A review of classical thoughts on contemporary public administration in developing countries
| Published date | 01 March 2022 |
| Author | Mary S. Mangai |
| Date | 01 March 2022 |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1111/padm.12792 |
BOOK REVIEW
A review of classical thoughts on contemporary
public administration in developing countries
The principles of good governance, best practices, and new public management have found deep roots in public
administration in developed countries. However, such market-driven models, reforms, and principles still want
in practice in most developing countries. This book review examined F. W. Taylor's classical thoughts on
employee productivity, management efficiency in handling human systems, and the required recognition of
employees' capacity, motivation, and other intrinsic and extrinsic factors determining their highest possible
performance. The review compared Taylor's work to F. W.Riggs'effortstoidentifyproblems of administrative
development in developing countries. The review—in this 100th-anniversary issue of Public Administration—
reflected on the relevance of the two scholarly works in developing countries' contemporary public administra-
tion. Both books have proven their timelessness when the reader considers developing countries' employee
demands for high productivity and, more often, the quest for administrative development and a better opera-
tional environment. The review is valuable in providing the basic necessary action for developing countries'
individuals and organizations to exit an undesirable developmental state.
Despite the many decades since the publication of F. W. Taylor (1911) and F. W. Riggs' (1964) books, the review
of these two books for this 100th-anniversary issue of Public Administration is an appropriate choice for understand-
ing contemporary public administration in developing countries. The interesting juxtaposition between the two
books is Riggs's emphasis on administrative development and Taylor's stressing the need to increase the effective-
ness of an administrative system to achieve its stipulated objectives. The works of Taylor and Riggs are exquisite and
scholarly expositional in terms of enduring philosophical ideals, beliefs, and doctrines that have shaped a great num-
ber of evolving thoughts in the study of man in a work situation vis-a-vis their productivity, efficiency, and adminis-
trative development.
All societies, regardless of their development status in terms of inspiring productivity and efficiency—but particu-
larly those in developing countries—must pay attention to the strong philosophical ideals and foundational tenets
spearheaded by F.W. Taylor (1911) in The Principles of Scientific Management. This book is a classical work in the
study of management and employee efficiency. It is particularly fascinating given its descriptive expressions of the
interesting concept of an employer and employee being the same: prosperity for the employer cannot exist through-
out the years unless it is accompanied by prosperity for the employee and vice versa. The book underscores the
imperativeness of cooperation to achieve a common goal that will positively affect the individual and organization's
interests. The book is particularly geared toward readers taking cognizance of its captivating, simplified analogies to
justify its universal applicability, and the altruistic connection of employer and employee goals in an organization's
productivity. Its illustrative disposition makes understanding its ideals simple and the assimilation thereof fascinating.
Taylor dwells on four basic principles: (a) the development of the true science of management to determine the best
method of performing each task; (b) the scientific selection of employees to give each one the responsibility for the
task they can perform to their best ability; (c) the scientific education and development of the work; and (d) intimate,
friendly cooperation between management and labor. Taylor believes that the success of these principles depends
on “a complete mental revolution”on the part of management and labor (Taylor, 1911, p. 114). His management
Received: 12 October 2021 Accepted: 13 October 2021
DOI: 10.1111/padm.12792
Public Admin. 2022;100:173–176. wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/padm © 2021 John Wiley & Sons Ltd. 173
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