Human Resources Management for Effective Public Administration

Abstract

Managing human resources in public administration is difficult and complex because it is an academic field, a field of scientific management and application, and a field of managerial professionalism, which includes legal and political processes. Effective management of human resources in public administration requires the incorporation of human resources development and continuous and strategic planning for “the right person for the right job.” The contemporary public administration with personnel that possess “employable skills” belittles the government and reduces its capacity. This system has resulted in a human resource management style that is based on feelings. This paper argues that traditional human management is more effective and it determines the success and the strength of the government. The crisis faced by public administration today is the result of the reinventing the government movement–a system whose human resources management is based on “employable skills,” multitasking, and a fast-paced environment. This system diminishes the importance of knowledge, science, and professionalism. It causes a leadership crisis and poor capacity governance. This paper describes the theoretical foundation of human resources management in the government. This paper also discusses a comparative analysis between line-department and matrix approach as an alternative solution to improve the capacity of public employees so that they can perform effectively and maximize their potential.