This unit introduces students to key theories and concepts in the discipline of public administration. These concepts provide the foundation for other units of the Master of Public Administration. They lead us to ‘big ideas’, such as the role of government in society, post-colonialism and transparency of information.

Starting from an exploration of the nature of government and the roles played by public sector organisations, we examine three main paradigms: traditional Weberian bureaucracy; New Public Management; and Neo-Weberian State, along with mention of approaches such as problem-driven iterative adaptation (PDIA). We explore seven important concepts: role of government; accountability for outcomes; decentralisation; clientelism; co-production, tools of government and e-government.

We consider how these are present and help shape public administration, noting the practical challenges for public sector management in the Papua New Guinean context.