Public Administration

First session
Prof. Denise Scheberle

Welcome
First card: write your name, what you hope to

learn in this class, something interesting or

fun about you, your learning style, and attach
a picture

www.ncsu.edu/felder-public/ILSpage.html

Large card: Fold in half and write your first

name; bring it to class next two weeks

Nature of the class

Interactive
Thoughtful
Challenging
Open
Six discussion teams for case studies

Summary, lessons, application

Teams
1. Say hello! Assign team leaders and

decide how to take attendance.

2. Create a short list of guidelines or
ground rules for team and class
discussion
3. Turn in extra copy of assignments and
list of guidelines to me.

Learning styles typology

Active and reflective learners
Sensing and intuitive learners
Visual and verbal learners
Sequential and global learners
Thoughts? Any surprises? Confirmations?

Critical thinking
Process of avoiding ones preconceptions by

gathering evidence, contemplating and

evaluating alternatives, and coming to a
conclusion
Thought that is disciplined, comprehensive,
based on intellectual standards, and, as a
result, is well-reasoned

What is public administration?

PA may be defined as all processes,

organizations and individuals associated with

carrying out laws and other rules adopted or
issued by legislatures, executives and
courts.
Inclusive definition: administrators are the
foremost, but not the only individuals in PA
Gordon/Milakovich (authors)

Other definitions of PA
Public administration is detailed and

systematic execution of the law

Woodrow Wilson
includes only the administrator
excludes policy formulation as well as elected
officials

still other definitions

Whatever governments do for good or

ill. It is public administrations political

context that makes it public--that
distinguishes it from private or business
administration.
Shafritz and Russell
both inclusive and confusing!

What can we conclude about PA?

it is conveys activity
concerned with public service (what government can

give to people)
tends to be concentrated in the executive branch
usually connected with implementing the law

PA is also a field of study

People take undergraduate and graduate courses to

learn how to manage public programs and respond to

public needs
Also learn how to operate in a public rather than a
private environment

How are public and private administration

different?
goals
incentives
flexibility
performance measures
oversight
other ways?

Tensions faced by public administrators

Efficiency v. Effectiveness

reaching public goals or measuring activities?

Responsiveness v. Accountability

responding to public needs or filling out

reports?

Difference between outputs and

outcomes

For Thursday
what does Wilson mean by science of

administration?
how does Wilson feel about the relationship
between politics and administration?
what does Wilson mean by the murderous
fellow sentence?
NEW: Are Wilsons arguments still valid? Why
or why not?

Public opinion of PA
Public support of PA has decreased

since 1950s, even though

professionalism and accountability have
increased.
Why?

For Tuesday: Blast case

Who bears the blame for the disaster in

Centralia?
What are the central causes of the tragedy?
What are the lessons we can take from this
case?
What connections do you see to Wilsons
essay?

How to prepare a case write-up

Summary/Overview
Lessons
Connections

People dont like government

Im from the government and Im here

to help you.
Thats good enough for government
work.

Part III
how does Wilson justify looking to other

countries for ideas for public administration?

what does Wilson mean by the murderous
fellow sentence?
solving what problem will allow us to pilot the
world?

Bureaucracy
What do you think of when you think of

bureaucracy?
Bureaucracy is a way of organizing to achieve
work
Class example
Bureaucracy is intended to maintain control
and coordination of large groups

Max Weber (1864-1920)

German economist and social historian
wrote essay on bureaucracy in 1911
remains the most influential statement of what

bureaucracy is, and what problems are

three types of authority

traditional, charismatic, legal-rational

Major elements of a bureaucracy

Fixed authority and official jurisdiction

specialization

written, formal rules

impersonal administration
hierarchy of offices

chain of command

career service with employment based on

qualifications

Negative consequences
monopolize information
hard to destroy
ambivalent about democracy
dehumanizing of the bureaucrat
ability of anyone to control
powerful

Thinking about bureaucracy

Do you agree with all, some or none of Webers

negative consequences?
What examples do you have that support or refute his
arguments?
Why have bureaucracies come to mean inefficient
rather than efficient organizations?