What are the importance of comparative public administration?
What are the importance of comparative public administration?


Our journey through public administration- a worldwide phenomenon that gave birth to comparative administration- is far from over. There is always something to compare about the administrative systems of countries, hence comparative public administration. Comparative public administration has important elements which help it. Societies are organized in such a way that it is impossible to exist in isolation. This is why I’m teaching you the importance of comparative public administration?

Every society needs allies and as such, it is inevitable to compare during trade and any form of exchange that can happen.
In the previous article, we defined comparative public administration as a branch of public administration that helps you understand the administrative structures of different countries and how they function in their settings.

It evokes comparative discussions on the administrations of different countries in a particular environment. For instance, one scholar may choose to compare the administrative systems of a few countries in Southern Africa.
For the purposes of this article, we are going to interact with the various types of comparative administration. Three types of comparative public administration studies exist in the form of micro surveys, mid-range surveys, and macro surveys.

Types of Comparative Public Administration

  1. Micro Survey
    Microstudy compares a single organization to the corresponding organization in other settings. Basically, the microstudy can refer to a small part of the analysis of the management system. Recruitment or training systems in more than one government organization. In reality, micro-studies are more realistic, and many such studies have been carried out by public administration scholars. In modern comparative administration, all three types of research coexist.
  2. Midrange Survey
    Midrange Survey deals with certain important parts of a management system that is large enough in size and functionality. For example, let’s say comparison of local governments in different countries is part of a medium-sized survey.
  3. Macro Survey
    Macro Studies focus on comparing the entire administrative system in an ecological way. For example, a macro survey compares the administrative systems of Nigeria and the United States. This includes a detailed analysis of all important aspects and parts of the administrative systems of both countries. Basically, all relationships between a management system and its external environment are examined in macro-level research.
    You will realize that the three types of comparative public administration can be largely attributed as an offshoot of the three processes that contributed to Comparative Public Administration (CPA).
    Let us zoom into these processes and figure out the relationship.
  4. Normative to Empirical
    Before CPA, the government was the standard. Every country has some sort of formula and administration, which needs to be adapted to improve the effectiveness of the administration.
    However, after World War II, the government focused on the empirical reality. Based on this reality, national administration is created. So we focused more on context than the norm.
  5. Idiographic to Nomothetic
    Idiographic means understanding a particular situation and identifying the unique characteristics of a particular administration. For now, instead of looking for the uniqueness of a particular administration, the focus is on generalization. So we can understand reality from a very abstract point of view.
  6. Non-Ecology to Ecology
    Rather than focus solely on administration, it must be understood in a social, political, and cultural context. It is very difficult to understand the essence of administration until you are familiar with the ecology (social, economic, cultural environment).
    We have gathered that Comparative Public Administration is a branch of public administration. While the latter is focused on the implementation of government tasks, the former focuses on issues that deal with development. As young entrepreneurs how can we tap into comparative public administration for it to benefit and grow our businesses?
    I am interested in engaging public administration structures in neighboring countries. This can equip me with knowledge on how I can implement new ideas in my own business, borrowed from concepts just across the border. There is also an opportunity for business expansion beyond borders, which is presented by comparative public administration.
    Understanding this concept can also help young people lobby for reforms that are pro-development making sure the country is not left behind when it comes to issues of development.
    According to Biswas, “The contribution of the comparative approach to administrative research at present is particularly significant.
    However, when the CAG closed in the 1970s and merged with the International Committee of the American Society for Public Administration, it was doubtful that the practice of comparative public administration would cease. But it turns out that the potential for comparative research is growing in the modern era.
    In the context of globalization, exchanges between states have also increased. That is why different states are deepening the relationship between them. As a result, the possibility of comparative discussions is increasing. The bureaucracy of different political systems, government management systems, relations between government and non-government organizations, etc. can be discussed with great success in today’s age.”
    Comparative Public Administration in Africa should work as a tool to put the continent ahead. Looking at how Africa is the hub of natural resources, the concept should open our eyes to the fact that the world needs us and not the other way around. Comparing the administrative practices of one country with those of another country, past performance, or benchmarks is important for improving governance and developing reform strategies. The management knowledge gained through cross-cultural analysis provides management with a broader perspective and a better understanding of the larger context of governance. In addition, this comparison provides practitioners with important insights into policies and measures that work at the regional, national, and global levels, and policies and measures that do not work.
    Maybe as a recommendation, Young African entrepreneurs need to come together and interact on the aspect of public administration then each one does an exercise on comparative public administration using their regions as case studies. The results we come up with, I can assure you, are phenomenal.
    We have had those Nigerian Toddlers who shook the Techworld with their ICT genius. Clearly, Africa needs to find a way to consolidate her resources and start processing them and adding value instead of the current cycle we all know.

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