Research Method Design – Administrative leadership

Posted: December 10th, 2013

Literature Review and Hypotheses

How did administrative leadership change across the decades (1960’s – 1990’s)?

Introduction

Administrative leadership is often invisible when state officers perform their duties. However, the administrative leadership of state officers has been subjected to checks and balances by other branches of the government. In particular, administrative duties concerning selective devolution, leadership mandates and implementation of policies have been subjected to scrutiny. There is also need to increase pressure on the roles of administrators because they influence most aspects of state policies and programs (Bowling and Deil, 1998). Administrative leadership changes across the decades (1960s-1990s) will help the public to determine aspects that can help in keeping checks and balances in the duties of state offices.

Literature review

According to Bowling and Deil (1998), administrative leadership from 1960s to the 1990s has witnessed an increase of professionals being given the responsibility to perform administrative duties in state departments. Leaders were better educated than in early 1900s. In addition, demographic characteristics have been considered when choosing administrative leaders. In particular, gender balance has been considered and fully implemented. There were fewer women in administrative leadership than men from the early 1900s. From the 1960s to the 1990s, the number of women and the youth in administrative leadership increased. Furthermore, throughout the period, administrative leaders have had increased combinations of horizontal and vertical relationships. The changes in education, professionalism, experience, and leadership styles have led to a micro-level revolution that has shaped the way in which administrators implement policies and programs. Administrators were more responsible to their duties that in the early 1900s.

From the 1960s to the 1990s, administrative leadership has witnessed increased awareness on how state policy issues and functions are performed. In particular, there has been increased awareness on how finances are controlled. Financial borrowing, debt management, fiscal policies and financial crisis have all affected the administrative duties of leaders (Herbert et al, 1992). The public has been vigilant in increasing pressure on administrative leaders so that accountability can be achieved in administrative duties. An increase in budget oversight by the public and administrative leaders has also increased. The number of state agencies also increases from 1960s to 1990s. Courts and other constitutional bodies were created to provide services to the people. The significance of these institutions also received increased attention from the public. Administrative leaders became responsible because members of the public realized the need to pressure leaders in implementing effective policies. The age of administers also reduced. There was increased youth involvement in administration (Chung-Lae & Deil, 2004; Bowling and Deil, 1998).

According to Herbert (1992), there has been an increase in domestic policies in administrative duties. For instance, issues concerning healthcare, racial prejudice, Medicaid and economic development have formed part of administrate duties of state officers. State administrative leadership also increased in terms of strategic planning, gender, and personnel practices. State administrative officers have adopted policies aimed at increasing gender equity in the state departments. In addition, personnel practices were initiated through public involvement in the decision making process. Democracy in the states demands that administrative leaders be accountable to the citizens. Bowling and Deil (1998) assert that throughout the period, there was increased awareness in constitutional mandates and political duties of governors. There was also increased awareness on gubernatorial veto, citizen participation, and referenda procedures in the legislative process. Innovative courts and legal systems also increased from 1960 to the 1990s. Political leaders and their administrative choices were challenged in courts as well.

Hypotheses

1. There was increased professionalism and recruitment of educated leaders
2. Increased public awareness on the roles of administrative leaders[AN1]

If you are going to test these hypotheses, how are you going to make the observations (collecting the evidence)? Are you going to conduct content analysis or existing data analysis? What is your unit of analysis? Are those data data accessible?

Administrative Leadership Definition

From public administration perspective, administrative leadership is directing a team with a sort of responsibility.[AN2]

References[AN3]

Bowling, C.J. & Deil, S. Wright. (1998). “Change and Continuity in State Administration: Administrative Leadership across Four Decades.” JSTOR 58(5) 429-44.

Chung-Lae, C. &Wright, D. S. (2004). The Devolution Revolution in Intergovernmental Relations in the 1990s: Changes in Cooperative and Coercive State-National Relations as Perceived by State Administrators. Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory14(4) 447-468.

Herbert, F. et al. (1992). Challenges to State Governments: Policy and Administrative Leadership in the 1990s. Public Productivity & Management Review16(1) 1.