Abstract:
Models are often the envisioned outcome of research endeavours in Public
Administration and Management (PAM). Especially post-graduate studies intend to
construct models as ideal type interventions to improve policy, structures, systems,
functions and behaviour in government settings. The scientific underpinnings
associated with model construction and the nature of the type of models that are
available are, however, often not understood clearly.
The purpose of this article is firstly, to gain conceptual clarification about the
concept model and secondly, to contribute towards constructing a typology of
models in PAM as a discipline. Typologies fulfil a classification function. Therefore
it is proposed that a typology of models in PAM could aid in an appropriate design
of research endeavours to achieve the desired end result and make meaningful
contributions to the field of PAM research in general.
