During the Graduate Synthesis course, we have examined the challenges that public administrators face when trying to be good public servants. These challenges can shape their chances for successfully carrying out their administrative and “shared” responsibilities. One might say the search for the “good” public administrator begins with an examination of both the challenges public administrators face as well as their skills and talents (good listener, inclusive, reflexive, autonomous, good facilitator, mutually responsive, advancing social equity, etc.) that typically factor into the the work of serving as effective public problem-solvers for society and its members.
A challenge public administrators face is that they themselves may at times become more the problem than the solution. An old political phrase from the 1960s suggests that “if you are not part of the solution, you are the problem.”
Part One: Give two (2) reasons for public administrators themselves becoming “more the problem than the solution” when administering for the common good and facilitating administrative change.
Part Two: After identifying the reasons you believe that public administrators may themselves at times become part of the problem, provide at least two (2) change strategies to help public administrators emerge as problem-solvers rather than problem-creators.
You may apply your theoretical arguments to the practice of public administration by drawing on your professional experiences and utilizing related examples and illustrations (including from health care, if that is your option) to support your response. Specifically, draw on Jun, Bolman and Deal, Denhardt and Denhardt, and other sources as appropriate.
Resources:
1. Denhardt, J. V., & Denhardt, R. B. (2015). The New Public Service: Serving, not steering (4th ed.). New York, NY: Routledge. [ISBN: 9781138891258] https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/csueastbay/detail.action?docID=1987301
2. Jun, J. S. (2006). The social construction of public administration: Interpretive and critical perspectives. Albany, NY: State University of New York Press. [ISBN: 978- 0791467268] https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/csueastbay/detail.action?docID=3407710
