7 thoughts on “124. New Public Management Theory Unit 2”
1. What is wrong in emphasizing Growth rate.
NPM emphasizes on economic growth. In spite of the economic growth in our country few years back, there were still large number of poor people, farmer suicides still existed, people died of malnutrition and substandard health treatment and many other ill situations were still present. The economic growth of the country has very little effect on the poor people as their needs are not given much importance while making and implementation of policies. In order to increase the growth rate, privatisation and globalisation have emerged. But this has only worsened the position of local traders, farmers and small scale industries as now they have to compete with big international firms.
2. Explain the terms Committed Bureaucracy and Political Neutrality
Political Neutrality:
Persons working in the public services are required to carry out their duties in a politically neutral manner. This requires the public servants to act apolitically and impartially in the implementation of government policies. This means that public servants must keep their jobs out of politics and their politics out of their jobs. It requires the public servants to hold their political opinions together with an equally strong commitment to the professionalism of politically neutral services. Public servants have the same freedom of expression of their political insights but not whilst at work. They have the same rights of political association as the other members of the public do but must be undertaken outside the work time. Public servants have regular direct contacts with the Ministers and at no point they should express any view either for or against the policies of the government. At all time civil servants must provide politically neutral and effective services.
3. Summarize the defects of the Weberian Theroy.
Weberian claim of bureaucracy representing highest extent of rationality did not fit in with real life situation in PA. Rationality is some form of weird expressions which cannot be used to implement the policies and govern the state. Public administration is vast and governed by many factors such as influences and pressures from politicians. What happens in actual administration is policy evolution, adjustment and adaptation to shifting circumstances and environmental demands and pressures. Hence a mere set of blurry expressions cannot be used in public policy decision.
1. The NPM aims at economically driven perspective on the operation of the government. It involves a shift from direct provision of services by government to indirect methods like policy making, facilitating, contracting, providing information and coordinating and others. Though NPM aimed at economic growth and which resulted in the Higher Income, Lower unemployment, Lower Government borrowing, improved public services but still these are benefited by the richer people and not the poorer section of the society, since they were not given importance to there needs. Poverty Level was not completely reduced, in turn it let to the bad impact because of adopted liberalized economic policies. Since NPM is economically driven perspective on the operation of government which leads to increase in the Growth rate and per capita income might increase It should find out which section of the society is benefited.
2. Employees working in bureaucracies have job security because of life time employment. This nurture more loyalty and commitment to the organization. Other benefits to the employee include protection against arbitrary actions of senior management and inducement to master skills that may have limited marketability. These bureaucrats who are loyal and performing duties are to be done in the political interest neutral, this is that politics are not to be considered while performing the duties of the public servants. The work of the public servants should be free from politics.
3. Defects of weberian theory:
Weberain claim of bureaucracy representing highest extent of rationality did not fit in with the real-life situation in public administration. In reality rational behaviour is not a typical feature of the modern organisation life. Organisational rationality as some form of collective expression of reasoned behaviour is rather fuzzy and does not conform to real life practice in the process of governance. Public administration was basically been people-oreinted as distinguished from structural – oriented. The classical public administration has a view that organisational productivity demanded mechanisation and routinization of administrative work. The alternative view rebutting the classical stand point is that instead of sharp delineation of work, division and narrow specialization, the structuring principle must aim at employee job satisfaction, and for this purpose organisational work- layout must provide opportunities for employees to work in multiple roles in much more flexible structures.
1)Growth rate in general means increase in GDP, but this is just a part of growth, there are several other factors which characterizes growth like decrease in inequality, more democratic practices etc thus inclusive growth is what a country should aim for not just increase in growth rate which doesn’t indicate overall human development.
2)Committed bureaucracy is the sign of public servant, he has to work for public cause with clientele in mind i.e citizen centric and responsiveness should be his behavior and transparency and accountability as his instruments to prove his propriety.
Political neutrality is essential in successful implementation of policy. The bureaucrats are generally aligned to some political party for their personal benefits this should be avoided for effective policy implementation and for equality and inclusive growth.
4)ICT will make system more transparent, responsive and accountable. It will educate people about government system making them actively participate in governance. The delay in service delivery will be reduced. People in remote places can access the service more easily making them feel the essence of government system, which will enhance harmony and unity among people. Effective grievance redressal mechanism can be devised making faster disposal of grievances.
1. Growth doesn’t promise prosperity as it was earlier. Earlier the resources were plenty which supported both Growth and Prosperity, but as an obvious consequence resources became limited and accessible to only a few rich people which means emphasizing growth means growth of only few rich people. Moreover even if this growth is supported, the growth will last only till the extinction of these resources, a hint of which can be observed in the present day situation.
What is wrong in emphasizing the growth rate?
======================================
In my view, there is nothing wrong in emphasizing the growth rate as long as there is emphasis also on social and economical equity. Just because the poor are still poor, should we not try achieve higher GDP? If so, should the current GDP figures make the poor (and the nation) feel happier?
Agreed that we are the poorest among G20 and BRICS, if we go by the per capita income levels, which indicate that although there is economic growth, it has not trickled down to all sections of society.
But it is this growth rate which makes India get the kind of importance that is completely on par with the industrialized world.
We should emphasize a high growth rate, but the political elite and bureaucracy should espouse the cause of disadvantaged sections.
In the context on NPM, it does not over emphasize growth rate, it questions for whom and for what of the growth rate suggesting that although a higher GDP is achieved, real growth is seen when bottom segment of the society is benefited.
IT can be harnessed to make administration efficient
==========================================
1. Use of IT can help improve relations between governments and its citizens and thus can clearly assess to what extent the policies implemented are effective, it will also help government and bureaucrats frame policies which are of public interest.
2. Use of IT can help bring in more transparency (by providing citizens access to government information) and greater decentralization along with less hierarchy which will help implement the policies in lesser time.
3. Helps reduce the operational costs, improves service delivery which is more reliable and at lower costs.
4. Use of IT can help transform bureaucratic decisions from being “bounded rational” to true “rational” decisions as administrators will no longer be limited by data scarcity.
5. Use of IT will help create virtual organizations which will include administrators of different background and from different locations which might be required for the functioning of a trans-national welfare organization.
6. Use of IT will help provide wider developmental opportunities especially in the rural and underserved communities.
1. What is wrong in emphasizing Growth rate.
NPM emphasizes on economic growth. In spite of the economic growth in our country few years back, there were still large number of poor people, farmer suicides still existed, people died of malnutrition and substandard health treatment and many other ill situations were still present. The economic growth of the country has very little effect on the poor people as their needs are not given much importance while making and implementation of policies. In order to increase the growth rate, privatisation and globalisation have emerged. But this has only worsened the position of local traders, farmers and small scale industries as now they have to compete with big international firms.
2. Explain the terms Committed Bureaucracy and Political Neutrality
Political Neutrality:
Persons working in the public services are required to carry out their duties in a politically neutral manner. This requires the public servants to act apolitically and impartially in the implementation of government policies. This means that public servants must keep their jobs out of politics and their politics out of their jobs. It requires the public servants to hold their political opinions together with an equally strong commitment to the professionalism of politically neutral services. Public servants have the same freedom of expression of their political insights but not whilst at work. They have the same rights of political association as the other members of the public do but must be undertaken outside the work time. Public servants have regular direct contacts with the Ministers and at no point they should express any view either for or against the policies of the government. At all time civil servants must provide politically neutral and effective services.
3. Summarize the defects of the Weberian Theroy.
Weberian claim of bureaucracy representing highest extent of rationality did not fit in with real life situation in PA. Rationality is some form of weird expressions which cannot be used to implement the policies and govern the state. Public administration is vast and governed by many factors such as influences and pressures from politicians. What happens in actual administration is policy evolution, adjustment and adaptation to shifting circumstances and environmental demands and pressures. Hence a mere set of blurry expressions cannot be used in public policy decision.
1. The NPM aims at economically driven perspective on the operation of the government. It involves a shift from direct provision of services by government to indirect methods like policy making, facilitating, contracting, providing information and coordinating and others. Though NPM aimed at economic growth and which resulted in the Higher Income, Lower unemployment, Lower Government borrowing, improved public services but still these are benefited by the richer people and not the poorer section of the society, since they were not given importance to there needs. Poverty Level was not completely reduced, in turn it let to the bad impact because of adopted liberalized economic policies. Since NPM is economically driven perspective on the operation of government which leads to increase in the Growth rate and per capita income might increase It should find out which section of the society is benefited.
2. Employees working in bureaucracies have job security because of life time employment. This nurture more loyalty and commitment to the organization. Other benefits to the employee include protection against arbitrary actions of senior management and inducement to master skills that may have limited marketability. These bureaucrats who are loyal and performing duties are to be done in the political interest neutral, this is that politics are not to be considered while performing the duties of the public servants. The work of the public servants should be free from politics.
3. Defects of weberian theory:
Weberain claim of bureaucracy representing highest extent of rationality did not fit in with the real-life situation in public administration. In reality rational behaviour is not a typical feature of the modern organisation life. Organisational rationality as some form of collective expression of reasoned behaviour is rather fuzzy and does not conform to real life practice in the process of governance. Public administration was basically been people-oreinted as distinguished from structural – oriented. The classical public administration has a view that organisational productivity demanded mechanisation and routinization of administrative work. The alternative view rebutting the classical stand point is that instead of sharp delineation of work, division and narrow specialization, the structuring principle must aim at employee job satisfaction, and for this purpose organisational work- layout must provide opportunities for employees to work in multiple roles in much more flexible structures.
1)Growth rate in general means increase in GDP, but this is just a part of growth, there are several other factors which characterizes growth like decrease in inequality, more democratic practices etc thus inclusive growth is what a country should aim for not just increase in growth rate which doesn’t indicate overall human development.
2)Committed bureaucracy is the sign of public servant, he has to work for public cause with clientele in mind i.e citizen centric and responsiveness should be his behavior and transparency and accountability as his instruments to prove his propriety.
Political neutrality is essential in successful implementation of policy. The bureaucrats are generally aligned to some political party for their personal benefits this should be avoided for effective policy implementation and for equality and inclusive growth.
4)ICT will make system more transparent, responsive and accountable. It will educate people about government system making them actively participate in governance. The delay in service delivery will be reduced. People in remote places can access the service more easily making them feel the essence of government system, which will enhance harmony and unity among people. Effective grievance redressal mechanism can be devised making faster disposal of grievances.
1. Growth doesn’t promise prosperity as it was earlier. Earlier the resources were plenty which supported both Growth and Prosperity, but as an obvious consequence resources became limited and accessible to only a few rich people which means emphasizing growth means growth of only few rich people. Moreover even if this growth is supported, the growth will last only till the extinction of these resources, a hint of which can be observed in the present day situation.
What is wrong in emphasizing the growth rate?
======================================
In my view, there is nothing wrong in emphasizing the growth rate as long as there is emphasis also on social and economical equity. Just because the poor are still poor, should we not try achieve higher GDP? If so, should the current GDP figures make the poor (and the nation) feel happier?
Agreed that we are the poorest among G20 and BRICS, if we go by the per capita income levels, which indicate that although there is economic growth, it has not trickled down to all sections of society.
But it is this growth rate which makes India get the kind of importance that is completely on par with the industrialized world.
We should emphasize a high growth rate, but the political elite and bureaucracy should espouse the cause of disadvantaged sections.
In the context on NPM, it does not over emphasize growth rate, it questions for whom and for what of the growth rate suggesting that although a higher GDP is achieved, real growth is seen when bottom segment of the society is benefited.
IT can be harnessed to make administration efficient
==========================================
1. Use of IT can help improve relations between governments and its citizens and thus can clearly assess to what extent the policies implemented are effective, it will also help government and bureaucrats frame policies which are of public interest.
2. Use of IT can help bring in more transparency (by providing citizens access to government information) and greater decentralization along with less hierarchy which will help implement the policies in lesser time.
3. Helps reduce the operational costs, improves service delivery which is more reliable and at lower costs.
4. Use of IT can help transform bureaucratic decisions from being “bounded rational” to true “rational” decisions as administrators will no longer be limited by data scarcity.
5. Use of IT will help create virtual organizations which will include administrators of different background and from different locations which might be required for the functioning of a trans-national welfare organization.
6. Use of IT will help provide wider developmental opportunities especially in the rural and underserved communities.