Discussion Questions Week 1 Business

W1 Discussion: Definition of Public Administration

·

Question B

Based on the reading,

·

Define Public A

dministration as best as you can. Explain the subject matter of Public

Administration and also indicate your prior knowledge

on Public Administration and what you wish to gain from this class

Lesson Outline and Lecture Notes

A.

Definition of Public Administration:

There is no one overarching definition of Public Administration because of the diverse and

continuously evolving nature of the subject in the twentieth century. Stillman (2010:4) maintains

that generally, the definitions of the subject focuses on: (1) th

e executive branch of government

(yet it is related in important ways to legislative and the judicial branches); (2) the formulation and

implementation of public policies; (3) the involvement in a considerable range of problems

concerning human behavior an

d cooperative human effort; (4) a field that can be differentiated in

several ways from private administration; (5) the production of public good and services; and (6) a

discipline rooted in the law as well as concerned with carrying out laws. The uniquen

ess of

administrative events, which are facilitated by the complexities and many variables that

characterized the subject, has made it impossible to provide one encompassing definition of public

administration. Therefore, attempt at defining the boundaries

, scope and purpose of public

administration has become a preoccupation and difficulty facing public administration scholars in

recent decade. Two of such definitions of Public Administration are:

Public Administration may be defined as all processes, orga

nizations, and individuals

(the latter acting in official positions and roles) associated with carrying out laws and

other rules adopted or issued by legislatures, executives, and courts

(Milakovich 2006).

Public Administration is the use of managerial, po

litical, and legal theories and

processes to fulfill legislative, executive, and judicial governmental mandates for the

provision of regulatory and service functions for the society as a whole or for some

segments of it

(

Rosenbloom and Goldman, 1997)

W1 Discussion: Definition of Public Administration

 Question B

Based on the reading,

 Define Public Administration as best as you can. Explain the subject matter of Public

Administration and also indicate your prior knowledge

on Public Administration and what you wish to gain from this class

Lesson Outline and Lecture Notes

A. Definition of Public Administration:

There is no one overarching definition of Public Administration because of the diverse and

continuously evolving nature of the subject in the twentieth century. Stillman (2010:4) maintains

that generally, the definitions of the subject focuses on: (1) the executive branch of government

(yet it is related in important ways to legislative and the judicial branches); (2) the formulation and

implementation of public policies; (3) the involvement in a considerable range of problems

concerning human behavior and cooperative human effort; (4) a field that can be differentiated in

several ways from private administration; (5) the production of public good and services; and (6) a

discipline rooted in the law as well as concerned with carrying out laws. The uniqueness of

administrative events, which are facilitated by the complexities and many variables that

characterized the subject, has made it impossible to provide one encompassing definition of public

administration. Therefore, attempt at defining the boundaries, scope and purpose of public

administration has become a preoccupation and difficulty facing public administration scholars in

recent decade. Two of such definitions of Public Administration are:

Public Administration may be defined as all processes, organizations, and individuals

(the latter acting in official positions and roles) associated with carrying out laws and

other rules adopted or issued by legislatures, executives, and courts (Milakovich 2006).

Public Administration is the use of managerial, political, and legal theories and

processes to fulfill legislative, executive, and judicial governmental mandates for the

provision of regulatory and service functions for the society as a whole or for some

segments of it ( Rosenbloom and Goldman, 1997)