Public Administration || Paper I || Organizations

Systems Theory

1.   Principle of Interaction

2.   Principle of Equi-finality (many paths to same goal)

3.   Principle of Dynamic Equilibrium.

4.   Principle of Synergy

Other feature: Cybernetics; Homeo-statics;

Examples: David Easton’s Black Box Model; Simon’s Decision-making model; Chester Barnard’s Contribution-Satisfaction Equilibrium model.

Contingency Theory: Scale down version of the Systems Approach; Localized and specialized approach; E.g. Alwin Toffler’s Adhocracy.

Structure & Forms of Organizations

1.   Line Agency (Central Secretariat) and Staff Agency – General; technical and auxiliary.

2.   Mechanical  or Organic structures

3.   Hierarchal or Matrix Organization

4.   Luther Gulick’s Departmentalization by 4Ps – People, Purpose, Process and Place.

Headquarter and Field Relationships

1.   Unitary relationship

2.   Mixed Relationship

3.   All Fingers

4.   Short Arm Long Fingers

5.   Long Arm short fingers

6.   Issues with such relationships– Psychological stereotype; difference in status; failure of tenure system; Dominance of HQ is personnel management; disparity in budgetary allocations.

Boards Vs Commissions – The former is for collective decisions. The later is for more discretion at sub-levels. Types – Constitutional, Statutory and Non-Statutory.