Understanding New Public Administration Goals

New Public Administration (NPA) emerged as a critical response to traditional public administration, particularly during the 1960s and 1970s. It sought to make public administration more relevant, responsive, and focused on societal issues and values.

Analyzing the Options for NPA Goals

Let's examine the characteristics presented in the options in the context of New Public Administration's principles:

• (a) Anti-technical: New Public Administration critiques the excessive focus on purely technical, scientific, or value-neutral methods often found in traditional administration. NPA advocates for a more value-oriented approach, emphasizing social relevance and ethical considerations over mere technical efficiency. Therefore, it can be described as 'anti-technical' in its opposition to narrow technocracy.
• (b) Anti-hierarchical: While NPA critiques the rigid structures of traditional bureaucracy and often favors more participative and decentralized models, the primary defining goals focus more on relevance, social justice, and values. Some interpretations might include anti-hierarchical elements, but it's not always listed as a primary definitional goal in the same vein as others.
• (c) Anti-Human: This is contrary to the spirit of NPA. New Public Administration strongly emphasizes human dignity, equity, social justice, and citizen well-being. It aims to make administration more humane, not less.
• (d) Anti-Trafficking: NPA's core principle includes a commitment to social justice and addressing societal inequities. Tackling issues like human trafficking falls directly under the umbrella of promoting social justice and protecting vulnerable populations, which are key concerns for NPA. It represents the application of NPA's value-driven approach to specific societal problems.

Conclusion on NPA Goals

Based on the analysis, the goals that best align with the principles and critiques associated with New Public Administration, particularly its emphasis on social justice and its opposition to narrow technical focus, are:

• Anti-technical: Rejecting a purely technocratic and value-neutral approach.
• Anti-Trafficking: Embracing the broader goal of social justice and addressing societal ills.

Therefore, options (a) and (d) represent key aspects or goals pursued within the framework of New Public Administration.