Master of Arts (MA) — Public Administration

Welcome to Master of Arts (MA) — Public Administration. We will study Classical Organisation Theory: Taylor, Fayol, Gulick–Urwick and Weber's Bureaucracy, work through an example, and practise using the course's learning material. Postgraduate academic support for Master of Arts (MA) — Public Administration, including advanced concept notes, research orientation, assessment practice and dissertation support. The underlying degree is awarded only by the learner's recognised institution. Sign in and use the study header to open your authorised course. Select this published lesson. Start Course Tutor with Auto audio on: it teaches continuously, answers a typed question, then resumes. Fayol's gangplank permits direct horizontal communication between people at the same level in different chains, with their superiors' consent, to avoid slow communication up and down the scalar chain. Problem 1 – Graicunas. A deputy secretary supervises 5 under-secretaries. How many relationships does she manage? What happens if a sixth is added? For n = 5: 2⁴ = 16; 16 + 5 − 1 = 20; R = 5 times 20 = 100. For n = 6: 2⁵ = 32; 32 + 6 − 1 = 37; R = 6 times 37 = 222. Check: 5 times 20 = 100 and 6 times 37 = 222, re-computed from the powers of two (2⁴ = 16, 2⁵ = 32). Adding one subordinate (a 20 per cent increase) raises potential relationships from 100 to 222, more than doubling them. This is the argument for limited spans at senior levels; the counter-argument is that not all potential relationships are actually used. Problem 2 – bases of departmentalisation. Classify these Government of India units: (a) Ministry of Railways (purpose), (b) a Legal Department serving all ministries (process), (c) Ministry of Tribal Affairs (persons/clientele), (d) Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (place/area). Note that real ministries mix bases; the classification shows the dominant one. Problem 3 – Weber applied. A district tehsil office keeps land records in files, promotes staff by seniority, and applies revenue rules uniformly. Applicants complain that officials reject applications for minor procedural defects even when entitlement is clear. Analysis: the office displays Weberian traits (written files, hierarchy, rule-based action, career service). The complaint illustrates Merton's goal displacement – conformity to rules has become more important than the purpose of delivering entitlements. Remedies consistent with modern thinking include simplifying procedures, allowing correction of minor defects, and time-bound service delivery. Which mistake would change the reasoning in this example? 1. Confusing unity of command with unity of direction. Command: one boss per person; direction: one plan per objective. 2. Attributing POSDCORB to Fayol. Fayol gave five elements; Gulick expanded them into POSDCORB. 3. Describing Weber's bureaucracy as a description of real offices. Ask Course Tutor: please explain this step from the example. This is the argument for limited spans at senior levels; the counter-argument is that not all potential relationships are actually used. Why does it follow? Add what you tried, so the explanation addresses your difficulty. Now try the source practice. What is Fayol's gangplank? Pause before the answer. The source answer is: A direct horizontal communication link between officials at the same level in different chains, with their superiors' consent. Compare your reasoning as well as the result. If your response differs, return to the worked example and identify the step that needs correction. Explain the key idea in your own words, revisit any mistaken step, then continue to the next lesson. Use Stop to end Course Tutor when you finish.