Different paradigms of public administration deal with the questions of 'How' and 'Why', but do not negate the centrality of the discipline. Discuss. (Answer in 350 words)

- Different paradigms of public administration deal with the questions of 'How' and 'Why', but do not negate the centrality of the discipline. Discuss. (Answer in 350 words)
Introduction
Public Administration has evolved through successive paradigms that ask different questions about “how administration should be organised” and “why public institutions should act in particular ways.” Yet these shifts have expanded rather than displaced the discipline’s central concern—effective and legitimate management of public affairs.
Body
Changing Paradigms and the Question of ‘How’:
1. Politics–Administration Dichotomy: Wilson and Goodnow emphasised how administration could be professionalised and insulated from partisan politics.
2. Classical/Principles Approach: Taylor, Fayol and Gulick focused on efficiency through hierarchy, specialisation, coordination and principles such as POSDCORB.
3. Human Relations Approach: Mayo and Follett shifted attention towards informal organisations, motivation, leadership and participation.
4. Behavioural Approach: Herbert Simon challenged universal principles and examined how administrators actually make decisions under bounded rationality.
5. Systems and Ecological Approaches: Scholars such as Riggs viewed administration as interacting with political, social, cultural and economic environments.
Paradigms and the Question of ‘Why’:
1. New Public Administration (NPA) questioned efficiency without social purpose and emphasised social equity, relevance and change.
2. Public Choice and New Public Management (NPM) asked why bureaucratic monopolies should persist, advocating competition, managerial autonomy and performance orientation.
3. New Public Governance (NPG) recognised that governments increasingly operate through networks, partnerships and civil society, making collaboration central.
4. Public Value and Good Governance further ask why administration exists—emphasising democratic legitimacy, accountability, participation, transparency and citizen welfare.
5. Contemporary digital governance changes administrative tools but retains questions of ethics, inclusion and public accountability.
Why Centrality Remains:
Despite paradigm shifts, certain enduring concerns remain:
- implementation of public policy;
- organisation and management of public institutions;
- exercise and control of administrative discretion;
- accountability and responsiveness;
- delivery of public goods and services; and
- balancing efficiency, equity and democratic legitimacy.
Thus, newer paradigms supplement rather than completely replace earlier ones; hierarchy, markets and networks often coexist within modern administration.
Conclusion
Therefore, Public Administration is not weakened by paradigm shifts. Its changing answers to “how” and “why” demonstrate its adaptability, while its core purpose—converting collective political choices into effective, ethical and accountable public action—remains central.