Module 1 - Introduction To Public Administration
Module 1 - Introduction To Public Administration
Module 1 - Introduction To Public Administration
INTRODUCTION TO
PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
● Benefits Realization: Ensuring that the program delivers the intended benefits and value to the
organization. This involves defining measurable benefits, tracking their achievement, and
making necessary adjustments to maximize value.
● Benefits Mapping: Creating a benefits map that links program outputs to desired outcomes
and benefits. This visual representation helps in understanding how the program contributes to
strategic goals.
Risk Management
● Identification: Identifying potential risks that could impact the program's success. Risks can be
internal or external, such as resource constraints, technological challenges, or regulatory
changes.
● Assessment: Evaluating the likelihood and impact of identified risks. This helps prioritize risks
and determine appropriate response strategies.
● Mitigation: Developing and implementing plans to reduce the likelihood or impact of risks.
Effective risk management ensures that potential issues are addressed proactively.
Quality Management
● Quality Planning: Defining quality standards and criteria for program outputs and processes. Quality planning
ensures that deliverables meet stakeholder expectations and regulatory requirements.
● Quality Assurance and Control: Implementing processes to monitor, measure, and improve quality throughout
the program life cycle. Quality assurance involves proactive measures, while quality control focuses on
identifying and correcting defects.
Integration Management
● Coordination: Ensuring that all program components are aligned and working together
towards common objectives. Integration management involves synchronizing schedules,
resources, and activities across multiple projects.
● Change Management: Managing changes to the program scope, objectives, or plans in a
controlled manner. Effective change management ensures that changes are evaluated,
approved, and implemented without disrupting program progress.
Communication Management
● Metrics and KPIs: Defining key performance indicators (KPIs) and metrics to measure program
success. These indicators provide a basis for evaluating progress and identifying areas for
improvement.
● Monitoring: Continuously tracking performance against established metrics and KPIs. This
involves collecting data, analyzing trends, and generating performance reports.
Knowledge Management
● Documentation: Capturing and documenting key information, lessons learned, best practices,
and knowledge gained throughout the program. Effective documentation ensures that
valuable insights are preserved and accessible.
● Sharing: Facilitating knowledge sharing among program team members and stakeholders.
This promotes continuous learning and improvement across the organization.
LEGAL AND ETHICAL
FOUNDATIONS OF
PROGRAM
ADMINISTRATION
Legal Foundations
• Program administration operates within a framework of legal and ethical guidelines that
ensure programs are managed lawfully, responsibly, and in a manner that promotes public
trust and accountability. Understanding these foundations is crucial for effective and ethical
program management.
Legal Foundations
● Regulatory Compliance: Program administrators must ensure compliance with relevant laws, regulations, and
standards. This includes federal, state, and local laws that govern the specific sector or industry of the program.
● Contracts and Agreements: Legal agreements, such as contracts, Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs), and
service-level agreements, are essential for defining the roles, responsibilities, and expectations of all parties
involved in a program.
● Intellectual Property: Programs often involve the creation, use, or dissemination of intellectual property (IP).
Administrators must navigate IP laws to protect copyrights, patents, trademarks, and trade secrets.
● Labor Laws: Adhering to labor laws and employment regulations ensures fair treatment of employees and
contractors. This includes compliance with wage laws, workplace safety standards, and anti-discrimination laws.
● Privacy and Data Protection: Programs that handle personal data must comply with data protection laws such as
the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act
(HIPAA). This ensures the privacy and security of sensitive information.
● Environmental Regulations: Programs that impact the environment must adhere to environmental laws and
regulations, ensuring sustainable practices and minimizing negative environmental effects.
Ethical Foundations
● Integrity and Honesty: Program administrators must demonstrate integrity and honesty in all dealings. This
includes transparent decision-making, truthful reporting, and avoiding misleading information.
● Accountability: Administrators are accountable to stakeholders, including the public, funders, and partners.
They must be responsible for program outcomes and transparent about progress and challenges.
● Fairness and Equity: Ethical program administration requires treating all stakeholders fairly and equitably. This
involves ensuring equal access to program benefits and avoiding discrimination or favoritism.
● Conflict of Interest: Administrators must identify and manage conflicts of interest to ensure decisions are
made in the program's best interest, not influenced by personal gain.
● Confidentiality: Respecting confidentiality and protecting sensitive information is critical. Administrators must
ensure that confidential information is accessed and disclosed only to authorized individuals.
● Public Service Ethics: In public programs, administrators must uphold the principles of public service ethics,
including serving the public good, using public resources responsibly, and maintaining public trust.
Ethical Decision-Making
● Ethical Frameworks: Applying ethical frameworks, such as utilitarianism (maximizing overall happiness),
deontology (duty-based ethics), and virtue ethics (focusing on character), can guide decision-making
processes.
● Ethical Dilemmas: Administrators often face ethical dilemmas where conflicting values or interests must be
balanced. Structured approaches, like ethical decision-making models, can help navigate these
complexities.
● Whistleblower Protections: Encouraging a culture where employees can report unethical behavior without
fear of retaliation is crucial. Whistleblower protections safeguard those who expose wrongdoing.
Codes of Conduct and Professional Standards
● Organizational Codes: Many organizations have codes of conduct that outline expected behaviors and
ethical standards for employees and administrators. Adhering to these codes promotes a culture of integrity.
● Professional Associations: Membership in professional associations often requires adherence to ethical
standards and codes of ethics specific to the profession, such as those established by the Project
Management Institute (PMI) or the American Society for Public Administration (ASPA).
PUBLIC
ADMINISTRATION
THEORIES AND MODELS
Public administration theory
• Public administration theories and models provide frameworks for understanding how
public organizations operate and how public policies are formulated, implemented, and
evaluated. These theories help practitioners and scholars analyze administrative
processes, improve governance, and enhance public service delivery.
Classical Theories
● Bureaucratic Theory (Max Weber): Weber's theory emphasizes a structured,
hierarchical organization governed by clear rules and procedures. Key features
include a division of labor, a formal chain of command, and merit-based
advancement.
● Scientific Management (Frederick Taylor): Taylor's principles focus on improving
efficiency and productivity through systematic observation, measurement, and
analysis of work processes. He advocated for standardizing tasks and optimizing
worker performance.
● Administrative Management (Henri Fayol): Fayol identified five key functions of
management: planning, organizing, commanding, coordinating, and controlling. He
also outlined 14 principles of management, such as division of work, authority,
discipline, and unity of command.
Human Relations and Behavioral Theory
● Human Relations Theory (Elton Mayo): Arising from the Hawthorne Studies, this
theory emphasizes the importance of social factors, employee morale, and
leadership styles in influencing productivity and job satisfaction.
● Theory X and Theory Y (Douglas McGregor): McGregor proposed two contrasting
views of human motivation and management. Theory X assumes that employees
are inherently lazy and require strict supervision, while Theory Y assumes that
employees are self-motivated and capable of self-direction.
● Motivation-Hygiene Theory (Frederick Herzberg): Herzberg distinguished between
hygiene factors (e.g., salary, working conditions) that can cause dissatisfaction if
absent and motivators (e.g., recognition, achievement) that enhance job
satisfaction and performance.
Systems Theory
Open Systems Theory: This theory views organizations as open systems that
interact with their external environment. It emphasizes the importance of
feedback loops, adaptability, and the interdependence of organizational
components.
New Public Management Theory