Paper Example on Collaborative Working: A Key to End Bureaucracy in Public Management

a)

An important concept in the case based on the course texts is collaborative working. The idea of collaborative working as an element of ending bureaucracy in public management is highlighted in many instances by Stillman (2009). The book talks about the elite club of professionals who are more or less handpicked by the government to assist in its activities in various government agencies. The idea of the government working in a collaborative effort with different professionals in the economy is the basis of achieving its goals that are specific to the needs of the nation.

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Collaborative working is simply the shared team effort involved in performing different tasks. It is hugely important, and the government recognizes and uses it to its advantage. In the event emergencies and disasters emerge, the government can work hand in hand with other teams to ensure a successful recovery. This means that the number of departments, government agencies, specialized personnel, and other civilian groups involved in the emergency response efforts must work together so as to achieve a long term solution. The idea of the elite class of professionals relates to this as highlighted by Stillman. Based on the case study, President Bush works hand in hand with the Secretary of Defense to ensure a successful invasion of Iraq, and he makes his decision after careful consultation with other stakeholders in the government.

b) Define those concepts using your course texts

The idea of working with the elite class, as explained by Stillman (2009) also highlights the concept of a person-centric view in terms of how the government conducts its work. According to the school of psychology, the government identifies the best people in each of the professions they have in the country based on their intuition and skills. This signifies a very high selection criterion that is hugely based on the abilities of the person hired. One of the advantages of a person-centric perspective in work psychology is identifying the effectiveness of leadership through different parameters (Stillman, 2009). It can also highlight the type of leadership a country has. Transformational leadership, a leadership style that I am familiar with is another concept discussed in the text. This involves leadership which is based on the direct impact on the grassroots. It is different from the dictatorial style of leadership, which involves the use of force, intimidation, and violence to lead. A transformational leader instills hope and a good vision for the people a leader leads. A dictator, on the other hand, instills fear to his subjects.

c) Apply those concepts using examples from the case

The two leadership styles are widely different in terms of roles, responsibilities, and impact. A transformational leader sees tangible and positive results, including profits and customer loyalty in a company setting. A dictator yields results based on fear and hence will only see them for a short time and has no loyal subjects (Stillman, 2009). A transition from peer to leader using the transformational leadership style ensures loyalty and in most cases, sustainable development. Using dictatorial style instills fear and disrespectful among juniors. In the case study, President Bush seeks to restore democracy to Iraq through whatever means and Saddam Hussein is portrayed as a dictator.

The person-centric view of work psychology helps improve the decision making processes in an organization. The government works more or less the same way as the organization. It needs to find a way it can communicate with its people. Stillman states that "...state SES systems contain too many lofty and contradictory goals that cannot all be satisfied." This leads to many high ranking state officials imposing bureaucratic tendencies on the various systems of government that the junior officers have to follow. Stillman (2009) also highlights the fact that in most cases, the junior officers are threatened with losing their jobs. This is part of a dictatorial form of leaders that instills fear to the subjects. This presents itself as a disadvantage to the person-centric view of work psychology since it is the same high ranking elite professionals who are appointed as ministers, ambassadors, and other high ranking government positions of influence. This hugely facilitates a slow state SES system.

The case study also highlights the issue of sustainable development and democracy as a key part of the contentious issues that were debated upon by American politicians in the period before and after the war on Iraq. President Bush had two choices, either go with the neocon point of view which was advocating for the war in Iraq or play a low role in the war. Advocating for the war meant that the removal of Saddam Hussein would automatically coarse Iraq to embrace democratic rule (Stillman, 2009). Senior officials in the Bush administration shared this opinion including Vice President Cheney and the Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld. The critics greatly opposed the invasion of Iraq and removal of Saddam Hussein from power, claiming that he did not impose any threat to U.S national security and did not have sufficient evidence that he had with weapon of mass destruction (WMD). The President held on to the skeptics' point of view, and after the incidences of 9/11, he decided to go with the neocon ideology. To the skeptics, democracy and sustainable development would not be attained by an invasion of Iraq.

d) Analyze why these concepts matter to public administration or public administrators

Collaborative working in government has a distinct way of making the government have a professional look without a shadow of a doubt. It, however, also highlights a subculture of bureaucracy on the government's side. This, in turn, raises the vices of junior government officials and representatives in a bid to adapt to the system and get a piece of the 'pie' at the top. This, to a large extend, shows how important collaboration is important to the administrators. It is seen through public intimidation, corruption by government officials and police and misuse of public funds. The corrupt government officials also seek to consolidate and maintain as much power as they possibly can. This creates a vicious system that clogs the government's ability to work efficiently.

Reference

Stillman, R. (2009). Public administration: Concepts and cases. Nelson Education.