The dichotomy associated with administration, as well as, politics is an important model that represents the idea that there is a requirement for a division between public administration and, on the other hand, political realm. Worth noting is that the evolution of these pillars took place when politics was largely associated with the corrupt. Therefore, most societies wanted more accountability coupled by controlled politics in the public domain. It is in this regard that the following article will discuss the element of accountability as the most crucial in terms of public sector operations.
Practicing accountability in public sector operations is a critical element to the civil service in any nation. Accountability encompasses the responsibility administered to an individual or a collective entity (Basu). It is a basic principle of public administration consequently necessitating various governments to have the required checks and also balances that would ensure that the integrity of their bureaucracies prevails. Practicing accountability also has the propensity of creating both an integral, as well as, a transparent system of the government. It is as a result that the development of criteria of accountability that is not one-sided has been incorporated into government systems by the concerned public administrators.
The objective of the public sector is embedded in providing the largest quantities of public goods for the minimum amount of resources. As a result, the public has a huge dependence on governments for the provision of high-quality services. This element makes the public administrators to be held in a high regard of accountability by the constituents they represent. The concept of accountability in the public sector operations promotes a highly rationalized civilization by the public and the administrators. As is evident, this will culminate in the promotion of accountable behaviors in the judicial, legislative and administrative affairs.
Accountability will also ensure that the standards of professionalism existing in any workplace are adhered to as is stipulated by the rules. Besides, it makes the administrators of the public sector comprehend the fact that their professional actions are all being funded by the public coffers. Therefore, accountability is a highly significant aspect of both the public and the private institutions. It consistently reminds public sector officials that even though they have been employed by the governments in place, everyone will harbor the responsibility of his actions. As such, the concept has the propensity of making the officials careful while performing their activities.
It is apparent that as a pillar in public operations, accountability will ensure that public finances, as well as, powers are effectively utilized with the desired level of honesty. The concept of accountability also denotes the existing relationship between the government in place, its departments also the general public. It most importantly assists governments in tackling the prevalent issue of abuse as is known to take place in various operations of the public sector. The concept of accountability is, therefore, significant for the attainment of high performance in public administration.
In conclusion, the operations in the public sector and their administrators are at times faced with unethical scenarios, and as such, they are forced to come up with acceptable decisions for purposes of abiding by the accountability standards and to carry out the public's good. Besides, the daily activities of the public entities are often open to scrutiny by the public because of the importance that is attached to it. Therefore, from the six pillars of public administration, accountability is the most significant one because of the notable relationships it has with multiple aspects of public administration.
Work cited
Basu, Rumki. Public Administration. 1st Ed. New Deli: Sterling Publishers Private, 1986. Print.
