The Case analyzes the life of public servants and uses a deputy minister to explain the life of an individual in a bureaucracy. The deputy minister has a tight schedule due to many activities that he must perform and roles that he is supposed to play. The deputy minister, referred to as Wilson has a supportive staff that keeps him updated on issues touching on his docket.
The public servant is much disturbed by a policy that he keeps on referring to as slide 14, which is one of the main agendas he wishes to fulfill. Whenever he is in a meeting, he makes sure consultations take place between him and relevant stakeholders as regards to the issue at hand. His administrative assistant called Paul Theriault seems to be interested in what George Wilson tries to pursue.
The government, under a woman Prime Minister, appears to be tough on civil servants something that does not auger down well with Wilson. The fellow leading the municipal delegation referred to as Tanner invites the assistant minister in a crisis meeting to discuss the way forward after employees went on rampage.
The Prime Minister referred to as Roberta Sterling is somebody whose leadership capacity had been tested and proved beyond doubt. Working as a medical doctor, she had assisted many people both at the international and local levels. Her government was committed to economic restructuring, something that worried many bureaucrats such as Wilson George.
Even though Wilson attempts to lobby his colleagues and members of the cabinet to come into terms with his Labrador plan, the majority is scared and believes that bureaucratic steps would involve presidential assent, which would be impossible. The minister referred to as Le Blanc, relies so much on his deputy for solutions and comments. The two public servants enjoy cordial relationship that has seen the ministry progress well.
The major problem in the case is separation of powers. The political arm of government seems to interfere with service delivery. It is reported by one of the civil servants that the new staff in the office of the president was opposed to one of the policy suggested by the deputy minister.
Bureaucracy cannot flourish in cases where politics are given precedence. The civil servants experience problems in making decisions since the Prime Minister, as the head of the bureaucrats, has to consult people outside government. Leaders are not imbued to service delivery because of selfish interests. Politicians are not usually committed to development.
They aspire to further their wishes and interests. Such leaders influence their juniors to divert attention to personal interests making such bureaucrats ineffective. All members of staff in the deputy minister’s office are keen to serve Wilson but not the public.
The secretary informs Wilson that there are many people wishing to talk to him over the phone but the most important phone call was from a colleague who wanted personal assistance. The secretary chooses to link up Wilson with one of his associates despite the fact that other important calls were waiting.
Lack of proper distribution of power interferes with harmonization of ideas among bureaucrats. Rarely do public officials agree over public policies. Having some stakes in programs impedes efficient decision-making. The minister and his deputy fail to agree with other public officials over allocation of resources because of hidden agendas.
The minister misuses his power by stamping authority over his juniors. He exercises coercive power when he orders civil servants from the economic department to listen to the deputy. The minister does not accept diversity, neither is he tolerant to other people’s views. In public administration, it is evident that any action whether good or bad calls for team work.
Nothing can be done privately since the government is holistic implying that members of the civil service are simply parts. The deputy was informed that the issue he was trying to push for was so complex and it demanded support from various individuals.
The minister too appreciates that his concerns are sensitive and as result, other top executive members must support him. The minister promises to lobby the cabinet and convince the Prime Minister to approve the issue.
The deputy minister is a very effective administrator because he utilizes all of his time in solving governmental problems. He wakes up very early in the morning and goes back home late in the evening. He is respectful and dedicates his time in listening people’s problems.
Just in a day, he attends so many meetings and actively participates in them. A good administrator must serve as an example by leading from the front. Other members of staff get motivated through good headship. The deputy minister knows how to keep time. On several occasions, he is the first to reach at venues.
Wilson is appreciative and highly opinionated implying that his suggestions will always go through. He manages to get other members on board to help him in pushing the ministry’s plans. Furthermore, bureaucracy demands that an individual is well trained. The deputy minister is quoted as saying he attended one of the best institutions of higher learning. He can make wise decisions that serve the employer well.
The administrator can command authority, which is one of the features of bureaucracy as observed by Weber. A good administrator should observe the aspect of hierarchical authority implying that the bosses should have powers over juniors and juniors must respect their seniors by obeying commands. At one time, the deputy minister instructed a junior employee to fly in on Sunday since there could be an important meeting.
The way he instructs junior employees indicates that he understands the idea of supervision and subordination. By promising to solve all issues touching on his ministry, Wilson proves his loyalty to the employer and customers. The deputy minister possesses tact that is, a skill that he employs in resolving issues whenever he engages in talks with a variety of people.
Public servants should be wise in order to handle even stubborn individuals. Not all citizens behave accordingly thus a public servant is supposed to be polite and respectful in order to fulfill his/her goals. Finally, Wilson is reachable meaning that any person can easily talk to him. He does not have a bossy behavior that is highly discouraged in public administration.
Every citizen has a right to be served hence public officials must always be responsive. Conclusively, public administration is a very complex task that calls for specialized knowledge and familiarity. Early scholars saw bureaucracy as one of the constant forms of organization that could be applied in routine functions.
Bureaucracy ensures efficiency and effectiveness in managing big organizations such as government. It is only through the civil service that individuals can get help. Other arms of government are not directly involved in management of public affairs.