SOUTHWESTERN UNIVERSITYGraduate School of Arts, Management and Pedagogy

Research Work s THEORY & PRACTICE IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION

MPA 504Instructor: ROSELLE JARDIN – RANARIO, DPA

Name: Jean Valerie P. Vargas_ Score:____________

Answer the following questions.

A. Discuss the statement: “The viability of the public administrator depends, to a great extent, on the political stability of the country”.

-Politics and public administration are so intertwined as to make it impossible to speak of one without mentioning the other. The fact is: there can be no public administration without politics and no politics without public administration. Indeed, all aspects of government operation revolved in a political milieu.

Source: Chapter 4-Govt. & Politics in Public Administration Public Administration by Leveriza

B. Despite managerial efficiency and administrative effectiveness, conflicts are still inevitable in organizations. Leveriza concluded that the most frequent cause of conflict is rivalry for power. WHY?

-Most frequent cause of conflict is rivalry for power, because ambitious people in the organization are always seeking more power. Because the greater the power, the more dangerous the abuse. Like money, power takes the best out of us, not brings the best of us. Power takes it away.

C. Organizations change, but usually, change is slow. Yet they do change. Cite important factors that cause change in organizations.

EXTERNAL FACTORS: - culture- politics- technology- economic conditions- competition- state regulations- imports

INTERNAL FACTORS: - employees- structure of organization 

Change in Government: Employees that work for government departments can find existing initiatives get discontinued when a change in government takes place. The subsequent refocus of priorities that takes place as a result of the new governments mandate can create redundancies or a radical change in the way the department conducts its affairs.

D. What is “Organizational Slavery” and when does this happen?

Organizational slavery means that the people should follow all the rules/policy of the organization there’s nothing you they can do but to obey the policies and be loyal.

When a ministry undertakes some new activity or adopts a substantial change in policy, it may be necessary, for a time, to retain complete authority and control at the centre. During this early period experience will be gained and precedents will be created which enable top management to form and define its policy and intentions in more detail. When this point is reached, some changes of decentralization will become possible. At the start, the delegated responsibilities may be limited but they will be increased as further experience and understanding of the subject is acquired throughout the ministry until, except for questions of the highest importance, decentralization of day to day administration is complete.

Source: Chapter 8-The Contradiction of Organization Public Administration by Leveriza

E. Discuss the different functions of Management.

- The management functions may be grouped around the activities of planning, organizing, staffing, directing and controlling. They are performed by the managers through the chain of command of the organization.q

Planning is the most basic of all management functions. It is the process of combining all aspects of the organization. It is a pervasive organizational activity.

Organizing is the processes of creating a structure of relationship among people that will be enable those people to carry out management’s plans and meet their objectives.

Staffing connotes providing the differe3nt position of organization structure with competent and qualified personnel. It includes the recruitment, inventory, appraisal, selection, training and development of manpower in order that they can perform their task effectively.

Directing involves guiding and motivating other people to work for a common purpose. Directing is the interpersonal aspect of management by which people are made to understand and contribute efficiently and effectively to the attainment of the objectives of the organization.

Controlling is the measurement of accomplishments against set standards and the corrective measures to be applied so that deviations from the standard are minimized. Control is a management action to adjust operations of the organization to its predetermined standards.

F. All the function of Management needs planning. Why?

- Because planning is the primary function of management. It involves determination of a course of action to achieve desired results/objectives. Planning is the starting point of management process and all other functions of management are related to and dependent on planning function. Planning is the key to success, stability and prosperity in business. It acts as a tool for solving the problems of a business unit. Planning plays a pivotal role in business management It helps to visualize the future problems and keeps management ready with possible solutions.

Source: Chapter 9-The Management Process Public Administration by Leveriza

I don’t know all the key to success, but one key to failure is to try to please everyone.Being controlled by the opinion of others is a guaranteed way to miss God’s purpose for your life.

Jesus said: “No one can serve two masters at the same time”.Rick Warren – The Purpose Driven Life