B.Tech(Hons.) from IIT KGP. Appeared in personality test of UPSC CSE-2017 and in mains of CSE-2016, 2017 (essay-151;Pub ad-280+) & 2018.

Sreemukh Kardas

Administrative Thought is the second chapter in Paper-1 of Public Administration optional. It is also one of the most important and difficult chapters in the entire syllabus. This chapter, like many chapters in paper-1, has a lot of sophisticated and subtle concepts. Mastering them is key to scoring well in the exam. Will do my best to help you in that regard.

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UPSC CSE - GS

UPSC - Civil Services Examination (IAS) Preparation

English

Administrative Thought

This is a brief overview of the chapter 'Administrative thought', which is part of paper 1 of Public Administration. In this, I go through the lessons, sources and some general  guidelines for preparation.

Overview

In this lesson, the meaning and importance of theory building is discussed.

Growth and development of theories

In this lesson, the growth of administrative theories, different approaches to administrative theory building, hurdles and future prospects for administrative theory are discussed.

Growth and development of theories - 2

In this lesson, various aspects like context, objectives and principles of Taylor's scientific management will be discussed.

Scientific Management - 1

Important concepts like mental revolution, functional foremanship, criticism, impact, contribution and relevance of Taylor are discussed.

Scientific Management - 2

Henri Fayol is a pioneer of scientific management approach to Public Administration. In this lesson, we will discuss some aspects like validity of a universal theory of administration, types of activities and elements of management.

Henri Fayol-1

We will have a look at principles of administration, criticism & significance of Henri Fayol.

Henri Fayol-2

Max Weber is one of the most important thinkers in public administration. In this lesson we shall learn about the theory of authority and legitimacy.

Max Weber-1

In the second part of Max Weber, the features of bureaucracy have been discussed.

Max Weber-2

The third and final part of Max Weber. In this we will be looking at the critique and relevance of Weber.

Max Weber-3

Mary Parker Follett is an extremely important thinker in Public Administration. In this lesson, her views on conflict, it's nature and ways if conflict resolution will be taught.

Mary Parker Follett - Constructive Conflict

Mary Parker Follett's views on power, authority and giving orders.

Mary Parker Follett - Power, Authority & Giving orders

The final part of Mary Parker Follett. We will conclude by discussing her views on leadership. Critique and significance of her views sums up the topic.

Mary Parker Follett - Criticism & Significance

Why is structure so important for an organization? And what are the principles of organization given by Gulick? This lesson deals with the above aspects.

Luther Gulick & Lyndall Urwick - Principles of administration

This lesson deals in detail with certain important principles of organization and POSDCoRB - the various executive functions.

Luther Gulick & Lyndall Urwick - Executive functions

The final part of Gulick and Urwick. Critique and significance of these thinkers is dealt with.

Luther Gulick and Lyndall Urwick - Criticism & Significance

Elton Mayo is a pioneer in the human relations approach to I industrial management. The first enquiry is an important experiment conducted by Mayo, which for the first time emphasised the impact of working conditions and quality of social interactions on the worker.

Elton Mayo - The first enquiry

The discovery of the informal organization and the impact of supervisory styles on human behaviour are some of the important facts unearthed by experiments like the great illumination and the bank wiring experiment.

Elton Mayo - The great illumination and the bank wiring experiment

A summary of the main elements of the human relations approach and a comparison between the HRA and the classical approach is given. The criticism and significance of Mayo's ideas are also discussed.

Elton Mayo- Critique and significance

Chester Barnard is regarded as the spiritual father of the social system of administration. He is known for his pioneering view of the organization as a social system based on human cooperation, concept of net-satisfaction and contribution-satisfaction equilibrium.

Chester Barnard - Organization as a Social System

The meaning, role and significance of the formal and informal organization.

Chester Barnard - Formal & Informal Organization

Barnard's radically different view of authority, that is based on acceptance. What are the conditions required for acceptance? What is the zone of indifference?

Chester Barnard - Theory of Authority

The final lesson on Barnard. The functions of the executive as described by Barnard and the significance of his ideas to the theory and practice of Public Administration.

Chester Barnard- Critique and Significance

Herbert Simon, the Nobel-prize winning administrative thinker is known for his descriptive and empirical approach to Public Administration. His views on administrative science and his emphasis on decision making aspect of human behaviour is dealt with.

Herbert Simon - Administrative Science

Stages of Decision-making process and Simon's critique of the classical approach.

Herbert Simon - Nature of Decision-making and fact-value dichotomy

What is rationality? Are optional decisions possible? What are the limitations on human rationality? The concept of bounded rationality and administrative man.

Herbert Simon - Rationality in decision-making

A critique and significance of Simon's ideas.

Herbert Simon - Critique and Significance

McGregor is a pioneer in the behavioural school of thought. He proposed the radical notion that the theoretical assumptions of management may be the cause of low motivation. He analyses the nature, importance and broad types of assumptions that management has.

Douglas McGregor - Theoretical Assumptions of Management

In detailed analysis of Theory X and Theory Y, and also the reasons for the ineffectiveness of Theory X.

Douglas McGregor - Theory X & Theory Y

Theory Y has certain consequences for the management and the employees. McGregor's concept of transactional influence and working through differences are positive contributions. He has been criticised on several grounds but still is considered significant.

Douglas McGregor - Criticism & Significance

Chris Argyris recognizes the basic incongruity that exists between the individual and organizational needs, and this incongruence has a huge impact on human behavior.

Chris Argyris - Formal Organization and it's impact on the individual

The individual and the group adapts to the formal organizational nature in a myriad ways. The response of the management to this adaptation can lead to exacerbation of the problems. Argyris suggests a four-pronged strategy to ensure organizational development.

Chris Argyris - Individual and Group Adaptation

The basic propositions of the maturity-immaturity theory and the importance of interpersonal competence. Also the different forms of organizational structure that are required for the new organization.

Chris Argyris - Maturity-immaturity theory and Interpersonal Competence

Chris Argyris - Matrix Organization & Techniques of Programmed Learning

An extensive analysis of the critique and significance of Argyris's ideas.

Chris Argyris - Criticism & Significance

Rensis Likert has described the two types of supervisory style - employee centered and job centered and their features and relative advantages of the employee centered style.

Rensis Likert - Supervisory Styles

The concept of supportive relations and interaction influence system has tremendous significance for organizations. The linking pin model is a structural idea propounded by Likert to improve linkages and coordination.

Rensis Likert - Supportive Relations & Linking-pin model

The four major management systems of Likert are described and their comparative advantages listed.

Rensis Likert - Management Systems 1-4

The features and comparative advantages of the system 4 are described. Also the criticism and significance of Likert's ideas are also described.

Rensis Likert - System 4

Dwight Waldo, the historian and philosopher-thereotician of Public Administration is well known for his work The Administrative State. The chief ideas presented in this body of work are explained.

Lessons

42 lessons • 8h 12m