administrasjon

Administrasjon is a term used in Norwegian and other Scandinavian languages to denote administration or management. Broadly, it refers to the process of organizing resources—people, money, information, and physical assets—and directing activities to achieve objectives. Core functions include planning, organizing, leading (directing), and controlling.

In public administration, administrasjon describes the machinery of government that implements policy, delivers services, and enforces regulations. This includes ministries and agencies, the civil service, budgeting and procurement, records management, and administrative law. Public administration operates under democratic oversight, transparency requirements, and accountability mechanisms.

In the private sector and nonprofit organizations, administration covers everyday operations, governance, and support functions such as human resources, finance, information technology, facilities, and risk management. Sound administrative practices help ensure efficiency, compliance, and the realization of strategic goals, while enabling reliable service delivery.

Study and theory of administration, or administrative science, analyzes how organizations are structured, how decisions are made, and how efficiency and accountability can be balanced. Influences include classical management theory and organizational design, with historical perspectives such as Weberian bureaucracy shaping concepts of hierarchical authority and standardized procedures.

Current trends and challenges in administration include digital government and e-services, decentralization, cost pressures, data governance, and efforts to enhance transparency and reduce corruption. Across sectors, effective administration remains central to achieving policy outcomes, service quality, and organizational resilience.