The Concept of Efficiency in Public Administration

公共行政的效率觀

江岷欽(Min-Chin Chiang)

《中國行政評論》 1卷1期 (1991/12) Pp. 23-50

https://doi.org/10.6635/cpar.1991.1(1).03

摘要

公共行政的研究，長久以來皆以「效率」為主要的論證課題。就公共行政研究的歷史而言，自威爾遜揭示行政分立論開始，迄賽蒙的目標層級論為止，行政學的發展固然呈現出多元典範的現象，但以「效率」為公共行政研究的權輿，殆無爭議。本文旨在釐清效率的概念，並以比較的觀點，整合理論的歧異。

關鍵字

知識的認同危機 ； 效率 ； 效能 ； 公共管理 ； 公共組織 ； 辯證架構

並列摘要

Efficiency has long been the primary concern in the study of public administration. Suffice it to say that most efforts from Wilson to at least Simon were directed toward the pursuit and debate of efficiency. Questions that were raised concerning efficiency are still with us. Indeed. the problems are more knotty. the issues more complex. We have developed other idioms with which to analyze, discuss, and decide; thus ”cost-benefit” and ”cost-effective”. But what are touted as tools that will enable us to solve our problems and resolve our disputes demonstrate in use that - though they may have a certain usefulness - they neither cut Gordian knots nor serve as philosophers' stones (Waldo, 1984: Iii).
The purpose of this paper is to clarify the concept of efficiency in public administration through comparison. I begin with Wilson's perspective, then Gulick, Taylor, Dahl, Simon. Waldo followed. Finally, I explore the applicability of business's criteria of efficiency as they are employed in the public Agencies by making distinction in between.

並列關鍵字

Intellectual Crisis of Identity ； Efficiency ； Effectiveness ； Public Management ； public Organization ； Dialectical Frameworks