This Course Guide has been taken from the most recent presentation of the course. It would be useful for reference purposes but please note that there may be updates for the following presentation.
PUAD A202
Introduction to Public Administration
Welcome to PUAD A202 Introduction to Public Administration.
This Course Guide prepares you for studying PUAD A202. After this introduction, which gives a general overview of the course and lists its aims and outcomes, there are sections on:
About the course
PUAD A202 is a middle-level, five-credit core course in HKMU's Bachelor of Social Sciences in Public Administration and Bachelor of Social Sciences with Honours in Public Administration.
PUAD A202 is designed for learners without prior knowledge from HKMU courses. The course is based on Hong Kong and western research experience, and Hong Kong examples will be used wherever appropriate.
This course will be delivered in distance learning mode. The five study units include a variety of guided activities and self-tests so as to engage you along your learning journey.
Course aims
The course aims to equip you with a thorough understanding of concepts and theories of public administration. In short, PUAD A202 aims to:
Course learning outcomes
Upon completion of PUAD A202, you should be able to:
Course organization
The following table shows you the study units for PUAD A202, the time taken to complete them, and the assignments that follow them.
| Unit | Title | Weeks of work | Assessment activity (end of unit) |
| 1 | The study of public administration | 3 | |
| 2 | From public administration to new public management | 3 | Assignment 1 |
| 3 | Improving the government's performance | 3 | |
| 4 | Managing the public sector | 3 | |
| 5 | Accountability in the public sector | 3 | Assignment 2 |
| Revision | 1 | ||
| Total | 16 |
In addition to this Course Guide, the course has the following important components.
Study units
The course has five units, including the following:
Unit 1 The study of public administration
This unit introduces you to the discipline and practice of public administration. It also examines some common definitions of public administration. By discussing the major roles of government, this unit reviews the differences between the public and private sectors and organizations. Finally, it addresses the question: 'Is/are the public sector and public organizations distinctively different from the private sector and private organizations?'
Unit 2 From public administration to new public management
This unit discusses the two major approaches to the study of public administration: the traditional model of public administration, and the new public management model. It examines differences between the ideas of the traditional public administration and the new public management models. This unit also evaluates the strengths and weaknesses of the traditional public administration and the new public management models with regards to their impacts on the operation of the public sector.
Unit 3 Improving the government's performance
This unit discusses why governments need to reform their public sectors, and examines three major tools that governments may use to improve their performance, including privatization, contracting out, and public- private partnerships. It also assesses the merits and demerits of each of these three tools, and addresses the question: 'Which of the tools is/are most effective for a government to improve its performance?'
Unit 4 Managing the public sector
This unit examines the three key domains to which a government must pay attention if it wants to manage its public sector effectively: strategic management, public personnel and financial management systems, and performance management. The unit studies the ideas of strategic management and the application of strategic management in the public sector. It also evaluates the strengths and weaknesses of the traditional public personnel and financial management systems, and examines key reforms that the new public management model has brought about to these systems. Finally, the unit reviews key ideas of performance management, and addresses the question: 'Is performance management an appropriate tool for use in the public sector?'
Unit 5 Accountability in the public sector
This concluding unit examines the concept of accountability and its different forms. It discusses the major purposes of a public sector accountability system, and examines the major mechanisms for holding the government accountable to the public. The unit also evaluates the effectiveness of these different accountability mechanisms. Finally, it discusses the question: 'Do public sector reforms enhance or undermine the government's accountability to the people?'
Set textbook
There is one textbook required for this course. It is:
Hughes, O E (2018) Public Management and Administration: An Introduction, 5th edn, London: Palgrave.
Supplementary readings
Selected readings from academic journals and book chapters will be used to enhance your knowledge acquisition and learning experience. You will be required to read these supplementary readings as you work through the study units.
E-Library E-Reserve readings
You may be instructed to read articles in the E-Library E-Reserve. To read these items, go to the University's E-Library and click on E-Reserve. Log in, click Accept/Agree on the Copyright Restrictions page, fill the Course Code box, and click Search.
Online and multimedia materials
You are required to access to the Online Learning Environment (OLE) during the course of your studies.
Equipment needed (IT resources)
You will need to have access to a computer with an Internet connection to gain access to the OLE as well as to some parts of the course.
Assignment File
For more information on the Assignment File, please refer to the Course Guide section on assessment that follows, and to the Assignment File itself.
Presentation Schedule
The Presentation Schedule is available on the OLE. It gives the dates for the beginning and completion of each study unit, the due date for each assignment, and the dates of tutorials and the supplementary lecture.
The PUAD A202 study units include activities and self-tests for self- assessment so that you can monitor your learning progress throughout the course. In addition, there will be formal assessment requirements for this course, including:
The assignments will serve as continuous assessments within the study period, and will contribute to 50% of your total course mark. The other 50% will be evaluated by the final examination.
Assignments
There are two tutor-marked assignments for the course:
Together, these two assignments will account for 50% of your total course mark. The assignments will comprise essay-type questions to which you will need to apply and integrate course concepts/theories.
Final examination and grading
There will be a final examination of three hours' duration at the end of the course. This final examination will count towards 50% of your total course mark. The examination will also consist of short-answer and essay-type questions to which you will need to apply and integrate course concepts/theories.
| Assessment | Marks |
| Assignments 1-2 | 50% |
| Final examination | 50% |
| Total | 100% |
Although there are quite a lot of topics and readings to be covered in this course, you should find studying it enjoyable and rewarding if you:
Because public administration is about the management of the government, it is highly related to your daily life. If you pay attention to what happens in your home town and in other countries around the world, you will easily find relevant cases to illustrate concepts and issues covered in the study units. You are therefore encouraged to develop the habit of reading newspapers and surfing the Internet to keep track of what is happening in both in your home town and around the world. Last but not least, you are encouraged to discuss any issue pertinent to the topics covered in the study units and readings with your fellow students (during tutorials and/or via the OLE), and with your tutor and course coordinator. The more you do so, the better you will be able to comprehend the subject matter of public administration.
Tutors and tutorials
Your tutor will conduct face-to-face non-compulsory tutorial sessions with a group of students (approximately 30) over the course presentation. At these sessions, key concepts will be reviewed; group and individual exercises conducted; topical issues discussed; individual student questions answered; and assistance provided to the completion of assignments.
Your tutor will also be available for weekly telephone contact at a time and phone number arranged with your tutorial groups. In addition to the tutorial work and telephone tutoring, your tutor will mark your assignments according to marking guides provided by the course coordinator, and provide you with comprehensive and timely feedback.
There will be five two-hour tutorials and one two-hour supplementary lecture provided in PUAD A202. Though the tutorials and supplementary lecture are not compulsory, you are strongly urged to attend all these face-to-face sessions so that you can discuss any questions and problems that you have about the study units and readings with your fellow classmates and tutor.
Online support
The course is supported by the Online Learning Environment (OLE). You can find the course materials and the latest course information from the OLE. The discussion board on the OLE will provide another learning avenue for you to interact with the Course Coordinator, your tutor, and your fellow students.
The roles that the government performs and the ways in which it operates have a profound impact on the lives of all citizens. Understanding how the public sector is managed and how the government is being held accountable to the public should therefore be of concern to all. The changing roles of government and changes that the new public management model have brought to the nature and operations of the public sector make this subject even more topical.
In order to understand the content of this course, you must study the course materials thoroughly and apply the concepts and theories you learn in order to analyse real-life cases.
Good luck with the course. We think you will find it an interesting one that gives you a greater understanding of an important aspect of the society in which you live.
The course developer, Dr Percy Lui, is currently an Assistant Professor (Public Administration) at the School of Arts and Social Sciences, Hong Kong Metropolitan University (HKMU).
Dr Lui has been involved in designing and teaching university courses in politics and public administration and teaching undergraduate and postgraduate courses since 2002. He is currently the programme leader of the Public Administration Programme (distance-learning mode).
