Points to Remember:
- Integral View of Public Administration: This perspective emphasizes the interconnectedness of public administration with other societal aspects like politics, economics, and sociology. It rejects a purely managerial or mechanistic approach.
- Key Thinkers in Public Administration: Understanding the contributions of different scholars is crucial to answering the question.
Introduction:
The question asks us to identify which of the listed scholars â?? Luther Gulick, Thompson, L. D. White, and H. Simon â?? supported the integral view of public administration’s scope. The “integral view” contrasts with a narrow, purely managerial perspective that focuses solely on efficiency and technical aspects. It argues that public administration is deeply embedded within the broader social, political, and economic context and cannot be understood in isolation. While many scholars have contributed to the evolution of public administration thought, some explicitly championed this holistic perspective more than others.
Body:
Understanding the Integral View: The integral view emphasizes the interconnectedness of public administration with its environment. It recognizes the influence of political pressures, social values, economic conditions, and ethical considerations on administrative actions. It moves beyond a purely mechanistic approach focusing on structure and efficiency, advocating for a more contextual and nuanced understanding of the administrative process.
Analyzing the Contributions of Each Scholar:
Luther Gulick: Gulick, known for his POSDCORB framework (Planning, Organizing, Staffing, Directing, Coordinating, Reporting, Budgeting), is primarily associated with the managerial approach to public administration. While his framework is essential for organizational efficiency, it doesn’t explicitly reflect the integral view’s emphasis on the broader societal context.
James Thompson: Thompson’s work, particularly his contributions to organizational theory, acknowledges the complexities of the organizational environment and its impact on administrative decision-making. His focus on open systems and the interplay between organizations and their environments aligns more closely with the integral view than Gulick’s strictly managerial perspective.
Leonard D. White: White’s work, particularly his influential book “Introduction to the Study of Public Administration,” laid the foundation for the field. While not explicitly advocating for the “integral view” as a labeled concept, his emphasis on the political context and the importance of understanding the broader societal impact of administrative actions aligns with the core tenets of this perspective.
Herbert Simon: Simon, a pioneer in administrative behavior, focused on the decision-making process within organizations. While his work on bounded rationality and administrative man acknowledges limitations and contextual factors, his primary focus remains on the internal workings of organizations rather than the broader societal context emphasized by the integral view.
Conclusion:
While all the scholars mentioned contributed significantly to the field of public administration, James Thompson and Leonard D. White’s work most closely aligns with the integral view. Thompson’s open systems approach explicitly acknowledges the environment’s influence, and White’s emphasis on the political and societal context implicitly supports this perspective. Gulick and Simon, while influential, primarily focused on internal organizational aspects, making their contributions less directly aligned with the integral view. Therefore, the answer leans towards (B) Thompson and (C) L. D. White as the most likely candidates who supported the integral view of public administration’s scope. A holistic understanding of public administration, encompassing both managerial efficiency and societal context, remains crucial for effective governance and achieving sustainable development goals. Future research should continue to explore the interplay between these perspectives to create a more comprehensive and effective approach to public administration.
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