STUDY AREAS OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
NATURE, HISTORY, SCOPE AND FEATURES OF 2004 – “Public Administration is detailed and
PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
2016- It is easier to make a constitution than to run it.
Discuss in the light of Politics Administration
dichotomy.
2015- Define Public Administration and discuss the
commonalities and differences between public and
private administration.
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.
2013- Short Note: Role of public administration in
modern welfare state.
2011- Public administration refers to the
implementation of public policy. Discuss in detail.
2010- What is good governance? Explain the role of
public administration in good governance particularly
with reference to Pakistan?
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 of Public Administrator, as per
expectations of the people?
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 your
position on these issues and support your viewpoint
with examples.
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
SCHOOLS OF THOUGHT IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
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.
2011- Short Note: F. Taylor's “Scientific
Management Theory”
2011- Short Note: Theory X and Theory Y
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 Pakistan.
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
Aamir Mahar | 1
 PREPARED BY AAMIR MAHAR
1. Bureaucratic Model VS New Public Management
2. Theories of Max Weber, Fredrick W. Taylor,
Behavioural School of thought
3. Application & Integration of these theories &
Models lead to success. Yes/No? How/Why?
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- Short Note: Ecology of Bureaucracy
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- Discuss Max Weber’s concept of “ideal type
of bureaucracy”. How does it differ from the existing
public bureaucracy in Pakistan?
2010- Comparatively evaluate Taylor's scientific
management & Weber's ideal bureaucracy & discuss.
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 Weber’s 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 Taylor’s scientific
management and Weber’s bureaucracy. Do you
think these two theories are still relevant to changing
public administration?
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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 Weber’s 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 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 Weber’s 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
GOOD GOVERNANCE
2015- Describe the basic elements of good
Governance and evaluate the role of media and civil
society institutions in improving the performance of
government.
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 Pakistan?
MOTIVATION
2014- Discuss Herzberg's Two factor theory of
motivation and examine its application in the context
of Public Administration in Pakistan.
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 Maslow’s
hierarchy of needs theory.
ORGANIZATION
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?
 PREPARED BY AAMIR MAHAR
2012-Short Note:-The organization of Federal and
Provincial government in Pakistan.
2010-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.
2002- Discuss the Organizational and functional
setup of the Federal and Provincial Governments in
Pakistan. How their relationship can further be
strengthened.
2005- 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.
1997- 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.
1995- Identify four theories of organization. Describe
one theory which you think can help in solving the
administrative problems in Pakistan
1993- Explain the concept of Public Corporation.
Critically analyze the working of public corporation in
Pakistan
PUBLIC POLICY, PLANNING, DECISION MAKING &
HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
2016- Public Administration in Pakistan has
penetrated the economy and society to such an
extent it brings into question how well public policies
work & how they can be implemented better. In your
answer focus on the following two major ways of
judging Policy Implementations.
a) Policy Analysis the extent to which a policy
achieves its objectives
b) Policy Evaluation whether implementation
maximizes appropriate values.
2014- Short Note: Planning process in Pakistan
2013-What is planning? Why are the disadvantages of
planning called potential disadvantages? Outline the
relationship among the six steps in the planning
process.
2012. Short Note: Planning Machinery in Pakistan.
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 Pakistan?
2010 - Compare AND Contrast rational, incremental
and NPM approaches to decision making in Public
Administration. Explain your views with examples
from Pakistan.
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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? Discus
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
FINANCIAL ADMINISTRATION, BUDGETING &
PRIVATIZATION
2016- Governamental Budgets remain an area of
general concern as well as controversy. Considerable
attention is given to taxation and other sources of
governamental revenues. Discuss the federal budget
process in Pakistan paying special attention to its
ability to find governamental activity and help
regulate the economy’s business cycles.
2016- Short Note: Incremental budgeting
2016- Short Note: Planning Programming Budget
System
2016- Short Note: Dissensus Budgeting
2014- Short Note: Zero Based Budgeting
2012- What is performance budgeting? Bring out its
merits, limitations and difficulties.
2013- Short Note: Performance Budgeting
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
 PREPARED BY AAMIR MAHAR
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
(negative/ positive) on the economy.
3. Budgeting, Principles of budgeting, deficit
budgeting, its importance.
HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT (HRM)
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 Pakistan?
NEW PUBLIC MANAGEMENT NPM
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?
2011-Short Note: New Public Management Concept.
2010- Compare & Contrast the Bureaucratic model
with new public management (NPM). Do you think
that NPM has replaced the bureaucratic approach to
public add? Support your views with examples from
Pakistan.
DECISION MAKING
2010- Compare AND Contrast rational, incremental
and NPM approaches to decision making in Public
4
Administration. Explain your views with examples
from Pakistan.
ADMINISTRATIVE LEADERSHIP &
ADMINISTRATIVE LAW
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.
AREA OF FOCUS
1. What is administrative law?
2. Principles & Practice of administrative law.
3. Administrative leadership & its in-built mechanism
of maintaining efficiency & integrity
ACCOUNTABILITY & AUDITING
2016- The Supreme Court in Pakistan asserts the right
of Judicial Review. Explain how in the development of
Administrative Law the right of Judicial Review was
first enforced by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1803 in
the case of Marboury V. Madison.
2015- Describe the powers and functions of
ombudsman office in Pakistan and examine its role in
controlling administrative injustices to the common
citizen.
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.
2012- Despite the plethora of controlling institutions,
administrative accountability is still a pipe dream in
Pakistan; why?
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.
2007 - 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.
2003 – 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
 PREPARED BY AAMIR MAHAR
modern managerial methods to check the leakage of
funds in the public sector organizations.
AREA OF FOCUS
1. Judicial Accountability & its remedies
2. Administrative Accountability & its types
3. Causes of failure of accountability in democratic
government and suggestions to improve it.
4. Corruption in public sector, its causes, controlling
methods and prevention
ADMINISTRATIVE LEADERSHIP
2013- Transactional and transformational leadership
styles are suggested for political leader. Which one is
better for Pakistan and why?
2013- Describe a situation in which each of the
following types of leadership is appropriate:
a. Authoritarian
b. Democratic
c. Benevolent Autocrat
d. Laissez- Faire
2011- 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?
2008- Discuss various styles of leadership? What style
of leader you prefer? Justify your preference?
2004- The administrative leadership needs three
bases to e securely build up namely personal, political
and institutional. Do you agree with this statement?
Explain.
2002- Compare the Executive Leadership in Pakistan
with its political leadership. How the later can further
be improved.
2000- Differentiate between the roles and functions
of political and administrative leadership. How can we
reconcile the conflict between political and
administrative leadership?
1995- 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.
PERSONNEL ADMINISTRATION
2016- The government is seized the objective of
implanting 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 organization and methods of its
government offices.
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
5
Resource Management in Public Sector of Pakistan
from an administrative and operational role to a
strategic one.
2013- What are the communications issued for the
Citizen-Government relationship in Pakistan?
2012- Short Note: The system of Public Personnel
Management in Pakistan.
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 can not afford to act otherwise. Discuss and
suggest remedies.
2004- Describe the scope of personnel administration
with special reference to aristocratic system of
personnel administration.
2002- Why the recently introduced reforms by the
Government of Pakistan are severely criticized by
some of the Government Servants, suggest remedies
for improvement.
2001- Discuss the role of government in human
resource management at enterprise level with
particular reference to Pakistan.
2000- 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?
MISCELLANEOUS
2016- Today Public Administration in Pakistan seems
to be in a state of prolonged and slow moving crisis,
seemingly lacking coherent paradigm and conceptual
framework. Discuss this statement with arguments for
and against.
2014- Critically examine the control mechanisms and
process in Pakistan and suggest measures to
strengthen the system to overcome maladministration
and corruption.
2013- Discuss the role of social media in
implementing public accountability in the developing
societies like Pakistan.
2013- What is the difference between power and
authority? Describe the role of power in the control
process.
2013- Elaborate the interference of HALLO EFFECT
and STEREOTYPING in the recruitment of knowledge
workers?
2011-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?
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
 PREPARED BY AAMIR MAHAR
Englishmen's in the conduct of duties. Do you agree 2011- New Public Management Concept
with this observation, comment? 2010- No Short Notes
2008 - "The Hawthorne’s studies played a 2009- No Short Notes
significant role in changing the dominant view at the 2008- No Short Notes
time the employees were no different from any other 2007- No Short Notes
machines that the organization used." Discuss human 2006- No Short Notes
relation movement with particular emphasis on the 2005- Taylor's Scientific Management
Hawthorne’s studies? 2005- Elton Mayo's Hawthorn Experiments
2007 – Describe briefly the merit system and its 2005- Management by Objectives (MBO)
disadvantages. 2005- Administrative Law
2006 – Work is accomplished by the employees who 2005- E-Government
have not yet reached their level of incompetence. 2005- Ombudsman
Explain in the light of structure and operation of 2004- No Short Notes
hierarchies in the government. 2003- No Short Notes
2005 – What are various methods of legislative 2002- Crises in public corporation of Pakistan.
control over executive in Pakistan? Why these controls 2002- Communication breakdown in organization
are not so effective and taken lightly by the 2002- Budget as control device
bureaucracy? 2002- Coordination Methods
2004 – Write in detail the main hindrances of effective 2001- Public Choice Theory
communication. Can these be remedied? 2001- Politics - Administration Dichotomy
2002 – Compare the Executive leadership in Pakistan 2001- Devolution and Good Governance
with its political leadership. How the latter can further 2001- Scientific Management.
be improved? 2000- Problems of coordination in public
2001 – Describe the role of government in human administration of Pakistan
resource management at enterprise level with 2000- Role of Executive, Legislature, and Judiciary in
particular reference to Pakistan. Public Administration
2000 – Describe role and functions of political and 2000- Types of Communication.
administrative leadership. How can we reconcile the 2000- Requirements for Good Governance
conflict between political and administrative
leadership? RECOMMENDED BOOKS
1. Public Administration by Sultan Khan
SHORT NOTES 2. Personnel Administration by Sultan Khan
2016- Dissensus Budgeting 3. Public Administration (According to New
2016- Incremental budgeting Syllabus) by Waqas Raaheed
2016- Planning Programming Budget System 4. Public Administration by Adeel Niaz and
2015- No Short Notes Nawazish Ali (JWT)
2014- Woodrow Wilson's contribution to Public
Administration
2014- Planning process in Pakistan
2014- Zero Based Budgeting
2013- Role of public administration in modern
welfare state.
2013- Ecology of Bureaucracy
2013- Problems of co-ordination in Public
Administration in Pakistan.
2013- Performance Budgeting
2012- Planning Machinery in Pakistan.
2012- The system of Public Personnel Management in
Pakistan.
2012-The organization of Federal and Provincial
government in Pakistan
2012- Problems of co-ordination in Public Aamir Mahar
Administration in Pakistan Email: aamirmahar321@gmail.com
2011- E-government in Pakistan
2011- Judicial activism
2011- F. Taylor’s “Scientific Management Theory”
2011- Theory X and Theory Y
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