AKHIL VATHALLOOR JOHN

Student ID:20181243

POLS 2119
Canadian Public Sector Management

Essay Assignment
Q. What is management and what are the difference between private and public sector

management? Explain? What are the strengths and weaknesses of the structural mechanistic and

organic humanistic theories to understanding management? Explain incrementalism and

rationalism. Do these theories of management provide valuable insights into how organization

work?

The word management refers to the series of process which helps to improve the result of a process

by exerting the correct quantity of influence and power. Management includes the ability to

manage the skills, time, events and the relationships. (Rughani, 2010)The application of the

management skills is relevant in the social as well as the daily life of every human. It is because

of its importance management is an important term in the life of every person as well, as every

organisation. The involvement of management can be seen in every sectors of the society also.

Proper management helps to improve the life and growth of the society. It is only possible by

following g and implementing its principle in the proper way which helps in a better result.

According to Henri Fayol “Management is to forecast ,to plan to organise , to command ,to

coordinate and control activities of others” (Henri Fayol:, 1916). The application of management

is not hanging around the business sector and the political sector, but it spread around all sectors

of human life. If a person has good management skills it reflects in his whole life, his application

of management in daily life shows his success which is so important to the organisation he works.

The skills in the managerial level of a person which is influenced by different persons or situations.

For a person his managerial skills developed from the situation which he passes in his life. Better
relationships better commitment good monitoring ability comprises the development of these

skills. (Rughani, 2010). It is very important for a person who is planning to work for any of the

public or private sector. Management is been the life of every human being as management practice

(Mohammad Taghi Amini, Dec 2014). As a science management helps to finish or solve all the

complicated organisational problems and it executes it goals in the right way. Management usually

works for the implementation of the society goals and its goals is illustrated in the goals of an

organisation. (Mohammad Taghi Amini, Dec 2014).The advice from the managers works on three

levels showing how to manage themselves the employees and the business. (Publishers Weekly,

2018).And also the main functions of the management are communication,planning,organizing

staffing controlling and leading (Publishers Weekly, 2018). Many of the authors well explained

about the functions of the management, out of that the most popular on is the one introduced by

the Henri Fayol. He explains that the main functions of management as the planning organising

commanding coordinating and controlling. (Henri Fayol:, 1916)

Management principles are now a days applied mostly in the various departments of governments

and by different organisations in the public sector. Because for a proper functioning of an

organisation whether it is in public or private sector the different principles of management play a

great role. In a government sector , different departments are there, and all departments have its

own administrators or a head of the department, and he plays the same role of a manager in a

private organisation. All the diplomatic decisions were taken by him with the corporation of the

board of members or by the interaction with the co workers. Any how the ultimate decision maker

is the manager .
Functions of Management

Many theories are developed by different organizational theorist regarding the functions of

management. Out of all the theories the most famous and most reliable one comes out from the

studies of Luther Gulick (1937) which categories the functions into seven which are (Johnson,

2017, p. 162)

Planning

Organising

Staffing

Directing

Coordinating

Reporting

Budgeting

Planning: It is an assessment process which simply analyses the present condition of the

organisation and take suitable steps for improving the coming process and plans taken focussing

on the weakness to strengthen those areas. It focusses on the organizational goals. By adopting to

the conditions in the environment the planning takes place, and which helps to create ideas

focussing on the coming opportunities which helps the organisation to grow and achieve a high

standard. (Johnson, 2017, p. 164)

Organizing: It mainly describes the organizational design and structure. Each organization has a

bureaucratic structure and it works inside that structure. It describes the flow of information from

the higher authorities and the level of hierarchy inside the organisation. Its main aim to achieve

the organisational goals with less money in an effective and efficient way. (Johnson, 2017, p. 164)

Staffing: It is the hiring process. Qualified personal for qualified job. No one can do all job. Each

job has its own peculiarities and each job need some sort of skills. So, find correct personal to the

job position is an important thing. An also it includes the management of personal give motivation

in jobs to correct the interpersonal conflicts etc. (Johnson, 2017, p. 164)

Directing: Its important to have a right aim in a job. Directing is the function which helps to directs

the employees remembering the goal and direct them towards that goal. (Johnson, 2017, p. 165)

Coordinating: It explains the togetherness to bring all things together under one umbrella. It

explains the connection between all departments and all staffs in an organisation . Only by the

proper uniformity and aiming towards the goal an organisation can achieve its standards and

heights. So, the coordination is an important thing which helps the organisation to run successfully.

(Johnson, 2017, p. 165)

Reporting: It explains the communication between the employees, the departments and the

communication between the manger towards his workers. By the proper reporting on the day to

day activities of an organization it helps to organize the next day activities and helps the workers

to focus on the activities what they do on the next day or as a next step. Sound effective

management is effective, and it helps to evaluate the weakness and strengthens of an organization

and it is the centre of proper reporting. (Johnson, 2017, p. 165)

Budgeting: Same as like governments, each organisation has some budget plans. The work on the

budgets and the activities should takes place under this . In budgeting the allocation of funs for

each step is important, because only through proper funding , the policies can be properly

implemented. Otherwise we cannot achieve the goals of an organization. (Johnson, 2017, p. 165)

Public and Private Sector Management

The main purpose of the public sector management is the implantation of the public services which

include the government activities or its policies which makes available for the people of the

country. The main function of the government department s is to ensure whether these services are

available for the people. (Johnson, 2017, p. 167)Public sector works mainly focus on the social

economic and political goals. Because in a country the organisational set up of the government,

is controlled by a specific political party and each party have their own agendas. They mainly work

on the political goals, but the supreme function of the public sector is to works for the development

of the country and its people. The effective implementation of policies determines the efficiency

of the government, because the service recipients are the citizens of the country and if they didn’t

get enough protection to their life and property, they don’t elect the party once again. So, its crucial

for a political party to show their excellence while ruling the country by the proper excellence in

implementing the policies. (Schachter, Dec 2014, pp. 517-53)

In public sector people elected from different diversities and they share their own opinions and

work for the development and policy implementation in the areas where there is less development.

We can see a variety among the ideas, which demonstrates the that the activity spreads all around

the working area it is not focussed on a specific group of people it spreads on every direction

(Schachter, Dec 2014). The management skills which is purely based on the policies which is
planned to implement . What activities are implemented which is for the benefit of the citizens so

while taking the policies and the programs it is important to analyse the area it works and how is

effective among the different communities of the society. (Schachter, Dec 2014)

In private sector, the firm works on the activities by providing goods and services commercially.

In private firms, the board f directors who expresses the interests of the owners and they mainly

focus on their goals. It is completely based on the profit. In private sector the success id determined

by the amount of profit which the organization earns by its activities. (Schachter, Dec 2014).They

don’t have any credibility or accountability to the citizens, they try to enlarge her business

environment by acquiring or increasing the profit. For that the investors or the share holders they

implement new business ideas and work on that . (Johnson, 2017, p. 167)It is purely a mono

focussed organisation. The control of the whole firm is under some partners or a single owner.

In private sector we don’t have any regulation in the policy implementation and its policy

determination criteria is strictly focus on the business tactics like competition on the market and

product modification. The supreme power is the management and they have the complete authority

of the organisation. Any decision making is strictly under the board of management. So, it’s a

simple process compared to a public sector organization. (Schachter, Dec 2014) (Johnson, 2017)

Compared to public sector private sector is easy to mange and only problem with the private sector

is the financial management. And the financial liability is strictly oriented in the owners. In public

sector the firms will crate the funds using the taxes and other types of subsidies. (Schachter, Dec

2014)
The Structural -Mechanistic Model

It was a German sociologist and political economist Max Weber who demonstrated the outstanding

theories of organisational design. (Johnson, 2017, p. 171) In this modern world the most

organisations have this type of organisational design. Weberian approach is some what a useful

one , it covers almost all the corners of the organisational design but still it has some drawbacks.

In the Weberian approach , the put forward eight principles, which demonstrate how an

organisation should be. According to Weber, an organisation should have a hierarchical structure,

by this he means an organisation should be centrally oriented. That is the manager at the top and

under him assistant mangers under them there are some supervisors like that. And there should be

a chain of command exist between the mangers and the subordinates and the workers. The

information should be properly directed towards the bottom most employee in speedy way to

ensure the proper unity among the command. Mechanistic approach allows the procedures made

in a formal manner. Since the commands for the process are equally demonstrated to each and

every members of the organisation the procedure and the goals reached so that they can work

according to that in an organised way. The delegation of process allows each employee to work in

a systematic way to achieve the goals of the organization. (Johnson, 2017, p. 172)

In this approach the third principle demonstrated by the weber is the labor specification, that is

each one is socialized in his own job. Correct job for a job in this capacity or according to his

excellency. So that it helps the organization to utilize his maximum ability of he benefits of the

organization. Appreciation is an important thing which enhances the employee motivation. The

forth principle better describes this that it describes the promotion in nob based on the merits or

ability of the employee. He other importance that Weber expresses that he gave more importance
to the individual regarding the services he offers or provides to the organization. Weber shows

importance to both bureaucracy and interpersonal rules in his principles. He describes that each

like decisions are treated in like manner and decisions related to bureaucracy receives equal and

fair treatment. (Johnson, 2017, p. 173)There is a specialized function that each process in this

approach has credibility. The reports are properly recorded in the form of written documents which

help to analyse if the organization meet any problems or can review if any doubts related to the

polices arise in one situation.

The structural mechanistic approach better explains the organisational design compared to a

machine. The machines are used tod the work more efficiently economically and easily in a proper

way. Same as that the main aim behind this approach is to achieve the organizational goals in safe

efficient economical efficient using all, the available resources in a proper way. As the power is

on the top level thy are always aware about the target and it increases the organizational ability to

achieve its goals with in the given time period.

Overall the organisations are well describing in this type of management approach, because it is

familiar by all of us and the benefit of this approach is that in an organisation if there is a head to

lead the organisation, he should be conscious about the goals and the away his organisation runs.

(Johnson, 2017, p. 180) He is the one always watches the growth and decline of his organisation

well but close watching so that its easy to him to change we the route where he drives, so as a

good driver he can able to run the organisation through a good path which help to win the race in

this competitional world. Its because of this hierarchy levels with in the organisation each of the

employee who decorates the position have some proper responsibilities in his position and it helps

him to develop his own leadership qualities and as well as the managerial skills. So, I think the

structural mechanistic approach has some benefits in its applications considering the development
of each employees in the organisation. (Johnson, 2017, p. 180) The policy of the institution is

always provide better services to the one who act as the beneficiary, so the policy implementation

is the one which should be like that, that means each organisation should regulate the allocation of

funds and the finance for each polices to some extent. It is the responsibility of the management

to implement policies considering this financial budget. The motive of each organisation is to

provide better services with less investment. That is to achieve the goals which ends in most

economical efficient and effective way. (Johnson, 2017, p. 180) Because it will increase the

credibility of the organization among the competitors and organisation can grow much higher than

they expect. In this type of management, the commands should be flow from tip to bottom, that si

the one who acts or being in the top of the organisation is the head of all commands, and he is

responsible for controlling the activities inside the organisation and the employees who worked

under him should obey the commends from the top. (Johnson, 2017, p. 180)The one at the top of

the management leads the organisation from the front. He is the one who leads the organisation.

Employees are the one who is supposed to be obey the orders from the top of the management.

(Johnson, 2017, p. 180)

In the management of public sector, it is important to have a better view of how to manage an

organisation, whether it is the whole federal government set up or the department of the

government. Because all the departments are coordinated and connected to the federal government

which is the back bone and the Prime minister is the one who droves the organisation that’s is the

government. So, it is very important to have abetter organisational set up inside the government

.From the studies of Luther Gulick and Lyndall, we can see that they demonstrates the level of an

organisation through departmentalization which is common in our country and many other

countries inside the bureaucracy. (Johnson, 2017, pp. 177-179)

The Organic Humanistic Model

Its is because of the criticism towards the structural mechanistic model this type of organisational

approach develops. It mainly involves the Maslow’s hierarchy. Abraham Maslow studied that in a

workplace the level of motivation is on the lower side and it is entirely different from the structural

mechanistic approach . He concerned about the self development and self achievements of an

individual while working inside an organisation, according to him an individual works for an

organisation not only for the development of the organisation but also for fulfilling his own daily

needs and for the development of his own backgrounds. In the Maslow’s hierarchy he classified

the hierarchical level based on this. According to him the food, shelter, clothing is more important

for a human to withstand in a society. All the other are not important as like that. (Johnson, 2017,

pp. 182-183) (Ramunas Vanagas, 2014)

According to Maslow the hierarchy of needs based on five classifications. They are

1.Physiological Needs:

In physiological needs, it consists of the basis physical needs including the food, shelter,

clothing’s and sleep. A basic human life is sticks on these common needs. He need food to live,

shelter to stay, cloths to wear, have need a partner to live and to have a place to sleep. (Johnson,

2017, p. 182) (Ramunas Vanagas, 2014)

2.Safety Needs

It includes an individual’s freedom of security and stability on his life. Every individual in this

earth likes to live with full security to his life and wealth and as well as live with full freedom.

(Johnson, 2017, p. 182) (Ramunas Vanagas, 2014)

3.Human Needs

Humana needs composite of the well beings includes the friend’s partners in the life. For being a

social animal, human always depends on other in their day to day life. It is impossible to live

without depending others. Human needs include factors like this. (Johnson, 2017, p. 182)

(Ramunas Vanagas, 2014)

4.Esteem Needs

Esteem needs means the achievements of an individual while living in a society or the

achievements he got form the organist ion. It includes the rewards, promotion, social status etc.

(Johnson, 2017, p. 182) (Ramunas Vanagas, 2014)

5.Self actualization

Self actualisation means to fit for the best suitable position. In this concept he tries to demonstrate

by achieving these all needs he become a self-actualised individual. An individual who is on the

top of the society in all means meant by this terminology. (Johnson, 2017, p. 182) (Ramunas

Vanagas, 2014)
Maslow’s hierarchy got so importance because of its simplicity and the adaptability. In order to

fulfill motivation system in the public sector and to control the budget in spending, the

physiological theories are concerned . (Ramunas Vanagas, 2014)

On support with the Maslow’s hierarchy, many other experts also talk about the importance of the

organics humanistic approach. Douglas McGregor who was inspired by the studies of Maslow

support his findings and he demonstrated two theories that is Theory X and theory Y. Theory X

explains the structural humanistic approach and in this he describes that that the employs are lazy

and it they are only interested in doing there own work and they are not indented to support the

organisation and it is bad for the individual growth. Because of the over criticism and close

watching there might be a chance of mental stress among the employees in this structural

mechanistic approach. Follows by that most employees are not interested in organisational set up

and they don’t like to achieve any thing more for the benefit of the organisation when there is a

strong managerial control. Employees should not have the freedom kin the work , so the mental

status is also be on the lower side and it might be poor.

In theory Y, he explains about the organic humanistic approach. In this approach all employees

are considered as the human and they have their own freedom inside the organisation, and it will

help the employees to work in a freedom and in a friendly manner. The overall result is good for

the organisation in achieving the goals with less stress and pressure. (Johnson, 2017, pp. 183-84)

Like wise other experts are also concerned and work on the organic humanistic approach because

of the drawbacks of the structural mechanistic approach. All arrive at the same conclusion that it

is helpful for the organisation to consider the employees as a human not as machines. They have
their own emotions and problems, so creating a good working environment helps them to work for

the benefit of the organisational and it help to achieve the goals of the organisation very easily

with an effective efficient and proper way. (Johnson, 2017, p. 185)

Incrementalism

It is a decision-making process. It is a very slow process which involves very slow processes and

steps in deciding inside an organisation which results in a very low expenditure of finance. (Law,

2011)It takes initiatives like total quality management, bench marking and continuous

improvement. It means by the slow development in the process the attain these goals of total

quality improvement and the good management . It is a very old form of managerial decision

making. The managers usually adopt the policies and programs already implemented by his

processors and he just try to copy that in his period also. (Johnson, 2017, p. 189)There is no new

policy implementation in this type of decision making. Decisions makings are simple and easy.

Managements always look for the easy way to achieve the goals of the organisation. Charles E

Lindblom considered as the earliest proponents of Incrementalism. When there is a problem arise

inside the organisation ,Lindblom said that managers try to solve that problem with a easiest and

quickest way without disturbing the activities that already going on the organisation (Law, 2011)

(Johnson, 2017, pp. 190-91)

Rationalism

Rationalism is generally defined as the process of decision making by making use of the mental

ability, using some accurate thinking and by considering the events happens around an

organisation or the area of process. (Robertson, 2010) It should be taken place with proper

planning. (Johnson, 2017, p. 191) Behind each and every planning there should have some
objectives , and the aim of the decision making is to find the correct solution for the problem within

this objectives meeting all the appropriate sense of doing the things with correct preplanned vison

among the individuals in the organisation which helps to achieve the goals of the organisation

effectively under the supervision of the management. (Robertson, 2010) (Johnson, 2017, p. 191).

The goals are achieved by using any of the means is the advantage of the rationalism. Because of

the proper analysis of the system thee result achieved is the proper and best among all. All levels

of the program implementation are monitored very carefully in incrementalism. (Johnson, 2017,

p. 191) The programmes planned in the rationalistic approach is based on the priorities it is because

of that the programs which need more importance implement first that is if there is any calamities

or terror attacks occurs the priority is given to that incident and the policy is suddenly polishes

considering the situation and the strength of the situation. (Johnson, 2017, p. 191; Robertson,

2010, pp. 2-4)

According to me these theories provide valuable support for the proper functioning of the

organisation. Because it is because of these theories many mangers mange their business

environment into success. Each theory has its own advantages and disadvantages. But the

combination of the theories by taking the positive and productive side of the best applicable one

helps the organisation to grow higher. It also supports the individual growth in the life style and

the organisational as well as the decision-making skills. As Maslow states that the individual

growth is the most important benefit of each organisation . Because if the organisation supports an

individual in his personal needs and in his organisational needs, he will be committed to the

organisation a n the ultimate beneficiary is the organisation by managing that employee and his

skills in the ;positive way for achieving g the company goals. So, all theories if used in a positive

and effective way will help in the success of the organisation. A famous proverb in Malayalam is
like this “If we unite together and pull a mountain it will surely move” i.e. if our motive is unique,

we can achieve the goal if it will be a huge one. So, its benefit for the development of the

organisation each theory has its own part and relevance, it depends on how we approach each

theory and how we apply it on each decision making. Concluding it is crystal clear that all the

management theories provide valuable insights in the working of all organisation whether it is in

public or on private sector.

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