Unit 1

Question 1

define public administration

Answer 1

refers to a field of practice (or occupation) and a field of study (a discipline)
the study and practice of the tasks associated with the conduct of the administrative state
the coordination of individual group efforts to carry out public policy
implementation of policy and role of bureaucrats in the formulation of programs and policies

Question 2

define public bureaucracy

Answer 2

is the system of authority, people, offices and methods – in other words, an organizational form – that government uses to achieve its objectives

Question 3

What is the purpose of reading the current federal budget

Answer 3

firstly, it provides you with an indication of the government’s current spending priorities on programs and services and how much these promises are expected to cost; and secondly, it will give you a picture of how much money the government intends to generate in revenues through various forms of taxation as compared to its overall expenditures on programs, services and interest charges on the public debt.

Question 4

public administration is greatly influenced by

Answer 4

a number of environmental factors, including globalization, technological change and demography, but perhaps none is more important than the financial position of the government.

Question 5

the 2012 budget has what goals (11)

Answer 5

1. create jobs - 900 million
2. support research education and training - 600 mil
3. invest in natural resources responsibly - 180 mil
4. keep taxes low
5. improve conditions for farmers/fishers - 55 mil
6. employment insurance - 450 mil
7. aboriginals - 300 mil
8. infrastructure like via rail and ports - 400 mil
9. supporting community/family - 500 mil
10. social and retirement
11. return to balanced budgets

Question 6

what are two major areas of government activites

Answer 6

provision of services and enforcement of regulations

Question 7

list differences and similarities of public and private administration

Answer 7

1. overall mission of public is to give a service where private is to turn a profit
2. public operates less efficiently than private following the first difference
   - public gets finds they don’t have to try to be as efficient and there isn’t competition
3. public sector cares more about accountability because most of the public has a stake, private sector only has to please shareholders
4. human resource management is more complicated and rigid in public - harder to hire and fire government employees.
5. the fact that public administration is in the public eye, everyone has access and media pays attention

Question 8

what two characteristics of government account for the differences in the public and private administration

Answer 8

1. vast scope and complexity of government activities and 2. the political environment within which these activities are conducted

Question 9

where was the first degree program in public administration

Answer 9

dalhousie university

Question 10

when did the study of public admin flourish

Answer 10

late 1960’s

Question 11

how does globalization affect public administration

Answer 11

governments need to remain competitive in a global market
worldwide values puts national cultures at risk
globalization on global warming efforts

Question 12

how does technological change affect public administration

Answer 12

computing processing information make it easy for citizens to communicate with government
e-government providing services without needing an actual building
it can overwhelm us and we may not have the personnel to deal with it
issues with invasion of privacy

Question 13

how does political culture affect public administration

Answer 13

values attitudes and beliefs we hold about political life are changing people are less confident in the government we also want to have more of a say
we need reform

Question 14

how does financial position affect public administration

Answer 14

debt from spending more on services and policies than revenue generated
many changes had to be made to get back on track like cutting programs and firing public servants

Question 15

how does demography affect public administration

Answer 15

the changing age composition for example as elderly numbers increase so will needs on public healthcare and housing
increased participation of women in the labor force which has implications for childcare and family related services
multicultural communities mean we need to attract different minorities to working within government in order to be representative

Question 16

how does the legacy of past reform affect public administration

Answer 16

early 20th century merit principal
demands in 1960’s for change
new public management
public sector reform left a legacy that means people recognize change can happen in public administration but it is difficult to achieve

Question 17

how many people are employed in the public sector

Answer 17

1/5 people are employed by some public agency or institution

Question 18

how have categories of public jobs changed

Answer 18

more in management technical or professional and a lot less in clerical which results in people needing more schooling

Question 19

list5 major issues and themes of public administration

Answer 19

1. power of bureaucracy
2. the right organizational form
3. crowded world of public administration
4. end of the bargain
5. competitive relations

Question 20

how is the power of bureaucracy an issue in public administration

Answer 20

a lot of elected officials while educated have no training for their duties
and a quick turnover in elected officials
bureaucrats have a ton of education and with expertise and experience may work to allow them to take over elected positions

Question 21

how is the right organizational form an issue in public administration

Answer 21

proposals to help gov meet demands of society include such things as less hierarchy and fewer rules and procedures and motivate public servants

Question 22

what is the issue with the crowded world of public administration

Answer 22

more interactions relations globalization and media connections
went from a small village of connections to a big city

Question 23

how is the end of the bargain an issue for public administration

Answer 23

relation between ministers and public servants bargain where servants offer advice and guidance to ministers for secure employment
it was a foundation for good government in Canada
ministers do not want to protect servants anymore and so they are seeking advice outside the government - public servants are upset

Question 24

how does competitive relations affect public administration

Answer 24

public servants competing with one another to pursue different values and goals instead of cooperating toward the same purpose