The Spirit of Public Administration - Hardcover

Frederickson, H. George

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0787902950 ISBN 13: 9780787902957

Publisher: Jossey-Bass, 1996

Synopsis

In this field-defining, broad approach to the study and practice of public administration, H. George Frederickson, one of the field's most respected scolars, carefully measures the meets and bounds of public administration and fixes its place in the context of changing politics, values, and ethics. He describes a robust and exciting public administration that includes, but is much more than, effective government management. The Spirit of Public Administration defines an ethic for the field that illustrates:
* What the differences are between public administration and government administration, and how these differences redefine the field
* How to practice ethical and energetic public administration in the context of contemporary politics
* Why fairness and benevolence are as important as efficiency and economy
* What implications are evident in the transition from government to governance
Frederickson strongly defAnds broad grants of discretion to public administrators and then lays out the proper norms and ethic which should inform that discretion. And he firmly argues that the effectiveness of democratic government and modern governance, not just for the majority of but for all citizens, depAnds on the energetic exercise of bureaucratic discretion. The book concludes with seven principles that should guide everyone who works in public settings. Students and scholars will find The Spirit of Public Administration an exhilarating and challenging perspective.

About this title

From the Back Cover

H. George Frederickson, one of the field's most respected scholars, presents his own view of public adminstration in a way that enables both those new to and familiar with his work to understand the major forces affecting this rapidly changing field. In his thoughtful, in-depth search for the soul and spirit of public administration, the author examines the values that guide public administration, the politics that surround it, its roles, purposes, ethical issues, and more. He discusses the most pressing issues facing public management today and explains:
*How to define the public
*How to achieve effective public administration in a democratic political context
*How to balance efficiency, economy, and equity
*How to be an ethical public administrator
*How to be a public administrator who is a representative citizen
Frederickson shows, for example, how our definition of public administration must move beyond mere management values such as efficiency and economy to a broader concept that includes the values of citizenship, fairness, equity, justice, ethics, responsiveness, and patriotism--and thus ennoble the day-to-day practices of public work. He explains why both academic and practicing public administrators should be equally focused on federal, state, and local levels of government--and overcome media preoccupation with the national government. And he tells us how we can manage public organizations and institutions in a way that enhances the prospects for change, responsiveness, and citizen involvement--and serves all citizens fairly and benevolently.
Scholars and students of public administration theory and ethics will find that this book offers a unique, profound analysis of the values that form the foundation of public administration today. The Spirit of Public Administration, however, furthers not just our knowledge of the subject of public administration, but also our understanding of public organizations and work in public settings--and shows how public administration can be a key factor in improving the quality of government for us all.

About the Author

H. GEORGE FREDERICKSON is Edwin O. Stene Distinguished Professor of Public Administration at the University of Kansas and editor-in-chief of the Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory. A Fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration, he received in 1992 the Dwight Waldo Award given by the American Society for Public Administration for distinguished contributions to the professional literature of public administration. In 1999, Frederickson also received from ASPA the John Gaus Distinguished Lecturer Award for a lifetime of exemplary scholarship in public administration.

Edition details

• Publisher: Jossey-Bass
• Publication date: 1996
• ISBN 10: 0787902950
• ISBN 13: 9780787902957
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 288