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There are three major approaches to public administration: legal, political, and managerial approaches (Friedrich, 1958; Hijal-Moghrabi & Sabharwal, 2018). The managerial approach tries to mimic a business-like structure to the public administration. The take or perspective of the managerial approach on the public administration is that administration is similar and should be run like a big business operation and its nature including philosophies, ethics, and procedures. A bureaucratic or administrative structure is promoted by those who believe in the traditional managerial approach. Bureaucratic is similar to running of operation or activities by government or organization, and there is usually a concern with procedures over common sense or efficiency (Plant, 2018). In an administrative structure, there is a division of labor among employees. The motive or rationale behind supporting division of labor is to get maximum output to input in the business. A critical evaluation from the biblical or Christian worldview, working individually or as a group, is an act of worship to God because God made people in God’s image (Fischer, 2010). As we discovered in A Brief Overview of Worldview Ideas: From the Middle Ages to the Postmodern Era, religion played a significant role in our worldview and public administration approach. Our world view is shaped by epistemology – the study of how we determine our truth; ontology – the study of who we are as human beings; and axiology – the study of how we decide or arrive at values (Fischer, 2004). 

          The traditional managerial approach also discusses the scientific ways of developing knowledge. The managerial approach treated public administration as a science as it allows ideas and data gathered in public administration to be tested. Like the political approach, the managerial approach also fosters administrative effectiveness and promotes economic values and efficiency (Bowman, Berman, and West, 2001). In the political process, the system consists of the state or provincial government and the central government. The states or provinces are still subordinates in certain legal or constitutional respects, although they have been accorded a substantial measure of legal sovereignty or constitutional. This relationship is a form of federalism whereby all members are bound together with covenant/law/legal constitution. The approach is similar to public administration because it promotes economic development, political values of military strength, representation, and union. Based on the legal approach, the constitutional law integrates the entire nation despite administrative authority’s decentralization. The decentralization allows various states to enact different laws.

          There are some areas in the public administration system that are also similar to some biblical worldviews. For instance, a covenant is a form of agreement. The scripture established that God had series of covenants with man, which were honored. In a public administration, the covenant is a form of agreement that helps foster mutual affirmation and accountability. Motivating employees is another emphasis in a public organization to increase job productivity. Motivational theories support this aspect. The covenantal behavior (from biblical view) or agreement (managerial/legal/political stance) can be used to achieve intrinsic motivation. The happiness of employees often leads to high productivity due to job satisfaction (Two Factor theory). In a public administration system under the managerial approach, the leader or manager must emphasize intrinsic motivators such as rewarding employees, empowering, etc. Supporting this argument using a biblical worldview, God motivates us with living for eternity ideology. It was shown in Roman 2:6-8 about God promising to reward us according to our works by giving us eternal life (Fischer, 2010). Therefore it is essential to demonstrate ethical behavior when serving the public and in every aspect of life (Callendar, 1998). 

References

Bowman, J., Berman E., and West, J. (2001). The profession of public administration:  An ethics edge in introductory textbooks. Source: Public Administration Review, Vol. 61, No. 2, pp. 194-205 Published by: Wiley on behalf of the American Society for Public Administration.

Callender, Guy, 1998. Professionalism in International Encyclopedia of Public Policy and Administration. Boulder, CO: Westview.

Fischer, K. (2004). Worldview analysis, humanities, braces for the kids, and the meaning of life: Why thinking from a worldview perspective is important for every area of our lives. ©

Fischer, K. (2010). A biblical-covenantal perspective on organizational behavior & leadership. Faculty Publications and Presentations. 523. 

Friedrich, C. J. (1958). Authority. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.

Hijal-Moghrabi, I. & Sabharwal, M. (2018). Ethics in American public administration: A response to a changing reality. Public Integrity, 20:5, 459-477. 

Plant, J. (2018) Responsibility in public administration ethics. Public Integrity, 20:sup1, S33-S45.