The Proverbs of Administration Herbert Simon Summary

Bekki Drewlo Simon, Herbert A. (1946). The Proverbs of nerve. In J. M. Shafrits & A. C. Hyde (Eds. ), Classics of public administration (6th ed. ) (pp. 124-137). Boston, MA Thompson Wadsworth.ARTICLE SUMMARYIn Herbert Simons The Proverbs of Administration he begins outlining what he describes as the recognized administrative rulers (p. 124). These insurements state that administrative qualification is increased by speciality of tasks among members of a group, integrity of command, limiting the span of constraint at any one and only(a) extremum in the hierarchy and by mathematical group the workers according to purpose, process, disdain and place.He then goes on to detail specific examples of how each principle could be tested in authoritative world administrative situations for validity. Simon subjects each principle in turn to a actually critical analysis beginning with specialization. He describes specialization as a delusory simplicity and conveys that the fundament al problem with specialization is that it is ambiguous and he leads the reader to crack that the principle of specialization is of non support at all in decision making how to specialize to improve susceptibility (p. 25) move to unity of command, Simon points out that this principle is scarce incompatible with the principle of specialization (p. 125). If development the specialization capitulum, then the specialist would be looked upon for the decisions, not the person in command as the unity of command principal would require. Span of require contradiction in termss ar highlighted by Simon by describing how both an increase and a decrease in the span of control could increase or decrease efficiency in an organization. Lastly, Simon evaluates organization by purpose, process, clientele and place.In this principle, organization based on one aspect would be to the detriment of the be three. In each evaluation Simon provides either contradictory solutions that meet the req uirement of the precept in question or describes situations where fond regard to the proverb could be inefficient if not irresponsible. Simon suggests alternatively that the principles of administration are solely criteria for describing and diagnosing administrative situations(p. 131). Finally, Simon relates that the proverbs of administration are in desperate aim of confirmable research and ultimately revision.He states that efficiency should be a definition of what is good or correct administrative behavior rather than a principle of administration (p. 133). He goes on to describe an approach for a more scientific analysis of administrative principles that would allow one to easily require between equally viable insofar opposing solutions to a single administrative problem. He provides the road map by which he believes this could be accomplished, yet admits that it may even be a amatory undertaking (p. 136).The irony of this final contradiction is not lost on this reade r.KEY POINTSThe evaluate administrative principles or proverbs are inherently flawed.These principles are still of value by using them as criteria for describing and diagnosing administrative situations(pg 131).SpecializationUnity of CommandSpan of ControlOrganization by purpose, Process, Clientele, PlaceThe accepted administrative principles or proverbs are in desperate need of empirical research and ultimately revision.RELEVENCEThis expression is relevant to students and practitioners of administration because it highlights the ongoing splutter with administrative theory. Simons highlights the contradictions inherent with the accepted administrative principles but leads the reader to understand that these principles are useful as tools in the recitation of administration (p. 124). After evaluation of specialization, unity of command, span of control and organization by purpose, process, clientele and place, administrators can rely on experience to determine the appropriate beh avior.