Public Administration

[shafia]

I have appeared in 2009 css exam with optionals like IR , Sindhi , Socoiology , public administration and Islamic history .For the last two subjects i referred to Public administration by Sultan Khan and for Islamic history by Prof K Ali .Although i found these books informative but i need more comprehensive material so seniors please recommend some good good books from exam point of view for Public administration and Islamic history .

[Debonair]

@ Public Administration:

As you have taken CSS-2009 Public Administration paper, so you must be aware that it was not about preparing it from this book or that book; it was about a candidate's 'application oriented understanding' of the subject.

I think one must know its evolution as a discipline, chief ideologues, and the modern trends in the field. Moreover, an understanding and knowledge of the 'Public Administration in Pakistan' is important.

Regards,
Debonair

[Thomas Anderson]

@ Public Administration:
As you have taken CSS-2009 Public Administration paper, so you must be aware that it was not about preparing it from this book or that book; it was about a candidate's 'application oriented understanding' of the subject.

Thanks for sharing your views.
Debonair which book you would recommend for public administration?

[Debonair]

If you want a single book, then Sultan Khan's book is OK. I've some other books, as well, with me, but they are not written in Pakistani context. Moreover, I don't remember their names right now, so I will have to go upstairs and look into my books' cupboard for those. You know, after the exams I've become rather lazy!

Anyway, personally, I don't like Sultan Khan's book, it's poorly written; and for me it's hard to bear with his not so good expression... I found VU's Lecture CDs and Handouts by Ms. Seemi Waheed to be quite helpful, but they lack in critical analysis of the issues as is the case with Sultan Khan's 'Public Administration'. So, in order to make up this deficiency, I would advise you to use the following book, as well, along with VU's Lecture CDs.

Nadeem ul Haque & Musleh-ud Din (Eds), Public Sector Efficiency_Perspectives on Civil Service Reform, Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE), Islamabad, 2007.

I think for CSS it's not good to use too many of the books on a subject, so it's enough if you use VU's CDs and the above mentioned book. VU-CDs would help you cover the course contents in Pakistani context, and the above book will help you develop a critical understanding of the issues of Public Administration in Pakistan.

Regards,
Debonair

PS you know, I've just taken the exam and don't know about my result in the subject, so I'm not in the capacity to recommend anything. You had better ask for the advice of the more experienced fellows as well. Good luck!

[Debonair]

Please also browse for the new trends in the field; like: New Public Management etc.

[Thomas Anderson]

You know, after the exams I've become rather lazy!

Happens to all of us! Thank god, you got lazy after exam, not before exam

PS you know, I've just taken the exam and don't know about my result in the subject, so I'm not in the capacity to recommend anything. You had better ask for the advice of the more experienced fellows as well. Good luck!

To me, a suggestion from you is more valuable than that from a CSS officers. Clearing CSS exam doesn't prove that the person is all-knowing or a genius. Your posts show your knowledge and intellectual level. Hence we have trust in your recommendations and suggestions.

Anyway, personally, I don't like Sultan Khan's book, it's poorly written; and for me it's hard to bear with his not so good expression... I found VU's Lecture CDs and Handouts by Ms. Seemi Waheed to be quite helpful

Will you please mention the course number of Ms Seemi's subject? You know with VU, we have to place order with the course number and not with the teacher's name.

I think for CSS it's not good to use too many of the books on a subject

What makes you think so? Will you please elaborate? Is it because CSS exam doesn't require so much knowledge? Or you think that more knowledge will look over efficiency to the examiner? Just a little confused here.

Any foreign book that you would recommend? I have always found foreign writers much easier to understand than our local ones. Of course, foreign books will not cover Pakistani perspective, but what about the basic and common concepts and topics of Public Administration?

Any online resource that you have particularly found useful?

Please also browse for the new trends in the field; like: New Public Management etc.

What would you recommend for staying update?

Thanks for managing time to reply to my queries.
Regards

[shafia]

FIRSTLY THANKS Mr Debonair and Mr Thomas Anderson for guiding me , i also invite seniors to give suggestions in this regard and for Islamic culture and history as well .

[Debonair]

@ Thomas Anderson

Thank you very much for everything. It's very generous of you...
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VU Course ID: MGT111 (Introduction to Public Administration)
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How much to read:
No I don't mean to say that CSS does not require a great deal of knowledge; being knowledgeable is always going to help. But the bottom line is that in CSS versatility is more paying than intellectual fervour. You can be an intellectual in just one domain, which does not go in line with the "jack of all, master of none" requirement of the CSS.

Anyhow, in this particular case I wanted to make a point that if one reads a lot of books on a subject, it becomes difficult for him/her to revise the course contents just before the exams. This is where comes the hard and dirty side of the CSS, that one can't read up on what one likes, "as much as" and "as long as" they cherish it!

My brotherly advice to the fellows would be to strictly follow the course outline of Public Administration, in the first place, and prepare it from VU's Lecture CDs and Lecture Notes. Then equip yourself with an understanding of the current trends in the domain of Public Administration, and issues of Public Administration in Pakistan.
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Books by Foreign Authors:

Public Administration is a multi-disciplinary kind of a subject, and it's hard to find specific books on it. On the basis of my personal experience, I would recommend the fellows to restrict themselves to the above mentioned resources. Anyhow, some of the other helpful resources are as follows:

Public Administration_An Action Orientation by Robert B. Denhardt (It's a good book on the subject.)

Management by Bovee & Thill (et al) (Can be used as a helping book.)

Human Resource Management by Gary Dessler (It's recommended for those who take HRM as a course at under-graduate level, and cannot be of much help in CSS.)
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How to keep abreast with the current trends in the field:

I did not use any specific online resources on the subject. So, in order to know about the current trends in the field I would recommend you to look into the Public Administration's course outlines of the foreign universities where the subject is being formally taught. You can also browse for the ppt slides on different related topics.
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Once again thank you very much for all the generous words.


@ Shafia
You are welcome!


Regards,
Debonair

[Thomas Anderson]

Debonair, thanks for replying to my queries in so much detail and so soon. You have explained each issue in a marvellous way.

But the bottom line is that in CSS versatility is more paying than intellectual fervour. You can be an intellectual in just one domain, which does not go in line with the "jack of all, master of none" requirement of the CSS.

I will keep your advice in my mind.

Thank you very much for everything. It's very generous of you...

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Once again thank you very much for all the generous words.

There isn't any generosity involved. Your contributions to CEP are more valuable than jewels. You deserve a bigger appreciation.

Whenever I see any member praising CEP, your contributions along with some others, come to my mind. If CEP didn't have members like you, it wouldn't have achieve any of the milestones. You people have supported CEP more than anyone else.

Thanks for all the things you have done for us. We are really proud and thankful to have members like you.

Regards.

[Debonair]

Dear Thomas Anderson,

Thank you very much for all the kind words and the encouragement. You are one of the most dedicated members of the CEP and it's a pleasure to receive the appreciation from your side!

May Allah always keep you among the blessed lot! Aameen.

Regards,
Debonair