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Administrative-Behaviour. Herbert Simon pptx
- 1. Administrative Behaviour Understanding HerbertA. Simon's Revolutionary Approach to Public Administration Prof. (Dr.) Ashish Jorasia School of Arts and Humanities Career Point University, Kota, Rajasthan
- 2. Meet Herbert A.Simon Herbert A. Simon (1916–2001) was a Nobel Prize–winning scholar whose groundbreaking work transformed how we understand public administration, decision-making, and organizational behavior. His landmark book Administrative Behavior (1947) revolutionized the field by introducing scientific, empirical methods to replace traditional normative principles. Simon challenged classical thinkers like Gulick, Urwick, and Fayol, establishing a new foundation based on behavioral science and rational analysis.
- 3. Core Purpose: MakingAdministration Scientific Evidence-Based Foundation Replace vague principles with verifiable, scientific concepts grounded in empirical research Behavioral Insights Examine how administrators actually think, decide, and behave in real organizational settings Rational Analysis Introduce systematic rationality and logical frameworks into administrative decision-making processes
- 4. Decision-Making: The Heartof Administration "Decision-making is the heart of administration." Simon fundamentally redefined administration as a process of choosing among alternatives rather than merely applying fixed principles. Every administrative action involves a decision. Problem Recognition Identify and define the administrative challenge Search for Alternatives Generate possible courses of action Evaluate Consequences Assess potential outcomes and impacts Select Best Option Choose the optimal alternative
- 5. Two Types ofAdministrative Decisions Programmed Decisions Non-Programmed Decisions
- 6. Bounded Rationality: ARevolutionary Concept Desire for Rationality Administrators want to make optimal decisions Limited Information Incomplete data about alternatives and outcomes Time Constraints Insufficient time for exhaustive analysis Cognitive Limits Human computational capacity is finite Satisficing Choose first acceptable option, not necessarily best Key Insight: Administrators operate with bounded rationality—they satisfice rather than maximize. This realistic model acknowledges human limitations while maintaining the goal of rational decision-making.
- 7. Administrative Man vsEconomic Man Economic Man (Traditional Model) • Perfectly rational with unlimited cognitive capacity • Maximizes profits or utility in all decisions • Has complete, accurate information • Makes optimal choices every time Administrative Man (Simon's Model) • Realistic with bounded rationality • Satisfices using practical judgment • Works with limited, imperfect information • Makes decisions using rules, experience, and available data This distinction marked a major paradigm shift, moving administrative theory from idealized assumptions to realistic behavioral understanding.
- 8. Critique of ClassicalPrinciples Simon called traditional administrative principles "Proverbs of administration" Simon systematically dismantled classical principles proposed by Gulick and Urwick, including span of control, unity of command, hierarchy, and delegation. Vague and Imprecise Principles lacked clear definitions and specific application guidelines Contradictory Advice Principles often conflicted—for example, advocating both centralization and decentralization without explaining when to apply which No Scientific Validation Claims were not tested empirically or supported by systematic evidence
- 9. Legacy and LastingImpact 1978 Nobel Prize Recognition for pioneering work in decision-making and bounded rationality 50+ Years of Influence Concepts remain central to public administration education 5 Disciplines Transformed Economics, psychology, AI, management, and policy sciences Simon's work provided the foundation for modern developments including Management Information Systems (MIS), New Public Management, behavioral economics, artificial intelligence, and evidence-based policy-making. His emphasis on communication, information systems, organizational behavior, and systematic analysis continues to shape how we understand and improve public administration worldwide.
- 10. Key Takeaways Scientific Revolution Transformedpublic administration from art to science through empirical research and behavioral analysis Realistic Framework Introduced bounded rationality and satisficing as accurate models of administrative behavior Decision-Focused Established decision-making as the core of administration, creating systematic frameworks still used today Herbert Simon's Administrative Behavior remains a cornerstone of modern administrative theory. By replacing idealized principles with realistic behavioral models, Simon created a more practical, evidence-based approach to understanding how organizations and administrators actually function—a legacy that continues to guide governance, policy, and management practice today.