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Course Question & AnswerIntroduction to Public Administration
Purpose of Course showclose
Course Information showclose
Course Designer: Heather Wyatt-Nichol, PhD
Primary Resources: This course is composed of a wide range of free online materials, including U.S. Supreme Court decisions and publications from the National Academy of Public Administration and the U.S. Government Accountability Office.
Requirements for Completion: In order to complete this course, you will need to work through each unit and all its assigned materials. This includes self-assessments at the end of each unit. You will also have a final exam once you have completed all units.
Note that you will only receive an official grade on your final exam. However, in order to adequately prepare for this exam, you will need to work through the resources and self-assessments in each unit.
In order to “pass” this course, you will need to earn a 70% or higher on the Final Exam. Your score on the exam will be tabulated as soon as you complete it. If you do not pass the exam, you may take it again.
Time Commitment: This course shouldtake approximately 132.5 hours to complete apart from the self-assessments and final exam. Each unit includes a “time advisory” that lists the amount of time you are expected to commit to each subunit. It may be useful to take a look at these time advisories and to determine how much time you have over the next few weeks to complete each unit, and then to set goals for yourself. For example, Unit 1 should take 17.75 hours. Perhaps you can sit down with your calendar and decide to complete subunits 1.1 and 1.2 (a total of 3.75 hours) on Monday night; subunit 1.3 (a total of 5.25 hours) on Tuesday and Wednesday nights; etc.
Tips for Completion: It is helpful to take notes or keep a journal as you work through the materials in each unit. These notes will serve as a useful review as you prepare for the Final Exam. Completing the self-assessments at the end of each unit will also help you prepare for the Final Exam.
Learning Outcomes showclose
- Describe the functions of government and the role of public administrators in carrying out those functions.
- Discuss the history, scope, and environment of public administration.
- Articulate the basic theories and concepts relevant to the field of public administration.
- Explain and identify the importance of ethics and accountability in public organizations.
Course Requirements showclose
√ Have access to a computer.
√ Have continuous broadband Internet access.
√ Have the ability/permission to install plug-ins or software (e.g., Adobe Reader or Flash).
√ Have the ability to download and save files and documents to a computer.
√ Have the ability to open Microsoft files and documents (.doc, .ppt, .xls, etc.).
√ Be competent in the English language.
√ Have read the Saylor Student Handbook.
Unit Outline show close
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Unit 1: Introduction to Public Administration
Because public organizations use public resources to make decisions that affect society, several important questions emerge in determining how the will of the people should be converted into action. One of the most important questions is: how should public organizations be structured to represent societal values and ensure democratic accountability? A historical account of dominant eras in the field of public administration represents a progression of diverse perspectives.
Unit 1 Time Advisory show close
Unit 1 Learning Outcomes show close
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1.1 What Is Public Administration?
- Reading: University of Mumbai’s “Unit 1: An Introduction to Public Administration”
Link: University of Mumbai’s “Unit 1: An Introduction to Public Administration” (PDF)
Instructions: Read Unit 1, pages 1–8.
This reading should take approximately 30 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Web Media: Wadsworth Cengage Learning: Janda, Berry, and Goldman’s The Challenge of Democracy: “Chapter 13: The Bureaucracy”
Link: Wadsworth Cengage Learning: Janda, Berry, and Goldman’s The Challenge of Democracy: “Chapter 13: The Bureaucracy” (MP3)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, and click the link “Listen to Chapter 13.” Listen to Dr. Berry’s summary of bureaucracy, particularly the role of government and the reasons for the size of the federal government.
Listening to this audio clip and pausing to take notes should take approximately 15 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Web Media: YouTube: Professor Peter Bogason’s “Report on the Seminar Making Public Administration Theory Relevant”
Link: YouTube: Professor Peter Bogason’s “Report on the Seminar Making Public Administration Theory Relevant” (YouTube)
Instructions: Watch Professor Bogason’s presentation on the field of public administration.
Watching this video should take approximately 30 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Web Media: YouTube: American Society for Public Administration’s “ASPA Video Part 1” and “ASPA Video Part 2”
Link: YouTube: American Society for Public Administration’s “ASPA Video Part 1” (YouTube) and “ASPA Video Part 2” (YouTube)
Instructions: The American Society of Public Administration (ASPA) represents scholars and practitioners in the field. Learn more about the ASPA by watching these two videos.
Watching these videos and pausing to take notes should take approximately 30 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: University of Mumbai’s “Unit 1: An Introduction to Public Administration”
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1.2 Eras of Public Administration
- Reading: Huntingdon College: Charles Walters’ “Stillman, Study of Administration in the U.S.”
Link: Huntingdon College: Charles Walters’ “Stillman, Study of Administration in the U.S.” (HTML)
Instructions: Please select the above link, and then choose the link on the webpage titled, “Study of Administration in US.” Read the overview of the eras of public administration.
This reading should take approximately 15 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: Huntingdon College: Charles Walters’ “Stillman, Study of Administration in the U.S.”
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1.2.1 Planning, Organizing, Staffing, Developing, Coordinating, Reporting, and Budgeting (POSDCORB) Orthodoxy
- Reading: University of Mumbai’s “Unit 2: Changing Nature of Public Administration”
Link: University of Mumbai’s “Unit 2: Changing Nature of Public Administration” (PDF)
Instructions: Read pages 9–11.
Reading this material and taking notes should take approximately 15 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: University of Mumbai’s “Unit 2: Changing Nature of Public Administration”
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1.2.2 Social Science Heterodoxy
- Reading: University of Mumbai’s “Unit 2: Changing Nature of Public Administration”
Link: University of Mumbai’s “Unit 2: Changing Nature of Public Administration” (PDF)
Instructions: Read pages 12–19.
Reading this material and taking notes should take approximately 45 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: University of Mumbai’s “Unit 2: Changing Nature of Public Administration”
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1.2.3 Reassertion of Democratic Idealism
- Reading: University of Mumbai’s “Unit 2: Changing Nature of Public Administration”
Link: University of Mumbai’s “Unit 2: Changing Nature of Public Administration” (PDF)
Instructions: Read pages 19–23.
Reading and taking notes should take approximately 30 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: University of Mumbai’s “Unit 2: Changing Nature of Public Administration”
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1.2.4 The Refounding Movement
- Reading: Wikipedia’s “Refounding Public Administration”
Link: Wikipedia’s “Refounding Public Administration” (PDF)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, and read this description of the refounding movement.
Reading this article should take approximately 5 minutes.
Terms of Use: The material above is released under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0. You can find the original Wikipedia version of this article here.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: Dialogue: Charles T. Goodsell, John A. Rohr, Gary L. Wamsley, Orion F. White, and Jim F. Wolf’s “The Public Administration and the Governance Process: Refocusing the American Dialogue”
Link: Dialogue: Charles T. Goodsell, John A. Rohr, Gary L. Wamsley, Orion F. White, and Jim F. Wolf’s “The Public Administration and the Governance Process: Refocusing the American Dialogue” (PDF)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, then select the “click here” link to volume 6, scroll down to Number 2, and read the article in its entirety.
Reading this article and taking notes should take approximately 45 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: Wikipedia’s “Refounding Public Administration”
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1.3 The Five E’s of Public Administration
- Reading: U.S. Government Accountability Office: “The Need for Good Governance, Transparency, and Accountability”
Link: U.S. Government Accountability Office: “The Need for Good Governance, Transparency, and Accountability” (PDF)
Instructions: Please click on the PDF on the GAO website to access the presentation. Three suggested areas of oversight are addressed: targets for near-term oversight, policies and/or programs in need of fundamental reform, and governance issues. An underlying assumption is that efficiency in the public sector occurs only through accountability mechanisms.
Reading this material should take approximately 30 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: U.S. Government Accountability Office: “The Need for Good Governance, Transparency, and Accountability”
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1.3.1 Efficiency, Economy, Effectiveness
- Reading: National Academy of Public Administration: “Implementing ‘Most Efficient Organizations’ in the Federal Government”
Link: National Academy of Public Administration: “Implementing ‘Most Efficient Organizations’ in the Federal Government” (PDF)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, select “Download Full Report” to access the PDF on the website, and read the entire report.
Reading this report should take approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: National Academy of Public Administration: “Implementing ‘Most Efficient Organizations’ in the Federal Government”
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1.3.2 Ethics
- Reading: Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs: Steven Cohen and William B. Eimicke’s “Trends in 20th Century United States Government Ethics”
Link: Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs: Steven Cohen and William B. Eimicke’s “Trends in 20th Century United States Government Ethics” (PDF)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, scroll down to the link titled “The Evolution of Ethics in Government during the 20th Century” (located after the seventh paragraph) and click it to access the PDF. Please read Cohen and Eimicke’s manuscript on public-service ethics throughout the various phases of public administration.
Reading this manuscript should take approximately 45 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs: Steven Cohen and William B. Eimicke’s “Trends in 20th Century United States Government Ethics”
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1.3.3 Equity
- Reading: National Academy of Public Administration: “Standing Panel on Social Equity in Governance: Charter”
Link: National Academy of Public Administration: “Standing Panel on Social Equity in Governance: Charter” (HTML)
Instructions: Please click on the link above and review the purpose of the Standing Panel on Social Equity.
Studying this charter should take approximately 15 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: Journal of Public Management & Social Policy: Blue Wooldridge’s “Protecting Equity While Reinventing Government: Strategies for Achieving a ‘Fair’ Distribution of the Costs and Benefits of the Public Sector”
Link: Journal of Public Management & Social Policy: Blue Wooldridge’s “Protecting Equity While Reinventing Government: Strategies for Achieving a ‘Fair’ Distribution of the Costs and Benefits of the Public Sector” (PDF)
Instructions: Please click on the link above. Scroll down to the first article under PADM 691 resources, click on the link to download the PDF and read the article in its entirety. This article examines the winners and losers in public service delivery under recent reform efforts. It considers who pays and who benefits, and whether public services are distributed in a fair and equitable manner under reform efforts.
Reading this article should take approximately 1 hour.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: International City/County Management Association: “Active Living and Social Equity: Creating Healthy Communities for All Residents – A Guide for Local Governments”
Link: International City/County Management Association: “Active Living and Social Equity: Creating Healthy Communities for All Residents – A Guide for Local Governments” (PDF)
Instructions: Please click on the link above and download the PDF version to read the entire guide. This guide is a useful source to understand the application of social equity in public service.
Studying this guide should take approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: National Academy of Public Administration: “Standing Panel on Social Equity in Governance: Charter”
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1.4 Alternative Perspectives: The Potential for a Sixth E: Epistemic Pluralism
- Reading: David J. Farmer’s “Public Administration in Perspective: Epistemic Pluralism”
Link: David J. Farmer’s “Public Administration in Perspective: Epistemic Pluralism” (PDF)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, and select the PDF labeled “Farmer2011PatNetKeynote.” Read the entire text. Dr. Farmer provides numerous alternative ways of thinking about public administration, particularly perspectives for interpreting language and action. What are the advantages of epistemic pluralism?
Readint this material should take approximately 1 hour.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: University of Tennessee: J. David Edwards’ “Managerial Influences in Public Administration”
Link: University of Tennessee: J. David Edwards’ “Managerial Influences in Public Administration” (HTML)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, and read the paper in its entirety. This paper offers a synopsis of managerial dominance within the field, as well as alternative theories that contribute to public administration.
This reading should take approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: Administration & Society: Peter Bogason’s “Postmodernism and American Public Administration in the 1990s”
Link: Administration & Society: Peter Bogason’s “Postmodernism and American Public Administration in the 1990s” (PDF)
Instructions: Please click on the link above and select the “Bogason.pdf” link to download the PDF. Read the entire article for an excellent overview of alternative perspectives.
Reading this article should take approximately 1 hour.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: David J. Farmer’s “Public Administration in Perspective: Epistemic Pluralism”
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1.5 A Blurring Distinction between Public, Nonprofit, and Private Sector Organizations
- Reading: National Academy of Public Administration: “Powering the Future: High Performance Partnerships”
Link: National Academy of Public Administration: “Powering the Future: High Performance Partnerships” (PDF)
Instructions: Please click the link above, and then select the link to view the PDF of the full report. Read chapter 2, “Forces behind Performance Based Partnerships” (pp. 23–30) for an explanation of the increasing use of partnerships in public-service delivery, and chapter 12, “Management Approaches” (pp. 131–133) for a comparison of public and private sector approaches to management.
Reading this report should take approximately 45 minutes.
Note: This report is also useful to reference when you advance to Unit 4: Public Management and sub-subunit 6.1.2: Strategic Planning.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: IBM Center for the Business of Government: Jane Fedorowicz and Steve Sawyer’s “Designing Collaborative Networks”
Link: IBM Center for the Business of Government: Jane Fedorowicz and Steve Sawyer’s “Designing Collaborative Networks” (PDF)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, select the “Designing Collaborative Networks.pdf” link to download the PDF and read the entire report.
Reading this report should take approximately 1 hour.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: University of Michigan: Professor Neel Hajara’s “Lecture 25: Non-profits and Civil Society”
Link: University of Michigan: Professor Neel Hajara’s “Lecture 25: Non-profits and Civil Society” (PDF or PPT)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, scroll down to Lecture 25, and select the link to the PowerPoint or PDF to open the presentation. Please review the entire presentation. Dr. Hajara provides an interesting model for the role of civil society in the public-private dichotomy.
Reviewing this presentation should take approximately 2 hours.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: National Charrette Institute: “NIC Cross-Disciplinary Public Involvement Report”
Link: National Charrette Institute: “NIC Cross-Disciplinary Public Involvement Report” (PDF)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, scroll down to the bottom of the webpage, and select “Click to download a PDF” to access the report. Please read the entire report (63 pages plus optional Appendices).
Reading this report should take approximately 3 hours and 30 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: National Academy of Public Administration: “Powering the Future: High Performance Partnerships”
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Unit 2: Intergovernmental Relations
Within a broader context of public administration, it is important to understand the dynamic process that affects the changing role of government. The role of government is of particular relevance, because the decisions made through the political process determine the environment in which a public administrator will carry out policy. The legitimacy of the role of government is expressed through policies or programs created to represent the demands of the majority. In addition, overlap of jurisdictional boundaries and the concurrent powers inherent in the U.S. federal system create unique complexities for public administrators.
Unit 2 Time Advisory show close
Unit 2 Learning Outcomes show close
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2.1 Federalism
- Reading: Wadsworth Cengage Learning: Janda, et al.’s The Challenge of Democracy: “Chapter 4: Federalism”
Wadsworth Cengage Learning: Janda, et al.’s The Challenge of Democracy: “Chapter 4: Federalism” (DOC)
Instructions: Click on the student study guide section of the website, and read the first four pages (33–37) for an introduction to federalism.
Studying this chapter should take approximately 30 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: The Nelson A. Rockefeller Institute of Government: Thomas L. Gais’ “Federalism during the Obama Administration”
Link: The Nelson A. Rockefeller Institute of Government: Thomas L. Gais’ “Federalism during the Obama Administration” (PDF)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, locate the article titled “Federalism during the Obama Administration,” and select the title to download the PDF. Please study all of the slides in this presentation.
Studying this material should take approximately 45 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: Wadsworth Cengage Learning: Janda, et al.’s The Challenge of Democracy: “Chapter 4: Federalism”
- 2.1.1 Basic Concepts and Structure
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2.1.1.1 Jurisdictional Boundaries
- Reading: CRS Report for Congress: “Federalism, State Sovereignty, and the Constitution: Basis and Limits of Congressional Power”
Link: CRS Report for Congress: “Federalism, State Sovereignty, and the Constitution: Basis and Limits of Congressional Power” (PDF)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, scroll down the webpage to the title “Federalism, State Sovereignty and the Constitution: Basis and Limits of Congressional Power, updated February 1, 2008,” and click on the link to download the PDF. Read the full report, as it is essential to understanding lines of authority and power in the U.S. federal system.
Reading this report should take approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: U.S. Department of State: “American Federalism, 1776 to 1997: Significant Events”
Link: U.S. Department of State: “American Federalism, 1776 to 1997: Significant Events” (HTML)
Instructions: Please read this webpage in its entirety, and pay particular attention to the periods of federalism throughout the history of the U.S.
Reading this material should take approximately 1 hour.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: CRS Report for Congress: “Federalism, State Sovereignty, and the Constitution: Basis and Limits of Congressional Power”
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2.1.1.2 The Structure of Government Agencies
- Reading: Flat World Knowledge: David L. Paletz, Diana Owen, and Timothy E. Cook’s American Government and Politics in the Information Age: “Chapter 14: The Bureaucracy”
Link: Flat World Knowledge: David L. Paletz, Diana Owen, and Timothy E. Cook’s American Government and Politics in the Information Age: “Chapter 14: The Bureaucracy” (HTML)
Instructions: Please visit section 14.1 and scroll down to the types of federal agencies, beginning with the section “Cabinet Level Departments.” Read this section.
Reading this section should take approximately 20 minutes.
Terms of Use: The textbook above is released under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike License 3.0. It is attributed to David L. Paletz, Diana Owen, and Timothy E. Cook and Flat World Knowledge.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: Shyam Sunder’s “The Structure of Organizations for Production of Public and Private Goods”
Link: Shyam Sunder’s “The Structure of Organizations for Production of Public and Private Goods” (PDF)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, scroll down to 2002 under “Presentations,” locate the lecture titled “The Structure of Organizations for Production of Public and Private Goods,” and select the link to download the PDF. Read this manuscript in its entirety. This reading offers useful comparisons of public and private organizations and the challenges of partnerships between them in the provision of services.
Reading this manuscript should take approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: Flat World Knowledge: David L. Paletz, Diana Owen, and Timothy E. Cook’s American Government and Politics in the Information Age: “Chapter 14: The Bureaucracy”
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2.1.2 Federal-State Relations
- Reading: CQ Researcher: “States and Federalism: Is the Federal Government Usurping States’ Powers”
Link: CQ Researcher: “States and Federalism: Is the Federal Government Usurping States’ Powers” (PDF)
Instructions: Click on the first search result, “CQR States and Federalism,” to download the PDF. Health-care reform and immigration are two policy areas that evoke strong opinions from a variety of perspectives. Please read the full report (24 pages), which pertains to federal and state power and authority to address these complex issues.
Reading this report should take approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Web Media: YouTube: Council on State Governments, Virtual Summit of the States: “The Future of Federalism: State/Federal Relations in an Era of Austerity”
Link: YouTube: Council on State Governments, Virtual Summit of the States: “The Future of Federalism: State/Federal Relations in an Era of Austerity” (YouTube)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, and watch this video, which addresses the challenges of policy and program implementation in times of austerity.
Watching this lecture and pausing to take notes should take approximately 2 hours.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: CQ Researcher: “States and Federalism: Is the Federal Government Usurping States’ Powers”
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2.1.3 State-Local Relations
- Reading: Governing the States and Localities: Paul Posner’s “State Resistance: What Are the Forces behind the Contentious Fight to Redefine Federalism?”
Link: Governing the States and Localities: Paul Posner’s “State Resistance: What Are the Forces behind the Contentious Fight to Redefine Federalism?” (HTML)
Instructions: Read the article in its entirety to gain insight into reasons for high-profile state resistance to recent federal initiatives.
Reading this article should take approximately 15 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: Governing the States and Localities: Paul Posner’s “State Resistance: What Are the Forces behind the Contentious Fight to Redefine Federalism?”
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2.2 Intergovernmental Relations
- Reading: Huntingdon College: Charles Walters and Walker Garrett’s “Lawrence O’Toole, Jr.: American IGR”
Link: Huntingdon College: Charles Walters and Walker Garrett’s “Lawrence O’Toole, Jr.: American IGR” (HTML)
Instructions: Please read the outline on Professor O’Toole’s scholarship on American IGR and the outline “American Intergovernmental Relations: An Overview.”
Studying this reading should take approximately 30 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: Pixie Alexander’s “How Intergovernmental Relations Affect Public Policy”
Link: Pixie Alexander’s “How Intergovernmental Relations Affect Public Policy” (HTML)
Instructions: Please read this webpage for a description of the distinction between federalism and intergovernmental relations.
This reading should take approximately 15 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: The Nelson A. Rockefeller Institute of Government: The Brookings Institution’s Intergovernmental Management for the 21st Century: Richard Nathan’s “Chapter 2: Updating Theories of American Federalism”
Link: The Nelson A. Rockefeller Institute of Government: The Brookings Institution’s Intergovernmental Management for the 21st Century: Richard Nathan’s “Chapter 2: Updating Theories of American Federalism” (PDF)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, and select the link titled “Updating Theories of American Federalists” to download the PDF. Please read Chapter 2 in its entirety (17 pages).
Reading this chapter should take approximately 1 hour.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: National Academy of Public Administration: “Financing Governments in the 21st Century: Intergovernmental Collaboration Can Promote Fiscal and Economic Goals”
Link: National Academy of Public Administration: “Financing Governments in the 21st Century: Intergovernmental Collaboration Can Promote Fiscal and Economic Goals” (PDF)
Instructions: Click on “View Full Report” to download the PDF. This report emphasizes the importance of intergovernmental cooperation and describes how changes in federal tax policy affect states and localities. Please read pages 7–15 of the report.
Reading this report should take approximately 30 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: Huntingdon College: Charles Walters and Walker Garrett’s “Lawrence O’Toole, Jr.: American IGR”
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Unit 3: Public Personnel
This unit will introduce you to the practice of human-resource management in public agencies. This unit will cover the important personnel topics of employee selection, development, promotion, and retention, and it will address critical issues such as merit versus patronage, representative bureaucracy, pay-for-performance, and the state of collective bargaining.
Unit 3 Time Advisory show close
Unit 3 Learning Outcomes show close
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3.1 Public Employment
- Reading: Congressional Research Service: Gerald Mayer’s “Selected Characteristics of Private and Public Sector Workers”
Link: Congressional Research Service: Gerald Mayer’s “Selected Characteristics of Private and Public Sector Workers” (PDF)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, scroll down the webpage to the line “Selected Characteristics of Private and Public Sector Workers, July 1, 2011,” and select the link to download the PDF. Please read the entire text (35 pages). The best way to understand the similarities and differences between the sectors is to examine the characteristics of workers in both sectors.
Reading this material should take approximately 2 hours.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: YouTube: University of Richmond School of Law’s “Panel on the Constitutional Framework for Public Employment”
YouTube: University of Richmond School of Law’s “Panel on the Constitutional Framework for Public Employment” (YouTube)
Instructions: Please watch this video in its entirety.
Watching this video and pausing to take notes should take approximately 1 hour.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: Congressional Research Service: Gerald Mayer’s “Selected Characteristics of Private and Public Sector Workers”
- 3.2 Merit vs. Patronage
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3.2.1 Spoils System
- Reading: U.S. Office of Personnel Management: “Jackson and Spoils Patronage”
Link: U.S. Office of Personnel Management: “Jackson and Spoils Patronage” (HTML)
Instructions: Read this short section on Jackson’s role in the spoils system. The shift in public service from “government by gentlemen” to “government by the common man” was a novel approach at the time but is criticized today.
Reading this material should take approximately 10 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: U.S. Office of Personnel Management: “Jackson and Spoils Patronage”
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3.2.2 The Pendleton Act
- Reading: U.S. Office of Personnel Management: “Assassination of Garfield: The Death of the Spoils System”
Link: U.S. Office of Personnel Management: “Assassination of Garfield: The Death of the Spoils System” (HTML)
Instructions: Read this section to learn about how the assassination of President Garfield was a catalyst for civil service reform.
Reading this material should take approximately 10 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: Wikipedia’s “Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act”
Link: Wikipedia’s “Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act” (HTML)
Instructions: Please read this entry on the Pendleton Act.
Reading this article should take approximately 10 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: U.S. Office of Personnel Management: “Assassination of Garfield: The Death of the Spoils System”
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3.2.3 The Hatch Act
- Reading: U.S. Office of Special Counsel: “Political Activity and the Federal Employee (booklet)”
Link: U.S. Office of Special Counsel: “Political Activity and the Federal Employee (booklet)” (PDF)
Instructions: Please click on the PDF icon for the text titled “Political Activity and the Federal Employee (booklet)” to download the PDF. Read the booklet in its entirety (14 pages).
Reading this booklet should take approximately 45 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: U.S. Office of Special Counsel: “Political Activity and the Federal Employee (booklet)”
- 3.3 Classification, Pay, and Benefits
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3.3.1 Position Classification at the Federal Level
- Reading: U.S. Office of Personnel Management: “Classification Questions and Answers”
Link: U.S. Office of Personnel Management: “Classification Questions and Answers” (HTML)
Instructions: See the webpage linked above for specific answers to frequently asked questions on the federal classification system. Question 6 on the site also contains links to standards of classification.
This reading should take approximately 45 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: U.S. Office of Personnel Management: “Classification Questions and Answers”
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3.3.2 Reform Initiatives
- Reading: U.S. Government Accountability Office: “Modern Performance Management Systems Are Needed to Effectively Support Pay for Performance”
Link: U.S. Government Accountability Office: “Modern Performance Management Systems Are Needed to Effectively Support Pay for Performance” (PDF)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, select the “View Report” link to download the PDF and read the entire text. Pay particular attention to the challenges of implementing, sustaining, and linking performance management techniques to compensation.
This reading should take approximately 1 hour.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: U.S. Government Accountability Office: “Modern Performance Management Systems Are Needed to Effectively Support Pay for Performance”
- 3.4 Human Capital Planning
-
3.4.1 Workforce Planning
- Reading: U.S. Government Accountability Office: “Human Capital: Federal Workforce Challenges in the 21st Century”
Link: U.S. Government Accountability Office: “Human Capital: Federal Workforce Challenges in the 21st Century” (PDF)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, select the “View Report” link to download the PDF, and read the entire text. Pay particular attention to the challenges of leadership; alignment of strategic and human capital plans; the need for flexibility in recruitment and development; and the importance of linking individual performance to organizational performance.
Reading this report should take approximately 1 hour.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Web Media: YouTube: U.S. Office of Personnel Management’s “Workforce Planning”
Link: YouTube: U.S. Office of Personnel Management’s “Workforce Planning” (YouTube)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, and watch this entire video.
Watching this lecture and pausing to take notes should take approximately 2 hours.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: Govloop: “The Govloop Guide to Workforce Planning”
Link: Govloop: “The Govloop Guide to Workforce Planning” (HTML & PDF)
Instructions: The link allows you the option to either download the PDF or to view the reading online. Please read the entire guide (25 PDF pages).
Reading this guide should take approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: International City/County Management Association: “Preparing the Next Generation: A Guide for Current and Future Local Government Managers”
Link: International City/County Management Association: “Preparing the Next Generation: A Guide for Current and Future Local Government Managers” (PDF)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, scroll down to the bottom of the webpage, and select the “click here” link after “to download a copy….” Please read the report in its entirety (72 pages).
Reading this report should take approximately 4 hours.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: U.S. Government Accountability Office: “Human Capital: Federal Workforce Challenges in the 21st Century”
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3.4.2 Human Capital Assessment and Accountability Framework
- Reading: U.S. Office of Personnel Management: “Introduction to the HCAAF Practitioners’ Guide”
Link: U.S. Office of Personnel Management: “Introduction to the HCAAF Practitioners’ Guide” (PDF)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, and select the link to the document under the “Other” heading to download the PDF. Please read the entire report (14 pages). This report provides an introduction to the five systems of the HCAAF system, including key definitions and core concepts for planning, implementing, and evaluating human capital at the federal level.
Reading this guide should take approximately 45 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: U.S. Office of Personnel Management: “Introduction to the HCAAF Practitioners’ Guide”
- 3.5 Equal Employment Opportunity, Affirmative Action, and Diversity
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3.5.1 Definitions and Distinctions
- Reading: U.S. Department of Labor: Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs: “Facts on Executive Order 11246”
Link: U.S. Department of Labor: Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs: “Facts on Executive Order 11246” (HTML)
Instructions: Please read about the origins and purpose of Executive Order 11246. “You do not take a person who for years has been hobbled by chains and liberate him, bring him up to the starting line of the race and then say ‘you’re free to compete with all the others,’ and still justly believe that you have been completely fair” (President Lyndon Johnson, 1965 commencement address at Howard University).
This reading should take approximately 30 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission: “Prohibited Employment Policies/Practices”
Link: U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission: “Prohibited Employment Policies/Practices” (HTML)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, and review the list of prohibited employment practices.
Reading this material should take approximately 15 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission: “Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964”
Link: U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission: “Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964” (HTML)
Instructions: Please read the text of the legislation provided via the link above to understand prohibited employment practices, jurisdiction, investigation, and compliance.
Reading this legislation should take approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: U.S. Department of Labor: Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs: “Facts on Executive Order 11246”
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3.5.2 Significant Court Decisions on Discrimination in the Workplace
- Reading: Google Scholar: Griggs v. Duke Power Company, 401 U.S. 424 (1971)
Link: Google Scholar: Griggs v. Duke Power Company, 401 U.S. 424 (1971) (HTML)
Instructions: Please read the majority opinion in this landmark case on discrimination in the workplace.
Reading this case should take approximately 30 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: Cornell University Law School: United States v. Paradise, 480 U.S. 149 (1987)
Link: Cornell University Law School: United States v. Paradise, 480 U.S. 149 (1987) (HTML)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, and read the case. Due to the Alabama Department of Public Safety’s failure to comply with a previous court order to address discrimination in hiring and promotion practices, the U.S. Supreme Court provides justification for the use of affirmative action policies.
Reading this case should take approximately 30 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: Google Scholar: Johnson v. Transportation Agency, Santa Clara County, 480 U.S. 616 (1987)
Link: Google Scholar: Johnson v. Transportation Agency, Santa Clara County, 480 U.S. 616 (1987) (HTML)
Instructions: If an affirmative action plan has been adopted by an organization to address underrepresentation, what difference do two points on a test make when both candidates are equally qualified? Read the case to find out more.
Reading this case should take approximately 1 hour.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: Cornell University Law School: City of Richmond v. J.A. Croson Co., 488 U.S. 469 (1989)
Link: Cornell University Law School: City of Richmond v. J.A. Croson Co., 488 U.S. 469 (1989) (HTML)
Instructions: Should contractors be required to provide a percentage of subcontracts to minority businesses? Read the case to find out the court’s position.
Reading this case should take approximately 30 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: Cornell University Law School: Ricci v. DeStafano (2009)
Link: Cornell University Law School: Ricci v. DeStafano (2009) (HTML)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, and read this decision. Test validity and adverse impact converge in this unique case. How does this case contrast with Griggs?
Reading this case should take approximately 30 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: Google Scholar: Griggs v. Duke Power Company, 401 U.S. 424 (1971)
-
3.5.3 Diversity Management
- Reading: U.S. Office of Personnel Management, Office of Diversity and Inclusion: “Government-Wide Diversity and Inclusion Strategic Plan 2011”
Link: U.S. Office of Personnel Management, Office of Diversity and Inclusion: “Government-Wide Diversity and Inclusion Strategic Plan 2011” (PDF)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, and select the link for the title “Government-Wide Diversity and Inclusion Strategic Plan 2011” to download the PDF. Read President Obama’s executive order and the OPM’s strategic plan.
Reading this material should take approximately 30 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: National Academy of Public Administration: “Recruiting and Retaining a Diverse High-Performing Workforce”
Link: National Academy of Public Administration: “Recruiting and Retaining a Diverse High-Performing Workforce” (PDF)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, select “View Full Report” to download the PDF, and read chapters 5, 6, and 7 (pp. 67–105) of the report on diversity at the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Reading this report should take approximately 2 hours.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: U.S. Office of Personnel Management, Office of Diversity and Inclusion: “Government-Wide Diversity and Inclusion Strategic Plan 2011”
- 3.6 Sexual Harassment
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3.6.1 Quid Pro Quo and Hostile Work Environment
- Reading: U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission: “Facts about Sexual Harassment”
Link: U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission: “Facts about Sexual Harassment” (HTML)
Instructions: Please review the webpage above for a definition of, and information about, sexual harassment.
Reading this material should take approximately 10 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission: “Facts about Sexual Harassment”
-
3.6.2 Significant Court Decisions
- Reading: Google Scholar: Meritor Savings Bank, FSB v. Vinson et al., 477 U.S. 57 (1986)
Link: Google Scholar: Meritor Savings Bank, FSB v. Vinson et al., 477 U.S. 57 (1986) (HTML)
Instructions: The concept of a hostile work environment is considered in this landmark decision. Please visit the link above for the majority opinion.
Reading this case should take approximately 1 hour.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: Google Scholar: Harris v. Forklift Systems, Inc., 510 U.S. 17 (1993)
Link: Google Scholar: Harris v. Forklift Systems, Inc., 510 U.S. 17 (1993) (HTML)
Instructions: Please read the decision linked above. Conflicting court decisions around the country lead the Supreme Court to clarify “hostile work environment” via the reasonable person standard and factors considered in the analysis of a hostile work environment.
Reading this decision should take approximately 30 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: Cornell University Law School: Oncale v. Sundowner Offshore Services, Inc., 523 U.S. 75 (1988)
Link: Cornell University Law School: Oncale v. Sundowner Offshore Services, Inc., 523 U.S. 75 (1988) (HTML)
Instructions: Can a person claim sexual harassment by a member of the same sex? Find out by reading this important decision.
Reading this decision should take approximately 15 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: Google Scholar: Burlington Industries, Inc. v. Ellerth, 524 U.S. 742 (1998)
Link: Google Scholar: Burlington Industries, Inc. v. Ellerth, 524 U.S. 742 (1998) (HTML)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, and read this case. In this case, pay particular attention to vicarious liability, tangible employment action, and affirmative defenses.
Reading this case should take approximately 1 hour.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: Google Scholar: Faragher v. City of Boca Raton, 524 U.S. 775 (1998)
Link: Google Scholar: Faragher v. City of Boca Raton, 524 U.S. 775 (1998) (HTML)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, and read this case. This is another case in which you should pay particular attention to vicarious liability, tangible employment action, and affirmative defenses.
This reading should take approximately 1 hour.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: Google Scholar: Meritor Savings Bank, FSB v. Vinson et al., 477 U.S. 57 (1986)
- 3.7 Collective Bargaining in the Public Sector
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3.7.1 History of Collective Bargaining in the Public Sector
- Reading: American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees: “AFSCME: 75 Years of History”
Link: American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees: “AFSCME: 75 Years of History” (HTML)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, and read the entire webpage. AFSCME represents thousands of public-sector employees and provides a brief history of collective bargaining in the public sector.
Reading this material should take approximately 15 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: Joseph Adler’s “Collective Bargaining in the United States”
Link: Joseph Adler’s “Collective Bargaining in the United States” (PDF)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, and select the article’s title to download the PDF. This is an excellent overview of the history of collective bargaining. Please read the entire document.
Reading this material should take approximately 45 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees: “AFSCME: 75 Years of History”
-
3.7.2 Distinctions between Public and Private Sector Bargaining
- Web Media: YouTube: “Public Sector Collective Bargaining: An Introduction”
Link: YouTube: “Public Sector Collective Bargaining: An Introduction” (YouTube)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, and watch the lecture on collective bargaining in the public sector.
Watching this video and pausing to take notes should take approximately 15 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Web Media: YouTube: “Public Sector Collective Bargaining: An Introduction”
-
3.7.3 Recent Trends
- Reading: American Constitution Society: Joseph E. Slater’s “The Assault on Public Sector Collective Bargaining: Real Harms and Imaginary Benefits”
Link: American Constitution Society: Joseph E. Slater’s “The Assault on Public Sector Collective Bargaining: Real Harms and Imaginary Benefits” (PDF)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, and select the “Slater Collective Bargaining” link at the end of the webpage to download the PDF. Please read this timely report on retrenchment in collective bargaining.
Reading this report should take approximately 1 hour.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Lecture: YouTube: University of Richmond School of Law’s “Panel on Collective Bargaining, Existing Frameworks and Recent Changes”
Link: YouTube: University of Richmond School of Law’s “Panel on Collective Bargaining, Existing Frameworks and Recent Changes” (YouTube)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, and watch this video in its entirety.
Watching this lecture and pausing to take notes should take approximately 1 hour and 45 minute.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Lecture: YouTube: The Rappaport Institute for Greater Boston’s “Collective Bargains: Rebuilding and Repairing Public Sector Labor Relations in Difficult Times”
Link: YouTube: The Rappaport Institute for Greater Boston’s “Collective Bargains: Rebuilding and Repairing Public Sector Labor Relations in Difficult Times” (YouTube)
Instructions: Watch the presentation on collective bargaining in the public sector during fiscal retrenchment.
Watching this presentation and pausing to take notes should take approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: American Constitution Society: Joseph E. Slater’s “The Assault on Public Sector Collective Bargaining: Real Harms and Imaginary Benefits”
-
Unit 4: Public Management
The traditional model of public administration – characterized by Weber’s theory of bureaucracy, Woodrow Wilson’s politics/administration dichotomy, and Taylor’s theory of scientific management – attempted to create a structure of public administration that was free from political interference, value neutral, and structured in a way that would ensure both accountability and efficiency. The fallacies in the traditional model have been challenged as the field of public administration has progressed. This unit explores the progression of management thought and practice within the field.
Unit 4 Time Advisory show close
Unit 4 Learning Outcomes show close
- 4.1 Managing People
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4.1.1 Classic Theories of Motivation and Organizational Behavior
- Reading: Wikibooks’ Introduction to Sociology: Organizational Behavior
Link: Wikibooks’ Introduction to Sociology: Organizational Behavior (HTML)
Instructions: Please click on the link above and scroll down to section 8 for information on theories of motivation, including equity theory and expectancy theory.
Reading this material should take approximately 15 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: IBM Center for the Business of Government: Harry Hatry and Elizabeth Davies’ “A Guide to Data Driven Performance Reviews”
Link: IBM Center for the Business of Government: Harry Hatry and Elizabeth Davies’ “A Guide to Data Driven Performance Reviews” (PDF)
Instructions: Please click on the link for the title “A Guide to Data Driven Performance Reviews,” and read the report in its entirety (48 pages).
Reading this report should take approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: IBM Center for the Business of Government: John Kamensky’s “Four Methods for Creating Thriving Employees”
Link: IBM Center for the Business of Government: John Kamensky’s “Four Methods for Creating Thriving Employees” (HTML)
Instructions: Please study Kamensky’s model.
Reading this material should take approximately 15 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: Bob Behn’s Public Management Report: Robert Behn’s “On Why Public Managers Need to Work at Closing Their: Managerial Perception Gap”
Link: Bob Behn’s Public Management Report: Robert Behn’s “On Why Public Managers Need to Work at Closing Their: Managerial Perception Gap” (PDF)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, scroll down to the link titled “October 2006: Managerial Perception Gap,” and click on it to download the PDF. Please read the brief on perception versus reality among public managers.
Reading this brief should take approximately 10 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: Wikibooks’ Introduction to Sociology: Organizational Behavior
-
4.1.2 Public Service Motive
- Reading: Public Administration Review: James Perry and Lois Wise’s “The Motivational Bases of Public Service”
Link: Public Administration Review: James Perry and Lois Wise’s “The Motivational Bases of Public Service” (PDF)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, scroll down the webpage to locate the title “The Motivational Bases of Public Service,” and click on the link to download the PDF. Read this entire text (7 pages). This article serves as a catalyst for research on public service motivation.
Reading this article should take approximately 30 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: Kennesaw State University: Professor Ulf Zimmerman’s version of Lois Wise’s “Public Service Motivation: The Concept of the Public Service Culture”
Link: Kennesaw State University: Professor Ulf Zimmerman’s version of Lois Wise’s “Public Service Motivation: The Concept of the Public Service Culture” (PDF)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, and select the link to “Wise, On Public Service Culture” to download the PDF. Are public employees attracted to the public service for unique reasons? Are public employees differently motivated than private sector employees? Read the entire article to find out (13 pages).
Reading this article should take approximately 45 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: Public Administration Review: James Perry and Lois Wise’s “The Motivational Bases of Public Service”
-
4.1.3 Organizational Culture
- Reading: Knowledge Management Pedia’s “Organizational Culture”
Link: Knowledge Management Pedia’s “Organizational Culture” (HTML)
Instructions: Please read the description of organizational culture and Schein’s three levels.
This reading should take approximately 15 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: Institute of Public Administration: Orla O’Donnell and Richard Boyle’s “Understanding and Managing Organizational Culture”
Link: Institute of Public Administration: Orla O’Donnell and Richard Boyle’s “Understanding and Managing Organizational Culture” (PDF)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, and note the webpage with articles listed in alphabetical order. Scroll down to “Understanding and Managing Organizational Culture,” and click on the title to download the PDF. This report provides a comprehensive discussion of organizational culture from an international case study perspective.
Reading this report should take approximately 2 hours.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: Knowledge Management Pedia’s “Organizational Culture”
- 4.2 Managing Organizations
-
4.2.1 Classic Theories of Administration
- Reading: University of Pretoria Library Services: Journal of Public Administration, 45, 1(1): C. Thornhill and G. Van Dijk’s “Public Administration Theory: Justification for Conceptualization”
Link: University of Pretoria Library Services: Journal of Public Administration, 45, 1(1): C. Thornhill and G. Van Dijk’s “Public Administration Theory: Justification for Conceptualization” (PDF)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, and then select the “View/Open” link to download the PDF. Please read the entire article (16 pages). Thornhill and Van Dijk address the challenges of theories relevant to public administration.
Reading this article should take approximately 1 hour.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: University of Pretoria Library Services: Journal of Public Administration, 45, 1(1): C. Thornhill and G. Van Dijk’s “Public Administration Theory: Justification for Conceptualization”
-
4.2.1.1 Weber’s Bureaucracy
- Reading: University of Mumbai’s “Unit 3: Working of Bureaucracy: Theory of Bureaucracy – Max Weber”
Link: University of Mumbai’s “Unit 3: Working of Bureaucracy: Theory of Bureaucracy – Max Weber” (PDF)
Instructions: Please scroll down and read pages 23-30.
Reading this material should take approximately 30 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: Rogers University: Frank Elwell’s “Max Weber: Characteristics of Bureaucracy”
Link: Rogers University: Frank Elwell’s “Max Weber: Characteristics of Bureaucracy” (PDF)
Instructions: Please click on the link above to access an index of articles, and then select the link titled “Weber1921.pdf” to download the document. Please read the classic synopsis of the ideal characteristics of bureaucracy.
Reading this article should take approximately 15 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: George Mason University: James P. Pfiffner’s “Traditional Public Administration versus The New Public Management: Accountability versus Efficiency”
Link: George Mason University: James P. Pfiffner’s “Traditional Public Administration versus The New Public Management: Accountability versus Efficiency” (PDF)
Instructions: Please click on the link above to access an index of articles, and then select the link titled “NewPublicMgt.doc.pdf” to download the document. Please read the article in its entirety.
Reading this article should take approximately 30 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: University of Mumbai’s “Unit 3: Working of Bureaucracy: Theory of Bureaucracy – Max Weber”
-
4.2.1.2 Wilson’s Politics/Administration Dichotomy
- Reading: TeachingAmericanHistory.org: Woodrow Wilson’s “The Study of Administration”
Link: TeachingAmericanHistory.org: Woodrow Wilson’s “The Study of Administration” (HTML)
Instructions: Please review Wilson’s classic work in public administration.
Reading this review should take approximately 1 hour.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: TeachingAmericanHistory.org: Woodrow Wilson’s “The Study of Administration”
-
4.2.1.3 Taylor’s Scientific Management
- Reading: YouTube: ABC World News’ “Taylorism on ABC World Report”
Link: YouTube: ABC World News’ “Taylorism on ABC World Report” (YouTube)
Instructions: Watch the historical footage of the importance of Taylorism.
Watching this video and pausing to take notes should take approximately 15 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: Public Management Report (June, 2006): 3(10): Robert Behn’s “Frederick Winslow Taylor Lives”
Link: Public Management Report (June, 2006): 3(10): Robert Behn’s “Frederick Winslow Taylor Lives” (PDF)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, scroll down to “June 2006: Frederick Winslow Taylor Lives” under “Archives,” and click on the link to download the PDF. Read the article in its entirety.
Reading this article should take approximately 15 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: YouTube: ABC World News’ “Taylorism on ABC World Report”
-
4.2.1.4 Gulick’s POSDCORB
- Reading: Wikipedia’s “POSDCORB”
Link: Wikipedia’s “POSDCORB” (HTML)
Instructions: Please review the significance of the elements of POSDCORB in the encyclopedia entry linked above.
Reading this article should take approximately 15 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: Wikipedia’s “POSDCORB”
-
4.2.2 New Public Administration
- Reading: University of Mumbai’s “New Public Administration”
Link: University of Mumbai’s “New Public Administration” (PDF)
Instructions: Please read Section 2.5 of Unit 2 on pages 19–22 of the document for material relevant to the sub-subunits 4.2.2.1 and 4.2.2.2.
Reading this material should take approximately 30 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: University of Mumbai’s “New Public Administration”
-
4.2.2.1 Dwight Waldo and Minnowbrook
- Reading: Maxwell School of Syracuse University: George Lowery’s “Putting the Purpose in P.A.”
Link: Maxwell School of Syracuse University: George Lowery’s “Putting the Purpose in P.A.” (HTML)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, and read the entire webpage. Note the importance of Dwight Waldo in the field of public administration and his role in moving the field in a new direction.
Reading this material should take approximately 15 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: Dialogue (1983): 5(2): Richard Stillman III’s “The Romantic Vision in American Administrative Theory: Retrospectives and Prospectives”
Link: Dialogue (1983): 5(2): Richard Stillman III’s “The Romantic Vision in American Administrative Theory: Retrospectives and Prospectives” (PDF)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, select the link to open volume 5, and scroll down to p. 26 of the PDF to read “Toward a New Public Administration: The Minnowbrook Perspective” on pages 26–28 (listed as pp. 7–9 on the document).
Reading this article should take approximately 15 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: Universidad Autonoma del Estrado de Mexico: J. Ramon Gil Garcia’s “Toward a Public Administration: Minnowbrook III. A Reflection and Proposal”
Link: Universidad Autonoma del Estrado de Mexico: J. Ramon Gil Garcia’s “Toward a Public Administration: Minnowbrook III. A Reflection and Proposal” (PDF)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, and read the article on this webpage (8 pages). This manuscript provides a summary of Minnowbrook and the perennial tensions within the field.
Reading this article should take approximately 45 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: Maxwell School of Syracuse University: George Lowery’s “Putting the Purpose in P.A.”
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4.2.2.2 Social Equity
- Reading: Journal of Public Affairs Education: Kristen Norman-Major: “Balancing the Four Es: or Can We Achieve Equity for Social Equity in Public Administration?”
Link: Journal of Public Affairs Education: Kristen Norman-Major’s “Balancing the Four Es: or Can We Achieve Equity for Social Equity in Public Administration?” (PDF)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, and then select “JPAE-Vol.17-No.2-Spring2011.pdf” to download the journal. Go to page 233 (the 77th page of the PDF) to find the article. Please read the article and pay attention to the pillars of public administration.
Reading this article should take approximately 1 hour.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: American Constitutional Society: Alan Jenkins, Juhu Thukral, Kevin Hsu, Nerissa Kunakemakron, and Megan Haberle’s “Promoting Opportunity through Impact Statements: A Tool of Policymakers to Assess Equity”
Link: American Constitutional Society: Alan Jenkins, Juhu Thukral, Kevin Hsu, Nerissa Kunakemakron, and Megan Haberle’s “Promoting Opportunity through Impact Statements: A Tool of Policymakers to Assess Equity” (PDF)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, and then select the link at the bottom of the webpage to download the PDF. Please read this report in its entirety.
Reading this report should take approximately 1 hour.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: Journal of Public Affairs Education: Kristen Norman-Major: “Balancing the Four Es: or Can We Achieve Equity for Social Equity in Public Administration?”
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4.2.3 New Public Management
- Lecture: YouTube: Professor Valentina Mele’s “Foundations of Public Management and New Public Management”
Link: YouTube: Professor Valentina Mele’s “Foundations of Public Management and New Public Management” (YouTube)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, and watch Professor Mele’s lecture on public management.
Watching this lecture and pausing to take notes should take approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: International Journal of Human Sciences: Sebahattin Gultekin’s “New Public Management: Is It Really New?”
Link: International Journal of Human Sciences: Sebahattin Gultekin’s “New Public Management: Is It Really New?” (PDF)
Instructions: Please click on the link above and select the PDF link to access the text. Read Professor Gultekin’s article in its entirety. Management reforms are perennial.
Reading this article should take approximately 1 hour.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: Public Administration Review: Richard Box, Gary Marshall, B.J. Reed, and Christine Reed’s “New Public Management and Substantive Democracy”
Link: Public Administration Review: Richard Box, Gary Marshall, B.J. Reed, and Christine Reed’s “New Public Management and Substantive Democracy” (PDF)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, scroll down Professor Shulock’s syllabus to Week 2, locate the title of the article, and click on the link to download the PDF. Read this excellent article on the potential consequences of NPM.
This reading should take approximately 1 hour.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Lecture: YouTube: Professor Valentina Mele’s “Foundations of Public Management and New Public Management”
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4.2.3.1 Reinventing Government and the National Performance Review
- Web Media: YouTube: “Reinventing Government, Part 1” and “Reinventing Government, Part 2”
Link: YouTube: “Reinventing Government, Part 1” (YouTube) and “Reinventing Government, Part 2” (YouTube)
Instructions: Please watch the two video segments on reinventing government.
Watching these videos and pausing to take notes should take approximately 30 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: Report of the National Performance Review: Vice President Al Gore’s “From Red Tape to Results: Creating a Government that Works Better & Costs Less”
Link: Report of the National Performance Review: Vice President Al Gore’s “From Red Tape to Results: Creating a Government that Works Better & Costs Less” (TXT)
Instructions: The reinvention movement dominated the field of public administration for many years. Read this historic report to learn more.
Reading this report should take approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: Jesse Alan Gordon’s “A Critique of Reinventing Government”
Link: Jesse Alan Gordon’s “A Critique of Reinventing Government” (HTML)
Instructions: There were just as many critiques on the reinvention movement as there were reform initiatives in the public sector. This author provides a brief overview of some of the critiques; please read the entire discussion.
Reading this article should take approximately 45 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Web Media: YouTube: “Reinventing Government, Part 1” and “Reinventing Government, Part 2”
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4.2.3.2 Recommendations for Reform
- Reading: U.S. Government Accountability Office: “Opportunities for Improvement and Considerations for Restructuring”
Link: U.S. Government Accountability Office: “Opportunities for Improvement and Considerations for Restructuring” (PDF)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, and select the “View Report” link to download the PDF. Read the recommendations for reform in this GAO report.
Reading this report should take approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Web Media: You Tube: John Kamensky’s “Performance Management Recommendations for the New Administration”
Link: You Tube: John Kamensky’s “Performance Management Recommendations for the New Administration” (YouTube)
Instructions: Please watch the recommendations for President Obama’s administrative transition.
Watching this video (several times as needed) and pausing to take notes should take less than 15 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: U.S. Government Accountability Office: “Opportunities for Improvement and Considerations for Restructuring”
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Unit 5: Public Budgeting
This unit is designed to provide insight into the process of public budgeting. The politics of budgeting is used to establish the context in which public administrators must operate. In this unit, you will be introduced to various types of budgets and the advantages and disadvantages of each.
Unit 5 Time Advisory show close
Unit 5 Learning Outcomes show close
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5.1 Legislative and Executive Authority at the Federal Level
- Reading: The White House: “Mission and Structure of the Office of Management and Budget”
Link: The White House: “Mission and Structure of the Office of Management and Budget” (HTML)
Instructions: Please read the entire webpage linked above to learn more about the federal budget process.
Reading this material should take approximately 15 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Lecture: YouTube: Aspen Ideas Festival: “A Conversation with the Director of the Office of Management and Budget Peter Orszag”
Link: YouTube: Aspen Ideas Festival: “A Conversation with the Director of the Office of Management and Budget Peter Orszag” (YouTube)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, and watch Director Orszag’s commentary on the federal budget.
Watching this video and pausing to take notes should take approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: The White House: “Mission and Structure of the Office of Management and Budget”
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5.2 Sources of Revenue
- Reading: Florida International University: Sukumar Ganapati’s “Public Budgeting and Financial Management”
Link: Florida International University: Sukumar Ganapati’s “Public Budgeting and Financial Management” (HTML)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, and read the entire webpage. Pay particular attention to sources of revenue listed in the reading.
Reading this material should take approximately 15 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: Urban Institute and Brookings Institution: Tax Policy Center’s “State and Local Tax Policy: What are Sources of Revenue for State Governments?”
Link: Urban Institute and Brookings Institution: Tax Policy Center’s “State and Local Tax Policy: What are Sources of Revenue for State Governments?” (HTML)
Instructions: Please visit the website linked above to learn more about sources of revenue.
Reading this material should take approximately 10 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: The Nelson A. Rockefeller Institute of Government: Robert B. Ward’s “State Revenues in an Era of Fundamental Change”
Link: The Nelson A. Rockefeller Institute of Government: Robert B. Ward’s “State Revenues in an Era of Fundamental Change” (PDF)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, scroll down to the article title, and click on the link to download the PDF. Please review the slideshow presentation on state revenues available as a PDF.
Reading this article should take approximately 15 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: Florida International University: Sukumar Ganapati’s “Public Budgeting and Financial Management”
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5.3 The Budget Cycle
- Reading: The National League of Cities: “The Public Budget”
Link: The National League of Cities: “The Public Budget” (HTML)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, and read the entire webpage. Pay particular attention to the budget cycle discussed at the beginning of the reading.
Reading this material should take approximately 10 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: Center on Budget and Policy Priorities: “Policy Basics: The ABCs of State Budgets”
Link: Center on Budget and Policy Priorities: “Policy Basics: The ABCs of State Budgets” (HTML)
Instructions: Please read the overview of state budgeting linked above.
Reading this material should take approximately 10 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: The National League of Cities: “The Public Budget”
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5.4 Types of Budgets
- Reading: Charlie Tyler and Jennifer Willand’s “Public Budgeting in America: A Twentieth Century Retrospective”
Link: Charlie Tyler and Jennifer Willand’s “Public Budgeting in America: A Twentieth Century Retrospective” (HTML)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, and read the entire webpage. Tyler and Willand address types of budgets listed above with a variety of examples.
Reading this material should take approximately 30 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: Charlie Tyler and Jennifer Willand’s “Public Budgeting in America: A Twentieth Century Retrospective”
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5.4.1 Line-Item Budgets
- Reading: National Center for Education Statistics: “Financial Accounting for Local and State School Systems – Chapter 3: Budgeting”
Link: National Center for Education Statistics: “Financial Accounting for Local and State School Systems – Chapter 3: Budgeting” (HTML)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, and read the entire webpage. Pay particular attention to the section on line item budgeting in the section on budgetary approaches.
Reading this chapter should take approximately 30 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: State of Massachusetts: “Sample Line Item Budget: Anytown Public Library”
Link: State of Massachusetts: “Sample Line Item Budget: Anytown Public Library” (PDF)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, and select the “PDF” link to download the PDF. Please review the sample line item budget. Pay particular attention to the item-by-item budget in this example.
Studying this material should take approximately 15 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: National Center for Education Statistics: “Financial Accounting for Local and State School Systems – Chapter 3: Budgeting”
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5.4.2 Planning, Programming, and Budgeting Systems
- Reading: U.S. Department of Defense, 37th Annual DOD Cost Analysis Symposium: “DOD’s Planning, Programming, and Budgeting System”
Link: U.S. Department of Defense, 37th Annual DOD Cost Analysis Symposium: “DOD’s Planning, Programming, and Budgeting System” (PDF)
Instructions: Please click on the link above to download the PDF of the presentation. View the presentation in its entirety (27 pages). When reading the presentation, pay particular attention to the transformation of PPBS since its original introduction.
Studying this presentation should take approximately 1 hour.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.The Saylor Foundation does not yet have materials for this portion of the course. If you are interested in contributing your content to fill this gap or aware of a resource that could be used here, please submit it here.
- Reading: U.S. Department of Defense, 37th Annual DOD Cost Analysis Symposium: “DOD’s Planning, Programming, and Budgeting System”
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5.4.3 Zero-Based Budgeting
- Reading: Mackinac Center for Public Policy: Michael D. LaFaive’s “The Pros and Cons of Zero-Based Budgeting”
Link: Mackinac Center for Public Policy: Michael D. LaFaive’s “The Pros and Cons of Zero-Based Budgeting” (HTML)
Instructions: Read the testimony LaFaive provided to the House Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government.
Reading this testimony should take approximately 15 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: Mackinac Center for Public Policy: Michael D. LaFaive’s “The Pros and Cons of Zero-Based Budgeting”
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5.4.4 Performance-Based Budgeting
- Reading: Government Finance Officers Association, Best Practices in Public Budgeting: “Program and Performance Based Budget and Piloting Project”
Link: Government Finance Officers Association, Best Practices in Public Budgeting: “Program and Performance Based Budget and Piloting Project” (PDF)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, select “Budget Practice Examples,” and scroll down to section 7.3 to open information on the pilot project in San Jose. Read this entire text (4 pages).
Reading this material should take approximately 30 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: Anwar Shah (ed.)’s Budgeting and Budgetary Institutions: Anwar Shah and Chunli Shen’s “Chapter 5: A Primer on Performance Budgeting”
Link: Anwar Shah (ed.)’s Budgeting and Budgetary Institutions: Anwar Shah and Chunli Shen’s “Chapter 5: A Primer on Performance Budgeting” (PDF)
Instructions: Please click on the link above to access the PDF, and read “Chapter 5: A Primer on Performance Budgeting” on pages 137–175. Professors Shah and Shen provide a detailed narrative on types of budgets, particularly performance-based budgets.
Reading this chapter should take approximately 2 hours.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: Government Finance Officers Association, Best Practices in Public Budgeting: “Program and Performance Based Budget and Piloting Project”
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5.5 Budget Reform
- Reading: National Academy of Public Administration: “Moving from Scorekeeper to Strategic Partner: Improving Financial Management”
Link: National Academy of Public Administration: “Moving from Scorekeeper to Strategic Partner: Improving Financial Management” (PDF)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, select “View Full Report” to download to the PDF on the NAPA website, and read the entire text (32 pages) to learn more about recommendations for budgetary reform.
Studying this material should take approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: John R. Bartle’s “Applying Pragmatism to Public Budgeting and Financial Management”
Link: John R. Bartle’s “Applying Pragmatism to Public Budgeting and Financial Management” (PDF)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, and select the “View/Open” hyperlink to download the PDF. Read the entire text (16 pages). Please pay particular attention to the integration of theory and practice throughout the article.
Reading this material should take approximately 1 hour.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: Government Finance Officers Association’s Best Practices in Public Budgeting: “A Framework for Improving State and Local Government Budgeting”
Link: Government Finance Officers Association’s Best Practices in Public Budgeting: “A Framework for Improving State and Local Government Budgeting” (PDF)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, and select the “Click here” link to download “A Framework for Improving State and Local Government Budgeting. Read the entire text (87 pages). On the main webpage linked above, you may want to optionally explore the Budget Practices and Budget Examples sections.
Studying this material and exploring the practice and examples should take approximately 5 hours.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: National Academy of Public Administration: “Moving from Scorekeeper to Strategic Partner: Improving Financial Management”
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Unit 6: Program Planning and Evaluation
Taxpayers want to know if their money is producing a return on their investment in the “public good.” The Government Performance Results Act (GPRA) of 1993 required federal agencies to develop strategic plans and measure performance of the agency and its programs. Several states have also implemented similar legislation. The GPRA Modernization Act of 2010 revised the reporting process and requirements. This unit addresses the importance of planning and evaluation in public organizations. Strategic planning techniques, performance measurement, and methods of program evaluation are presented.
Unit 6 Time Advisory show close
Unit 6 Learning Outcomes show close
- 6.1 Planning and Implementation
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6.1.1 Government Performance Results Acts I & II
- Web Media: YouTube: Senator Mark Warner’s “The Government Performance and Results Modernization Act Explained”
Link: YouTube: Senator Mark Warner’s “The Government Performance and Results Modernization Act Explained” (YouTube)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, and watch Senator Warner’s description of the purpose of GPRA II.
Watching this video and pausing to take notes should take less than 15 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: U.S. Government Accountability Office: “GPRA Modernization Act Implementation Provides Important Opportunities to Address Government Challenges”
Link: U.S. Government Accountability Office: “GPRA Modernization Act Implementation Provides Important Opportunities to Address Government Challenges” (PDF)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, and select “View Report” on the GAO website to download the PDF. Read the entire text (27 pages) to learn more about recommendations for implementation.
Reading this report should take approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: National Academy of Public Administration: Kathryn Newcomer and F. Stevens Redburn’s “Achieving Real Improvement in Federal Policy and Program Outcomes”
Link: National Academy of Public Administration: Kathryn Newcomer and F. Stevens Redburn’s “Achieving Real Improvement in Federal Policy and Program Outcomes” (DOC)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, and select “View Full Report” to access the report in Microsoft Word. Read the entire text.
Reading this report should take approximately 30 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Web Media: YouTube: Senator Mark Warner’s “The Government Performance and Results Modernization Act Explained”
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6.1.2 Strategic Planning
- Reading: Richard D. Young’s “Perspectives on Strategic Planning in the Public Sector”
Link: Richard D. Young’s “Perspectives on Strategic Planning in the Public Sector” (PDF)
Instructions: Please click on the link above and select the first search result to download the PDF. Please read the entire article (28 pages). This reading provides a comprehensive overview of strategic planning in public organizations.
Reading this article should take approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: MIT OpenCourseWare: Xavier Briggs, Brent Coffin, and Brady Banks’ “Mayor Purcell and the Faith Community Confront Nashville’s Housing Needs”
Link: MIT OpenCourseWare: Xavier Briggs, Brent Coffin, and Brady Banks’ “Mayor Purcell and the Faith Community Confront Nashville’s Housing Needs” (PDF)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, scroll down to “Day 5: Strategic Vision and Change, Discussion A: Vision,” and select the title to download the PDF. Please read the entire document.
Reading this article should take approximately 45 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: MIT OpenCourseWare: Professor Xavier de Souza Briggs’ “Strategic Vision and Leadership”
Link: MIT OpenCourseWare: Professor Xavier de Souza Briggs’ “Strategic Vision and Leadership” (PDF)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, scroll down to Day 5, and select the PDF link under the “Slides” column. Please study all of these slides (12 slides total).
Studying this presentation should take approximately 20 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Web Media: YouTube: Ephraim Feig’s “Strategic Planning at Social Security”
Link: YouTube: Ephraim Feig’s “Strategic Planning at Social Security” (YouTube)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, and watch this description of strategic planning at SSA during the Open Government Employee Awareness Day.
Watching this video and pausing to take notes should take approximately 30 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: Office of Management and Budget: “Section 210 – Preparing a Strategic Plan: The Main Elements”
Link: Office of Management and Budget: “Section 210 – Preparing a Strategic Plan: The Main Elements” (PDF)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, scroll down to Part 6, and select the link for “Section 210 – Preparing and Submitting a Strategic Plan.” Read the entire text (4 pages). This reading provides practical tools to engage in strategic planning.
Reading this material should take approximately 30 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: Richard D. Young’s “Perspectives on Strategic Planning in the Public Sector”
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6.1.3 Implementation
- Reading: The Open University’s “Models of Implementation”
Link: The Open University’s “Models of Implementation” (HTML)
Instructions: Read sections 1.1 through 1.5. Click on the “Next” link at the end of each webpage to move on to subsequent sections.
Reading this material should take approximately 30 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: U.S. Department of Justice Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention: “Successful Program Implementation: Lessons from Blueprints”
Link: U.S. Department of Justice Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention: “Successful Program Implementation: Lessons from Blueprints” (PDF)
Instructions: Please click on the link above to access the PDF and read the entire document. This bulletin provides useful information on required elements of successful implementation.
Reading this bulletin should take approximately 30 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: African Association for Public Administration and Management: Petrus A. Brynard’s “Policy Implementation: Lessons for Service Delivery”
Link: African Association for Public Administration and Management: Petrus A. Brynard’s “Policy Implementation: Lessons for Service Delivery” (PDF)
Instructions: Please click on the link above to access the PDF, and read the entire document (25 pages).
Reading this material should take approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: IBM Center for the Business of Government: Richard Callahan, Sandra Archibald, Kay Sterner, Brinton Milward’s “Key Actions That Contribute to Successful Program Implementation: Lessons from the Recovery Act”
Link: IBM Center for the Business of Government: Richard Callahan, Sandra Archibald, Kay Sterner, Brinton Milward’s “Key Actions That Contribute to Successful Program Implementation: Lessons from the Recovery Act” (PDF)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, and select the “Download the Report” link to access the PDF. Please read the entire document (68 pages).
Studying this report should take approximately 3 hours.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: The Open University’s “Models of Implementation”
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6.2 Evaluation
- Reading: U.S. Government Accountability Office: “Performance Measurement and Evaluation: Definitions and Relationships”
Link: U.S. Government Accountability Office: “Performance Measurement and Evaluation: Definitions and Relationships” (PDF)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, select “View the Report” to the PDF on the GAO website, and read the entire text to learn the basic concepts of performance measurement.
Reading this report should take approximately 15 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: George F. Grob’s “The Pillars of Public Program Evaluation”
Link: George F. Grob’s “The Pillars of Public Program Evaluation” (PDF)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, and select the first search result to download the PDF. Please read the entire article (30 pages) for a comprehensive overview of program evaluation.
Reading this article should take approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: The Urban Institute: Harry Hatry, Jake Cowan, Ken Weiner, Linda Lampkin’s “Developing Community-Wide Outcome Indicators for Specific Services”
Link: The Urban Institute: Harry Hatry, Jake Cowan, Ken Weiner, Linda Lampkin’s “Developing Community-Wide Outcome Indicators for Specific Services” (PDF)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, and select the “PDF” link to download the report. Read the entire document (44 pages).
Reading this report should take approximately 2 hours.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: U.S. Government Accountability Office: “Performance Measurement and Evaluation: Definitions and Relationships”
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6.3 Purpose and Types of Evaluation
- Reading: U.S. Government Accountability Office: “Designing Evaluations”
Link: U.S. Government Accountability Office: “Designing Evaluations” (PDF)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, select “View Report” to download the document, and read the entire text (72 pages). This GAO report provides useful instructions and examples of evaluation design.
Reading this report should take approximately 3 hours and 30 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: National Academy of Public Administration: “Achieving Real Improvement in Federal Policy and Program Outcomes: The Next Frontier”
Link: National Academy of Public Administration: “Achieving Real Improvement in Federal Policy and Program Outcomes: The Next Frontier” (DOC)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, and select “View Full Report” to download the DOC file. Read the full report (7 pages).
Reading this report should take approximately 30 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: U.S. Government Accountability Office: “Designing Evaluations”
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Unit 7: Pubic-Service Ethics
This unit is designed to introduce you to ethics from a theoretical and applied perspective. You will learn the foundations of ethical theory as well as applied models of ethical decision-making for public managers. Common ethical dilemmas in public administration are presented through case studies.
Unit 7 Time Advisory show close
Unit 7 Learning Outcomes show close
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7.1 The Importance of Ethics in Public Administration
- Reading: Yale University: Professor Ian Shapiro’s “Classical Utilitarianism and Distributive Justice”
Link: Yale University: Professor Ian Shapiro’s “Classical Utilitarianism and Distributive Justice” (JWPlayer)
Instructions: Please watch Dr. Shapiro’s lecture. The link above includes bandwidth options for the video.
Watching this lecture and pausing to take notes should take approximately 1 hour.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: University of Michigan: Professor John Chamberlin’s “Professional Ethics in Public Affairs”
Link: University of Michigan: Professor John Chamberlin’s “Professional Ethics in Public Affairs” (DOC or PDF)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, scroll down to “Handouts,” locate “Class 21 Reading Notes: Professional Ethics in Public Affairs,” and click on the icon to download this either as a Word document or PDF. Please read the entire document.
Reading this material should take approximately 45 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Web Media: YouTube: Northeastern University’s “Conversations with Michael Dukakis: Ethics and Corruption”
Link: YouTube: Northeastern University’s “Conversations with Michael Dukakis: Ethics and Corruption” (YouTube)
Instructions: Please click on the link above and watch this short segment on the importance of integrity in public service.
Watching this video and pausing to take notes should take approximately 15 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: Yale University: Professor Ian Shapiro’s “Classical Utilitarianism and Distributive Justice”
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7.2 Ethical Obligations of Public Administrators
- Reading: U.S. Office of Government Ethics: “A Brief Wrap on Ethics”
Link: U.S. Office of Government Ethics: “A Brief Wrap on Ethics” (HTML)
Instructions: Please read the brief on ethics for executive branch employees of the federal government.
This reading should take approximately 15 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: Ethics & Global Politics: Simone Chambers’s “Who Shall Judge? Hobbes, Lock and Kant on the Construction of Public Reason”
Link: Ethics & Global Politics: Simone Chambers’s “Who Shall Judge? Hobbes, Lock and Kant on the Construction of Public Reason” (PDF)
Instructions: What is public reason? Who decides? Please click on the link above, and then select the link to either the PDF, HTML, or XML to read more.
Reading this article should take approximately 45 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: YouTube: Harvard University, The Ash Center’s “Innovations in Governance: Ethics and Accountability in the Public Sector”
Link: YouTube: Harvard University, The Ash Center’s “Innovations in Governance: Ethics and Accountability in the Public Sector” (YouTube)
Instructions: Please watch this entire video of a panel discussion on the topic of ethics and accountability in the public sector.
Watching this video and pausing to take notes should take approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: U.S. Office of Government Ethics: “A Brief Wrap on Ethics”
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7.3 Code of Ethics
- Reading: American Society for Public Administration: “Code of Ethics”
Link: American Society for Public Administration: “Code of Ethics” (HTML)
Instructions: Please review the code of ethics on the webpage linked above.
This reading should take approximately 15 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: U.S. Office of Government Ethics: “Code of Ethics”
Link: U.S. Office of Government Ethics: “Code of Ethics” (HTML)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, and select the PDF hyperlink to download the file. Study the code of ethics.
This reading should take approximately 15 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: American Society for Public Administration: “Code of Ethics”
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7.4 Models of Ethical Decision-Making
- Reading: Wikipedia’s “Cooper’s Decision-Making Model”
Link: Wikipedia’s “Cooper’s Decision-Making Model” (HTML)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, and review the section titled “Cooper’s Decision-Making Model.” This decision-making model is a classic in public administration ethics.
Studying this material should take approximately 15 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: Dialogue: Stuart Nagel’s “Professional Ethics in Policy Evaluation: Ends and Methods”
Link: Dialogue: Stuart Nagel’s “Professional Ethics in Policy Evaluation: Ends and Methods” (PDF)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, and then select “here” to download the PDF. Read pages 13–20. What are the ethical dilemmas experienced by evaluators? What is the professional responsibility of evaluators?
Reading and considering the questions above should take approximately 45 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: University of Northern Colorado: Center for Ethical Deliberation’s “Ethical Frameworks”
Link: University of Northern Colorado: Center for Ethical Deliberation’s “Ethical Frameworks” (HTML)
Instructions: Please read the entire webpage, and pay attention to the distinctions between consequences, duty, and virtue frameworks.
Reading this material should take approximately 45 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: Wikipedia’s “Cooper’s Decision-Making Model”
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7.5 Ethical Dilemmas in Public Agencies
- Reading: Project on Government Oversight: “Government Corruption”
Link: Project on Government Oversight: “Government Corruption” (HTML)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, and read the entire webpage. This website provides descriptions and links related to conflicts of interest, misuse of power, improper influence, and the revolving door.
Reading this material should take approximately 15 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.The Saylor Foundation does not yet have materials for this portion of the course. If you are interested in contributing your content to fill this gap or aware of a resource that could be used here, please submit it here.
- Reading: Center for Public Integrity: Caitlin Ginley’s “Grading the Nation: How Accountable Is Your State?”
Link: Center for Public Integrity: Caitlin Ginley’s “Grading the Nation: How Accountable Is Your State?” (HTML)
Instructions: Read the news article, and click on the interactive map to see your state’s corruption risk report card.
Reading this material should take approximately 30 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: Markkula Center for Applied Ethics: Judy Nadler’s “Friendly Advice or Quid Pro Quo?”
Link: Markkula Center for Applied Ethics: Judy Nadler’s “Friendly Advice or Quid Pro Quo?” (HTML)
Instructions: Read the case study and answer the discussion questions posted at the end of the reading.
Reading and answering the discussion questions should take approximately 30 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: Project on Government Oversight: “Government Corruption”
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7.6 Whistleblowing
- Reading: U.S. Office of Special Counsel: “Whistleblowing”
Link: U.S. Office of Special Counsel: “Whistleblowing” (HTML)
Instructions: Please review the definition of a whistleblower.
Reviewing this material should take approximately 5 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board: “Blowing the Whistle: Barriers to Federal Employees Making Disclosures”
Link: U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board: “Blowing the Whistle: Barriers to Federal Employees Making Disclosures” (PDF)
Instructions: Please click on the link above, and read the entire report.
Reading this report should take approximately 2 hours.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: Markkula Center for Applied Ethics: Judy Nadler and Miriam Schulman’s “Whistle Blowing in the Public Sector”
Link: Markkula Center for Applied Ethics: Judy Nadler and Miriam Schulman’s “Whistleblowing in the Public Sector” (HTML)
Instructions: Please click on the link above and read the entire webpage. Review the relationship between ethics and whistleblowing as well as ethical dilemmas.
Reading this material should take approximately 10 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Web Media: YouTube: CNN’s “System Fails Whistle-Blowers”
Link: YouTube: CNN’s “System Fails Whistle-Blowers” (YouTube)
Instructions: Please click on the link above and watch the brief video.
Watching this and pausing to take notes should take approximately 15 minutes.
Terms of Use: Please respect the copyright and terms of use displayed on the webpage above.See a broken link? Please let us know!
- Reading: U.S. Office of Special Counsel: “Whistleblowing”
