Contemplating the big five questions in public administration and management curriculation

Abstract

To remain relevant to scholars, students, public sector practitioners and society in general, Public Administration and Management, as an applied discipline, needs to be constantly reviewed and adjusted. In a dynamic higher education landscape this process is known as curriculation. Through the application of the principles of Complexity Theory, this article aims to facilitate curriculation endeavors in Public Administration and Management by means of five �big� questions that should be contemplated by all those involved in curriculation decisions. The article does not attempt to provide answers to these questions, but rather to guide a curriculation discourse by asking the �right� questions. It is argued that these questions will contextualize any decisions regarding curriculation and could contribute to the relevancy discourse regarding Public Administration and Management teaching at tertiary institutions in South Africa.