The module would review the evolution of concepts of public administration and the development of distinct public administrative traditions notably Confucian, Anglophone, Francophone, Islamic and the emergence of modern public administration theory as conceived in international organization and the international literature. The module would then focus on the role of the civil service as a core concern of public administration and review and analyse the different components of the civil service role, how these are conceived and carried out in different country cases. This second half of the module would take a more practical focus on the machinery of government including functional standards, departmental structures and human resource elements including employee status and career development. Cases from different country systems would be compared and analysed to identify commonalities and differences and to consider the practical, cultural or historical reasons for these.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the module students should be able to:
Understand the evolution of public administration from different historical, cultural and geographical influences and the similarities and differences between key international public administration traditions or approaches
Understand the role of the civil service in the governmental systems of at least two country cases and be capable of carrying out comparative analysis of the relationship between the civil service and other actors in the governmental system in different countries.
Understand the approach to human resources management in different civil service systems and how and why these human resources practices in civil service internationally are evolving.
Understand and analyse the organization of the main central government functions and the key choices involved in designing these.
Assessment
38864-01 : Essay 1 - 2000 words : Coursework (50%)
38864-02 : Essay 2 - 2000 words : Coursework (50%)
Assessment Methods & Exceptions
Assessment::
1 x 2000 word essay (50%) 1 x 2000 word essay (50%)
