Phenomenology is the study of things as they “appear” (phenomena) to us in their own terms, prior to formal conceptualization. This article traces the development of phenomenology in public administration within the larger realm of interpretive approaches. It describes applied phenomenology as developed by Ralph Hummel and discusses its usefulness in the study of public organizations and administrative practice. As a way of studying process, phenomenology allows administrators to bridge the theory–practice gap. Since understanding a situation depends on different kinds of knowledge, phenomenological epistemology fosters a more democratic public administration.
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