Public Administrartion

1. PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
Administer is an English word, which
is originated from the Latin
word ‘ad’ and ‘ministrare’. It means to
serve or to manage.
Administration means management of
affairs, public or private.

2. Further Introduction
Prof. Woodrow Wilson,
the pioneer of the social science of
Public Administration says :
“Public Administration is a detailed
and systematic application of law.”
while Gullick claimed “Public Administration
is that part of the science of administration
which has to do with government and thus,
concerns itself primarily with the executive
branch where the work of the government is
done.”
Both above definitions are done
from traditional viewpoint and related only to the functions and
actions of Administration.

3. Five Phases Of Public Administration

4. First Phase… 1887-1926
In this phase following changes came out
• Separation of Public Administration from political science
• Public Administration is the visible side of Government.
• Prof. Woodrow Wilson has given definition, nature, role and
importance of Public Administration.
• L. D. White has written the first textbook on the subject i.e.
‘Introduction to the study of Public Administration.’
 It may be seen that the dominant feature of the first period was a
passionate belief in politics - administration dichotomy.

5. Second Phase… 1927-1937
In this period subject acquired -
• The Status of separate subject of social science
• Secondly. It was considered, as the science of administration.
• Developed the principles of administration and theories.
These theories and principles were in great demand both in
government and business.
 This period can be called as principles of Administration and established
the discipline of Public Administration as an independent science

6. Third Phase… 1938-1947
This period brought new changes in the nature of Public
Administration
• Some thinkers refuted politics administration dichotomy.
• They challenged the claim of Public Administration as a
science.
• Emphasized the environmental effects on administrative
behavior.
 Hence this period is called as era of challenge to Public
Administration.

7. Fourth Phase…1948-1970
Owing to the challenge posed by the behaviorist, the discipline of Public
Administration passed through the crisis of identity in the forth phase.
• Pfeiffer stated that politics and administration are so intermingled
and confused that a clear distinction is difficult.
• Kingsley saw Administration as a branch of Politics.
• Paul Appleby upheld the fusion view, He said at higher levels administration is
more generalized, takes on a greater political character and has a total
governmental significance. At lower levels, it is less political and more
particularistic.
 In Short, this period witnessed the spectacle of Political - Science not only letting
Public Administration separate itself from it, but also not fostering and
encouraging its growth and development within its own field.

8. Fifth Phase… 1971 onwards
In this period Public Administration registered great progress and enriched
vision.
• Focus on the dynamics of administration.
• It is now considered as inter-disciplinary.
• Talk of New Public Administration
• New trends emerged – in the subject of Public Administration i.e.
Comparative Administration, Development Administration, Market
orientation - State and Market
 Though there is difference in public administration and Development
administration, yet both are supplementary to each other. One’s
sustainability is impossible in the absence of another.

9. Conclusion
On the whole it can be seen that
there was a lot of evolution literally
five large phases in the sector of
Public administration and thanks
to the specialists who worked in
letter and spirit to clarify the true
meaning and develop this field
for times to come.