INSTRUCTIONS: 150 WORDS EACH RESPONSE
**EACH RESPONSE HAS A DIFFERENT QUESTION**
PLEASE USE TEXTBOOK 2021 ADDITION: Rainey, H. G., Fernandez, S., Malatesta, D. (2021). Understanding and Managing Public Organizations (Sixth Ed.). Jossey-Bass. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Hoboken, NJ.
RESPONSE#1
“Discuss some of the challenges to effective public management and the reform of public organizations.”
Rainey, Fernandez, and Malatesta (2021) present numerous challenges to public management and reform in public organizations throughout the first chapter of the text.
As it pertains to effective public management, challenges stem from the variety of “traditions” which a manager should be aware of in order to make informed decisions on how to lead their organization. Organizational theory and the more specific study of organizational behavior come together to form the “generic tradition” (Rainey et al, 2021) which seems to argue that “people working in government, nonprofit, and private businesses face similar challenges and follow generally similar pattern”. This hints that the challenge that the Generic Tradition presents to effective public management stems from the belief that public organizations and private ones should be operated in similar manners rather than differing ones, potentially threatening the effectiveness of public management due to a lack of acknowledgement that the goals of public and private organizations are fundamentally different despite their similarities. This has resulted in competing theories which have tried to answer the question of whether public and private organizations should be operated similarly or differently, with generic traditionalists attempting to push for similar practices and contenders arguing for alternative practices based in economic theory, bureaucratic theory, or political science concepts. Ultimately, this has resulted in competing practices, leaving no golden rule for managers to follow, resulting in the variety of practices which produce equally various results, “literature has burgeoned so much that a comprehensive review is virtually impossible” (Rainey et al, 2021).
Unfortunately, the challenges presented by the lack of uniformity amongst research for effective public management practices has also impacted pushing for reform of public organizations. If no one theory has been accepted as best practice and varying results are identified from scientific studies showing that in some cases private practices of public organizations are good or bad and in some cases public bureaucratic practices were also good or bad, then there is little to back up reform policies to strengthen one practice over another in public organizations.
References
Rainey, H. G., Fernandez, S., Malatesta, D. (2021). Understanding and Managing Public Organizations (Sixth Ed.). Jossey-Bass. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Hoboken, NJ.
RESPONSE#2
“How might the study of organization theory and public management help the public manager who is interested in improving the perception of her agency?”
The study of organization theory and public management provides valuable tools for a public manager aiming to enhance her agency’s public image. Public managers play a crucial role for society. This theoretical knowledge provides managers with historical examples of organizational strategies, helping them develop practical approaches. Organizing involves leadership processes, through which leaders guide the development of strategies for achieving goals and the establishment of structures and processed to support those strategies (Rainey, H., Fernandez, S., & Malatesta, D. (2021). Mastering the basics of management simplifies further learning and the application of knowledge in real-world settings. Public management principles emphasize the importance of efficiency and effectiveness. Streamlining processes and improving procedures can reduce waste and enhance service delivery, contributing to a positive public image.
Leadership significantly influences how an agency is viewed. An effective leadership style can promote a positive image and reinforce the agencies competence and reliability. Furthermore, by examining strategies that have both been successful and unsuccessful would give managers a unique perspective of the effectiveness or lack their off in their organizations. A well-defined structure promotes effective communication and stability, which in turn enhances morale, business practice, and overall perception of the business. Structures are relatively stable, observable assignments and divisions of responsibility, achieved through such means as hierarchy of authority, rules and regulations, and specialization of individuals and subunits (Rainey, H., Fernandez, S., & Malatesta, D. (2021).
Reference:
Rainey, H., Fernandez, S., & Malatesta, D. (2021). Understanding and managing public organizations, 6th edition. Wiley.
