The definition of public administration assumes several dimensions. The most common relates to the study of public entities and the relationship that exists among such entities and the world at a larger extent. It is, therefore, easier to explain the concepts related to public administration than attempt to offer a conclusive definition.
The manner in which organizations in the public sector are managed and organized, especially in reference to the guidance offered by public policy structures, which in turn influence government operations is the backbone of public administration.
It is worth noting that such government operations determine the extent of success of the plans put in place to meet the needs of the public.
Public administration also determines the extent in which states, towns and counties work in conjunction with the central and federal government in an effort to meet the needs of the public. Public administration as an educational discipline involves the training personnel who in turn offer crucial services to the general populace.
Street-level bureaucracy refer to activities carried out by public service entities whose constituents are street-level bureaucrats, such persons have distinct characteristics such as assuming front line position in carrying out activities.
This term also incorporates public servants who experience challenges in the real world, especially in the delivery of service. This is attributed to the existence of limited resources necessary for countering such challenges. Examples of street-level bureaucrats include Doctors, lawyers, clerks, teachers and healthcare workers.
Street-level bureaucrats make policies through conformation to set out guidelines and procedures such as taking responsibility on the direction to be taken in executing existing policies. In the process new policies are formulated to cover up for the existent gaps.
Street-level bureaucrats also make policies through screening recipients of public service thus changing the criteria for selecting persons thus eventually deciding who can be a client or not.
Street-level bureaucrats also decide the areas in the society where resources will be directed, especially in regard to the level of need, this eventually brings forth the need for policymaking. The above-mentioned activities can be achieved through maintaining discretion, interpretive ability and high degree of authority.
Rational comprehensive approach to decision making involves careful analysis of all the possible solutions or methodologies required to achieve a definite end result. It is necessary to appreciate the usefulness of clarifying values as it helps in identifying the most effective and efficient manner in achieving the stipulated end results.
This type of decision making is founded on the assumption that an individual possesses all the relevant information required to make informed choices.
Incremental decision making differs from rational comprehensive approach to decision making in that it is a progressive form of decision making that develops slowly from the initial steps with the aim of building consensus and incorporating all possible and suitable options critical to achieving end results.
It takes a considerably long period of time and involves people with the sole objective of producing results through concerted efforts. In short rational comprehensive model involves acquisition of information, a factor that brings clarity in thoughts actions, goals and selection criteria.
This process creates several options critical for decision making to take root. These issues are absent in incremental model which is seen as muddling through thus absence of vision.
Charity is an activity that aims at relieving the suffering that is experienced by people with the sole purpose of making such persons comfortable on a temporary basis. Philanthropy, on the other hand, aims at solving the root cause of such problems with the aim of creating irreversible change among individuals.
The foundation of philanthropy is innovation and empowering persons to take charge of their destiny with the sole purpose of meeting the deficiency in needs of the general population, resources given out as a result of philanthropy is directed towards social investment.
Resources given out as a result of charity can be best illustrated when a well off person or company dips into his pocket and provides money to mitigate an impending distortion of how life ought to be.
An illustration is the corporate social responsibilities taken up by AIG insurance that aim at empowering people especially young entrepreneurs in developing countries, this can be termed as philanthropy.
The same company gave out a considerable amount of money to victims of disasters, especially in Asia in a bid to reduce their suffering, this point to charity.
Picket fence federalism is a term used to refer to the application of policies and guidelines at all levels of government with the aim of achieving specific goals and objectives. It is necessary to point out that such policies in a number instance refer to education, health, infrastructure, urban development and eradication of unemployment.
An example of application of picket fence federalism is in Fresno County, especially in the enactment of preschool education strategies for the purpose of enrolling a majority of the children in the county into schools.
This procedure is made possible by policies and rules put forth at both higher and lower levels of government. This is then replicated in the whole of central valley and California at large.