Public administration in the post-industrial era: Adaptation or drift

This study examines the present state of the academic field of public administration within the theoretical framework of the post-industrial society. More specifically, the study examines the relative adaptation of academic public administration to the technological requisites of management decision-making in the post-industrial era. Post-industrial management decision-making is typified by the management information system which uses the computer to assist managers in rationalizing decision-making. The rationalization of decision-making is intended to promote efficiency and ultimately effectiveness of operation.;In order to empirically determine the relative adaptation of the academic field of public administration to the post-industrial model of decision-making, educational programs in public administration are used as a database. The extent to which knowledge of management information systems and computers is incorporated into educational programs in public administration is used to determine the relative adaptation of the field. If the academic study of public administration is to adapt to the post-industrial model, then students of public administration must be trained to use the computer as both a decision-making and organizational resource. A secondary purpose of this study is to define what students of public administration, and thus public managers, should know about management information systems and computers.;The study data indicated that few master's degree programs in public administration have incorporated knowledge of management information systems or computers as basic elements of public administration knowledge. There is some evidence of efforts among public administration programs to adapt to the technological requisites of contemporary decision-making; however, this movement is limited and does not suggest that adaptation will occur in the near future.