Authenticity and community process

Phenomenology in Public Administration: Bridging the Theory–Practice Gap

“…Phenomenology questions how we make sense of the world and how we know what we know from one's unique perspective toward the administrative situation (Hummel, 1982b(Hummel, , 1982c. A phenomenological interpretivist lens advances democracy because it is more authentic (i.e., developmental) than quantitative approaches, insofar as it draws on different types of knowledge to understand a situation and validate it in light of previous knowledge (Elías, 2019;Hummel, 1998). Moreover, it suspends conceptual pre-categorizations to understand people's lived experiences in their own terms-from their own stances-to inform the phenomenon we seek to shed light on.…”

“…This is a contribution to the field that quantitative empiricism cannot offer. Phenomenology makes it possible to uncover the meaning of experience for the experiencing person; it allows the space for such expressions (Elías, 2019). This not only entails a developmental practice (toward enhanced participation and freedom) but also promotes a way of knowing that can lead to a better understanding of administrative and policy issues, so far underutilized in scholarly research.…”

The listening hermeneutic of public servants: building on the implicit

“…to be aware of and responsive to the interrelatedness and commonality of all sonorous beings” (Levin, 1989, p. 47). Developing a reflexive listening capacity can allow practitioners to engage with the public in a more cognizant manner by integrating explanation and understanding (Forester, 1989; Levin, 1989; Elías, 2019). For Levin, skillful listening implies that we slow down and listen to our interlocutor with respectful and focused attention by being aware of the experience.…”