Phase III - 1938-1947 :-

This period brought new changes in the nature of Public Administration

1.       Some thinkers refuted politics administration dichotomy.

2.       They challenged the claim of Public Administration as a science.

3.       Emphasized the environmental effects on administrative behavior.

While Public Administration Was taking shape as an independent discipline, C. I. Barnard, Simon, Robat Dahl challenged the claim of Public Administration as a science of administration. These thinkers disagree with the stand taken by Gullick. Simon, in 1947 published his book “Administrative Behavior”. In that he said there is no such thing as principles of administration; what are paraded as ‘Principles’ are in truth no better than proverbs. There is lack of scientific validity and universal relevancy in Public Administration.

Robert Dahl emphasizes the need to take into account normative considerations, human behavior and sociological factors while defining the parameters of public administration. He brought behaviorism in Public Administration. He emphasized the environmental effects on administrative behavior.

Conclusion - 

Hence this period is called as era of challenge to Public Administration.