Organization Theories and Public Administration - by Charles Davis (Hardcover)

About the Book

This new work offers a substantive political theory approach to organizational theory. It differs significantly from most organizational perspectives in that it applies political theory to four prevalent organizational models found in administration today. Most such models fall within the province of government or corporate management and fail to deal with the democratic and public dimensions of organization. In this study, Davis examines various organizational theories' prospects to generate authentic public organization. He also suggests alternative considerations by which to facilitate more genuine public organization. An important contribution to the literature in organizational theory and public administration, this work will be of interest to scholars and students in these and related fields.

Book Synopsis

This new work offers a substantive political theory approach to organizational theory. It differs significantly from most organizational perspectives in that it applies political theory to four prevalent organizational models found in administration today. Most such models fall within the province of government or corporate management and fail to deal with the democratic and public dimensions of organization. In this study, Davis examines various organizational theories' prospects to generate authentic public organization. He also suggests alternative considerations by which to facilitate more genuine public organization. An important contribution to the literature in organizational theory and public administration, this work will be of interest to scholars and students in these and related fields.

Review Quotes

"This book addresses a classic issue in American public administration--the reconciliation of modern bureaucratic government with traditional notions of the nature of democratic citizenship. And the book addresses this issue in something of a new way--by applying the analytic approach of critical theory to theories of organization....The writing strikes me as very clear, very even, and quite balanced."-David Lowery, Burton Craige Professor of Political Science The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

About the Author

CHARLES R. DAVIS is Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Southern Mississippi. He holds the B.A. degree from the University of Louisville and the M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Kentucky.