SCOPE OF PUBLIC ADMINSTRATION
The views of L.D. White and traditionalist on the one hand and
those of Gulick and the scientific management school on the other
hand differ regarding the nature and scope of Public Administration.
Hence, we should understand various perspectives about the scope
of Public Administration.
Scope :-
Following are the three important perspectives about the scope of
Public Administration.
1. Narrow perspective or POSDCoRB perspective.
2. Broad perspective or subject matter view.
3. Prevailing view.
Narrow perspective or POSDCoRB perspective –
Luther Gulick is the main exponent of this perspective. According
to him the scope of public administration is narrow or limited. It is
also regarded as POSDCoRB view.
It insist that the Public Administration is concerned only with those aspects of
administration which are related with the executive branch and its
seven types of administrative functions.
These seven types of functions which shows the scope of Public
Administration are as follows –
1. ‘P’ stands for planning
2. ‘O’ stands for organization
3. ‘S’ stands for staffing.
4. ‘D’ stands for Directing.
5. ‘Co.’ stands for Co-ordination.
6. ‘R’ stands for Reporting
7. ‘B’ stands for Budgeting
1. ‘P’ stands for Planning –
Planning is the first step of Public Administration. i.e. working out
the broad outline of the things that need to be done.
2. ‘O’ stands for organization –
It means establishment of the formal structure of authority through
which the work is sub-divided, arranged and coordinated for the
defined objective.
3. ‘S’ stands for staffing –
It means the recruitment and training of the staff and maintenance
of favorable conditions of work for the staff.
4. ‘D’ stands for Directing –
It means the continuous task of making decisions and embodying
them in specific and general orders and instructions, and thus
guiding the enterprise.
5. ‘Co’ stands for Co-ordination –
It means interrelating the various parts of organization such as
branches, divisions, sections of the work and elimination of
overlapping.
6. ‘R’ stands for Reporting –
It means informing the authority to whom the executive is
responsible as to what is going on.
7. ‘B’ stands for Budgeting –
It means accounting, fiscal planning and control.
Evaluation – POSDCORB Perspective about the Scope of Public Administration is limited and narrow. It stressed on the tools of Public
Administration. It does not show the substance of administration. It
is a technique oriented perspective, not a subject oriented.
2. Broad perspective or subject – oriented perspective :-
Prof. Woodrow Wilson, L D While are main exponent of this
perspective. They have taken a very broad approach about the
scope of Public Administration.
According to them;
(A) Public Administration covers all three
branches of the government. Legislative, Executive and Judicial
and their interrelationship. Legislative organ makes the laws,
Executive organ of the government implements the laws. and
Judicial organ of the government interprets the laws. There is
interrelationship between these three organs.
B) Scope of Public Administration is like a cooperative group. It
consist of all from class one officer to class four employees.
C) Public Administration is a part of the political process. It has an
important role in the formulation of public policy at all levels, from
national to grassroot. It is closely associated with numerous private
groups and individuals in providing services to the community. It
has been influenced in recent years by the human relations
approach.
3. Prevailing view :-
Prevailing view divides the scope of Public Administration into two
parts.-
1) Administrative theory 2) Applied administration
1. Administration theory –
It includes the following aspects.
a) Organizational Theory –
The Structure, organization, functions and methods of all types of
public authority engaged in administration, whether national,
regional or local and executive.
b) Behavior –
The functions of Administrative authorities and the various methods
appropriate to different types of functions. The various forms of
control of administration.
c) Public Personal Administration –
The problems concerning personnel e.g. recruitment, training,
promotion, retirement etc. and the problems relating to planning,
research, information and public relation services.
2. Applied administration –
It includes the following aspects :-
a) Political functions –
It includes the executive – legislative relationship, administrative
activities of the cabinet, the minister and permanent official
relationship.
b) Legislative function –
It includes delegated legislation and the preparatory work done by
the officials in connection with the drawing up of bills.
c) Financial functions –
It includes total financial administration from the preparation of the
budget to its execution, accounting and audit etc.
d) Defence – Functions relating to military administration.
e) Educational function – It includes functions relating to educational
administration.
f) Social welfare administration –
It includes the activities of the departments concerned with food;
housing, social security and development activities.
g) Economic Administration –
It is concerned with the production and encouragement of industries
and agriculture.
h) Foreign administration –
It includes the conduct of foreign affairs, diplomacy, international
cooperation etc.
i) Local administration –
It concern with the activities of the local self-governing institutions.The modern state cannot confine its field of activities to only maintenance of law and order, dispensation of justice, collection of revenue and taxes.
The modern state is expected to provide more and more services and amenities to the people. This results in tremendous growth both in the governmental responsibilities as well as in the administrative machinery of the state. Naturally the scope of public administration is increased.