Public administration is one of the most important yet least understood institutions of our time. Why does administration, on one hand, act pedantically and with excessive precision—bureaucratically, in other words—while on the other hand, it can also be remarkably flexible and pragmatic? Why does it usually operate smoothly and effectively, yet sometimes produces dramatic failures? Wolfgang Seibel introduces fundamental issues of public administration in "Understanding Administration" and demonstrates how these issues are addressed in theory and practice. His well-written and informative book is aimed not only at specialists but also at anyone interested in the inner workings of this crucial institution.