Module:                                 PBT303 Administration and Public Policy

Programme:                          BA Political Science and Sociology

Credit value:                         12

Module tutor:                        

General objective

This module provides students with an understanding of the conceptual aspects of public administration and public policy. The module aims to equip students with the theoretical tools to analyze and understand the essence of modern public policy making and administration in general and in the context of Bhutan.

Learning outcomes

On completion of the module, learners will be able to:

• Illustrate the meaning and scope of public administration.

• Apprise the functioning of bureaucracy in Bhutan

• Explain different decision –making models in public administration

• Critically analyze the system on various criteria of governance.

• Discuss the concept of public policy.

• Examine new development in public management theories/models

• Analyze the importance of modern mechanisms for better governance

• Evaluate the process of policy making in Bhutan.

Learning and Teaching Approach

Assessment Approach

Assessments  will  be  carried  out  on  a  continuous  basis  through  the  following assignments:

A. Written Assignment: Portion of the final mark: 35%

The written assignment will be worth 30%, one assignment will be given for the module. The assignment will be of 2000-3000-word limit.

• 5% - Organization
• 10% - Content and arguments formed
• 5% - language and referencing

B. Presentation: Portion of the final mark: 15%

Each student will be asked to do one presentation for the module. The presentation will be for 10 minutes.

• 2.5% - Organization
• 10% - Content
• 2.5% - presentation

C. Class participation: Portion of the final mark: 10%

Student will be divided into group for discussion once a week; each student has to lead at least one group discussion.

D. End Semester Exam: Portion of the final mark: 40%

End semester will be conducted after the completion of Week 15. Questions will cover all the subject matter of the modules. Questions will be divided into three sections – A, B and C separating objective-short answer question and long answer questions. The examination will be for three hours for a total of 100 marks.

• 20% - Objective/short answer questions
• 20% - Long answer questions

Overview of the assessment approaches and weighting

Subject matter

Unit I:

• Public  Administration  as  a  discipline:  Meaning,  Scope  and  Approaches

Unit II: Administrative theories

• The classical theory- origins and features
• Scientific management – define, challenges
• The human relations theory- define, Origins and key features
• Rational- decision-making – define, Origins and key features

Unit III: Bureaucracy

• Theories, types and role
• Bureaucracy in Bhutan: Structure, Recruitment, Training, Role, Problems, Criticism, and Role of RCSC Civil service Act

Unit IV: Public Policy:

• Concept and theories
•  Relevance of Policy making in administration and processes of policy formulations
•  Implementation and Evaluation
•  NGOs – roles of NGO in policy making

Unit V: Models of decision-making

• Rational actor models- define, feature and limitation
• Incremental models – define, features and limitation
• Bureaucratic  organization  models  –  define,  features  and limitation
• Belief system models – define, features and limitations

Unit VI: System Performance

• Stability and order – challenges and examples
• Material Prosperity – examples and challenges
• Citizenship – self help vs. institutional involvement
• Democratic rule – advantages and challenges

Unit VII: Contemporary developments

• New public management – meaning and developments
• Good governance and development – meaning and examples (Bhutan)
• Corporate governance – define and limitations and examples
• Feminist and ecological perspective on public policy and administration

Unit VIII: Administration and citizens

• Meaning and forms of public accountability
• NGOs and peoples participation
• Re-address of public grievances

Unit IX

• Policy  making  in  Bhutan:  Institutions,  ideology,  and participation of citizens, Transparency, accountability, Right to information.

Reading List 

Essential Reading

Awasthi and Maheshwari, (2003) Public Administration, New Delhi

Basu, R. (2013) Public Administration: Concepts and Theories, Sterling Publishers Pvt. Ltd.,

Dye. R. T, (2012) Understanding public policy (14thEdn.), Pearson, Delhi, India. Farazmand Ali, (1999) Globalization and Public Administration.

Henry, N. (2012) Public Administration and Public Affairs (12th edition). Longman Publishing Group.

RGOB (1999) Bhutan 2020: A vision for peace prosperity and happiness. Royal Government of Bhutan, Thimphu

RGOB (2012), Position Classification system (pdf) from  http://www.rcsc.gov.bt

RGOB (n.d), OD reports(pdf) from  http://www.rcsc.gov.bt/wpcontent/uploads/2014/06/Brochure_2013.pdf

RGOB (n.d), The Idea of Citizenship (pdf) from  http://www.rcsc.gov.bt

Date: August 2015