The statement by Felix A. Nigro and Lloyd G. Nigro accurately encapsulates the transformative impact of New Public Administration (NPA) on the discipline of Public Administration. Emerging in the late 1960s, particularly after the Minnowbrook Conference of 1968, NPA represented a significant departure from the traditional, value-neutral, and efficiency-focused paradigms that had dominated the field.

Jolting Traditional Concepts and Outlook: Traditional Public Administration (TPA), often associated with Woodrow Wilson's politics-administration dichotomy and Max Weber's bureaucracy, emphasized efficiency, economy, hierarchy, and a strict separation of politics and administration. It sought to be a value-free science, focusing on 'how' to administer rather than 'what' to administer. NPA challenged these core tenets:

1. Rejection of Value Neutrality: NPA vehemently rejected the idea of a value-free administration. It argued that public administration is inherently value-laden and that administrators cannot and should not be neutral to social issues. Instead, it advocated for administrators to be proactive in promoting social equity, justice, and responsiveness.
2. Critique of Efficiency and Economy: While not dismissing efficiency entirely, NPA argued that an overemphasis on efficiency could lead to a neglect of human values and social concerns. It posited that efficiency should be balanced with considerations of equity and social justice.
3. Challenge to Hierarchy and Bureaucracy: NPA questioned the rigid hierarchical structures and impersonal nature of traditional bureaucracy, which it saw as unresponsive to citizen needs and perpetuating social inequalities. It advocated for more flexible, decentralized, and client-centered administrative structures.
4. Emphasis on Relevance: TPA was criticized for becoming too academic and detached from the pressing social problems of the time, such as poverty, racial inequality, and urban decay. NPA called for public administration to be more relevant to contemporary societal challenges.

Enriching the Subject by Imparting Wider Perspective and Linking to Society: NPA's most significant contribution was its insistence on linking public administration closely to society, thereby enriching the discipline with a broader, more humanistic, and socially conscious perspective:

1. Social Equity: This became the cornerstone of NPA. It argued that public administration should actively work to reduce social disparities and ensure that public services are delivered equitably to all citizens, especially the disadvantaged. This meant moving beyond mere formal equality to substantive equality.
2. Client-Centeredness and Responsiveness: NPA advocated for administration that is highly responsive to the needs and demands of citizens, particularly those at the grassroots. It emphasized citizen participation in policy-making and program implementation, shifting focus from internal organizational efficiency to external societal impact.
3. Change Orientation: Unlike TPA's focus on maintaining the status quo, NPA embraced a proactive role for public administration in bringing about social change and addressing societal ills. Administrators were seen as agents of change rather than mere implementers of policy.
4. Humanism and Ethics: NPA brought humanistic values and ethical considerations to the forefront. It stressed the importance of empathy, compassion, and moral responsibility in public service, recognizing the administrator's role in shaping human lives.
5. Interdisciplinary Approach: By linking administration to broader societal issues, NPA encouraged an interdisciplinary approach, drawing insights from sociology, political science, psychology, and ethics to understand and address complex public problems.

In essence, NPA transformed public administration from a narrow, technical field focused on internal management to a broader, socially engaged discipline concerned with values, equity, and the well-being of society. It compelled the field to confront its ethical responsibilities and to actively contribute to a more just and equitable society, thereby profoundly enriching its scope and relevance.