Governments play a pivotal role in the sustainable growth, general well-being, and prosperity of countries. It is a well-established fact that the level of goodness of governments positively corresponds with the growth and development trajectory of states. The effective management of public institutions is thus essential to harness the collective capacities and abilities of government to render a broad range of services (e.g. education, health, transport, policing, and telecommunications) to citizens.

Management of government institutions leads to the efficient and economical delivery of essential services to citizens, which can improve their standard of living and contribute to the overall prosperity of society. Through their conduct, attitude, and behaviour public managers generally also promote transparency, accountability, and the rule of law, which are essential for creating a favourable environment for political stability, economic growth, and social development. On the other hand, poor public management can lead to a breakdown in public trust, state capture, poor services, malpractice, and wastage of resources. Therefore, effective management of government institutions is key to promoting efficiency, effectiveness, and productivity towards a better future for all.

Since the late 1800s, Public Administration as a study domain has undergone a series of paradigm shifts and changes in its approach and focus. Initially, this scholarly field was primarily focused on the traditional politics-administration dichotomy, where politicians were responsible for policy formulation while administrators were responsible for implementing the policies. This model was used as the basis for the scientific management movement, which focused on increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of government operations. The New Public Management (NPM) approach is a management strategy that aims to improve public service delivery by introducing market-oriented and private sector reforms to the public sector. NPM gave rise to the New Public Service paradigm of governance. The latter refers to a modern approach to public administration that emphasizes improving the quality of services offered to citizens, increasing accountability and transparency, and promoting citizen engagement and participation. It stresses the importance of results-oriented governance, the use of technology, and the need to embrace innovation and change. This approach seeks to create a more efficient, responsive, and citizen-centred public service that delivers better outcomes for communities and individuals.

These paradigmatic shifts furthermore gave rise to notions of governance which entails the dynamics associated with a network of actors (e.g., government, private sector, non-governmental organisations, international development agencies, community- and faith-based organisations, donor agencies, etc.) involved in a hybrid form of policy design and implementation in society.

Public Administration (inclusive of Management and Governance) is a highly dynamic and evolving study domain merging multidiscipli­nary perspectives. Mainly evolving from public affairs, economics, sociology, public policy, and the political sciences, Public Administration as a scholarly field has accumulated a matured corpus of knowledge aimed at the study of the complex nature of contemporary governance. As a professionalised practice-based field, it mainly entails the operation­alisation of public policy in the executive structures of the public sector.

Possible Themes

Public managers are individuals who work in government institutions, entities, and agencies and are responsible for the effective and efficient delivery of public services. Public managers are responsible for implementing policies and programmes, managing resources, and delivering public services in a variety of settings. Some of the main responsibilities and functions of public managers include:

• Planning and policy development: Public managers are responsible for developing and implementing plans and policies that align with government goals and objectives.
• Policy implementation: Public managers are responsible for executing policies and programmes that have been developed by elected officials or higher-level administrators.
• Budgeting and resource allocation: Public managers are responsible for managing budgets and allocating resources to various programmes and initiatives.
• Programme and project management: Public managers oversee the implementation of programmes and projects, ensuring they are delivered on time, within budget, and to the expected standards of quality.
• Service delivery: Public managers are responsible for ensuring that public services are delivered effectively and efficiently to the communities they serve. They are responsible for delivering a wide range of public services, including healthcare, education, law enforcement, and other essential services, to the citizens they serve.
• Staff supervision: Public managers supervise and lead teams of government employees, providing guidance and direction to ensure the smooth and effective operation of government programmes and services.
• Stakeholder engagement: Public managers are responsible for engaging with stakeholders, including other government agencies, the private sector, and the general public, to build partnerships and ensure the effective delivery of public services. Public managers must build and maintain relationships with a wide range of stakeholders, including elected officials, community organisations, and the general public, to ensure that their needs are met, and their concerns are addressed.
• Performance management: Public managers monitor and evaluate the performance of government programmes and services, making recommendations for improvement where necessary.
• Resource management: This includes managing budgets, personnel, and other resources to ensure that public services are delivered effectively and efficiently.
• Programme evaluation: Public managers are responsible for evaluating the effectiveness and efficiency of programmes and services and making recommendations for improvement.
• Proactive and crisis management: Public managers should strategically plan for the future and pre-empt potential crises. However, should crises arise they are called upon to respond to emergencies, natural disasters, and other crises, and to coordinate the efforts of multiple agencies and organizations to ensure a prompt and effective response.

Any study concerned with one or more of these roles may serve as possible theme for post-graduate studies in Public Administration/Management/Governance. In addition, themes related to the functioning of any public sector institution (inclusive of the Public Service comprising national and provincial departments, municipalities, agencies, and entities) could serve as potential focus for scholarly inquiry. It should be kept in mind that Public Administration, as an applied social science, is intended to improve the way government institutions functions. Apart from studies aimed at building (grounded) theory, a mere descriptive study is thus usually not appropriate for postgraduate studies. Instead, studies should be aimed at problem-solving and continuous process improvement in governance.

As far as career opportunities are concerned, graduates of public management programmes can pursue careers in various fields, including government, non-profit organisations, and international organisations, where they can use their skills and knowledge to improve the lives of people. Postgraduate programmes in Public Administration equip students with a comprehensive understanding of complex societal concerns, such as poverty, inequality, greener energy, sustainable development, and environmental degradation. This understanding allows them to formulate public policies to address these issues and make a positive impact on society. In addition, studying government can help develop managerial and leadership skills and encourage a lifelong interest in learning and self-improvement.

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