Impact of Public Administration on Society - Essay Example

Public Administration Public administration influences and impacts on every aspect of the society. Public administrations are organizations, associations, social services, nonprofit and agencies that control different sectors of the society and the people who live it. It impacts and controls everything from the way people travel, health, job opportunities, education to how they live and so on. As a result, public administration is charged with the task to create and change policies relating to public programs to respond to the interests and needs of the society and nation. In addition, it encompasses federal, state and local governments with the role of organizing programs, initiatives, policies and day to day running of the agencies effectively for viability of the environment. Woodrow Wilson laid a strong foundation in the study of public administration by providing insight into the history, challenges and adoption of public administration. His legendary work in the field of public administration influenced and triggered other authors such as Frank Goodnow and Leonard White to expand on his ideas. Together the three authors explicitly. The past and current trends show that public administration, politics, and law are highly interlinked, and this can impact negatively or positively on the functions of public administration depending on the level of involvement. This is shown by the analysis of three authors’ works opinions on public administration, which brings out the interrelationship. This essay also analyses the case study: Hurricane Katrina: A man made crisis? in relation to the authors opinions and effective execution of public administration policies. The term administration can be defined in a way that the administration is all about managing the things and work in any office, business or in any company. According to Woodrow Wilson, Administration is the study of the process of executing the public affairs. It means that how the government executes, operates and exercises its duties and tasks. Thus, administration plays an obvious role in the government (Wilson, 1887, p. 198). Thanks to Wilson, students of government found an avenue to the insight of public administration as one f the working parts of the government machine. In the early time, administration was not much needed because at that time, the functions, the jobs, and the roles of the government were much simple. In other words, the situation was stable, and there was flexibility about the public finance and the government finance statistics. This implies that administration had little trouble because life was simple without complex system of public debts and revenues as seen in the current situation. In addition, the government had total authority over the operations of the administration, and compelled people without taking into account their wishes. Population, properties were simple, small and manageable, and unlike today, the people’s interests were not vested on property. Moreover, the countries were not over-populated; so it was easy for the government to manage people and their property (Wilson, 1887, p.199). The government circumstances have been changed and become complicated. Thus, the demand of the public administration and the professional administrators are necessary to handle the current situation. In todays world, everything has grown enormously from population to the method of conducting. Thus, administration is an essential part to be introduced in every method of doing, executing and practicing tasks and jobs. Therefore, the government had to properly administer the tasks and things efficiently and effectively (Wilson, 1887, p.199-200). Public Administration is all about introducing and implementing the government strategies and rules and regulations. It can also be defined in a way that public administration is about managing the public or community programs (Wilson, 1887, p. 201). Political administration developed as a need to execute the law because earlier trends only focused on creation of the law, and who creates it, but not how it is to be executed. Another factor that promoted the development of public administration is economics, which was due to development of multinational banks, corporations, stock market ability to borrow money from other nations. This saw the creations of complex statutes and laws more difficult to manage than the earlier ones, and so was implementation. This made it hard to run a constitution leading to formation of an oversight different from other branches of the government to execute these laws. At the onset of public administration, the concept was not successful adopted in all countries such as America, as it was in others such as France and Germany. Public Administration failed to develop in United States because this science of Administration was introduced in foreign countries likes French and German. It is considered as a foreign science. (Wilson, 1887, p.202). Wilson (1887) states that “It has been developed by French and German professors, and is consequently in all parts adapted to the needs of a compact state, and made to fit highly centralized forms of government; whereas, to answer our purposes, it must be adapted, not to a simple and compact, but to a complex and multiform state, and made to fit highly decentralized forms of government. If we would employ it, we must Americanize it, and that not formally in language merely, but radically, in thought, principle, and aim as well” (p.202). Therefore, to adopt this concept in America would require drastic changes, since unlike the founder countries; America has a much system that would conflict with the bureaucratic aspect. Furthermore, the government in America was more of a common franchise than a monopoly, which hindered the adoption of this new idea because it would require a lot of system changes. The reasons for failure of United States to bring Public Administration in the country were that United States government failed to effectively modernize its policies and standards. This is because the standards and policies did not allow quick hope for any quick sovereign schooling during its reign, and similarly, organizing a democratic organization is much difficult than a monarchy. Such implementation of scientific public administration requires a double effort to persuade and instruct multitudinous public opinion, as the people will have differing opinions that complicates the process. This was because it was the people’s voice that determined the direction of the nation. Such changes that would require a change in policies in a democratic country is hard because it calls for compromise, compounding of differences, suppression of some principles and trimming of plans to meet the needs of the policies. Also the United States of America failed to adopt the administration policies from other countries and then implementing them in its own ways. The government of United States failed to prove itself to be supportive and helpful for the people of United States (Wilson, 1887, p. 202-204). Public administration is a crucial sector of the government and falls under the three branches of the government power/ authority channels of control. Goodnow classifies the authority or power into three categories. The first category is Judicial Authorities, which protect the rights of the public. The second category is the Executive Authorities that manage and supervise the execution of the states’ rules and regulations. The final one is the administrative authorities which manage the on-going activities of the government in each aspect such as social, commercial, scientific and technical, etc (Goodnow, 1900, p.29). Similarly, Leonard White notes that public administration is the management and administration of the human resource and things, to accomplish or attain the goals of the state. Wilson’s and Goodnow’s views on the relationship between politics and administration differ slightly. For instance, Goodnow believes that politics have a given level of control over the operations of administration as witnessed in the development of various states. Further, he notes that though the legal system prevent political control on administration because of the independent position assigned by the constitution, politics still gets to control some operations of administration through involvement of political parties (Goodnow, 1900, p.31). On the other hand, Wilson acknowledges that there is presence of politics in administration, but the purpose of this involvement is to provide greater principles in administration through its maxims of political wisdom (Wilson, 1887, p.210). Nevertheless, Wilson also believes that infusing politics with public administration is a lethal combination. However, with respect to White’s opinion, the government should be managing and maintaining the policies in a way that effectively utilized the human resource and the things in every aspect that is religion, education, social organizations etc. In addition, public administration should be existed and introduced in order to implement law, rules and regulations. A country cannot work or grow if the administration is not properly hosted (White, 1955, p.51). The country would be depriving peace and harmony. Public Administration is extremely beneficial in every aspect of life (White, 1955, p.51-52). This is similar to Wilson’s thoughts, in which suggests that administration consists of individual activities or events and other things (Wilson, 1887, p.210). Public Administration is all about systematic execution of the public law, where, law is all about recommending how the things should be done. Therefore, law is something of much importance than administration (Wilson, 1887, p. 212). Regarding successful administrations, Goodnow notes that political paralysis occurs when the policies and implementation of policies differs. In order to bring the harmony in the government or in the country, the executing authority and expressing authority must be compromising with each other. Otherwise, it could be exceedingly difficult to manage and implement the rules and regulations in the state (Goodnow, 1900, p.31). Similarly, in The Study of Administration, Wilson (1887) agrees with this opinion, he states, “Administrative questions are not political questions; although politics sets the tasks for administration, it should not be suffered to manipulate its offices” (210). Wilson sees that policy cannot be irrelevant from the administration, and it is hard to completely separate politics from administration (Wilson, 1887, p. 211). In contrast, Leonard White (1955) focuses on successful administration as effective use of human and material resources; public administration brings rules and guidelines in any place, where they are being observed. It is the execution of the public business to achieve its goals and targets (p.52). Public administration is tasked with the role to protect the public from unnecessary future or present dangers, which is achieved through analysis and management frameworks. However, this can only be possible where there is strong policies and effective management, absence of these poses deadly consequences such as the case of Hurricane Katrina. Hurricane Katrina was the third largest and strongest hurricane in the history of United States. More than 3200 people were reported to be missing due to this hurricane till January 18, 2006. It affected more than 15 million people in different ways such as health, economy, drinking water etc. It caused more than $75 billion damage in the property of people. More than 1500 people lost their lives cause of Hurricane Katrina. More than 1.5 million people had to be replaced from their places to some other place (Lalwani, 2007, p.10). The devastating effects and damage caused by Hurricane Katrina were most likely worsened by administrative mismanagement. Wilson, Goodnow and White presented groundbreaking ideas that have remained relevant to the current aspects of administration. The authors provide an insightful revelation that can be used to analyze the case study of Hurricane Katrina in regard to pitfalls of badly executed administrative duties and operations. For example, Wilson believes that public administration plays important role for public services and agrees to create new methods to enhance the functions of the organizations (Wilson, 1887, p. 210). Failure to meet these functions effectively results in mismanagement in handling critical issues such as Hurricane Katrina. At the time that he wrote the treaties on public administration there was wide spread patronage, corruption and a big population that had the capacity to impact negatively on the development of bureaucratic institutions. Furthermore, interaction between politics and administration according to Wilson also prevent constructive development of policies and issues concerning public service (Wilson, 1887, p.210). Consequently, lack of constructive development on administrative policies leads to poor public service with grave consequences such as impacts of Hurricane Katrina. The administrative government could have done much to prepare the New Orleans for Hurricane Katrina, the government failed to effectively run and manage the state. There were no proper and strong canals made to protect the city from flooding water. The canals that were made or built up by the government were not of good quality hence resulting in destruction by the Hurricane Katrina. The government did not provide adequate help and aid to the city (Lalwani, 2007, p.12-13). Just like Wilson, White also provides insightful perspectives on the politics, Constitutional law and administration that is relevant to the ever-changing contemporary society. (1955) asserts that in the modern state the role of administration is highly affected by general cultural and political environment (p. 53). This may influence formation of improper policies, as well as the execution of these policies by the administration, thus, limiting provision efficient services in fluffing their roles to the public. Consequently, during crisis such inefficiency can gravitate further the damage instead of limiting the effects of disasters such as Hurricane Katrina, as witnessed by the people of New Orleans. Hence, the conflict between politics and administration is one of the reasons of this disaster caused unnecessary loss of lives and damage to properties among other devastating effects. For example, “Governor Blanco was criticized for not having enough troops ready to ensure relief supplies to the evacuees. The Louisiana Guard had about 11,000 members, of whom 3,000 were stationed in Iraq” (Lalwani, 2007, p.14). So, troops were in Iraq to satisfy the political desires of the nation leaving a shortage at home to rescue people struck by Hurricane Katrina. Likewise, Goodow (1900) agrees that politics affects or have control over administration, and that “the lack of harmony between the law and its execution results in political paralysis” (p.31). This results in lack of action when it is crucially needed, for example, even though it was predicted that the Hurricane Katrina could make landfall in New Orleans, the government failed to properly plan and manage the things in order to avoid any destruction and damage. Goodnow (1900) suggests that the only way for political administration to function well and execute its duties successful is if it lacks political manipulation, and it is regarded as an independent institution. Of course no one can stop the natural disasters but the precautionary measurement can be taken in order to evade or escape such tragedies (Lalwani, 2007, p.15). According to the Post-Disaster Analysis, it was said that the failure of government was due to the lack of attention given to the past experiences. If the government had taken seriously the past disasters and tragedies and had done some effort to prevent the damage and destruction of these natural disasters, then, things would have been different today (Lalwani, 2007, p.15). Administration is crucial for the growth and development of a nation, and can be equated to basic needs such as food, shelter and clothes that humans cannot do without. However, effective functioning of the administration requires proper management and lack of unnecessary control from political forces. Poorly executed public programs and services are dangerous to the well-being of the society as seen in the case of Hurricane Katrina. The seminal works of Woodrow Wilson, Frank Goodnow and Leonard White have showed that managing a country is not an easy task. It is not easy to set the strategies. Everything should be done after properly analyze the situation of the country. Effective administration incorporates the forces of Constitutional law and politics, but to a smaller extent such that they do not affect the management and cause poor services to the public. References Goodnow, F. J. (1900). Politics and Administration. In F. J. Goodnow, A Study in Government (pp. 17-26). New York: Russell & Russell. Lalwani, T. (2007). Hurricane Katrina: A man made crisis? Retrieved from The Electronic Hallway:  HYPERLINK "http://www.hallway.org/" www.hallway.org . Shafritz, J. M., & Hyde, A. C. (2012). Classics of public administration. (7 ed.). Massachusetts: Wadsworth. White, L. D. (1955). Introduction to the Study of Administration. In L. D. White, Early Voices and the First Quarter Century (pp. 45-51). Simon & Schuster Adult Publishing Group. Wilson, W. (1887). The study of administration. Political Science Quarterly, 2:2, pp. 197-222. Read More