Public Policy

Term Paper # 103704

Public Administration

Public Policy

An overview of various issues regarding public policy and administration.

1,279 words () | 3 sources | APA | 2008 United States

Paper Summary:

This document discusses and responds to a series of four questions or statements regarding public policy and administration. These issues are group think, the budgetary stimulus in public administration, and strategic planning and oversight within the public organization. The distinction is made that public organizations are not only structured differently from private enterprise but that they are different by design rather than accident.

Outline:
Abstract
Public Policy Questions
Group Think
Group Think in the War on Terror
Incrementalism & Decision Making
Drucker and the Public Institution

From the Paper:

"Group think is a dangerous rationale to rely on or to allow oneself to fall into within public policy administration. In fact it is a dangerous logical fallacy to fall prey to in any field. Shafritz and Russell mention the group think characteristics of an illusion of invulnerability and collective rationalization in their review of group think examples historically in the United States and more recently related to the Bush administration in the current Iraq War (2005, p.298). These and other characteristics commonly manifest themselves when policy officials become mired in excessive stereotyping and conformity relative to policy decisions and the information that leads up to those decisions. As the case points out, the current administration brooked little dissension in its own closely held ranks prior to and during the buildup up to the Iraq War and this has led to a virtual replay of the events that led up to the Vietnam War from a policy perspective (Shafritz & Russell, 2005, p.298). The results of this group think are just now becoming apparent as the administration and the people aligned with it are beginning to disintegrate in terms of their ability to maintain the facade of unanimity. This is the same type of coercive thinking and mindset which developed during the height of the technology bubble when so many executives within the technology industry knew that such lavish spending was unsustainable and certainly catastrophic when combined with little or no revenues but, when faced with the option of stepping in and curtailing spending, very few executives, such as those at Pets.com chose to do so. There was a collective rationalization that there would be no consequences to their actions and certainly ongoing self-censorship since many executives chose to simply keep quiet."

Sample of Sources Used:

Doherty, T. & Horne, T. (2002). Managing Public Services-- Implementing Changes: A Thoughtful Approach to the Practice of Management. Routledge, New York.
Press briefing by Ari Fleisher. (2003). The White House (online). Retrieved Apr.11, 2007 from: http:// www.whitehouse.gov/ news/releases/2003/02/20030206-13.html
Shafritz, J. & Russell, E. (1999). Introducing Public Policy Administration. Longman Publishing Group, New York.