[PDF] Adaptive Administration by David H. Rosenbloom, Ph.D.

This book is about constant change in the field of public administration and policy. Constant change is affecting all of society today. As described here, new approaches are required if the field of public administration is to evolve in effective ways and achieve its potential.

Chapter 1 introduces the challenges facing public administration today, along with new approaches that may strengthen the expertise of those in the field and lead to enhanced public recognition of professional capabilities. As discussed, public agencies are facing constant change that requires effective adaptation. This book brings together the concepts of theory and practice to form an integrated viewpoint of the challenges that exist and potential strategies that may be followed to achieve the potential of the field. The argument is presented that theory and practice must evolve together for an effective response to this situation.

The concept of “administrative-practice (a-p) theory” is introduced to explicitly observe that the relationships between theory and practice in public administration and policy are unique, and that theory and practice are not separate and distinct but are interlinked and codependent. Therefore, practice and theory must constantly evolve together in order to effectively address the changes that must be faced. There is also a recognition that, as a field of practice and theory, public administration is often not viewed by the public as based on the types of “areas of expertise” that are typically associated with professional disciplines. As illustrated, the adaptive administration concepts presented here will naturally enhance the expertise that is associated with the field.