Prepared by: Umer

Ahmad and Altaf Sheikh

PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
STUDY PLAN FOR CSS 2017

Study Area I: Nature, History, Scope and Features of Public Administration

2016- Today Public Administration in Pakistan seems to be in a state of prolonged and slow moving
crises, seemingly lacking coherent paradigm and conceptual framework. Discuss this statement with
arguments for and against
2015- Define public administration and discuss the commonalities and differences between public and
private administration
2015- Describe the basic elements of good Governance and evaluate the role of media and civil society
institutions in improving the performance of government.
2014- Define Public Administration and discuss its nature and scope. Critically examine the challenges of
Public Administration in the 21st Century with reference to Pakistan
2011- Explain the concept of Good Governance. How can good governance ensure efficient and effective
public service delivery at the grass roots level in Pakistan?
2010 - What is good governance? Explain the role of public administration in good
governance particularly with reference to Pak?
2010 - Define public administration. Explain and justify your definition in comparison with various
other competing definitions of public administration. Do you think public administration is different
from business administration both in theory and practice?
2009 - Public administration is a broad ranging and amorphous mix of theory and practice. The purpose
of public Administration is to frame a superior understanding of government and its relationship with
the society it governs, as well as to promote public policies responsive to social needs. Public
Administration also institutes managerial practices attuned to effectiveness, efficiencies, and a deeper
human requisite of the citizenry. Discuss.
2009 - Write a short essay on the intellectual history of Public Administration.
2008 - It is said that "PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION is nothing less than the whole government in
action". What is your view about the nature of public administration?
2007 Discuss the general problems comprising the elements of public administration in detail.
2006 Administration is the most obvious part of government; it is government in action; it is the
executive, the operative, the most visible side of government and is of course as old as government
itself. Discuss the above statement in the light of theory and practice of public administration.
2005 In a democratic state, government is said to be the WILL of the people in action. This concept
has widened the scope of Public Administration. What should be the new role f Public Administrator, as
per expectations of the people?
2004 Public Administration is detailed and systematic application of law. Every particular
application of law is an act of administration. (Woodrow Wilson) Discuss the scope of public
administration in the light of above statement.
2003 Discuss three major issues in public administration theory and practice. State clearly
your position on these issues and support your viewpoint with examples.

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2001 Describe the notion of good governance. Discuss the scope and functions of public
administration within the framework of governance.
2000 Describe the characteristic features of Public Administration and highlight the strengths and
weaknesses of governmental machinery in Pakistan.
AREA OF FOCUS
1. What is Public Administration? What are its features? How is it different in theory &
practice?
2. History of Public Administration, its Scope & Functions.
3. Dichotomy between Public Administration & Business Administration.
4. Strengths & Weaknesses of Public Administration
5. Role of Public Administration in Good Governance
6. private administration and personal administration

Study Area II : Schools of thought in Public Administration

2014- Discuss Herzberg's Two factor theory of motivation and examine its application in the context of
Public Administration in Pakistan.
2012- Give a precise but comprehensive account of major schools of thoughts in administration. Also
compare and contrast Taylor's Management and Human Relations.
2012- Explain the basic theme and theoretical bases of the 'New Public Management'. What are the
different mechanisms, that have used in pursuing NPM goals by the governments in different parts of the
world, especially in Pakistan
2012- Analyse McGregor's Theory X and Theory Y. Do you agree with the view that with every passing
year, McGregor's message has become more relevant and more important? Substantiate your answer.
2010 - Compare & Contrast the Bureaucratic model with new public management (NPM). Do you
think NPM has replaced the bureaucratic approach to public administration? Support your views with
examples from Pak.
2010 - Comparatively evaluate Taylor's scientific management & Weber's ideal bureaucracy & discuss.
2006 Fredrick W. Taylor is considered the originator of the scientific management movement. Explain
the principles of scientific management propounded by him.
2000 Give a comprehensive account of Behavioural School of thought in Administration. How can it
be made instrumental for good governance in Pakistan?
2002 Discuss how an integrated approach to various schools of thoughts of management can be
applied, by the present day administrators, for the success of their organizations?

AREA OF FOCUS
1. Bureaucratic Model VS New Public Management
2. Theories of Max Weber, Fredrick W. Taylor, Behavioural School of thought

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3. Application & Integration of these theories & Models lead to success. Yes/No? How/Why?
4. Herzbergs Two factor theory and McGregors Theory
5. New public Management , mechanisms

Study Area III : Accountability & Auditing

2015- Describe the powers and functions of ombudsman office in Pakistan and examine its role in
controlling administrative injustices to the common citizen.
2015- Despite the plethora of controlling institutions, administrative accountability is still a pipe dream
in Pakistan; why?

2015-Describe the system of auditing in Pakistan and examine its role in combating corruption and
financial miss-management in government departments.
2014- Critically examine the control mechanisms and process in Pakistan and suggest measures to
strengthen the system to overcome maladministration and corruption.
2012- Accountability and Control are the essential aspects of Public Administration in Democratic
Government'. Explain. Also suggest means for strengthening the system of administrative accountability
in Pakistan.
2011- Discuss the role of social media in implementing public accountability in the developing societies
like Pakistan.
2007 & 2009 - The judicial remedies and accountability for the citizen of the country against the abuse
of power has become prevalent in the modern time. What are those remedies? Elaborate.
2004 Administrative accountability of the public services is done under two heads that is internal and
external control in Pakistan. Elaborate these in detail.
2000 A fair, free and transparent system of accountability is a pre-requisite of public administration in a
democratic state. Identify the causes and suggest remedies for the failure of system of accountability
during the democratic regimes in Pakistan.
2000 Accounting and auditing system of financial administration in Pakistan has almost collapsed as it
has failed to control financial corruption. Suggest modern managerial methods to check the leakage of
funds in the public sector organizations.

AREA OF FOCUS
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Judicial Accountability & its remedies

Administrative Accountability & its types
Causes of failure of accountability in democratic government and suggestions to improve it.
Corruption in public sector, its causes, controlling methods and prevention
Ombudsman office, powers and its functions in Pakistan
Auditing system in pakistan and its role in combating corruption

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Study Area IV: Financial Administration, Budgeting & Privatization

2016- Governmental budgets remain an area of general concern as well as controversy. Considerable
attention is given to taxation and other sources of governmental revenues. Discuss the federal budget
process in Pakistan paying special attention to its ability to find governmental activity and help regulate
the economy`s business cycle.
2015- Critically examine the structure and functions of public corporations. What are the major causes of
wide spread inefficiencies in the public sector enterprises of Pakistan?
2012- What is performance budgeting? Bring out its merits, limitations and difficulties.
2011- The flow and management of funds is the lifeblood of our system of public administration. Explain
the governments budgetary system. Is it an inherently political process?
2009 - How and why governments implement public programmes by hiring the private sector to do
work for them. In writing your answer also discuss the concepts of privatization and public private
partnership.
2007 The long experience of the leading countries of the world suggests certain principles to which
budget-making should conform. What are those importance principles? Describe briefly.
2005 Briefly discuss the role of various agencies of fiscal management in the government of
Pakistan. What are the benefits of Financial Advisers Scheme introduced in the Federal Ministries?
2006 What is the importance of Public-Private Partnership in Effective Governance? Discuss
the concept of Public Private Partnership with an example from Pakistan.
2004 What is deficit financing and deficit budgeting? Is deficit financing a boon or curse? Discuss.
2003 Discuss and review the management of fiscal and administrative relations between the federal
government and provincial government in Pakistan.
2001 Define the term Privatization in context of Pakistan. How can privatization be useful in
transforming the manufacturing and service sector of Pakistan? Discuss in light of Privatization policy of
Pakistan.

AREA OF FOCUS
1. Concept of Privatization & Public Private Partnership, Need for privatization???
2. Privatization Policy of Pakistan & its impacts (-ve/+ve) on the economy.
3. Budgeting, Principles of budgeting, deficit budgeting, its importance.
4. Functions of public corporations, public sector enterprises

Study Area V: Public Policy, Planning , Decision Making & Human

Resource Management
2016- Public Administration in Pakistan has penetrated the economy and society to such an extent that it
brings into question how well public policies work and how they can be implemented better. In your
answer focus on the following two major ways of judging policy implementations.

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a) Policy analysis the extent to which a policy achieves its objectives.

b) Policy evaluation- whether implementation maximizes appropriate values
2015- What is meant by personnel administration? What critical issues need to be taken care of in
devising efficient system of personnel management?
2014- Discuss the salient feature of the system of Public personnel Management of Pakistan and critically
examine the needs to evolve the Human Resource Management in Public Sector of Pakistan from an
administrative and operational role to a strategic one.
2013- What is planning? Why are the disadvantages of planning called potential disadvantages? Outline
the relationship among the six steps in the planning process.
2013- What is the difference between power and authority? Describe the role of power in the control
process.
2011- Public administration refers to the implementation of public policy. Discuss in detail.
2010 - Human Resource Management (HRM) is a contemporary approach to managing people in
business organization. What are the salient features of HRM model? Do you think this model is being
applied to reform personnel system in Pak?
2010 - Compare AND Contrast rational, incremental and NPM approaches to decision making in
public administration. Explain your views with examples from Pak.
2009 - Explain the system of project planning in the government of Pakistan and how does it extend to
the provinces and local governments?
2009 - Domestic public policy is implemented not merely by government but by governments. The
administration of a single public policy often involves a medley of funding sources and public
administrators interacting through all the three levels of governments. Please comment on the strength
of inter government relations i.e.; financial, legal, political and administrative relationship that exist
among the various governments units of aid government in Pakistan.
2007 One of the writers on planning Mr. Pfeiffer points out that that constitution of a country is a plan.
Every planning and purposeful activity is preceded by preparation for an action. Do you agree with this
statement? Discuss.
2004 What is Administrative Planning? Explain it in the light of personnel and techniques.
2003 What is public policy? Explain the policy process and discuss various types of policy with
examples from Pakistan.
2002 Critically examine the planning process and machinery in Pakistan.

AREA OF FOCUS
1. Salient Features of HRM Model, Personnel & technique
2. Rational, Incremental & New Public Management approaches to Decision Making
3. Administrative Planning? Project Planning? Planning process? How it extends to
provincial & local governments?
4. Public Policy, Its types, inter government relations i.e.; financial, legal, political
5. Personal administration and personal management
6. Role of power in control process

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Prepared by: Umer

Ahmad and Altaf Sheikh

Study Area VI: Organization, Hierarchy, Structure & Bureaucracy

2014- Describe Max Weber's ideal type of Bureaucracy and discuss its applications in the Modern
society.What are its dysfunctions and how these can be overcome to enhance efficiency and effectiveness
in the public sector of Pakistan?
2013- Elaborate the interference of HALLO EFFECT and STEREOTYPING in the recruitment of
knowledge workers.?
2012- Critically examine the Weberian model of bureaucracy. Do you think its characteristics are still
relevant to changing Public Administration and should be maintained?
2011- In any organization, motivation of employees is essential to enhance productivity and for efficient
achievement of the organizational goals. Explain the concept of motivation giving reference to Maslows
hierarchy of needs theory.
2011- Discuss Max Webers concept of ideal type of bureaucracy. How does it differ from the existing
public bureaucracy in Pakistan
2010 - Discuss the functions and organizational structure of federal government of Pakistan
including administrative relations between federal ministries and federal bodies such as commissions,
authorities, boards & state-owned enterprises.
2009 Bureaucracy and Democracy are antithetical. Bureaucracy is hierarchical, elitist, specializing
and informed while democracy is communal, pluralist, generalizing and ill informed. Keeping in mind
the quantum of expectations in Pakistan and the reality of the civic culture discuss the above statement.
2008 - Explain the new administrative setup under Local Government Ordinance 2001.How far
it affected the efficiency of Bureaucracy?
2008 - "Bureaucratic power is not the same as administration effectiveness. A powerful bureaucracy is
administratively weak". What are your reasons for agreement or disagreement with the statement?
2007 The bureaucracy in many developing countries has played a considerable part as a change
agent in modernizing and development. Why bureaucracy is lacking in this respect in Pakistan?
Elaborate.
2006 What is bureaucracy? Why is it so important to the effective functioning of organization?
Explain in the light of Max Webers theory of Bureaucracy.
2005 Briefly explain the characteristics of bureaucracy as indicated by Max Weber. Critically
examine, whether these characteristics are relevant to modern times and should be maintained.
2003 Compare and contrast Taylors scientific management and Webers bureaucracy. Do you think
these two theories are still relevant to changing public administration?
2002 Discuss organizational and functional setup of Federal and Provincial governments in Pakistan.
How their relationship can be further strengthened?
2002 Discuss how good governance can be introduced in the Bureaucracy of Pakistan and used as
an instrument of rapid economic growth?
2001 Critically examine role of bureaucracy in good governance in general and with particular
reference to Pakistan.
2001 Explain Max Webers theory of Bureaucracy. In your opinion, has bureaucracy outlived
its usefulness? Why or Why not?
2001 Compare and Contrast Closed and Open Career system models. Which of these two models best

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Ahmad and Altaf Sheikh

explain the career system of public bureaucracy in Pakistan?

AREA OF FOCUS
1. Functions and organizational structure of federal government, administrative relations
between federal ministries and federal bodies such as commissions, authorities, boards
& state-owned enterprises.
2. Max Webers Theory of Bureaucracy, its characteristics, its pros & cons
3. Bureaucracy in Present Scenario, its usefulness, its role in administration & good
governance, its role in development, its role as an effective organization.
4. Closed & Open Career System Models
5. interference of HALLO EFFECT and STEREOTYPING in the recruitment of knowledge
workers

Study Area VII: Leadership, Administrative leadership & Administrative

Law ; role of Pillars of state
2016- he supreme court in Pakistan asserts the right of judicial Review. Explain how in the development
of Administration law the right of judicial review was first enforced by the US Supreme court in 1803 in
the case of Marbury V Madison.
2016- It is easier to make a constitution than to run it. Discuss in the light of Politics Administration
dichotomy
2014- Describe a situation in which each of the following types of leadership is appropriate:
a.Authoritarian
b.Democratic
c.BenevolentAutocrat
d. Laissez- Faire
2013-Transactional and transformational leadership styles are suggested for political leader. Which one is
better for Pakistan and why?
20011- Parliamentary oversight of the executive is an important aspect of any democratic system. How is
this role being exercised by the Parliament in Pakistan? What recommendations would you suggest for
making this role more effective?
2007 The professional ethics and consciousness is a sort of built in control mechanism and it prompts
the administrative leadership to maintain high standard of efficiency and integrity. Do you agree with
this statement? Discuss.
2003 What is Administrative law? Discuss the principles and practice of administrative law
in Pakistan.

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AREA OF FOCUS
1.
2.
3.
4.

What is administrative law?

Principles & Practice of administrative law.
Administrative leadership & its in-built mechanism of maintaining efficiency & integrity
Leadership,styles,

Study Area VIII: Civil Service Reforms and Institutional Reforms

2016- The government is seized with the objective of implementing civil service reform in order to create
a structure that is more efficient and responsive. Suggest how the government should balance its strategy
between the effort to improve the personnel as well as the organisation and methods of its government
offices.

Study Area IX: Short Notes:

1. Role of Executive, Legislature and Judiciary in Public Administration
2.
3.
4.
5.

Types of Communication
Essentials of Good Governance
Politics Administration dichotomy 2001, 2003,
Taylors Scientific Management 2002, 2005,

6. Coordination Methods - 2002

7. Communication Breakdown in organizations
8. Budget as a control device 2002,
9. Administrative Ethics 2003,
10. Role of civil society in Public Administration
11. Management by Objectives (MBO) 2005,
12. Administrative Law 2005,
13. E-government 2005,
14. New Public Management (NPM)

a)
b)
c)

Short notes- 2016

Incremental budgeting
Planning programming budgeting system
Dissensus budgeting

Short notes 2014

a) Woodrow Wilson's contribution to Public Administration
b) Planning process in Pakistan
c) Zero Based Budgeting

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Ahmad and Altaf Sheikh

Short notes - 2013

a) Role of public administration in modern welfare state.
b) Ecology of Bureaucracy
c) Problems of co-ordination in public administration in Pakistan.
d) Performance Budgeting

Short notes 2012

(a) Planning Machinery in Pakistan.
(b) The system of Public Personnel Management in Pakistan.
(c) The organization of Federal and Provincial government in Pakistan
(d) Problems of co-ordination in Public Administration in Pakistan.

a)
b)
c)
d)
e)

Short notes 2011

E-government in Pakistan
Judicial activism
F. Taylors Scientific Management Theory
Theory X and Theory Y
New Public Management Concept

AREA OF FOCUS
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Role & Interaction of and between Executive, Judiciary & Legislature.

Communication, its types, its breakdown in organizations.
E-government
New Public Management
All topics included

Study Area IX: Miscellaneous

2013- What are the communication issued for the Citizen-Government relationship in Pakistan?
2008 - Analyze the Recruitment and training process of Central and Provincial Service?
2008 - Discuss various styles of leadership? What style of leader you prefer? Justify your preference?
2008 - The CSP officers were accused of harbouring a colonial mentality of being little more
"Brown Englishmen's in the conduct of duties .Do you agree with this observation. Comment.
2008 - "The Hawthornes studies played a significant role in changing the dominant view at the time the
employees were no different from any other machines that the organization used." Discuss human
relation movement with particular emphasis on the Hawthornes studies?
2007 Describe briefly the merit system and its disadvantages.
2006 Work is accomplished by the employees who have not yet reached their level of
incompetence. Explain in the light of structure and operation of hierarchies in the government.
2005 What are various methods of legislative control over executive in Pakistan? Why these controls
are not so effective and taken lightly by the bureaucracy?

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2005 In democracy, political neutrality of civil servants is only a normative value. They have to
endorse and follow the policies of the ruling party as they cannot afford to act otherwise. Discuss and
suggest remedies.
2004 Write in detail the main hindrances of effective communication. Can these be remedied?
2002 Compare the Executive leadership in Pakistan with its political leadership. How the latter can
further be improved?
2001 Describe the role of government in human resource management at enterprise level with
particular reference to Pakistan.
2000 Describe role and functions of political and administrative leadership. How can we reconcile
the conflict between political and administrative leadership?

Best of luck for your exams. Yes, You can do it, if u believe you can.

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