User:Danica U. Villanueva/sandbox

PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
Public administration is a field in which leaders serve communities to advance the common good and effect positive change. Public administration professionals are equipped with skills to manage at all levels of government (local, state, and federal) as well as nonprofit organizations. Skills employed across the field of public administration such as project management and program management are often transferrable to the private sector.

== What Does a Public Administrator Do? == Public administrators share an important role in ensuring that laws and regulations, civil rights, municipal budgets and health and safety codes are enforced to protect the community they serve.

Specifically, BLS outlines some of the responsibilities you might have working in a public administrator, or administrative services, role:


 * Research, plan and recommend policies and programs that fall within budgets and follow administrative and government law
 * Coordinate with others to adopt and put into action new policies or programs
 * Manage and evaluate special programs and/or projects
 * Collect and analyze qualitative and quantitative data such as public records, budget reports, surveys and historical data to make adjustments and improvements, as needed
 * Communicate the effectiveness of programs with other employees, constituents and stakeholder groups

== Characteristics of Public Administration ==


 * It is part of executive branch of government.
 * It is related with the activities of the state.
 * It carries out the public policies.
 * It realize the aspirations of the people as formulated
 * Waldo and other thinkers insist on the commitment and dedication to the wellbeing of the people. Otherwise Public Administration behaves in a mechanical, impersonal and inhuman way.
 * Public Administration is politically neutral.

== Types of Public Administration Theory == Three branches exist within the field of public administration theory. Classical public administration theory, New Public Management theory, and Postmodern Public Administration Theory are the three branches. Each strategy is predicated on a unique set of beliefs about how people behave in organizational settings.

=== Classical Public Administration Theory === This theory closely aligns with Woodrow Wilson’s public administration ideals. The Classical Public Administration Theory prioritizes efficiency in organizational work, professionalization, a pragmatic approach to bureaucracy, and merit-based promotions. The classical system includes a strict definition of responsibilities and objectives and control over all involved functions.

=== New Public Administration === New Public Administration is a new theoretical stream of public administration that emerged in the sixties of the twentieth century in response to the prevailing trend of public administration. The movement for a new public administration was initiated by a new generation of researchers, mainly in the United States.

=== Postmodern Public Administration === The internal operations of almost all existing government organizations are referred to as post-modern public administration. Even members of Congress in Washington, D.C. or Department of Public Safety staff members who handle paperwork for applicants seeking a driver's license at any DPS location. Public administration is a broad concept to include all functions in the executive branch that have an impact on the general public.. Members of public administration come in different forms and quantities. When understanding the theory of postmodern public administration, it is important to make a differentiation between postmodern theory and the postmodern era as well as being able to differentiate between post-modernity (period of time) and postmodernism (theory/philosophy).

== Basic Functions of Administration ==


 * Planning
 * Organization
 * Direction
 * Control

== Where Can You Work with a Public Administration Degree? ==

=== Economic Administration === This area of public administration is responsible for ensuring that those in a community experiencing economic hardships are able to receive the help they need from the state or local government. People in economic administration jobs use their understanding of governmental accounting, economics, administrative law, and intergovernmental relations to create policies and programs that assist the public financially.

=== Environmental Quality === Environmental quality is addressed in public administration by bringing public and private sector experts together to address issues related to natural resources, climate change, and land management. These professionals may work for government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and for-profit companies.

Housing Programs, Urban Planning, & Community Development
Housing programs, urban planning, and community development professionals are tasked with balancing the needs of all stakeholders in a community, from residents to business owners to developers. In order to do this, they consider ways to keep housing affordable, encourage diversity within a community, and increase economic activities.

=== Human Resources === People who pursue this area of public administration are well-versed in human resource management in the public sector. Their work may include monitoring and making recommendations about productivity, creating budgets related to human resources activities, and addressing concerns related to conflict resolution and disciplinary procedures.

=== Education === Those who focus on education use their expertise to develop resources and policies that help students—whether they are in primary, secondary, or postsecondary schools. These professionals may conduct research, help craft education policy, or participate in education fundraising activities.

Executive, Legislative, & General Government Support
Those who specialize in executive, legislative, and general government support are responsible for overseeing public programs and services administered by local, state, or federal government agencies. They also may be involved in creating and enforcing policies related to these resources.

Justice, Public Order, & Public Safety
From jails to courthouses to police stations, those involved in justice, public order, and public safety ensure that law and order are upheld. People in this profession may be involved in crime prevention, criminal prosecutions, animal control, safety in public parks, or forensic investigations.

National Security & International Affairs
The national security and international affairs area of public administration focuses on the use of leadership skills to address issues in foreign relations, counterterrorism, security, and peacekeeping. People who focus their careers on this combine expertise on technology, international law, and communication in order to deal with the ethical and legal challenges they face.

Research, Science, & Technology
People who focus their work on the research, science, and technology aspect of public administration help to advance the field by giving professionals new knowledge and tools to help them do their jobs effectively. By conducting public administration research, professionals can help advance science and technology, industry policies, and best practices used by people in the field.

Utilities
The utilities specialization involves managing all of the operations of public utilities in a specific community. People who are part of this public administration area may be responsible for creating budgets for public utilities, ensuring the water supply in a community is safe, and contributing to policy related to how utilities serve the public.

== Skills for Public Administrators ==

Analytical Skills
Analytical skills involve the ability to gather information from large bodies of data and make decisions based on conclusions drawn from the data. In public administration, this can mean scrutinizing budgets and reviewing the outcomes of past programs to improve efficiency and achieve the best results from new or continuing policies.

Communication
Because public administrators often liaise between government agencies and the public, effective communication is an essential part of their role. They should be able to describe needs to funders and policy planners while also ensuring transparent decision-making and policy processes.

Decision-Making
Decision-making in public administration affects people’s lives and should therefore rely on the best available data and reflect a clear understanding of the end goals to be achieved.

While it’s impossible to predict all the potential outcomes of a given decision, public administrators are expected to base their decisions on objective analysis with an understanding of potential consequences.

Leadership
Leadership in public administration entails a demonstrated understanding of the relevant issues. Public administration leaders must be able to weigh the needs of stakeholders and establish consensus about policies to achieve the maximum good.

Since profit isn’t a big motive in public service, leaders should also know how to inspire team members in an effective, ethics-driven way.

Problem-Solving
In public administration, problem-solving means first identifying the real-world problem that needs to be fixed. Public administrators must then review available data to reach a potential policy solution, also incorporating input from the communities directly affected by the problem.

The final step is to choose the best possible proposal given any constraints at hand, whether related to budget, time or personnel.

Time Management
Time management promotes efficiency in public administration. Because policy initiatives are often time-driven, with quantifiable results expected by a given deadline, the ability to determine priorities and set schedules is essential.