Non-Thesis Track: Comprehensive Exam Sample Questions

• Pick a government or nonprofit agency. Describe the agency and its function, and then give concrete examples of inputs, outputs, and outcomes relevant to the core function of this agency. To effectively manage financial and programmatic resources, determine which of the core functions the line-item budget focuses on. Then develop performance measures, using agency outcomes or outputs.
• A variety of federal legislative reforms have sought to address the erosion of budgetary norms and discipline that have resulted in the growth of deficit. Discuss these reforms in the context of managing financial and programmatic resources. Does the problem exist at the state level? Explain.
• Capital budgeting is used at the state and local level. Distinguish between operating and capital budgeting. Why is debt finance potentially appropriate for capital budgeting but not operating budgets?
• Discuss the two principles often used in evaluating tax policy: ability to pay (include a discussion of horizontal and vertical equity), and the benefits principle. Provide an example of tax policy which primarily emphasizes ability to pay and another which demonstrates the benefits principle.

• Systems theory has been used to explain organizations. Explain systems theory using examples from the public or nonprofit organizations. Is this theoretical construct useful in improving our understanding of organizations?
• Classical organization theory deals with systematic efforts to make bureaucracy more efficient and effective. Taylor and Weber are two key scholars credited with the development of classical organization theory. What basic arguments were articulated by each in their development of classical organization theory?
• Herbert Simon is a key critic of comprehensive rational decision making. How did Simon think leaders made decisions? How have Simon’s ideas informed public leadership and management?
• In PA 5320, several competing theories were discussed throughout the semester dealing with the proper way to define, study, and thus understand organization/s. In your opinion, which theory is most appropriate in defining and organizing public institutions? Which theory is the least helpful? Explain.

• A fundamental assumption of administrative reform in the late 1880s and early 1900s was that politics could have only adverse effects on administration. In the context of the need to balance effectiveness, efficiency, and equity in public service, how valid is that belief? Why?
• In the context of articulating and applying a public service perspective, describe how bureaucrats and bureaucracies be held accountable. By whom and by what means can they be held accountable? Describe the steps and measures that can be used to promote accountability.
• Identify an issue in your organization or local community. Write a problem definition and develop a theory-of-change and logic model to address this problem to make a case that public funds should be invested. Create measurable outputs and outcomes so you can demonstrate that your program has made a difference.
• You have been asked to lead a team to develop Key Performance Indicators for units across your organization. Develop an orientation to performance management and KPIs for the team. Use PowerPoint slides, examples, and other resources. Provide a narrative that supports the training materials.

• The ethics course covered several cases that presented typical ethical issues that a public or nonprofit administrator is likely to face in practice. Select and describe one such case and then discuss administrative ethics by answering the following questions:

a) What are the most important ethical principles involved?

b) To what extent are these principles likely to affect you as an administrator?

c) How would you have handled this situation and why?

d) Does this case illustrate conflicts between administrative ethics and democratic values?

e) How useful are the guidelines in the ASPA code of ethics and similar codes in dealing with an issue like this one?

• The Friedrich (1940)-Finer (1941) debate is a defining moment in the field of administrative ethics. Describe the position of each scholar and the contours of the debate. Review the subsequent scholarship that sprung from this debate in the PA literature. Do you believe that this debate is still a useful way of describing the ethics terrain in public administration?
• Summarize the concepts of “administrative evil” and “surplus population.” How can public managers make themselves and others aware about how understand that administrative evil is “masked” and the implications of a category of people being framed as a surplus population? Use contemporary examples to inform your response.
• What are ethical challenges? Identify an ethical issue you have faced in your professional or personal life. Examine this issue using Cooper’s Ethical Decision-Making Model. Write a brief case study so that you can help others become responsible administrators.

• The San Marcos City Council asks you to apply Eugene Bardach and Eric M. Patashnik’s “A Practical Guide for Policy Analysis” for scooter usage in San Marcos, TX.” Students at Texas State University have been attending meetings demanding the council create a policy response to accommodate their travel choices. Conversely, the residents of San Marcos, primarily comprised on AARP eligible homeowners, question the utility of other modes of transportation within the city given the available options. As a researcher working for the non-partisan Center Against Ridiculous Transportation Systems (CARTS), you are asked to help the council decide by drafting a policy paper that includes a timeline for implementing your recommendations.
• North Guadalupe Street in San Marcos, TX recently added a unique parking arrangement near East Hopkins Street. It has been described as a cross between a bicycle lane and on-street parking several feet from the curb. However, the San Marcos City Council cannot agree on the best approach to evaluate this policy decision. In short, they did not think through the pilot study, including its effectiveness, efficiency, or equity. Create a policy memo that explains (a) how the council should evaluate this new parking approach, and (b) what factors should be considered before the council decides to construct similar parking arrangements throughout the city.
• There are many restaurants located within the college town of Podunk Plateau, TX that accommodate various tastes and incomes levels. College students working within these restaurants do not always follow the basics for handling food safely according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture or the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. A meeting is scheduled two weeks away that your supervisor wants you to attend. When you arrive at the meeting, the following representatives are present: the president of the university’s student government association and subject matter experts from state government, the restaurant industry, and two food safety watchdog groups (carnivore and herbivore). The goal of the meeting is to develop a notification system to educate restaurant patrons about the results of periodic food inspections. Outline the policy recommendations that will satisfy the attendees and the patrons working towards this goal. Please make sure to include relevant background information pertaining to regulations for the restaurant industry.
• Understanding the key elements of the policy making process and evaluating the impact of public programs are core competencies of successful public administration. This series of interrelated questions asks you to explain the policy making process around transit funding and asks you to evaluate transit outcomes in light of these funding opportunities and constraints. First, lay out the underlying components of the transportation public policy process by tracking funding from the federal government to local implementation. This should link conceptual understanding of the policy process with the actors and agencies responsible for transportation funding at all levels of government in the United States. Second, with this background in mind, explain how transit funding is advantaged or disadvantaged because of the key funding structures currently in place. Data on the outcomes of transit should be used to help show how current funding formulas open up and/or constrain transit access.