activity and public administration. Thus, the model suggests ideas borrowed from the private sector can improve the management service and could be adequately used in the planning system. The following are the characteristics of NPM according to David Osborne and Ted Gaebler (1993):1. Catalytic Government: steering rather than rowing2. Community-Owned Government: empowering rather than serving3. Competitive Government: injecting competition into service delivery 4. Mission-Driven Government: transforming rule-driven organizations5. Results-Oriented Government: funding outcomes, not inputs6. Customer-Driven Government: meeting the needs of the customer, not the bureaucracy 7. Enterprising Government: earning rather than spending8. Anticipatory Government: prevention rather than cure 9. Decentralized Government: from hierarchy to participation and teamwork10. Market-Oriented Government: leveraging change through the market

Classical Theories in Public Administration1. Scientific Management TheoryFrederick Winslow Taylor, an American Mechanical Engineer and regarded as the father of scientific management, is the prime advocate of the Scientific Management Theory. His idea of the said theory originated from his desire to improve and develop efficiency of working towards a greater productivity and outputs. Along with this, he had initiated several workplace experiments to determine different best performance levels. He started his experiments with his concept of shovel design (i.e. time studies) where it allows workers to render overtime just to increase their produce. Also, Taylor had concepts about bricklayers (i.e. motion studies) wherein he customized various motions required and developed an efficient way to lay bricks. These "time and motion" studies had led Taylor to conclude that workers work more efficiently than others if they are motivated to be paid more when they could have as many productions. From these workplace experiments, Taylor then developed the four principles of scientific management. These principles are also known simply as "Taylorism".Thus, according to Taylor, in order for the organization to become successful in terms of its productivity, he recommended that the management should establish specific work targets, compensate workers for the tasks and goals met, and provide regular feedback. Though the theory has leave helpful guides on how to run an organization, the problems along with Taylorism concepts should not be neglected. Among the weaknesses in the said theory are (Akrani, 2011): 1. Exploitation of WorkersTaylor's Scientific Management put unnecessary pressures on the employees to perform the work faster. Importance was given to productivity and profitability. This resulted in exploitation of the employees. Therefore, many employees joined trade unions. This also resulted in mistrust between management and employees.2. Problem of Unity of CommandTaylor used functional foremanship. So, the workers have to report to many bosses. This breaks the principle of unity of command, where the workers have to report to only one boss. Lack of unity of command can create confusion and chaos in the organization.3. Mechanical ApproachTaylor's approach was a mechanical approach. He gave too much importance to efficiency. He did not consider the human element. Taylor considered workers as robots, which could speed up the work at any cost.4. Problem of Separation of Planning from DoingTaylor said to separate planning from doing. In reality, we cannot separate planning from doing. The planners should also be engaged in doing, and then only they will be able to make realistic plans for the organization.

5. Individualistic ApproachTaylor's scientific management gives too much importance to individual performance and not to group performance. However, the success of an organization depends not only on individual performance of workers, but also on group performance of workers.6. Wrong AssumptionsTaylor assumed that workers are motivated only by financial gains. However, in reality, workers are motivated not financial incentives but also by social needs and personal egos.7. Narrow ApplicationTaylor's scientific management has narrow application. It can be applied only when the performance of the workers can be measured quantitatively. It can be applied only for factories where the performance can be measured quantitatively. It cannot be used in the service sector because in this sector the performance of a person cannot be measured quantitatively.2. Administrative Theory of Management

Henri Fayol is a French mining engineer and a management theorist. He is the first management thinker who provided the conceptual framework of the functions of management in his book Administration Industrielle et general. Due to his contribution to management theory and principles, he is regarded as the Father of Modern Management Thought. According to Fayol management, is simply the art of planning, organizing, staffing, commanding, coordinating and controlling.

Fayols Administrative Theory of Management has contributions in various aspects of management like the Principles of Management. These 14 principles of Fayol have guided Public Administrators on how to run an organization. By which according to him, management should be viewed as a profession that can be trained and developed and he even emphasized that there is broadness of the making of policies of top level managers ( top down approach). Lastly, this theory Offers a universal managerial prescriptions.

Nonetheless, this theory is as not perfect as what anyone else thinks, it also has various of limitations wherein sometimes affecting the performance of the organization if not controlled. Some of its weak points in are (Akrani, 2011): 1. Management Oriented Theory: The administrative management theory is management oriented. It does not give much attention to the problems of the workers.2. Lack of Importance to Informal Organization: The administrative management theory does not give any importance to informal organization or groups. It gives importance only to the formal organization structure.3. Concepts Borrowed From Military Science: Some of the concepts of administrative management theory were borrowed from military science. They tried to apply these concepts to the social and business organizations. For e.g. Henri Fayol gave importance to "commanding" and not "directing" the workers.4. Mechanical Approach: The administrative management theory has a mechanical approach. It does not deal with some of the important aspects of management such as motivation, communication and leading.3. Bureaucratic Theory

Max Weber is a German political economist and sociologist who had proposed a different Principles and Elements of Management than those proposed by Taylor and Fayol. These principles and elements of management describe an ideal pure form of organizational structure. According to him, through Bureaucracy, organizations will be guided with optimal form of authority- rational authority which comes in three forms. These are: 1) Traditional Authority- past customs; personal loyalty; 2) Charismatic Authority- personal trust in character and skills; 3) Rational Authority- rational application of rules or laws.Aside from these principles and elements projected by Weber, he also categorized Bureaucracy into four principles which are: 1) in a bureaucracy, a managers formal authority derives from the position he or she holds in the organization; 2) in a bureaucracy, people should occupy positions because of their performance, not because of their social standing; 3) the extent of each positions formal authority and task responsibilities, and its relationship to other positions in the organization should be clearly specified; and 4) authority can be exercised effectively in an organization when positions are arranged hierarchically, so employees know whom to report to and who reports to them. Nevertheless though advantages and benefits from adopting this theory are specifically determined like offering particular Rules and Procedures, Duties and Responsibilities, Selection process and promotion procedures, and Division of labor, it has still its downsides by which it lead to inefficiency when implemented. These are: 1) the system suffers from too much of redtape and paper work; 2) employees do not develop belongingness to the organization; 3) there are some strict rules and regulations which treated the employees like machines and not like individuals; and 4) employees become so used to the system they resist to any change and introduction of new techniques of operations.

Governance and its AttributesGovernance has been widely used in different field of studies by which it gains a lot of perceptions, meaning, and concepts. To understand well the underlying meanings of governance it is just right to look at the meanings named from several organizations and experts.First according to World Bank (1992) governance is a method through which power is exercised in the management of a countrys political, economic, and social resources for development. The World Bank's focus on governance reflects the worldwide thrust toward political and economic liberalization. Such a governance approach highlights issues of greater state responsiveness and accountability, and the impact of these factors on political stability and economic development.The working definition used by the British Council, however, emphasizes that "governance" is a broader notion than government (and for that matter also related concepts like the state, good government and regime), and goes on to state: "Governance involves interaction between the formal institutions and those in civil society. Governance refers to a process whereby elements in society wield power, authority and influence and enact policies and decisions concerning public life and social upliftment."Governance, therefore, not only encompasses but transcends the collective meaning of related concepts like the state, government, regime and good government. Many of the elements and principles underlying "good government" have become an integral part of the meaning of "governance".

Eight Attributes of Good GovernanceThere are eight specified elements of good governance. These are: 1) rule of law; 2) transparency; 3) responsiveness; 4) consensus oriented; 5) equity and inclusiveness; 6) effectiveness and efficiency; 7) accountability; and 8) participation.To achieve our aspiration to have good governance, first, there should be a strict compliance with the rule of law. This element pertains to the observance of fair legal frameworks that are enforced by an impartial regulatory body (i.e. legislative body) in order to give an optimal protection of the nation- the people.Secondly, transparency should also be taken into account because it has a great influence on the way they judge a certain administration in the future. Through this means, information should be provided in easily understandable forms and media and that it should be openly available and directly accessible to those who will be affected by governance policies and practices, as well as the outcomes resulting therefrom; and that any decisions taken and their enforcement are in compliance with established rules and regulations.Third attribute is responsiveness. It suggests that consultation to understand the different interests of stakeholders in order to reach a broad consensus of what is in the best interest of the entire stakeholder group and how this can be achieved in a sustainable and prudent manner.Next is equity and inclusiveness. In here, the organization provides the opportunity for its stakeholders to maintain, enhance, or generally improve their well-being provides the most compelling message regarding its reason for existence and value to society.Another is effectiveness and efficiency. From this view, good governance means that the processes implemented by the organization to produce favorable results meet the needs of its stakeholders or participants, while making the best use of resources human, technological, financial, natural and environmental at its disposal.The last two elements are accountability and participation. Accountability is a key principle of good governance. It requires that in every action documented in the policy statement, there should ones who will get accountable. It simply means that an organization is accountable to those who will be affected by its decisions or actions as well as the applicable rules of law. Meanwhile participation means the active involvement of both men and women either directly or through legitimate representatives, is a key cornerstone of good governance. Participation includes freedom of expression and assiduous concern for the best interests of the organization and society in general._________________________________

Case AnalysisSituation:Mr. Y, the LCE of LGU X, is disgusted with the result of evaluation of a commissioned group regarding the quality of services delivered by the agency. Most of the agencys clients disclosed their dissatisfaction on the performance of the LGU due to the following problems encountered in the process of getting the LGU services:a)There is so much delay in getting the services due to vagueness of procedures;b)Absence of flow charts that would guide the clients to get the services they needed;c)There is palakasan in the process of getting the services in the system; andd)Majority of the frontline service providers do not follow the rules and policies governing the operation of the public agency.Concerning the above concerns, Mr. Y met the different Department Heads and section chiefs to present and discuss the problems. A committee was formed to study the problems and was given 5 days to design a working paper to the same group, one recommendation was to hire a Consultant to help improve the delivery system of the LGU.

Questions:1.Suppose you were chosen as the Consultant of the LGU, name and discuss at least two theories that would guide you to understand and recommend solutions to the problems stated above.To effectively resolve the glitches that make the LGU X unpleasant towards its clients, the chosen Consultant should at least make an assessment first to determine the underlying reasons which cause the occurrence of problems as mentioned above. If I will be the consultant, the theories which I think that definitely would help me are the Bureaucratic Theory and the Human Relations and Behavioral Science Theories.I really perceived that the Bureaucratic approach suggested by Weber will resolve the issues of vagueness of procedures, the absence of flow charts that would guide the clients to get the services, palakasan in the process of getting the services in the system, and the practice of frontline service providers in not following the rules and policies governing the operation of the public agency. The principles of the said theory are helpful in addressing the said problems because its concepts strictly employ well-defined implementation of rules and regulations, high degree of division of labor and specialization, and a well-defined hierarchy of authority. Also the principle of rationality, objectively and consistency will firmly guide the employees in carrying out their functions as public servants of LGU X. Besides, this approach also provides every organization a given methods to be followed by the employees in doing their works.Meanwhile, just to strengthen the effectiveness of bureaucratic theory in addressing the issues, it would be better if it shall be married with the concepts of the Human Relations and Behavioral Science Theories. So, the application of Human Relations and Behavioral Science Theories suggest that though the concept of the first theory is quite stricter in its principles, the impact of making changes in the agencys culture while resolving the issues will not be hard for the employees to follow. It is in a sense that these theories still recognize the importance of individual or group behavior and emphasized human relations. Based on the Hawthorne experiments, these approaches emphasized social or human relationships among the operators, researchers and supervisors (Roethlisberger and Dickson, 1943). It was argued that these considerations were more consequential in determining productivity than mere changes in working conditions. Productivity increases as a result of high morale and the workers willingness to change their malpractices is influenced by how the managers deal with them. Ultimately, it is still would be more effective and efficient if the principles of the modern theories of management will also be applied in resolving issues.

2.Identify and explain four specific concepts/principles that would help you design policies and activities to enhance the delivery system of the LGU.I believe that the following principles of management would help design effective policies ad activities that would enhance the delivery system of the LGU. It will be done so by applying the concepts of Basic management Functions of Fayol, Neo- Classical principles, and the concepts of Modern theories particularly the Management Science.First, through the basic management functions proposed by Fayol, it would be easier for the LGU to resolve the issues since they will be applying the concepts of planning, organizing, staffing, commanding coordinating, and controlling. When planning, the employees will focus on how they should perform in the workplace by keeping in their minds the LGUs mission, vision, objectives, and goals. Secondly, through organizing, there will be a stricter observance of division of labor, delegation of authority, coordination, and departmentalization. Also, staffing will tell who would be the right person to hire for a particular job. Next are commanding, coordinating, and controlling. If these three will further be applied, there will be a strict compliance of the rules and regulations governing the LGU by which leading to the proper carrying out of excellent services supposedly needed by the clients.Next would be the principles of the Neo-Classical Theory. From the concepts of the said theory, it highlights the value of an individual, a work group, and a participative management. The first element emphasize that each individual is unique in a way they behave and work independently in an organization. Secondly, taking into account the importance of a work group, the organization will be able to recognize the desire of every man to belong, to be accepted by, and stand well in his group. Lastly, the participative management which allows the workers to take part in decision making about their work conditions, will make the employees belongingness to the group will be organized.Lastly, the management science of the modern theory will further enhance the efficient formulation of policies and activities that will solve the problems of the LGU. By applying the Management Science Process which are observing (identification of a problem that exists (or may occur soon) in a system or organization), defining the problem (problem must be clearly and consistently defined, showing its boundaries and interactions with the objectives of the organization), model construction (development of the functional mathematical relationships that describe the decision variables, objective function, and constraints of the problem), model solution (models solved using management science techniques), and model implementation (actual use of the model or its solution).3. Identify and explain at least two strategies to enhance employee behavior in promoting quality performance of the LGU delivery system?

Priority Recommendation Activities:a)Conduct a regular meeting to thresh out issues and problems affecting the delivery of services of the organization b)Make a flow chart or a citizens charter that would guide clients on how to access their needed servicesI believe that through a conduct of a meeting every Monday each week would alleviate problems especially in a failure of agency to satisfy the needs of service of its clients. I suggest this because, in our agency, this is the strategy used by our regional director. The essence of conducting a meeting is to recognize the problems encountered by the employees in implementing rules and regulations and also in the implementation of programs and projects. The benefits of the meeting, as we call it Mancom in our bureau, are so many. First, the top management will be able to discuss the issues for each week and provide a possible solution for each problem. Secondly, it will also boost the productivity of the workers because the top management will challenge each worker to have outstanding outputs from their work loads. Lastly, it will be a time for the top management to recognize the employees who are doing excellently in their works.Lastly, making a flow chart or a citizens charter that would guide the clients on how to access their needed services should be encouraged because this is really helpful to lessen the burden of asking each employee everytime the clients proceed to the next process.

Applicable Laws on the ProblemsRA 9485 (Anti Red Tape Act of 2007)Section 6. Citizens Charter - All government agencies including departments, bureaus, offices, instrumentalities, or government-owned and/or controlled corporations, or local government or district units shall set up their respective service standards to be known as the Citizen's Charter in the form of information billboards which should be posted at the main entrance of offices or at the most conspicuous place, and in the form of published materials written either in English, Filipino, or in the local dialect, with these details:(a) The procedure to obtain a particular service;(b) The person/s responsible for each step;(c) The maximum time to conclude the process;(d) The document/s to be presented by the customer, if necessary;(e) The amount of fees, if necessary; and(f) The procedure for filing complaints.

Section 11. (b) Grave Offense Fixing and/or collusion with fixers in consideration of economic and/or other gain or advantage.Penalty - Dismissal and perpetual disqualification from public service

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