ABSTRACT
Public administration has played a significant role in shaping the course of American democratic governance. This chapter reviews some major demographic, technologic, economic, and political factors that will drive change, and then, through a real case, illustrate how administrators can use the model to cope with them. Public-sector organizations face major issues due to retirements, workforce transition, and succession planning. Future public servants will be challenged by the “graying” and “browning” of America to craft and implement policies that take into account the unique age, cultural, and language needs of various subpopulations. There are clear implications for administrators of the growing income gap between the bottom and top of the economic spectrum. The scarcity of public funding often pushes public administrators to the nonprofit and commercial sectors in the search for alternative funding. The leadership role played by administrators in the Vision Action Network illustrates the balance wheel role of administrative responsibility.
