challenges facing public administrators
Understanding the organizational, legal, and cultural
differences between managing in the public sector versus the private sector is
vital to organizational success. Public managers face unique challenges (both
ideological and practical), which is why an understanding of the dynamic
interaction of theory and practice is important. In addition, public managers
need to understand the enduring issues and evolving tools required in public
service.
For this milestone, first select an organizational, a legal,
or a cultural challenge facing public administrators that is also of interest
to you. You may select one of these challenges, or you may choose another, with
instructor approval:
Discuss the emergence of the “governance without
government” concept, which focuses on the importance of networks,
nontraditional partnerships, and the markets to guide society, rather than
traditional bureaucratic institutions. This movement has taken hold in Europe
and is gaining momentum in the United States.
How is the new public administration movement impacting
the “accountability versus efficiency” paradigm that has defined the profession
since its inception?
How is the reintroduction of privatization impacting
public policy decision making and the targeted social outcomes? For example,
imagine a state determines that access to high-speed internet for every home is
essential for long-term public health, yet in areas of the state, the market has
determined that it is not profitable to provide the service. Should the state
form a partnership with a private sector business (i.e., subsidize) to ensure
that their social goal is obtained?
What are effective performance measures to evaluate
programs and management in the public sector? Traditionally, the focus has been
on measuring inputs and activities. Is this focus still effective?
How can flexibility and creativity be integrated into the
structures of public organizations in a way that allows for nimble,
street-level decision making to swiftly adapt to ever-changing environmental
conditions while maintaining some level of accountability to the citizens?
For your milestone submission, draft the Introduction and
Theoretical Overview sections of the final project (Sections I and II),
focusing on the challenge you selected.
Be sure to address all the following critical elements:
I. Introduction
Concisely describe your chosen organizational, legal, or
cultural challenge in the field of public administration.
II. Theoretical Overview: Ensure that you focus your
response specifically on the organizational, legal, or cultural challenge that
you selected.
A. Public Administration Advocates: Describe the original
advocates for the development of professional public management within the
federal government of the United States. In your description, consider
questions such as these: What were their viewpoints? How did they advocate for
the development of public administration?
B. Impact on Public Administration: Differentiate between
the views of Dwight Waldo and Herbert Simon. How did each impact the
development of the public administration profession?
C. Public Administration Dichotomy: Analyze the founding
dichotomy of public administration as expressed by Dwight Waldo for its impact
on public administration practice.
Guidelines for Submission: This submission should be about 1
to 2 pages in length and should use double spacing, 12-point Times New Roman
font, and one-inch margins. Sources should be cited according to APA style.
