Theories And Practice Of Public Administration
- Social Sciences
- 300 level
- 3 credit units
- 244 pages
- 21 units
This course introduces students to the theories and practice of public administration. It explores the concepts of administration, management, and organization, emphasizing their relevance to national political development. The course examines theoretical perspectives, methodological issues, and the relationship between administration and politics. It also covers decision-making, personnel management, and selected administrative theories, equipping students with the knowledge and skills needed to improve public service delivery and policy implementation.
About this course
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Study hours
- 91 hours
- Maths
- None
- Content
- Theoretical, case study
- Practical work
- No
- Assignments
- Tutor marked assessments
- Final examination
What you'll read
The real module and unit structure of POL343, taken from the course material NOUN publishes.
One paragraph, so you can see how it reads
POL343 · MODULE 1 Unit 1: Administration
The course guide gives you an overview of what to expect in the course-Theories and practice of Public Administration such as: Administration, Management, Organisation, Public Administration and Management dynamics as it affect politics. Public Administration theories and subsequently policy-making process. We wish you success in the course and hope that you will find it both interesting and useful.
What you should be able to do
- Understand the core concepts of public administration.
- Analyze the relationship between politics and administration.
- Evaluate different management theories and their applications.
- Apply decision-making frameworks to administrative challenges.
- Assess the impact of political institutions on administration.
- Comprehend the dynamics of organizational behavior.
What it prepares you for
- Public Sector Manager
- Policy Analyst
- Government Administrator
- Non-profit Director
- Public Relations Officer
- Government Agencies
- Non-profit Organizations
- Public Service Departments
- International Organizations
- Local Government
Where it gets hard
The units students slow down on, and what makes each one heavy.
- Module 4: Selected Administrative Theories II
Unit 3: Systems Theory
The Systems Theory requires understanding of complex interdependencies and feedback loops within organizations, demanding abstract thinking.
- Module 5: Selected Administrative Theories III
Unit 2: Radical Marxist Theory
Radical Marxist Theory requires a deep understanding of economic and social structures, which can be challenging for students without a background in political economy.
A suggested way through it
13 weeks, about 30 hours in total. Yours will differ.
- Week 1Module 1: Conceptual Clarifications
Unit 1: Administration · 2 hours
Read the introduction to administration.. Understand the different descriptions of administration.. Distinguish between public and private administration..
- Week 2Module 1: Conceptual Clarifications
Unit 2: Management · 2 hours
Identify different descriptions of management.. Describe the different types of management.. Explain the scope of management..
- Week 3Module 1: Conceptual Clarifications
Unit 3: Organisation · 2 hours
Identify the different descriptions of organisation.. Describe the different types of organization.. Explain the characteristics of organization..
- Week 4Module 1: Conceptual Clarifications
Unit 4: Public Administration · 2 hours
Understand the different definitions of public administration.. Describe the evolution of public administration.. Assess the relevance of theoretical underpinning of public administration.
- Week 5Module 2: Politics/Policy/Administration Dichotomy
Unit 1: Administration and Politics · 2 hours
Discuss the relationships between administration and politics.. Understand the trends in the debates on administration and politics..
- Week 6Module 2: Politics/Policy/Administration Dichotomy
Unit 2: Inter play of Political Institutions and Administration · 2 hours
Understand the different definitions of administration and political institutions.. Describe the legal basis of political institutions.. Discuss how gender serves as a means of legislating political institution..
- Week 7Module 2: Politics/Policy/Administration Dichotomy
Unit 3: Institutional Setting and Administration · 2 hours
Identify the different definitions of public policy and government.. Describe the relationship between politics and policy.. Discuss the theories of policy process..
- Week 8Module 2: Politics/Policy/Administration Dichotomy
Unit 4: Decision Making in Administration · 2 hours
Understand the different definitions of decision making.. Discuss the theories of decision making..
- Week 9Module 2: Politics/Policy/Administration Dichotomy
Unit 5: Personnel Administration · 2 hours
Understand the meaning of personnel management.. Explain recruitment, selection and placement of personnel.. Discuss compensation of personnel in terms of wages and salary..
- Week 10Module 3: Selected Theories of Administration I
Unit 1: Scientific Management Theory · 2 hours
Describe scientific management theory.. Narrate its evolution.. Explain its philosophy..
- Week 11Module 3: Selected Theories of Administration I
Unit 2: Bureaucratic Management Theory · 2 hours
Describe bureaucratic management theory.. Narrate its evolution.. Discuss its criticism..
- Week 12Module 3: Selected Theories of Administration I
Unit 3: Functional Management Theory · 2 hours
Describe functional management theory.. Narrate its categories.. Explain its principles..
Unit 4: Human Relations Movement · 2 hours
Describe human relations theory.. Narrate its evolution.. Discuss its criticism..
- Week 13Course Review
Final Revision · 4 hours
Review all modules and units. Prepare for final examinations. Work on assignments.
Preparing for the exam
- Review all module introductions and summaries for key concepts.
- Create flashcards for key terms and definitions from each unit.
- Practice applying different management theories to real-world case studies.
- Focus on understanding the relationships between politics, policy, and administration.
- Review Tutor Marked Assignments (TMAs) and Self-Assessment Exercises (SAEs) thoroughly.
- Allocate study time proportionally based on the weight of each module in the final exam.
- Create concept maps linking key theories and concepts across different modules.
- Practice essay writing, focusing on clear and concise arguments supported by evidence from the course materials.
Questions students ask about this course
What is POL343 about?
This course introduces students to the theories and practice of public administration. It explores the concepts of administration, management, and organization, emphasizing their relevance to national political development. The course examines theoretical perspectives, methodological issues, and the relationship between administration and politics. It also covers decision-making, personnel management, and selected administrative theories, equipping students with the knowledge and skills needed to improve public service delivery and policy implementation.
How many units does POL343 have?
POL343, Theories And Practice Of Public Administration, has 21 units across 5 modules, over 244 pages of course material. You can read it one unit at a time.
How many credit units is POL343?
POL343 carries 3 credit units, at 300 level in Social Sciences.
Is POL343 hard?
POL343 is rated intermediate level, with no mathematical content. It is mostly theoretical and case study work.
How long does POL343 take to study?
About 91 hours of study, spread across its 21 units.
How is POL343 assessed?
POL343 is assessed by assignments, tutor marked assessments and final examination.
What can I do with POL343?
Public Sector Manager, Policy Analyst, Government Administrator, Non profit Director and Public Relations Officer.