Unit 1. The study of public administration and bureaucracy. Is contemporary public administration theory more influential than its classical counterpart?
Can public administration be international in scope?
Is bureaucracy the best option for organizing government?
Unit 2. Dilemmas of public policy. Is it possible to balance efficiency and equity in public policy?
Do bureaucrats have more influence on public policy than other branches of government do?
Is it possible to coordinate federal, state, and local governments in a way that allows policy making to be more efficient?
Unit 3. The politics-administration dichotomy. Do bureaucrats need to be politically neutral to be effective?
Should government run like a business?
Should governments use the private sector to deliver public services?
Unit 4. Functions of government workers : administration, management, and budgeting. Does performance management lead to better policy outcomes?
Is employment equity necessary?
Is it possible to motivate workers in a manner that increases job satisfaction in the public sector?
Should incrementalism be the guiding budgeting philosophy of public agencies?
Do we need more budget flexibility for discretionary spending compared to entitlements?
Unit 5. Administrative ethics. Should whistleblowing be encouraged in the public service?
Are external controls effective tools for ensuring principled conduct?
Should public employees have collective bargaining rights?
Unit 6. Has e-governance had a dramatic influence on public administration?
Should public agencies use social media to reach the citizenry?