Administrator Questions, Essay Example

The process of communication from source to destination flows through a network of channels. Al communication must flow form a decision center or a point of information. This is in order to provide a basis for decision making. The main goal is a complete understanding of the information that an administrator receives in order that they may effectively communicate. The communication is either formal or informal. Formal communication is planned. That is who reports to who, who shall give information to who and on what specific subjects. For example a financial officer passing information to an accountant.

Forms are a form of this formal communication. Standard forms are formalized communications which leave little room for error. Forms such as memo have an advantage to the initiator and the recipient of the communication (Dubois2009). Within departments of periodic reports, forms or such types of documents help administrators in decision making. At least say once a week or day the administrator will be in a position to say “what’s new”. Rules concerning who can talk to who may slow down information flow and may even result in information overload.  (Shafritz 2007) A supervisor with so much information to pass on and some to make decision on may lead to a slow don in service delivery due to the shear amount of information to process. As opposed to skipping a supervisor and going directly to an administrator. A hindrance in communication screening from external sources though useful mediums may be also seen as a hindrance in the timely delivery of information and decision making. An example is a child calling the police with an emergency; how would one distinguish between the prankster and the real deal. This is where training comes in and techniques. (Dubois2009)

The techniques I would employ would incorporate all the modern technological advancements. (Menzel 2011) Social media such as tweeter and face book would cut down the old model of report writing. It would also keep me up to date as to any goings on and allow for quick decision making. Delegation of staff though it would be an added cost it would however reduce the difficulty of communicating decision. Using modern technologies like tablets and iphones allow off site communication. As opposed to doing reports in the office why not it do in the field and send a tweet summarizing main points. (Menzel 2011) Take for example a social worker having to communicate a particularly difficult case that needs an immediate decision. It would require first a voluminous report to be sent to the supervisor. Who would then have to first read it on a priority basis because it won’t be the only report needing attention, if the decision cannot be made by him and has to communicate to the department head. This is the normal process. Now imagine for a second we throw in a tablet and iphone. The social worker tweets the problem to the supervisor the supervisor tweets to the department head. The department head tweets a response back and the information flows down the line and the social worker makes or rather implements the decision. (Shafritz 2007) Finally writing a report on her/his tablet including the communication tweets as part of the report. I believe incorporating modern technology is the way forward to administrative efficiency. It will also increase accountability by removing the hear say element and having a chronological timeline and its evidentiary nature leaves little room for misinterpretation.

References

Shafritz, J.M., A.C. Hyde. 2007. Classics of Public Administration. Wadsworth: Boston.

Dubois, H.F.W. & Fattore, G. (2009), ‘Definitions and typologies in public administration research: the case of decentralization’, International Journal of Public Administration.

(2011). the State of Public Administration: Issues, Challenges and Opportunity. New York: M. E. Sh