The citizens of the United States love to hate their own government, and much of the disdain is particularly directed at the bureaucrats. Part of the problem is contained within the idea of bureaucracy itself. Most government agencies operate under a rational system which results in the 'victory of process over outcome.' Rational Gridlock describes how this rationality undermines our ability to solve problems or to gain the confidence of the general public. The author offers suggestions of how we can change the bureaucratic environment into one that appreciates the creative abilities of all its members, without the false premise of operating government like a business. Drawing upon the ideas found in an unexpected source, Chaos Theory, leaders in the public sector are called to a more interactive, sensible set of strategies. No matter how skilled public administrators may be, they cannot expect to be admired by the public until the respect is mutual.

Auteur

By Patrick B. Edgar

Contenu

Chapter 1: Public Disconnectedness
Chapter 2: Overview of the Rational Model
Chapter 3: The Organizational Level: Analyzing Administrative Strategies
Chapter 4: Moving to Outcome-Bases Strategies
Chapter 5: Locus of Control, Procedures, and Human Service Outcomes
Chapter 6: Outcome-Based Models and Public Administration
Chapter 7: The Human Sacrifices to Rationalism: The Decay of Community, Responsibility, and Reason
Chapter 8: Various Attempts at Reform within Rationalism
Chapter 9: An Emerging Paradigm: Chaos Theory
Chapter 10: Applying the New Paradigm