Modernizing public administration: challenges and strategic responses

¶ … Discipline of Public Administration

The article from Vigoda (2002) discusses the changing role that many public administrators are facing. Where, a host of different governments have become large and bureaucratic at all levels. This is challenging, because it reduces their responsiveness to address the demands of citizens. As a result, the author suggests that managers are more proactive and involve members of the community, as a part of determining what services are necessary. This will help to address the problems associated with unresponsive bureaucracies. (Vigoda,, 2002, pp. 527 -- 540)

The political context of public administration

The article from Welch (1998), talks about the way the public administration systems are administered throughout the world. A major problem that is developing is how administrators in Eastern cultures can apply the public-based model from Western society. To address these challenges, the author suggests a number of different elements are taken into account when implementing such a system to include: having flexibility, understanding the different cultural traditions and encouraging feedback from everyone. (Welch, 1998, pp. 71 -- 82)

Human Resources Management

The article from Boyne (1999) discusses how the UK government encouraged municipalities to begin utilizing the same practices, used by the private sector during the 1980's -- 1990's. This would help to reduce the size of government and increase the responsiveness of various bureaucrats.

The Budgetary Process

The article written by Etzoni (1967) discusses a new model for public administration (the rationalistic model). This is when you are giving greater amounts of control to personnel within the departments over their budgets. As a result, effective implementation of this model, could improve the delivery of services, while preventing various amounts of bureaucratic waste. (Etzoni, 1967, pp. 385 -- 392)

Public Administration

The article from Gray (1995), talks about how the role of public administration management is changing. Where, many governments are often utilizing a model that augments private services with those they provide. The results are: that this is improving the overall quality of services and it is reducing costs. (Gray, 1995, pp. 75 -- 99)

Public Policy and Analysis

The article that was written by Lindblum (1959), discusses how many administrators will often use a combination of techniques and analysis when evaluating public policy. This is problematic, because it causes the overall bureaucracy to become more dysfunctional, by not having a set of procedures for effective planning and analyzing public policy. (Lindblom, 1959, pp. 79 -- 88)

Program Evaluation

The article from Proven (2001), talks about how cooperative organizational networks have been developed to evaluate the responsiveness of government programs. This is important, because these programs are providing a way of: having administrators and the citizens interacting together. At which point, they can evaluate the effectiveness of the different services being provided. (Porven, 2001, pp. 414 -- 423)

Intergovernmental Relations

The article written by Peters (2001), discusses how globalization is changing intergovernmental relations around the world. As globalization and decentralization are forcing governments to become more responsive to the needs of the people. (Peters, 2001, pp. 131 -- 135)

Public Service Ethics

The article from Bailey (1964), talks about how many governments are increasingly using the normative ethics model. This is when you are addressing the underlying conflicts of interests that bureaucrats will often face. Where, they will refer to various special interest requests, to higher levels within the government. The problem with using this model is: it causes the sizes of the bureaucracy to increase and gives special interests unseal amounts of influence at the highest levels of government.