Public Administration Foundations

Foundations of Public Administration

• Public administration involves the practice and study of how government functions
• It includes delivering public services, such as healthcare, tax processing, regulation enforcement, and resource management

Key Concepts in Public Administration

• Public servants are government employees who impartially serve the public, regardless of the ruling party
• Public bureaucracy refers to the structured system for managing and delivering government services

Politics-Administration Dichotomy

• Woodrow Wilson proposed separating politics (policy-making) from administration (policy implementation) to prevent political interference
• Max Weber viewed administration as based on rational-legal authority, where rules and structures dictate decisions, unlike politics driven by personality or tradition

Bureaucracy (Weber's Ideal Type)

• Hierarchy: There is a clear chain of command
• Specialization of Labor: Workers specialize in tasks they are skilled in
• Written Rules: Policies and procedures are documented for consistency
• Impersonal Rules: Decisions should be based on rules, not personal preferences
• Full-Time Employment: Workers have stable, long-term jobs
• Promotion Based on Merit: Advancement depends on performance and qualifications

Scientific Management (Frederick Taylor)

• Frederick Taylor advocated organizing work scientifically for efficiency, involving breaking down tasks, rewarding productivity, and hiring based on ability

Canadian Government Structure

• The Canadian government is divided into three branches: Legislative, Executive, and Judicial
• Legislative makes laws (Parliament)
• Executive implements laws (Prime Minister, Cabinet, and public service)
• Judicial interprets laws (Courts)

Central Agencies

• Privy Council Office (PCO) provides policy advice to the PM
• Treasury Board Secretariat (TBS) monitors departmental spending and performance
• Department of Finance develops economic and fiscal policies

Line Departments (Vertical Constituency)

• Line Departments provide services directly to citizens, for example, Heritage Canada, Justice Canada

Core Public Service Values

• Political Neutrality: Public service members should remain impartial regardless of which government is in power
• Accountability: Public service members are responsible for decisions and actions
• Integrity: Public service members should display honest and ethical behavior
• Respect for Democracy and People: Public service members should recognize the authority of elected officials and treat citizens with dignity
• Stewardship & Excellence: Public service members must use resources wisely and strive for high standards

Legislative Milestones

• Civil Service Act (1908) introduced hiring based on merit, not patronage
• In 2003, the Values and Ethics Code formalized public service conduct standards

Public Service Bargain

• Public servants provide honest advice and implement decisions without bias in exchange for job security and authority

POSDCORB (Gulick & Urwick)

• Key managerial responsibilities: Planning, Organizing, Staffing, Directing, Coordinating, Reporting, Budgeting

Henri Fayol's Managerial Principles

• Emphasized discipline, morale ("esprit de corps"), fair rewards, and balancing decision-making authority

Leadership in Public Service: Studied Through Multiple Lenses

• Trait-based: Natural qualities of leaders (confidence, intelligence)
• Behavioral: What leaders do (communicate, motivate)
• Situational: Adjusting style depending on context
• Power-Influence: How leaders gain and maintain authority
• Transformational: Inspiring change and fostering a strong organizational culture
• Key leadership skills: strategic vision, integrity, teamwork, innovation

New Public Management (NPM)

• Introduced business-like principles into public service
• Included efficiency, measurable results, decentralization, and flexibility
• Encouraged competition and focus on customer satisfaction

Alternative Service Delivery (ASD)

• ASD is a way of diversifying how public services are delivered
• Special Operating Agencies: Given more autonomy (e.g., Canadian Coast Guard)
• Public-Private Partnerships (P3s): Collaboration with the private sector to deliver services
• Integrated Service Delivery: Multiple services from one place (e.g., Service Ontario)

Public Value Management (PVM)

• PVM emphasizes creating meaningful outcomes and public engagement
• It entails focus on societal impact, not just internal efficiency
• It also encourages collaboration between citizens, politicians, and public servants

Example of NPM Failure

• Phoenix Pay System: The attempted reform for efficiency caused massive payroll errors, revealing the risks of over-reliance on technology without adequate planning

Governance vs. Government

• Government refers to the official institutions with legal authority
• Governance refers to how decisions are made, often through partnerships and cooperation

Network Governance

• Network Governance involves collaborations among government, non-profits, and private sector actors
• Success relies on inclusiveness and clear rules
• Case Study: Vancouver's homelessness policy was more successful than Toronto's due to better coordination

Common Exam Topics - Multiple Choice

• Recognize key theorists (Weber = bureaucracy, Taylor = scientific management)
• Know major laws and codes like the Civil Service Act 1908 and the Values and Ethics Code 2003
• Understand central departments (e.g., TBS, PCO) vs. line departments (e.g., Heritage Canada)

Common Exam Topics - Short Answer

• TPA vs. NPM: TPA is rule-based and hierarchical, while NPM is customer-focused and performance-oriented
• NGOs and Government: Influence policy via advocacy, partnerships, and networks
• Federal Budget Cycle: Department of Finance sets broad policy, TBS reviews and adjusts spending, and line departments propose and execute budgets
• Public Service Bargain: Emphasizes political neutrality, merit-based hiring, and loyal implementation of policies