Comparative Public Administration
- Social Sciences
- 400 level
- 3 credit units
- 91 pages
- 8 units
This course is designed to equip students with knowledge of comparative public administration in developed and developing countries. It explores major concepts, theoretical perspectives, and administrative systems. The course covers patterns of administration in traditional and colonial Africa, roles of bureaucracies, and the relationship between interest groups and public agencies. Students will also learn about bureaucratic accountability and its challenges.
About this course
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Study hours
- 104 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 POL443, taken from the course material NOUN publishes.
- UNIT 1 CONCEPTUAL ISSUES IN COMPARATIVE PUBLIC ADMINISTRATIONPage 6
- UNIT 2 COMPARATIVE PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION: CONCEPT, FOCUS, USEFULNESS AND PROBLEMSPage 13
- UNIT 3: COMPARATIVE PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION: A THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVEPage 22
- UNIT 4: ADMINISTRATIVE SYSTEMS: EARLY ADMINSTRATIVE PRACTICESPage 36
- UNIT 5 A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE PATTERN OF ADMINISTRATION IN TRADITIONAL AND COLONIAL AFRICAPage 46
- UNIT 6: POLITICAL AND POLICY ROLES OF BUREAUCRACIESPage 74
- UNIT 7: RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ORGANIZED INTEREST GROUPS AND PUBLIC AGENCIESPage 78
- UNIT 8: PROBLEMS OF BUREAUCRATIC ACCOUNTABILITYPage 84
One paragraph, so you can see how it reads
POL443 · UNIT 1 CONCEPTUAL ISSUES IN COMPARATIVE PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
In this unit, attempt is made to clarify some major concepts central to the underatanding of comparative public administration such administration, management, and organization. It also examines the politics-administration dichotomy, public administration as an art or science, and the distinction between public and private administration. In adition, it outlines the influence of management on public administration.
What you should be able to do
- Describe major concepts in comparative administration.
- Discuss the meaning, scope, usefulness, and problems of comparative public administration.
- Explain the theoretical perspectives in comparative public administration.
- Discuss various contexts of administrative systems.
- Describe patterns of administration in traditional and colonial Africa.
- Understand the meaning of bureaucratic accountability and highlight its problems.
What it prepares you for
- Public Administrator
- Policy Analyst
- Government Official
- International Development Officer
- Civil Servant
- Government
- Public Sector
- International Organizations
- Non-profit Sector
- Consulting
Where it gets hard
The units students slow down on, and what makes each one heavy.
- Module 1: Conceptual and Theoretical Foundations
Unit 3: Comparative Public Administration: A Theoretical Perspective
The theoretical perspectives require understanding diverse schools of thought and their application to public administration, demanding critical analysis and synthesis.
- Module 2: Historical and Comparative Analysis
Unit 5: A Comparative Study of the Pattern of Administration in Traditional and Colonial Africa
Requires understanding of complex historical contexts and diverse political systems, demanding critical analysis and synthesis of information from different regions and time periods.
- Module 3: Bureaucracy and Accountability
Unit 8: Problems of Bureaucratic Accountability
Understanding the various mechanisms of bureaucratic accountability and their effectiveness requires critical analysis and synthesis of complex concepts.
A suggested way through it
13 weeks, about 33 hours in total. Yours will differ.
- Week 1Module 1: Conceptual and Theoretical Foundations
Unit 1: Conceptual Issues in Comparative Public Administration · 2 hours
Read the introduction to understand the scope of comparative public administration.. Define administration, management, and organization.. Examine the politics-administration dichotomy and its implications.. Discuss the influence of management on public administration.. Differentiate between public and private administration..
- Week 2Module 1: Conceptual and Theoretical Foundations
Unit 2: Comparative Public Administration: Concept, Focus, Usefulness and Problems · 2 hours
Define comparative public administration and its key characteristics.. Distinguish between comparative public administration and traditional public administration.. Identify areas of comparison in comparative studies.. Discuss the usefulness of comparative public administration.. Analyze the problems associated with comparative public administration..
- Week 3Module 1: Conceptual and Theoretical Foundations
Unit 3: Comparative Public Administration: A Theoretical Perspective · 2 hours
Explore the traditional model and its normative ideas.. Examine the behavioral theories and their scientific approach.. Understand structural-functionalism and its application.. Analyze the system theory and its components.. Discuss the elite model and its implications..
- Week 4Module 2: Historical and Comparative Analysis
Unit 4: Administrative Systems: Early Adminstrative Practices · 2 hours
Review early administrative practices in ancient civilizations.. Compare administrative systems in developed nations.. Analyze administrative systems in the Third World.. Discuss the influence of the Catholic Church, Military Organizations, and Cameralists on administrative practices..
- Week 5Module 2: Historical and Comparative Analysis
Unit 5: A Comparative Study of the Pattern of Administration in Traditional and Colonial Africa · 2 hours
Define traditional and colonial Africa.. Explain patterns of administration in traditional and colonial Africa.. Analyze the basic features of African traditional political systems.. Discuss common problems faced by African colonizers.. Examine nationalism in African traditional and colonial societies..
- Week 6Module 3: Bureaucracy and Accountability
Unit 6: Political and Policy Roles of Bureaucracies · 2 hours
Define bureaucracy and its key characteristics.. Discuss the roles of bureaucracy in development.. Analyze the political and policy roles of bureaucracies.. Examine the influence of management on public administration..
- Week 7Module 3: Bureaucracy and Accountability
Unit 7: Relationship between organized Interests and public agencies · 2 hours
Define interest groups and their motivations.. Discuss the roles of interest groups in policy-making.. Analyze strategies and tactics used by interest groups.. Examine the relationship between interest groups and political institutions.. Explore the influence of interest groups on public agencies..
- Week 8Module 3: Bureaucracy and Accountability
Unit 8: Problems of Bureaucratic Accountability · 2 hours
Define accountability and its importance.. Identify areas of accountability (financial, political, bureaucratic).. Discuss the ideology of bureaucratic accountability.. Analyze mechanisms of bureaucratic accountability.. Examine problems of bureaucratic accountability in Nigeria..
- Week 9Module 1: Conceptual and Theoretical Foundations
Module 1 Revision · 3 hours
Review all units from Module 1.. Focus on key concepts and definitions.. Prepare for Tutor-Marked Assignments (TMAs)..
- Week 10Module 2: Historical and Comparative Analysis
Module 2 Revision · 3 hours
Review all units from Module 2.. Focus on comparative analysis of administrative systems.. Prepare for Tutor-Marked Assignments (TMAs)..
- Week 11Module 3: Bureaucracy and Accountability
Module 3 Revision · 3 hours
Review all units from Module 3.. Focus on the roles and accountability of bureaucracies.. Prepare for Tutor-Marked Assignments (TMAs)..
- Week 12Final Revision
TMA and Revision · 4 hours
Complete all outstanding Tutor-Marked Assignments (TMAs).. Review course objectives and learning outcomes.. Practice answering exam-style questions..
- Week 13Final Revision
Final Revision · 4 hours
Final course review.. Focus on areas of weakness.. Consolidate knowledge and understanding..
Preparing for the exam
- Create concept maps linking Units 1-3 to understand the theoretical foundations.
- Compare and contrast administrative systems from Units 4-5 using case studies.
- Analyze the roles of bureaucracies (Unit 6) and interest groups (Unit 7) in policy-making.
- Focus on the problems of bureaucratic accountability in Nigeria (Unit 8) and suggest solutions.
- Practice answering past exam questions to improve time management and understanding of key concepts.
Questions students ask about this course
What is POL443 about?
This course is designed to equip students with knowledge of comparative public administration in developed and developing countries. It explores major concepts, theoretical perspectives, and administrative systems. The course covers patterns of administration in traditional and colonial Africa, roles of bureaucracies, and the relationship between interest groups and public agencies. Students will also learn about bureaucratic accountability and its challenges.
How many units does POL443 have?
POL443, Comparative Public Administration, has 8 units across 1 module, over 91 pages of course material. You can read it one unit at a time.
How many credit units is POL443?
POL443 carries 3 credit units, at 400 level in Social Sciences.
Is POL443 hard?
POL443 is rated intermediate level, with no mathematical content. It is mostly theoretical and case study work.
How long does POL443 take to study?
About 104 hours of study, spread across its 8 units.
How is POL443 assessed?
POL443 is assessed by assignments, tutor marked assessments and final examination.
What can I do with POL443?
Public Administrator, Policy Analyst, Government Official, International Development Officer and Civil Servant.