Petroleum-Gas University of Ploiesti BULLETIN Vol. LXIII No. 4/2011 114-123 Economic Sciences Series Public Administration and Local Autonomy - Public Management Theory Approaches Petronela Zaharia “Stefan cel Mare” University of Suceava, 13 University Street, Suceava, Romania e-mail: petronelaz@seap.usv.ro Abstract Offering theoretical and practical support for the organization and functioning of administrative structures, public management is a necessity for public administration. There are not few those who paid attention and have ventured to explain the role and place of public management in public administration. That government should include in its sphere of activity the managerial dimension is a fact proven by the opinions expressed in this paper. Equally true is the fact that satisfying the interests of community is and remains the primary aim of the functioning of local autonomy in public administration in territorial-administrative units. In this context, we welcome the investigation of the relevant opinions in the theory of public management referring to its necessity in public administration and the role of autonomy in its organization and function. Key words: public management, public administration, local autonomy, territorial-administrative units, local interests JEL Classification: H83 Introduction The complexity of challenges that administration has to face and the need to manage public affairs under the best conditions require application of management of public affairs in administration, as its mission is to plan, organize, coordinate, manage and control the actions involved in the development and delivery of public services which would respond to a higher extent to the needs and utility of citizens. From such a direction, in the pages of this paper we bring attention to the need of management in public administration, without which the latter cannot fulfill the role for which it is established. Once it revealed the importance of management in public administration, this study turns to configuring the architecture of the administrative system, highlighting the decisive role of local autonomy in the organization and functioning of public administration in territorial- administrative units. The importance of autonomy in the management of public administration is undeniable, for which, rightly considered we find it appropriate and useful for our study to mention the relevant opinions on this matter.