Foundations of Public

Administration

Mr. Joshue R. Santiago

Special Operations Officer IV
Office of the Vice Mayor, Manila
The Challenge
 Mission Statement

We will create a Learning Environment to explore and

implement socially just and democratic public service,
thus We:
think critically and creatively;
communicate effectively;
work collaboratively;
embrace diversity;
value fairness and equity;
advocate powerfully on behalf of the public; and
imagine new possibilities and accomplish positive
change in our workplaces and in our communities.
 Methodology

There will be a lecture type presentation of topics and the

students will be assigned to prepare their reports through
Powerpoint Presentation as part of the students project.
Open Discussion after every Presentation is encouraged
to provide opportunity to expound on topics at hand.
Short Quizzes will be given before the end of every
meeting.
Final Examination will be conducted on the last day of the
meeting in order to gauge the learning outcome of the
students.
 Course Description

Foundations of Public Administration is the first subject

in a year long core program for BPA students. Through
interdisciplinary study, collaborative learning, speaking
across differences, and personal engagement we will
address the following four questions throughout the four
(4) meetings:
1) What is public administration?
2) Who are public administrators?
3) Why does public administration matter?
4) What are the Issues and Challenges in Public
Administration?
 Topic Outline

Nature and Scope of Public Administration

The Environment of Public Administration
Administrative Theories and Organization for Public
Affairs
Management Techniques and Processes
Management of Human Resources
Fiscal Administration
 Topic Outline

Accountability and Ethics in the Public Service

Regulatory Functions and Processes
Special Economic Zones and Local Governance
Public Enterprise and Economic Development
Issues and Challenges in Public Administration
 Our Agreements

We show up to all classes on time.

We are prepared, listen, and share our views.
What is said in this room stays in this room.
We respect others.
We disagree with ideas, not people.
We do no harm as we engage in the learning process.
We are honest.
We do our best work.
We turn in our work on time.
We actively and enthusiastically engage in learning.
We invest in ourselves.
We create a safe place.
We have fun.
 Grading System

Attendance 10%
Quizzes 20%
Report 20%
Project 20%
Finals 30%
Total 100%
Part I: Meaning, Nature,
Scope and Significance of
Public Administration
Views of Public
Administration
What, Why, When, Where, Who
& How?
 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 Practice

Tendero (2000) explained about processes in the continuing

changes in a society. What direction is our society being headed
to? How to confront the various conflicts and problems? Who
should be responsible?

Areas of Concern

AGENDA -Absence of a blueprint reflects lack of vision

POLICY - Absence of consistent framework spells success
or failure
PLANS & PROGRAMS - Absence of a plan leaves the fate
of society to chance, a possibility of hit and miss in
operations and will show ineffectiveness.
 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

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

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
 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 services to the people
 Public and Private Administration
Criteria Public Administration Private
Administration
1.Relations to subject to public Less exposed to
environment scrutiny; public demand public inspection;
and expectations; internal processes are
political pressures kept from public;
response to public
guided by market
dynamics
2. Accountability Accountable to the management
public; transparency in accountable to owners
transactions is expected of 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
 Referrences

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
Tenedero, Avelino P. Theory and Practice of Public Administration in the Phils.