Principles, Proverbs, Patterns and Principles: A Public Administration History Toward Applying Living Processes

Abstract

"Frameworks have uppermost base classes which, with abstraction, can be non-domain specific. This paper begins by tracing the history of public administration back to a time of early scientific management. Attempts at developing principles were questioned and the discipline has been subsequently lacking. The historic sequence is continued from alleged proverbs, toward patterns, and back toward substantiated principles. Upon inspection, elements of the newer institutional analysis and development (IAD) framework is markedly similar to those originating with POSDCoRB. Comparisons are aligned and the many similarities are noted. While assessing the utility of POSDCoRB, deficiencies may be remedied. Using interdisciplinary terms, proposals of organizational polymorphism (OP), multiple social inheritance (MSI) and socio-encapsulation (SE) may assist. Applying them, the academic-based 'design principles' may become more accessible. In sum, the foundations of public administration are partially reclaimed as prior objections are diffused."