Theory and practice in dis-harmony? Toward a praxis ecosystem approach to the public administration and management discipline and profession

Abstract

This paper explores the interactions between theory and practice and between discipline and profession in the public administration and management community. It argues that it is unhelpful to seek hegemony for either concept or domain in these dyads. Rather it argues for a praxis ecosystem approach that explores the interactions between these elements. It argues that tension and conflict within the praxis ecosystem is natural and to be expected—and may well drive forward both theory and practice and the discipline and profession. The key task with the ecosystem is thus to govern these tensions rather than seek to eradicate them. It ends by exploring what this approach means in practice for praxis ecosystems.