ECOLOGY OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION

       Ecology is the study of the Eco System. This involves the relationship between the living things and their environment

-        In the study of ecology, we examine how the interaction and relationship between the organisms and their environment

-        We examine how the interaction influences and affects both the organism and the environment in a convergent and divergent manner

-        However, in as much as there are some environmental factors which are not amendable, the organism develops adaptive measures to enhance its own longevity.

-        In the worst case scenario, (that is when adaptation cannot guarantee longevity), there is elopement, migration, mobility (change of location) or exploration of any means possible to stay away from the environment.

-        John Gaus (1947) was the first who initiated Ecology in the study of PA. He was supported by Ernest Haeckel (1979).

-        From the Social Science perspective, Ecology of PA explains the wide range of interactions that exist between the administrative system of a particular society and the environment in the society itself. It reveals that the administrative system of a particular society is not insulated from the larger society where it belongs.

-        Scholars like Robert Dahl (1952), and Frederick (1961) have both advanced and popularized the study of administrative systems and institutions and their relationships with the larger society.

-        The Environment is a key factor to be considered in the study of PA. It helps an administrator have a wider knowledge in terms of application and operation of PA within the peculiarity of environments and societies.

-        The modern period of British history was followed by rapid resurgence of wars of conquest leading to slave trade and colonialism.

-        Africa and Asian countries were most victims of this ordeal.

-        After the Industrial Revolution of the 19^th century (1807), the concept of PA began gaining attention among academics, firstly advocated by WW in 1887.

-        Following the emergence of PA as a state-made structure for enhancing governance and stabilizing the civil society, scholars have come up with way to improve on the productivity of PA and it’s sub-systems.

-        This concern was triggered by the reports of failure and collapse of administrative systems in new and post-colonies.

-        In the United States, this academic efforts (of discovering new ways to improve on the PA) led to the establishment of American Society of PA, CAG etc.

-        This effort propelled scholars to travel round the world to identify new ways to the study and practice of PA and examine why PA doesn’t work so effectively in some climes.

-        As noted earlier, there was a challenge however which was akin to new (emergent) states while trying to integrate the colonial civil service systems into the indigenous system which had since inception operated aa traditional, African system blended with indigenous cultures and values and beliefs.

-        Scholars returning from Africa, Asia and other developing countries reported incredible misfortune because the British Civil Service model did not seem to work as planned.

-        Issues like resistance to change, lack of motivation, absence of skill, bureaucratic autonomy and corruption were significantly noted as reasons why the PA couldn’t work in the developing counters.

-        An American Professor who returned as a visiting Professor (Fred Riggs) of Institute of PA in Philippines delivered a lecture on the Ecology of PA

He identified two major environments that influence the activities of PA

They are External and Internal

External environment

Political

-        Political models, styles of government in Prismatic Societies are not indigenous, they are borrowed from the west

-        He called them wrester-styled combination of ‘cliques’ and ‘sects’ put together to mean ‘clects’

-        Political outfits have and outlook of the ideal model arranged by the west but the traditional behavior of tribalism, favoritism etc still influences the political structure

-        This collaboratively influence the appointments, promotions, etc that take place in PA

Economy

-        Price determinacy; prices of goods and services not determined by the society but the developed countries

-        Economic activities are mimic of structured markets but they cannot behave that way because they are merely borrowed and not an indigenous product

-        Price, supply and demand is controlled by the reciprocal power of the trading partners not by the local investors

-        It described the economy of the Prismatic Societies as Bazar economy.

-        In bazars, prices fluctuates. The right of bargain and negotiation is saddled on the rich who have the money to negotiate. So, the economic activities that take place in Prismatic societies are controlled by the world powers and not by the locales.

Social Environment

-        There is the influence of myth system over rational system

-        Cultures of local people influence the PA and control the social judgements, criminal justice and public policies

-        This, he called poly-normativism which means mix of myth and formalism.

-        Negotiations within the PA is tend to be subjected to traditional methods and substituted as agents of legal and statutory methods.

The Prismatic Detracted Model

-        The leading proponent is Talcott Parsons

-        Drawing a clue, Riggs said the development of PA is like the light raw from the sun light which passes through a prism and produces a ray of detracted light of different colors

Fused Society

-        Societies in the Sunlight is the Fused society

-        Such societies are raw and unrefined.

-        They possess linear and single means of production

-        Agrarian society

-        Low productivity

-        Low human resource

Prismatic Society

-        Society in the Prism is what he called the Prismatic Society

-         It is a society in transition

-        Witnesses transformational changes in PA, trying to fit into the global standard and best practices of PA

-        Undergoing multi-level development across sectors

-        Struggling to identify new ways of PA

-        Runs into errors and witnesses imbalances and imperfections

Detracted Society

-        Societies located after the Prism with various rays and colors of light

-        Developed ideas and methods of Administration

-        Industries

-        Higher level management and productivity

-        ICT-driven

Internal Environment

Personnel structure and policies

Organizational/ work environment