POLI 213
INTRODUCTION TO PUBLIC
ADMINISTRATION
Lecturer: Dr. Emmanuel Debrah,
Contact Information: [email protected]
College of Education
School of Continuing and Distance Education
2014/2015 – 2016/2017
Understanding Public
Administration (part 1)
Session One
College of Education
School of Continuing and Distance Education
2014/2015 – 2016/2017
Session Overview
• The meaning of public administration is not a straight forward
thing. But to help you to know what public administration is
and what it is not, the two terms ‘public’ and ‘administration’
must be explained. The scope of public administration, which
will be discussed, delineates the fundamental components of
the discipline, which adds to your understanding of the nature
of public administration.
Slide 3
Session Outline
The key topics to be covered in the session are as follows:
• Topic One:
Definition of Administration
• Topic Two : Definition of Public Administration
• Topic Three: Scope of Public Administration
• Topic Four: Importance of Studying Public Administration
Slide 4
Definition of Administration
Explaining the term “Public”
• First, public refers to the generality of the people.
• Second, it means all activities undertaken by the
state or done on its behalf.
• Third, it means all activities that are financed from
taxes paid by citizens.
Slide 5
The meaning of Administration
• The word, ‘administration’ comes from two Latin
words, namely, ‘ad’ and ‘ministrare’ which means to
serve, direct, control or manage affairs.
• E. N. Gladden said that administration means ‘to care
for or look after people, to manage affairs’
• Herbert Simon says, administration involves human
actions directed towards some agreed upon goals.
Slide 6
The Meaning of Administration
• According to Simon, when two men cooperate to
roll a stone that neither could have moved alone,
the rudiments of administration have appeared.
• This definition means administration involves people
(two men), action (rolling a stone) and cooperation.
Slide 7
Defining Public Administration
• Public administration refers to all activities of groups
and individuals aimed towards directing, organizing
and coordinating affairs to achieve common goals of
government
• It is the action part of government, the means by
which the purposes and goals of government are
realized.
• The machinery and processes including the
organization of men and women for managing the
affairs of government
Slide 8
Topic two
SCOPE OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
Slide 9
Traditional View of Public
Administration
• In the past, public administration was understood to mean
the activities of government.
• the executive branch of government became the focus of
public administration . Herbert Simon says administration
covers ‘the activities of the branches of national, state and
local governments’
• Because the executive organ is the means by which the
purpose of government is accomplished.
Slide 10
Traditional View of Public
Administration
• Other scholars regard public administration as the
carrying out of the activities of government.
• Woodrow Wilson said, it is the detailed and
systematic execution of public law.
• Nigro and Nigro noted that it is the essential
activities associated with carrying out Legislative
Acts and judicial orders.
Slide 11
Modern view of Public
Administration
• the traditional view is a narrow observation of the
constituents of public administration.
• It was held at a time when the role of the state or
government was conceived as the maintenance of
law and order, and protection of citizens’ liberties.
• The modern view is that public administration also
involves the processes of formulating/making
policies of government.
Slide 12
Importance of Studying Public
Administration
Topic four
College of Education
School of Continuing and Distance Education
2014/2015 – 2016/2017
Importance of Studying Public Administration
• You learn the basic principles and concepts of
administration.
• know the purpose and functions of government.
• understand the operation of public organizations and
how they affect your life as a citizen.
• shapes your understanding of the government and
its relations with the rest of society.
• learn how to promote the public interest.
• prepares you for future employment.
Slide 14
Sample Question
• Outline and discuss the salient
components of public
administration.
• To what extent have you been
convinced by studying public
administration at the university of
Ghana.
Slide 15
reference
• Stillman, R. (2004). Public Administration: Concepts
and Cases 8 edition. Wadsworth Publishing
New York.
Slide 16