Changing the Perspective: A First Note Towards a Field Theory of Administration

Abstract

Three concepts central to a philosophy of administration, viz., power, authority and leadership are examined in the light of theory propounded by Professor Donald Rogers. This theory is in the history of ideas and traces over the long term, for Western culture, the successive emergence of hierarchial, atomic‐mechanical and organic patterns. The last is closely related to the field theory approach in physics. It is argued that a conventional set persists in contemporary administrative thought which lags the emergence of field‐type constructs. An alternative mode of conceiving organizational structure is postulated taking educational administration as an illustration. The implications for the major concepts of power, authority and leadership are examined as well as those for administrative status. Conclusions reached tend to support the pattern of preparation for administration developed by the British Civil Service. Persistence of atomic‐mechanical thinking would tend to aggravate Thompson's organizational theory which points to conflict between professional experts and line administrators.