Public Administration Theory Research Articles

R. B. Denhardt's Critical Theory Approach and Its Reflection on Public Administration: Critical Public Administration Theory

Frankfurt Okulu tarafından 1920’lerden itibaren başlatılan çalışmalar sonucunda eleştirel teori ortaya çıkmıştır. Eleştirel teori; tahakküm ilişkileri, modernite, rasyonalite ve pozitivizm başta olmak üzere birçok yerleşik kavrama karşı çıkmaktadır. Eleştirel teori, sosyal bilimlerin birçok alanına etki etmiştir. Bu alanlardan birisi kamu yönetimidir. Bu çalışmada, 1970’li ve 1980’li yıllarda Robert Bob Denhardt tarafından yapılan çalışmalarda eleştirel teorinin kamu yönetimine uyarlanması ve bu doğrultuda ortaya atılan eleştirel kamu yönetimi teorisi ele alınmaktadır. Çalışmada eleştirel kamu yönetimi teorisini ortaya koymak, temel analizlerini sunmak ve alana katkısını tartışmak amaçlanmıştır. Yapılan incelemeler sonunda, R. Denhardt’ın eleştirel teoriyi erken dönem çalışmalarında kamu yönetimine uyarlamaya çalıştığı fakat sonrasında yaptığı çalışmalarda eleştirel teoriden çok fazla yararlanmadığı tespit edilmiştir. Sonuç olarak, eleştirel kamu yönetimi teorisi kamu yönetimiyle ilgili önemli sorun alanlarına değinmekte, farklı bakış açıları sunarak alanın zenginleşmesine katkı sağlamaktadır.

Building global public administration knowledge: Leveraging the power of collaboration

AbstractPublic administration has been seeking to develop a global knowledge base, dating back to the early days of the field. Despite expressed interest in building such a knowledge base, scholars continue to criticize overly narrowly public administration knowledge, which tends to favor developed countries and the Global North. This article applies principles from collaboration theory, which was developed for solving complex problems, to set a course for intentionally broadening the geographic scope and perceived validity of public administration theory. Five interconnected variables from collaboration theory are used to assess how members of the public administration epistemic community can build and facilitate collaboration to develop global public administration knowledge. Specific action steps are discussed to increase collaboration and, in turn, the inclusiveness of the global public administration knowledge base.

Who Runs Public Administration? A Longitudinal Study of Technocratic Ministerial Appointments in Post-Communist Romania (1991–2021)

Starting from the traditional public administration dichotomy ‘power versus knowledge’, concerned with the cleavage between politicians and bureaucrats, this paper’s main purpose is to reframe a classic theoretical model, by placing the spotlight on a new, under-conceptualized public sector actor: the technocrat. Second, the paper performs empirical research starting from an own-build comprehensive database that includes all the ministers appointed in the Romanian Government during a 30-year timeframe (October 1991-November 2021). In spite of being a rather young democracy with a communist public sector legacy, research findings indicate that in Romania we can clearly identify patterns similar to other European countries (primarily Italy), consisting of appointing technocrats to the cabinet. Such nominations are discussed in correlation with the advancements of new theories of democracy and public administration, imprinted with Neoliberalism, New Public Management, and Good Governance paradigms.

Advancing the frontiers of genomic public administration: From genetics to administrative attitudes, behaviors, and practices

AbstractBiology's increasing applicability to the social sciences can inspire new approaches to public administration research and practice. Drawing on advances in behavioral genetics, genomic public administration may push its frontiers by examining the genetic foundations of administrative behaviors. While public administration scholars have pioneered the use of the twin design to assess the heritability of public sector employment and public service motivation, they may also use molecular genetics to explore how specific genes interact with environmental factors to shape administrative attitudes, traits, and behaviors. We highlight how relevant studies in management and political science may serve as models for similar explorations in public administration. We also outline four research agendas for genomic public administration. In addition to complementing traditional public administration theory by examining the genetic roots of administrative behaviors and practices, genomic public administration may enrich genetic inquiries by adding public sector applications.

Метаморфоза парадигмы государственного управления и новые требования к квалификационным характеристикам госслужащих

In conditions of rapidly changing external environment, increasing international tension, and more complicated public policy, the theory of public administration must quickly adapt. Traditional models of public administration based on strict hierarchical subordination are extremely ineffective, which necessitates their radical rethinking and redesign. These changes affect the requirements for the qualification profile of civil servants. The key trend is the rejection of team management methods in favor of methods based on participation, involvement, effective motivation. The purpose of the study is to analyze the theory of public administration basic concepts (models); to establish the functions and tasks of civil servants and arrange them; to identify key trends in the society development that affect the qualification profile of civil servants. The research is based on scientific works, statistical data of national and foreign agencies and institutes, empirical data. Scientific methods: literature analysis, comparative analysis, synthesis, generalization, observation; methods, used in the article are of scientific abstraction and abstract thinking. The novelty of the research lies in the conclusion that the paradigm of public administration shifts towards social partnership and decentralization of public administration, increasing the responsibility of civil servants.

The Effects of Leadership on the Organizational Culture: The Case of the National Institute of Social Security

Research objective: Leadership and culture are critical dimensions to understanding organizational dynamics. This article analyses the effect of leadership on organizational culture at the National Institute of Social Security in Brazil. The study also identifies the predominant types of leadership through the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire and the type of organizational culture through the Competing Values Framework.Theoretical framework: Models of leadership and organizational culture widely used in the international literature support the article. The Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire is a model composed of constructs about leadership styles and leadership outcomes. The Competing Values Framework is a model that provides a classification of corporate culture and values.Methodology: This study is based on the survey as a research method. Data collection includes 153 professionals from the National Institute of Social Security. For data processing, descriptive and exploratory analyzes were performed. Structural equation modelling and partial least squares estimation were also used in the research method.Results: The results reveal that leadership influences culture through a positive effect relationship with statistical significance. The results also show the predominance of the transformational leadership style and the clan culture in the case studied.Originality: The article originally contributed by exploring the relationship between forms of leadership and organizational culture in a public organization. The study uses new constructs for the national literature by incorporating the models of the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire and Competing Values Framework.Theoretical and practical contributions: The article contributes to the advancement of theory in Public Administration by showing the influence of forms of leadership on organizational culture. The study also has practical and managerial implications as it indicates how forms of leadership should be developed to create collective identities. Keywords: Leadership, Organizational culture, Structural Equations, Public administration, Non-profit organization.

Discretion and its effects: analyzing the role of street-level bureaucrats’ enforcement styles

ABSTRACTThis research examines the intricacies of street-level bureaucracy, focusing on how bureaucrats’ discretionary powers affect their enforcement strategies during face-to-face interactions with clients. The study constructs an in-depth theoretical framework that blends elements from street-level bureaucracy theory and implementation studies. Structural equation modeling reveals a significant positive correlation between bureaucratic discretion and the perceived meaningfulness to clients, highlighting the roles of facilitation and accommodation enforcement style in determining enforcement approaches. However, the legalistic enforcement approach tends to create adverse impressions among clients and confines the decision-making capabilities of bureaucrats. The findings shed new light on street-level bureaucrats’ complex enforcement styles and behaviors, underscoring the critical interplay between their perceptions and enforcement methods in shaping their approach to policy implementation and public engagement. The study concludes by discussing these findings’ theoretical and practical implications, thereby enriching the conversation surrounding public administration theories and personnel management within public sector institutions.

Razvitie M.I. Piskotinym nauchnyh osnov gosudarstvennogo upravleniya v svyazi s ekonomicheskimi reformami v SSSR 1965 g.

The year 1965 went down in the history of the Soviet Union as the year of economic reforms, which aroused an unprecedented interest in the scientific community in the theory and practice of public administration and its legal regulation. Soviet scientists were given a global task - to determine the scientific ways of developing Soviet public administration in the new economic conditions. A team of scientists from the Institute of State and Law of the USSR Academy of Sciences also joined in the solution of this problem, as a result of which in 1968 the Nauka publishing house published a collective monograph “Scientific foundations of public administration in the USSR”. Doctor of law, professor M.I. Piskotin took an active part in the preparation of this work. His great scientific heritage continues to influence the development of domestic legal science.

Model for Assessing the Efficiency of the Organizational and Technical System of Management of Municipal Finances

Increasing the productivity of financial activity is one of the most relevant, but little studied areas in the modern theory of public administration. This study proposes a new concept that allows solving the problem of accumulation of inefficiency reserves in the form of an excessive number of specialists through the use of the DEA system methodology and the principles of the interdisciplinary science of service science. The basis of the proposed assessment model is based on the relationship between the population of the municipality (hereinafter - MO) and the size of the financial apparatus, identified as a result of the analysis of modern methods. The new evaluation model made it possible to obtain tabular and visual data on both effective management mechanisms and inefficient ones, i.e. having a reserve of inefficiency. For inefficient objects, objects-goals are indicated as a direction in the space of production possibilities of using information technology. The developed evaluation model can be used to evaluate the effectiveness of information systems of various management structures that have an extensive network of institutions and perform the same type of functional tasks.

Intermediary structure of paradiplomacy: examining sister-city links in Japan

ABSTRACTRecently, subnational-level international engagement, referred to as paradiplomacy, has garnered widespread attention globally. Many cities worldwide recognise paradiplomacy as an effective tool for addressing policy issues, such as world peace and climate change, unlike state-level diplomacy, which has struggled to offer solutions. Agreements and memoranda of understanding do not automatically develop while exercising paradiplomacy. In terms of implementation, it intrinsically requires two-dimensional dynamics: inter- and intra-city. Despite extensive research, few studies have argued for intra-city arrangements to implement paradiplomacy based on public administration theories stressing public policy capability. This study focused on sister-city agreements and clarified the significance of international exchange associations as intermediaries for intra-city cooperation arrangements from the perspective of policy implementation and network research. This study used multiple regression with data from a questionnaire survey on small- and middle-sized Japanese municipalities having the sister-city relationships with Australian counterparts. It concluded that an international exchange association was a significant antecedent to sister affiliation development, identifying the significance of budget size. The results of the study have theoretical and practical implications that stress the necessity of intermediary arrangements in policy implementation.

Modern models of public administration in the system of healthcare and pharmacy

The evolution of the system of socio-economic relations determines the changes in public administration models in the direction of ensuring publicity and informatization. To achieve the key goals of healthcare, it is important to have a clear understanding of the management methodology, in particular, the conceptual and categorical apparatus. Currently, the terminology of public management and administration, governance, public administration and regulation, public management needs to be agreed. 
 Aim. To analyze modern models of public management and changes in the modern content of concepts of management theory in the healthcare and pharmacy system. 
 Materials and methods. Analysis and generalization of the legal framework and scientific publications on the theory and practice of public administration in the healthcare system and pharmacy. 
 Results. The theoretical and methodological principles of management in the healthcare system and the conceptual and categorical apparatus were studied. Modern concepts of public management and features of the implementation of the main principles of “Good Governance” in the system of healthcare and pharmacy were studied. The analysis of public management models in the healthcare system was carried out, the main characteristics and principles of implementation were determined. The priority areas of activity of state bodies in the direction of achieving the global goals of sustainable development regarding the universal coverage of the population with healthcare services were determined.
 Conclusions. At the current stage, it is important to search for the most socially effective model of public management in the healthcare system and pharmacy, which aims to timely and fully ensure the maximum coverage of the population with medical services of proper quality, requires a clear understanding of the complex of organizational principles, modern forms and means of influence.

New public governance: evolution and transformations in public administration

The objective of this theoretical article is to analyze the evolution and the most relevant transformations that occurred in Public Administration with the adoption of the New public governance (NPG) model. The theoretical framework is based on administration, institutional and agency theories. It discusses the changes that occurred in public management with the intensification, supported by new technologies, with emphasis on the use of artificial intelligence, with the adoption of digital governance in the public sector. The results of the discussions show that the evolution of governance in the public sector has a direct relationship with the pressures and demands of society for improved management, transparency, accountability, greater participation of society, and the quality of public services. These changes are impacting the functioning of government and public administration, which drives the emergence of new ideas in the field of theories of public administration and governance strategy in the public sector.

The Use of Paradox Theory in Public Administration: A Systematic Literature Review

The Use of Paradox Theory in Public Administration: A Systematic Literature Review

Intellectual legacy of Guy B. Adams: Contributions to public Administration Theory and Praxis

Guy B. Adams is well known in the field of public administration for his contributions to the study of ethics in the public sector from a historical and interpretivist perspective. He is also widely acknowledged for creating a space for theoretical heterodox approaches within the discipline—co-founding the Public Administration Theory Network (PAT-Net), whose journal Dialogue, later renamed as Administrative Theory & Praxis, he edited for six years. The aim of this article is to honor Adams’ legacy. In so doing, we return anew to the complex social and ethical questions of modernity that Adams examined—ideas that are just as relevant today as ever.

Public service motivation research in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region: A systematic review of progress and implications for public administration theory and practice

The research on public service motivation (PSM) has seen a growing internationalization, necessitating efforts to organize and systematize its findings to assess research progress and enhance the value of PSM theory in various contexts, including public administration. This paper aims to review the progress of PSM research in the Middle East North Africa (MENA) region over the past decade. The primary methodology employed is a systematic literature review, where a total of 20 papers published between 2013 and 2020 were located and analyzed. The assessment of these papers includes an examination of their country of origin, publication source, underlying theory, research design, and lines of study. A critical evaluation of the findings is conducted, focusing on their theoretical and practical contributions to PSM scholarship. The key conclusion drawn from this review is that while PSM research in the MENA region is advancing, it reveals certain methodological limitations and underexplored themes that need to be addressed. Consequently, this paper significantly contributes to public administration research and PSM-specific studies by providing the long-awaited organization, systematization, and integration of regional research. The outcomes of this review enable the identification of relevant contextual factors that can enrich the conceptualization and operationalization of PSM on a regional basis. Additionally, this paper offers a comprehensive overview of existing PSM knowledge in the MENA region, thereby guiding future research in this domain. By acknowledging both the methodological strengths and weaknesses, as well as the thematic aspects of the reviewed studies, specific suggestions are put forth to enhance the quality and depth of future PSM research in the MENA region. This paper thus serves as a valuable resource for researchers seeking to further develop the understanding of PSM within the context of the MENA region.

STATE ADMINISTRATION OF THE AGRO-INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX OF THE REPUBLIC OF KAZAKHSTAN: PROBLEMS OF LEGAL REGULATION

The study articulates the problems of state management in the field of agro-industrial complex of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The article provides a conceptualization of the legal foundations of state regulation of the country's agrarian sector. The study contains an analysis of modern scientific theories of public administration in the field of agricultural production: current definitions are given, qualification models of the principles and methods of public administration of the agro-industrial complex are considered. On the basis of policy documents, an analysis of the modern concept of development of the agro-industrial complex of Kazakhstan was carried out, attention was focused on transformational processes in the course of ongoing reforms, the main modern trend is the transformation of state programs into national projects. The national project for the development of the agro-industrial complex of the Republic of Kazakhstan for 2021-2025, as a successor to the state program, is intended to be implemented using project management mechanisms, with the implementation of the project approach in the public administration system. The article concludes that it is expedient to clearly understand the meaning and content of legal terms in the legislation in order to more accurately consolidate the competence of state bodies, decentralize state administration and, as a result, increase the efficiency of state bodies and their responsibility at all levels of government. Due importance is given to the institution of state support as a method of state regulation of a complex nature. Of particular importance in the paradigm of public management research is administrative regulation as a method of influence, directly related to the powers of management structures and the possibility of applying prohibition, authorization and coercion measures. The study concluded that it is necessary to constructively orient the state's agrarian policy towards a qualitative reform of the agro-industrial complex.

Artificial intelligence, task complexity and uncertainty: analyzing the advantages and disadvantages of using algorithms in public service delivery under public administration theories

PurposeThis article revisits some theories and concepts of public administration, including those related to public value, transaction costs and social equity, to analyze the advantages and disadvantages of using artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms in public service delivery. The author seeks to mobilize theory to guide AI-era public management practitioners and researchers.Design/methodology/approachThe author uses an existing task classification model to mobilize and juxtapose public management theories against artificial intelligence potential impacts in public service delivery. Theories of social equity and transaction costs as well as some concepts such as red tape, efficiency and economy are used to argue that the discipline of public administration provides a foundation to ensure algorithms are used in a way that improves service delivery.FindingsAfter presenting literature on the challenges and promises of using AI in public service, the study shows that while the adoption of algorithms in public service has benefits, some serious challenges still exist when looked at under the lenses of theory. Additionally, the author mobilizes the public administration concepts of agenda setting and coproduction and finds that designing AI-enabled public services should be centered on citizens who are not mere customers. As an implication for public management practice, this study shows that bringing citizens to the forefront of designing and implementing AI-delivered services is key to reducing the reproduction of social biases.Research limitations/implicationsAs a fast-growing subject, artificial intelligence research in public management is yet to empirically test some of the theories that the study presented.Practical implicationsThe paper vulgarizes some theories of public administration which practitioners can consider in the design and implementation of AI-enabled public services. Additionally, the study shows practitioners that bringing citizens to the forefront of designing and implementing AI-delivered services is key to reducing the reproduction of social biases.Social implicationsThe paper informs a broad audience who might not be familiar with public administration theories and how those theories can be taken into consideration when adopting AI systems in service delivery.Originality/valueThis research is original, as, to the best of the author’s knowledge, no prior work has combined these concepts in analyzing AI in the public sector.

Parental Leave Policy in European Countries: A Comparative Approach Using Cluster Analysis

Abstract Currently, parental leave policy is one of the key instruments of social policy in the family sphere in many European countries. Despite the common territorial context, parental leave design may vary greatly in different European countries. In this respect, the influence of differentiative parameters of the parental leave system on the social policy results in European countries is still overlooked. Our study aims to compare parental leave policies in European countries using cluster analysis and reveal the differentiation of the results of policies related to parental leave policy in the clusters of countries. We put forward the following research questions: (1) Are groups of European countries shaped according to the characteristics of parental leave policy similar to European geographical regions? Which cluster has the largest proportion of CEE countries? (2) How different are the results of policies associated with parental leave policy in these groups of countries? As an information source, we used the International Review of Leave Policies and Research 2020, which presents data on parental leave policy in 32 European countries. As indicators for cluster analysis, we used the number of maternity, paternity, and parental leave flexibility elements. The research identified three groups of European countries varying in the number of flexibility elements in the structure of each type of leave. We concluded that leave policies in these countries are not conditioned by their geographical location but may result from their social policies. We also observed that a parental leave policy may contribute to reducing gender inequality in the country. The scientific significance of the research lies in revealing similarities and differences between parental leave policies in the context of a wide circle of European countries and in expanding existing knowledge of the public values theory in public administration.

공공가치는 행정(학)의 정체성 위기 해결에 기여할 수 있는가?

This study is to explore the potential of public value theory in solving the identity crisis of public administration which was adopted as an alternative paradigm to new public management. Although the historical necessity of separating administration from politics in consequence helped to form public administration as a distinct field of study, unfortunately the politics-administration dichotomy has perverted the legitimacy and identity of public administration and has narrowed the scope of public administration discourse. Though the preceding similar and related concepts and theories to public value such as the public, publicness, administrative value, public service value, administrative ideologies and so on have played a leading role in identity discourse, they are limited in more fuller explication of public values. Now public value not only can integrate and look at those old concepts and theories in a new perspective, but also can expand the multi-disciplinary approach to public administration theory and practice. Lastly, reflective thoughts on the ligitimacy and status of public administration and future research agendas are suggested.

Social Waste or Outcomes Achievement? Exploring the Impact of Performance Budgeting on Municipal Fiscal Health

Performance budgeting is a contentious area in public administration literature. While performance budgeting systems are widely adopted with promises of better fiscal outcomes, public administration theory implies that this practice may generate social waste. Most empirical research that finds null or negative effects of performance budgeting focuses only on how performance budgeting affects resource allocations and cost savings. This study aims to fill the gap in the literature by conducting a quantitative panel-data analysis to determine whether the inclusion of performance information in municipal budgets contributes to better fiscal outcomes. An ordered logit regression analysis in the context of 125 large U.S. cities over a 12-year span (2008–2019) demonstrates that performance budgeting is positively associated with municipal fiscal health.