Public Administration in Theory and Practice

This book offers a succinct and clear roadmap to the field of public administration's holy grail: enlightened praxis for public managers. That is, it presents how social-scientific theory can inform occupational practice in the setting of public organizations. It does this by focusing on the theoretical underpinnings of a set of approaches or tools for solving the common problems faced by public administrators in their day-to-day administrative routines. Among others, these problems include ethical challenges, the difficulties of intra and inter-organizational collaboration, making plans and carrying them out, and determining direction and change. - Bruce J. Perlman, University of New Mexico, USA The book seamlessly weaves together the normative and practical approaches to understanding public administration. It is a highly informative book that provides an in-depth understanding of the field for graduate and undergraduate students. - Sucheta Pyakuryal, University of North Florida, USA This edition continues the standard of excellence of prior editions via its analysis of public administration, public management, and public policy and links to modern-day political and economic challenges. A strength of the book is the admirable way in which its chapters easily facilitate classroom learning, debates, critical analysis, and comparative considerations. - Kim Moloney, Murdoch University, Australia