Q19.Wisdom lies in knowing what to reckon with and what to overlook. An officer being engrossed with the periphery, ignoring the core issues before him, is no rare in the bureaucracy. Do you agree that such preoccupation of an administrator leads to travesty of justice to the cause of effective service delivery and good governance? Critically evaluate.

Indeed, the observation that administrators often get engrossed in peripheral issues, neglecting core responsibilities, is accurate. This preoccupation undeniably leads to a travesty of justice, undermining effective service delivery and good governance.

Impact on Service Delivery and Justice

Peripheral preoccupation leads to inefficiency, delays, and resource misallocation, neglecting citizen needs. This constitutes a travesty of justice as substantive rights are overshadowed by minor procedural adherence, denying equitable service delivery and fair treatment.

Undermining Good Governance and Causes

Such focus erodes transparency, accountability, and responsiveness, crucial for good governance. Causes include bureaucratic inertia, risk aversion, and lack of clear priorities. Wisdom, a foundational value, is essential for civil servants to prioritize core issues.

Fostering Core-Issue Focus

Critically, while some 'periphery' ensures due process, an excessive focus is detrimental. Solutions involve ethical leadership, capacity building, and outcome-based performance evaluations to cultivate discernment, ensuring administrators prioritize public welfare.

Ultimately, an administrator's ability to distinguish between essential and trivial is paramount for responsive, accountable, and ethical public administration.