Most Repeated Questions of Public Administration
Public Administration
1. Define Public Administration.What changes do you forsee in the role of government to meet the demands of the public in the 21st century?(1998)
2. How the constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan envisages an egalitarian Islamic Welfare State in Pakistan?Why were could not so far realize this objectivety in these 50 years?Is it not an infringement of our constitution?(1997)
3. Write an essay on "the role of Public Administartion in a modern welfare state." (1998) (1999)
4. Describe the characteristic feature of Public Administration and highlight the strengths and weaknesses within the framework of government.(2000)
5. Define the notion of good governance.Discuss the scope and functions of public administration within the framework of governance(2001)
6. Discuss how good governance can be introduced in the Bureaucracy of Pakistan and used as an instrument of rapid economic growth.(2002)
7. What is "New Public Management?" To what extent NPM explains the administrative reforms in Pakistan, which have been undertaken in the last few years?Discuss with examples.(2003)
8. "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 administrtion in the light of above statement.(2004)
9. In a democratic state,government is said to be the WILL of the people in action.The concept has widened the scope of Public Adminstration. Why should be the new role of public administrator,as per examinations of the people?(2005)
10. It has been said that "Administration is the most obvious part of the government in action;it is the executive, the operative, the most visible side of government and is ofcourse as old as government itself".Discuss the above statement in light of the theory and practice of Public Administration(2006)
11. Discuss the general problems comprising the elements of public administration in detail.(2007)
12. 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? (2008).
13. Write a short essay on the intellectual history of Public Administration (2009)
14. Define public Administration.Explain and justify your definition in comparison with various other competing definitions of public ad.Do you think public Administration is different from business administration both in theory and practice? (2010)
15.Public administration refers to the implementation of public policy. Discuss in detail. (2011)
16.Short Note: Role of public administration in modern welfare state.(2013)
17.Define Public Administration and discuss its nature and scope. Critically examine the challenges of Public Administration in the 21st Century with reference to Pakistan. (2014)
18. Define public administration and discuss the commonalities and differences between public and private administration. (2015)
Theories
1. Short Note: F. Taylor’s “Scientific Management Theory” (2011)
2. Short Note: Theory X and Theory Y (2011)
3. 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. (2012)
Social Thoughts
1. Give a brief account of major schools of thoughts in Administration. Compare and contrast the theoretical foundation of Scientific Management Movement and human Relation.(1995)
2. Identify the major schools of thoughts in Administrations. Give a detailed account of these schools(1996)
3. The enigma of politics in Pakistan could not help democratize the administrative behavior in Pakistan. Please offer your comments (1997)
4. Identify the major schools of thoughts in administration. Give arguments in favor of a school of thought, which may guide us to change the orientation of government administration in Pakistan from status quo to development (1998 held in 1999)
5. Give a comprehensive account of Behavioural School of thought in administration. How can it be made instrumental for good governance in Pakistan?(2000)
6. Discuss how an integrated approach to various schools of thought of management can be applied, by the present day administrators, for the success of their organizations?(2002)
7. Give a comprehensive account of Behavioral School of thought in administration. How can it be made instrumental for good governance in Pakistan?(2003)
8. Fredrick W Taylor is considered the originator of the scientific management movement. Explain the principle of scientific management propounded by him.(2006)
9. The Hawthrone 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 hawthrone studies?(2008)
10. 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)
11.Give a precise but comprehensive account of major schools of thoughts in administration. Also compare and contrast Taylor's Management and Human Relations. (2012)
Bureaucracy
1. Analyze the ecology of bureaucracy in Pakistan bringing out the linkage between conditions in which bureaucracy in Pakistan works and their general performance(1994)
2. Write a critical note on Max Webber’s theory of bureaucracy.Give your views on its application to the existing administrative system in Pakistan.(1995)
3. Highlight the negative and positive characteristics of bureaucracy.Examine the role of Civil Service of Pakistan as change agent(1996)
4. Define the concept of bureaucracy .Evaluate the performance of bureaucracy of Pakistan as change agent.(1998 held in 1999)
5. Explain the meaning of Ecology. Suggest ecological changes which may improve the performance of the bureaucracy of Pakistan.(2000)
6. Explain Max Weber's theory of bureaucracy. In your opinion, has
bureaucracy outlived its usefulness? Why or why not?(2001)
7. Discuss how good governance can be introduced in the Bureaucracy of Pakistan and used as an instrument of rapid economic growth.(2002)
8. Compare and contrast “Taylor’s scientific management and Weber’s bureaucracy.Do you think these two theories are still relevant to changing public administration.(2003)
9. 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?(2005)
10. What is Bereaucracy? Why is it so important to the effective functioning of organisation? Explain in the light of Max Weber's theory of Bereaucracy.(2006)
11. 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.(2007)
12. "Bureaucratic power is not the same as administration effectiveness.A poweful bureacracy is administratively weak".What are your reasons for agreement or disagreement with the statement?(2008)
13. Bureaucracy and Democrarcy 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. (2009)
14. Comparatively evaluate Taylor's scientific management & Weber's ideal bureaucracy & discuss.(2010)
15.Discuss Max Weber’s concept of “ideal type of bureaucracy”. How does it differ from the existing public bureaucracy in Pakistan?(2011)
16.Critically examine the Weberian model of bureaucracy. Do you think its characteristics are still relevant to changing Public Administration and should be maintained?(2012)
17. Short Note:- Ecology of Bureaucracy (2013)
18.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?(2014)
New Public Management(NPM)
1. Compare & Contrast the Bureaucratic model with new public management(NPM).Do you think NPM has replaced the bureaucratic approach to public ad?support your views with examples from Pakistan.(2010)
2.Short Note: New Public Management Concept (2011)
3. 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)
Human Resource Management(HRM)
1.Human Resource Management(HRM) is a contemporary approach to managing people in business org.What are the salient features of HRM model?Do you think this model is being applied to reform personnel system in Pakistan?(2010)
Decision Making
1.Compare AND Contrast rational,incremental and NPM approaches to decision making in public ad.Explain your views with examples from Pakistan.(2010)
Administrative Leadership
1. Bring out various qualities of administrative leadership necessary for obtaining results.Use examples from Pakistan.(1994)
2. What do you understand by Administrative Leadership? Select an approach to the study of leadership and examine its suitability to deal with the middle level management problems In Pakistan(1995)
3. Differentiate between the roles and functions of political and administrative leadership. How can we reconcile the conflict between political and administrative leadership?(2000)
4. Compare the Executive Leadership in Pakistan with its political leadership. How the later can further be improved.(2002)
5. “The administrative leadership needs three bases to e securely build up namely personal, political and institutional”. Do you agree with this statement? Explain.(2004)
6. Discuss various styles of leadership? What style of leader you prefer? Justify your preference?(2008)
7.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? (2011)
8.Transactional and transformational leadership styles are suggested for political leader. Which one is better for Pakistan and why?(2013)
9.Describe a situation in which each of the following types of leadership is appropriate
2013)
a. Authoritarian
b. Democratic
c. Benevolent Autocrat
d. Laissez- Faire
Administrative Accountability
1. What kind of role can be played by judiciary in strengthening the system of administrative accountability?Discuss in the light of condition prevailing in Pakistan?(1993)
2. How far has the institution of Ombudsman(Wafaqi Muhtasib) proved to be successful in checking efficiency, Inertia and misuses of authority in the administrative machinery in Pakistan?.(1994)
3. Why “Administrative Accountability” is necessary in the public service? Suggest proper means to improve the system of accountability in running the affairs of government in Pakistan.(1995)
4. Describe the organization and function of Wafaqi Mohtasib in Pakistan.(1996)
5. Discuss the problem of administrative accountability in Pakistan.how should we solve these problems(1998 held in 1999)
6. Where constitutional powers are limited and their exercise subject to judicial review, the activities of the legislature, and hence the limits of executive action, are subject to determination in the law courts.Does this statement effectively explains the process of judicial review of legislative and executive action in Pakistan.Explain(1999).
7. 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)
8. 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(2003)
9. “The administrative accountability of the public services is done under two heads that is internal and external control in Pakistan. Elaborate these in detail.(2004)
10. What are various methods of legislative control over executive in Pakistan? Why these controls are not so effective and taken lightly by the bureaucracy?(2005)
11. Explain the salient features of National Accountability Strategy as prepared by the National Accountability Bureau. Can it be called a complete strategy of Effective Governanace?(2006)
12. 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.
(2007 and 2009)
13. 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. (2012)
14. Despite the plethora of controlling institutions, administrative accountability is still a pipe dream in Pakistan; why? (2012)
15. Describe the powers and functions of ombudsman office in Pakistan and examine its role in controlling administrative injustices to the common citizen. (2015)
Planning
1. Decribe in details the process of economic planning in Pakistan.Also discuss the major issue in implementation of plans and projects.(1993)
2. Describe the system of planning and programming in Pakistan.How can the gap between planning and implementation be bridged for achieving the objective of rapid socio-economics development in Pakistan. (1995)
3. Describe the structural and functional compostition of planning machinery in Pakistan.How can the big gap between planning and implementation be bridged to reduced the cost of development in future(1998 held in 1999)
4. Explain the process of planning in Pakistan at provincial and federal levels.What role does the planning Communication of Pakistan plays in the process(1999)
5. Critically examine the planning process and machinery in Pakistan.(2002)
6. What is administrative planning? Explain it in the light of personnel and techniques.(2004)
7. One of the writers on planning Mr. Pfiffner points out that the constitution of a country is a plan. Every planning and purposeful activity is preceded by preparation for action. Do you agree with this statement? Discuss.(2007)
8. Eplain the system of project planning in the government of Pakistan and how does it extend to the provinces and local governments? (2009)
9.Short Note:-Planning Machinery in Pakistan.(2012)
10.What is planning? Why are the disadvantages of planning called potential disadvantages? Outline the relationship among the six steps in the planning process.(2013)
11.Short Note: Planning process in Pakistan (2014)
Organization
1. Expalin the concept of Public Corporation.Critically analyze the working of public corporation in Pakistan(1993)
2. Identify four theories of organization.Describe one theory which you think can help in solving the administrative problems in Pakistan(1995)
3. Explain how an organization has its own peculiar structure and function.Despite their legal entity how the bureaucratic departmentalization frustrates public deviating from their fixed objectives.(1997)
4. Discuss the Organizational and functional setup of the Federal and Provincial Governments in Pakistan. How their relationship can further be strengthened.(2002)
5. Public Corporations are created because government departments are not conducive to initiative and flexibility required in modern times. Discuss as to what extent these objectives have been achieved by public corporations in Pakistan. Give examples, where possible.(2005)
6.Discuss the functions and organizational structure of federal govt.of Pakistan including administrative relations between federal ministries and federal bodies such as commissions,authorities,boards & state-owned enterprises. (2010)
7.Short Note:-The organization of Federal and Provincial government in Pakistan. (2012)
8. 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? (2015)
Motivation
1. 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 Maslow’s hierarchy of needs theory.(2011)
2.Discuss Herzberg's Two factor theory of motivation and examine its application in the context of Public Administration in Pakistan. (2014)
Personal Administration
1. The structure if civil services is often described as a legacy of colonial rule.What changes are required in its structure and working in order to bring it in line with the needs of a modern democratic state?(1993)
2. Describe the major features of public personnel management in the government of Pakistan and suggest reforms in the light of your comments and description.(1994)
3. Higlight the salient features of the system of Public Personnel Management in Pakistan.How the principle of Merit is gradually replaced by the policy of patronage.(1995)
4. All the governments servants are public servants. Please explain how?Where the fault lies that they tend to dictate but least bother to serve the citizens.(1997)
5. Prepare a list of salient features if the system of public personnel management in Pakistan.How is the growing trend of political patronage can be checked to reduce the magnitude of corruption in public service?(1998 held in 1999)
6. What structural changes would you suggest to change the orientation of public personnel management in Pakistan from "ruling elite" to "serving civil servants" to achieve the objectives of poverty alleviation and development.(2000)
7. Discuss the role of government in human resource management at enterprise level with particular reference to Pakistan.(2001)
8. Why the recently introduced reforms by the Government of Pakistan are severely criticized by some of the Government Servants, suggest remedies for improvement.(2002)
9. Describe the scope of personnel administration with special reference to aristocratic system of personnel administration.(2004)
10. 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 can not afford to act otherwise. Discuss and suggest remedies.(2005)
11.Short Note:6.The system of Public Personnel Management in Pakistan.(2012)
12.What are the communication issued for the Citizen-Government relationship in Pakistan?(2013)
13.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. (2014)
14. What is meant by personnel administration? What critical issues need to be taken care of in devising efficient system of personnel management? (2015)
Performance Budgeting
1.What is performance budgeting? Bring out its merits, limitations and difficulties.(2012)
2.Short Note:Performance Budgeting (2013)
3.Short Note:Zero Based Budgeting (2014)
Good Governance
1.What is good governance?Explain the role of public administration in good governance particularly with reference to Pakistan?(2010)
2. Explain the concept of Good Governance. How can good governance ensure efficient and effective public service delivery at the grass roots level in Pakistan. (2011)
3. Describe the basic elements of good Governance and evaluate the role of media and civil society institutions in improving the performance of government. (2015)
Miscellaneous
1.The flow and management of funds is the lifeblood of our system of public administration. Explain the government’s budgetary system. Is it an inherently political process? (2011)
2. Discuss the role of social media in implementing public accountability in the developing societies like Pakistan. (2013)
3. What is the difference between power and authority? Describe the role of power in the control process. (2013)
4. Elaborate the interference of HALLO EFFECT and STEREOTYPING in the recruitment of knowledge workers.?(2013)
5.Critically examine the control mechanisms and process in Pakistan and suggest measures to strengthen the system to overcome maladministration and corruption. (2014)
6. Describe the system of auditing in Pakistan and examine its role in combating corruption and financial miss-management in government departments. (2015)
Short Note
01. Woodrow Wilson's contribution to Public Administration (2014)
02. Problems of co-ordination in Public Administration in Pakistan. (2012, 2013)
03. Judicial Actvisim 2011
04. E-government in Pakistan (2011)
05. Role of Executive, Legislature and Judiciary in Public Administration
06. Types of Communication
07. Essentials of Good Governance
08. Politics – Administration dichotomy – 2001, 2003,
09. Taylor’s Scientific Management – 2002, 2005,
10. Coordination Methods - 2002
11. Communication Breakdown in organizations
12. Budget as a control device – 2002,
13. Administrative Ethics – 2003,
14. Role of civil society in Public Administration
15. Management by Objectives (MBO) – 2005,
16. Administrative Law – 2005,
17. E-government – 2005, 2011
18. New Public Management (NPM)
A R Khan Chachar CSS_2016