Public administration has dual usages: as a field of PA is also considered an applied discipline because

practice and as a field of study: “both a it has practical use for government, particularly in
professional and scholarly discipline” (i.e., PA vs pa) improving government performance.
Activity or process of administering public affairs It prepares persons for careers in public service and
and carrying out governmental functions trains them to be good public administrators.
(Waldo,1955)
There is also a view that public administration is
both an art and a science.
Activity or process of administering public affairs As an art, public administration involves creativity,
and carrying out governmental functions leadership, a good sense of judgment or what
(Waldo,1955) Waldo (1955) calls the intangibles in
administration. This view is closely allied to the
Enacting a law, making decisions on the best policy
practice of public administration.
(debt management, formulating the PDP Plan,
maintaining peace and order, issuance of licenses, As a science means that there is a body of
providing health and welfare services) all these knowledge or theories that can explain or predict
activities and processes illustrate the practice of certain phenomena or variables in the field of
public administration. public administration. The theories and concepts
are built based on empirical research and using
systematic methods.
PA means “the systematic study and improvement
These theories can be used not only to explain but
of government capacity and practice in forming
also to improve the art and practice of public
policies, making decisions, implementing them, and
administration (Bautista, 1990).
securing the desired results” (Ocampo,1993).
As the art and practice of public administration are
closely intertwined, so are the science and study of
PA is concerned with discovering and advancing public administration.
theoretical and practical knowledge in the field
Administration and Public
using scientific methods that other social sciences
use (i.e., empirical studies, case methods analysis, Broadly defined as a cooperative human action,
surveys, etc.) administration connotes rationality because the
cooperative action seeks to achieve specific goals.
Definition of Public Administration
Administration has also generic or universal
"Public administration is the art and science of
meaning because it can happen in any
management as applied to affairs of the state."
organization, public or private, and in any political
(Cited in Waldo, 1955)
system and culture.

"Public administration differs from political science

There are certain aspects of administration, too,
in its emphasis on bureaucratic structure and
that are common among them.
behavior and its methodologies." (Cited in
Rossenbloom, 1989)
Recruitment is a technique that is used in both
public and private administration and this process
"The process of public administration consists of
is guided usually by the policy of getting the best
actions involved in effecting the intent or desire of
minds, talents, and skills in the market.
a government. It is thus the continuously active,
'business' part of government, concerned with
carrying out the law, as made by the legislative
As to the modifier public, it refers to a collective,
bodies (or other authoritative agents) and
community, all or general.
interpreted by the courts, through the processes of
organization and management. (Cited in
Rossenbloom, 1989)
Administration is for all; the attainment of
What constitutes the public administration field or objective of cooperative human action is meant to
area of inquiry? what is the subject matter or focus benefit the community and the general population.
to be studied?
The size and scope of government activities
increase, the area of inquiry also expands.
The conventional usage of public administration
(with emphasis on the word “public”) focuses on
the government and its various institutions.

Connote public administration with government

and what it is doing for people and society.

administration takes place in or is carried out by

government and its arms. This perspective is largely
drawn from general political theory in political
science which is the mother discipline of public
administration.

There is also a view that public administration

differs across cultures and political systems, that
what may be regarded as public administration in
one country may not necessarily be true in
“Public administration:
another.
is cooperative group effort in a public setting.
covers all three branches – LEJ and their inter-
The domain of public administrationcan vary from
relationships.
state to state. What may be considered as
functions and activities of government in one has an important role in the formulation of public
country may not be the same as those in another. policy and is, thus, part of the political process.
is more important than, and also different in
significant ways from, private administration.
Culture accounts for the variation in administration
between different societies. “As the constituent as a field of study and practice, has been much
parts of culture vary within a society, or between influenced in recent years by the human-relations
societies, so does administration vary as a system approach
of rational cooperative action in that society, or
between societies.” Waldo (1955) is closely associated with numerous private groups
and individuals in providing services to the
community. ”
Politics-Administration Dichotomy Cited in Caiden, 1971
Referred to as the founding dichotomy of PA “Public administration is policymaking.
Distinction between political and administrative But it is not autonomous, exclusive or isolated
actions policymaking.
Distinction between political and administrative It is policymaking on a field where mighty forces
functionaries contend, forces engendered in and by the society.
Has implications on almost every topic in PA such It is policy-making subject to still other and various
as responsibility, recruitment, policy process, policymakers. Public administration is one of a
professionalism, democracy, bureaucracy number of basic political processes by which this
people achieves and controls governance” (p.
170).
Public and Private Administration
Cited in Fry, 1989
Goal/mission From a very broad perspective, public
Relations to environment administration may be viewed to refer not only to
those activities in carrying out or in implementing
Accountability the policies and programs of the government but
Measure of performance also to the processes and contents of these policies
and programs.
Nature of goods/service provided
From an even broader perspective, public P-A Dichotomy
administration may refer to cooperative human
 Administration should be politics-free and
action whether within the public bureaucracy, the
that “the field of administration is the field
private sector, or in nongovernmental
of business” (Wilson)
organizations aimed at delivering services to the
people.” De Guzman,1993 “supplanted the traditional concern with the
separation of powers among the various branches
Public administration:
of the government.”
is the action part of government, the means by
The dichotomy is artificial and that in practice,
which the purposes and goals of government are
power and partisan politics have influence upon
realized.
the workings of public administration
The field is mainly concerned with the means for
CS Reform Movement and Scientific Management
implementing political values.
 Administration should be politics-free and
best identified with the executive branch of
that “the field of administration is the field
government.
of business” (Wilson)
differs from political science in its emphasis on
“supplanted the traditional concern with the
bureaucratic structure and behavior and its
separation of powers among the various branches
methodologies.
of the government.”
The process of public administration consists of the
The dichotomy is artificial and that in practice,
actions involved in effecting the intent or desire of
power and partisan politics have influence upon
a government.
the workings of public administration
It is thus the continuously active, ‘business’ part of
New Focus and Trends
government, concerned with carrying out the law,
as made by the legislative bodies (or other  Innovation labs
authoritative agents) and interpreted by the courts,  Co-creation/co-production/co-design
through the processes of organization and  Social innovation
management.”  Foresight/Systems/Futures thinking
Paradigmatic Issues
The scope of PA is wide . . .  Locus and focus of PA
 Identity crisis
Publicly organized communal activities subject to
 Epistemological identity
policy and political direction which operate
according to a notion of publicness
Can cover the following:
Governmental structure and modes of service
delivery
Public organizations and institutions
Public-oriented administrative values and social
goals
Policy process and policy analysis
Publicness of PA

Development of PA Study