Tarleton State University: MAPA-5300

1.          Describe the differences between public and private administration in terms of:

a. constitutional arrangements

b. the public interest

c. markets

d. sovereignty

2.          Take each of the approaches to public administration—managerial (traditional and NPM), political, and legal—and state the values associated with each approach.  Continue the discussion by taking any three of the following six characteristics, and explain how each relates to each of the different approaches: organizational structure, view of the individual, cognitive approach, budgeting, decision making, and characterization of government function. (Hint: you should have four headings with discussion of their values then discussion of three characteristics for each.)

3.          Any discourse on public administration uses terms like “the public interest,” “equity,” “effectiveness,” and “efficiency.”  Can these terms be defined in a fashion that could provide specific guidance for public administrators?  How would you define them?

4.     Woodrow Wilson describes a stark separation between politics and administration, which becomes known as the P/A dichotomy. Briefly describe the argument/evidence he uses to come to that conclusion.

5.     How does Gulick answer the question of "What is the work of the chief executive? What does he do?" Name and define each of the 7 functions.