Evolution of Government

Introduction

Government in general has evolved from informal collaborative networks to large hierarchical bureaucracies and back to a need for operating through collaborative networks. These collaborative networks primarily involve government agencies partnering with private and non-profit organizations that allow government to operate more effectively and efficiently. Gaus (1947) used ecological definitions and concepts to describe the relationship between human behavior and public administration structures and their influence on public administration institutions and activities. This ecological approach relies on observations pertaining to people, environments, government functions, civic attitudes, and problems, that allow public administrators to respond successfully to the demands and challenges of the external environments other organizations (Gaus, 1947). The more expansive the environment, the more complex the environment is to navigate due to an increased number of variables to consider. The effective administrator possesses the appropriate skillset to manage these complexities and achieve the end result that is best for the public as a whole (Koliba, Meek, & Zia, 2010). Overall, navigating through public administration issues today requires administrators to possess a variety of skills and abilities including the management of bureaucratic and collaborative networks.

Skills Necessary for Managing Public Administration Hierarchies

Government bureaucratic systems provide for the legal authority to operate and function, as well as the organizational power to control of collaboration efforts by controlling the resources, technical skills, and body of knowledge. Managers in bureaucratic systems understand that adherence to ...

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...ion that arises. As a result the application of different skillsets must be ready dependent on the situation, whether it is in a traditional bureaucratic hierarchy or collaborative network to remain effective and achieve results.

References

Gaus, John M. (1947). The Ecology of Public Administration. Tuscaloosa, AL: University of Alabama Press.

Goldsmith, S., & Eggers, W. D. (2004). Governing by Network: The New Shape of the Public Sector. Washington, D.C.: Brookings.

Koliba, C., Meek, J. W., & Zia, A. (2010). Governance Networks in Public Administration and Public Policy. Boca Raton: CRC Press.

Long, N.E. (1949). Power and Administration. Public Administration Review, 9(4): 103-108

Norris-Tirrell, D. & Clay, J. (2006). Collaborative Planning as a Tool for Strengthening Local

Emergency Management. Journal of Public Management and Social Policy. Spring 2006.