NORTH SOUTH UNIVERSITY

PAD 201: Introduction to Public Administration

Sections: 01
Department of Political Science and Sociology
Fall 2023

Course Duration : 08 weeks

Class starts : 05/12/2023
Time and Location : Sunday and Tuesday at 08:00 – 11:00 NAC 602
Office Hour : Sunday and Tuesday 11:10 – 02:10 NAC 1189
Course Teacher : Saifuddin Ahmed
Email : Saifuddin.ahmed@northsouth.edu
Phone : 01744249329

Learning Objectives:

This GED course (PAD 201) attempts to introduce the students with the systematic analysis of
government operations and acquaint them with the key concepts, theories and praxis of the discipline of
Public Administration. At the end of the course, the students are expected to understand critical issues in
administrative sciences, such as the concept of public administration, management and organizations.
The evolution of the concept of public administration and its importance, the role and function of
government and public managers, the structure of government, the skills required by the public managers
in imparting duties, the difference between public and business management, the changing role of
government are also included in the discussion. Utmost care will be given to apply and relate the
theoretical knowledge in explaining the functions, complexities and dynamics of public governance in
Bangladesh. The students from various discipline will come to know the mode of operation of any state;
especially Bangladesh. This knowledge would benefit them throughout their professional and any other
practical life.

INSTITUTIONAL LEARNING OUTCOMES: (ILO)

After the completion of the course students will have the capacity to acquire knowledge about the basic
concepts and theories of administration of both public and private. The knowledge of the principles of
organization that they will learn from the contribution of different management theorists will provide them
with applying these in practice and identify the difference between rhetoric and reality in the sphere of
public administration.
Most importantly, the students will learn about the processes of administration in the country, how the
country is operating, formulating and implementing policies. They will come to know about the actual
policy formulators, and exercisers of power. Issues like control of administration, the planning and
budgetary process of the country will also be very clear to them.
The most significant learning of the students lie in understanding the proper process of the working of the
bureaucracy of the country. The characteristics of bureaucracy in general and Bangladesh in particular
will be vivid in the minds of students. This course expects to enable the students to examine the
contemporary governance issues of Bangladesh.

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Teaching Method:
The learning and teaching methods are designed for the students to engage with the subject area in a
participative and applied manner. The students’ active participation will be encouraged.

Course requirements:

Students’ Performance Evaluation

There will have three-fold aspects to evaluate students’ performance. One is Exam, second one is writing
paper and presentation and third one is class attendance.

Writing Paper and Presentation:

Students will be required to write a paper on a particular issue either individually or group wise. And the
written paper will be presented in the class room before his/her fellow mates and the course teacher.

Attendance/class participation:
Students’ attendance in the class lecture and their active participation has been given high priority. All
classes will be on the basis of interactive participation principles.

Marks Distribution
Sessional (70 marks for each course which students will be known before sitting for final examination):
Final examination 30%

Marks Distribution at a glance:

Sl. Heads Marks

1 Class Attendance 10
2 Assignment 20
4 Mid Term Examination (1*20) = 20
5 Quiz 1*20 20
6 Final Examination 30
Total Marks in a semester 100

Grading Policy:

Numerical Grade Letter Grade

93 – 100 A
90 – 92 A-
87 – 89 B+
83 – 86 B
80 – 82 B-
77 – 79 C+
73 – 76 C
70 – 72 C-
67 – 69 D+
60 – 66 D
Below 60 F
Marks in Class Attendance:

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 Attendance Range (in Percent) Marks
90% and above 10.00
85% to less than 90% 9.00
80% to less than 85% 8.00
75% to less than 80% 7.00
70% to less than 75% 6.00
65% to less than 70% 5.00
60% to less than 65% 4.00
55% to less than 60% 3.00
50% to less than 55% 2.00
45% to Less than 50 1.00
Less than 45% 0.00

Course Outline:
This is a projected outline of the readings throughout the semester. This might be altered in case of any
unavoidable situation.

Part-1: Public Administration- theory and practice

Week 1: 05/12/2023
Session-1
 Mutual Introduction: Students and teachers
 Assessment of needs and expectations of Students
 Discussion on Learning Objectives and methods
 An overview of the syllabus and reading materials
 Public Administration- Meaning and definition, Public vs. Private Administration
Session-2
 History of emergence as a distinct discipline/ Paradigm of Public Administration

Week 2:10/12/2023
Session-1
 Nature and Scope of Public Administration.
Session-2
 Bureaucracy

Week 3: 12/12/2023
Session-1
 Mid Term
 Assigning Term Paper
Session-2
 Decision making

Week 4: 17/12/2023 Part-2: Public Administration in Bangladesh

Session-1
 Structure of Bangladesh Public Administration
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Session-2:
 Structure of Bangladesh Civil Services
 Quiz

Week 5: 19/12/2023
Session-1
 Local Government system in Bangladesh (Urban and Rural Local government units)
o Upazila Parishad
Session-2
o Paurashava

Week 6: 24/12/2023
 Final Exam

The Readings:
The following readings are strongly recommended to read for particular lecture:

1. Ahmed, Tofail (2012): Decentralization and the Local State: a study on the Political Economy of
Bangladesh, Dhaka, Agamee Prokashani( Revised Second edition).

2. Ahmed, Tofail(2016): Bangladesh: Reform Agenda for Local Governance, Prothoma and BIGD(Brac
University
3. Ahmed, Syed Giasuddin (1986): Public Personnel Administration in Bangladesh
4. Bhagwan, Vishnoo & Bhushan, Vidya (2001): Public Administration
5. Fesler, James, W. (1999), Public Administration: Theory and Practice, New Jersey, Prentice-Hall Inc.
(Chapter 1)
6. Henry, Nicholas (1995): Public Administration and Public Affairs
7. Mahtab, Nazmunnessa(2003): Public Administration: Readings
8. Nigro, Felix A. & Nigro, Lioyd G.(1999): Modern Public Administration
9. Hicks G. Herbert & Gullett C. Ray (1975): Organizations: Theory and Behavior
10. Howlett, Michael and Ramesh, M. (2003): Studying Public Policy
11. Khan, Mohammad Mohabbat (1985): Bureaucratic self Preservation
12. Khan, Neaz Ahmed (2016): Challenges and Trends in Decentralised Local Governance in
Bangladesh published in Working Paper of Institute of South Asian Studies, National University of
Singapore.
13. Rahman, Md. Mostafizur (2014): Good Governance: Theory and Practice
14. Siddique, Kamal (2005): Local Government in Bangladesh
15. Wahhab, M. Abdul (2002): Decentralization in Bangladesh: Theory and Practice
16. White, L.D.: Introduction to the Study of Administration

Note on PLAGIARISM
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NSU doesn’t tolerate any form of plagiarism by the students/candidates in their term papers, projects,
dissertation, or examination. As a matter of fact, unethical behavior is not acceptable in any form. Please
refer to the American Psychological Association (APA) Publication Manual (2001) as a guide in citing and
referencing other people’s work to avoid being accused of plagiarism.

NOTE: The NSU authority/course teacher preserves the right to bring any changes to any section of this
plan
WISHING YOU A GREAT SEMESTER!!!