of Department History and Political Science Capital University Columbus, Ohio 43209 Instructor: Dr. C. A. Jones Office: Renner Hall #332 Political Science 215 Spring 2005 Phone: [phone] E-mail: [e-mail]
INTRODUCTION TO PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course surveys some basic problems in public administration. Emphasis is devoted to basic principles of organization, location of authority, fiscal management, personnel management, forms of administrative action in the public service, technological and managerial advancements. COURSE OBJECTIVES: The primary objective of this course is to acquaint the student with the basic concepts, processes, and theories in Public Administration. The course surveys and analyzes the basic problems of Public Administration, formulation of public policy, organization of public personnel systems, and the management and coordination of governmental activities. TEXTBOOKS: The required texts for this course are:
Public Administration, Michael C. LeMay , Wadsworth/Thomson Learning, Belmond, Ca. Reinventing Government, David Osborne and Ted Gaebler Addison-Wesley Publishing Company, Inc. 1992 WEB PAGE ADDRESS: TBA
COURSE REQUIREMENTS: Several requirements are associated with this course. The student is required to sit several quizzes and an examination. Additionally, the student is required to complete several papers. Penalties will be assessed for papers assignments not submitted on time. FAILURE TO COMPLETE ANY PAPER ASSIGNMENT WILL RESULT IN THE STUDENT RECEIVING AN "F" FOR THE COURSE. TESTS The quizzes or tests will be given in class. The quizzes will be given at the
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completion of each assigned chapter or block of chapters. After a chapter or a block of chapters in the class text is completed, an essay or multiple-choice quiz will be given. In the essay format the test will be composed of three items. In the multiple-choice format the tests will be composed of ten (10) to twenty (20) multiple-choice questions. The grading scale for both types of test will be 0 to 100. Since the student's average grade on these quizzes will account for 1/4 of his/her final course grade, it is strongly recommended that the student take all of the tests. The quizzes are designed to encourage the student to read and digest the required course material. It is not designed to test how smart the student is. Those students who fail to read and digest the required readings will likely fare poorly on the tests. In the past, students have observed that the tests tend to focus on minor details. That observation is correct and should be taken as a warning to you to spend some time in preparing for the quizzes. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED! NOTE: Students can gain extra-credit by attending the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Learning workshops on Monday, January 17, 2005. To receive credit, students must sign the class roster that will be located in all workshops. EXAMINATION One examination will be given. The examination will be given at the end of the term. It is scheduled for Thursday, May 4, 2005 from 1:00 - 3:00 PM. This date is subject to change with prior notification to the student. Five (5) of the following statements (other statements may be added later) will appear on the final examination. Because a random sampling technique will be used to select the five examination statements, it is recommended that you, in preparation for the final, prepare responses for all of the statements. Other issues or questions may be added at a later date. 1. 2. Compare and contrast public and private administration. Describe the social and physical environment of the U.S. State what impact this environment has had on public administration. 3. List and discuss the various approaches to policy making. 4. Describe those factors that may influence the decisions of public administrators. 5. State Douglas McGregor's theory of the nature of human behavior. Give a real life example of his theory. 6. Explain what is meant by moral contextualism. Give examples. 7. Explain what is meant by ethical autonomy. Give examples. 8. Do administrative agencies formulate policy? If so, how? Please illustrate. 9. Describe federal grants-and-aid programs (those of today and the past). 10. Describe public participation in agencies' decision making. Can you explain this phenomenon? 11. Compare and contrast the following theories: Principles approach, Human Relations, Scientific Management, and Open-systems. 12. What are staff and line services in public service? What are staff-line
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13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25.
conflicts? Discuss what is meant by the Politics of Organizations. List and describe impasse resolution techniques in collective bargaining. List and discuss the reasons for increased unionization in government during the 1960s. List and describe the common errors in decision making. What is the significance of Griggs v. Duke Power Company. List and describe the elements of the new public personnel administration. We have discussed three root causes of failure with program evaluation. List and describe these root causes of failure of program evaluation. Tannenbaum and Schmidt list three factors which may bear on the leadership style that one assumes. List and describe these factors. Describe the four types of communication. Describe the different concepts of budgeting. List and describe the different types of leadership styles. List and describe those factors that influence public administration decisions. List and describe the different methods of program evaluation.
PAPER ASSIGNMENTS Students are required to complete three (3) paper assignments. These assignments are described below: Paper Assignment 1: Concept Paper Paper #1 is a concept paper. The student is required to select a concept from public administration and research it. Research means that the student must present several authors' presentations on the selected concept. A minimum of twenty (20) independent sources is required. Please see lecture on "definitions of public administration" to see an example of how this enterprise can be accomplished. Some Public Administration concepts are provided below: Administrative Values Bureaucratic Expertise Bureaucratic Power and Political Accountability Intergovernmental Relations Grant-in-Aid Bureaucratic theory or Model Scientific Management theory Principles of Administrative theory Human Relations School Exchange Theory Leadership Systems Theory
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Theory X, Y, and Z Communication Line and Staff Functions Rationality in Decision Making Incremental Model Garbage Can Model Continuum of Leadership Behavior Effective Leadership Public Personnel Administration Evaluation of Public Personnel Administration Position Classification Affirmative Action Comparable Worth Collective Bargaining in the Public Setting Impasse Procedures Line-item Budgeting PPBS (Budgeting System) Zero-Based Budgeting Program Evaluation Students may select a concept from this listing or select a public administration concept from some other source. Regardless, the student's choice must be approved by the instructor by the second class meeting. THE DUE DATE FOR PAPER #1 IS at the beginning of the class period on TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2005. Paper Assignment 2: Interview Paper Paper #2 is a report of an interview. The student is required to interview at least one public and one private administrator. The goal of the assignment is to test the applicability of administrative concepts in the "real world." To this end, the student will compare the responses and characteristics of the public and private administrators that are interviewed. STUDENTS MUST SUBMIT INTERVIEW QUESTIONS TO THE INSTRUCTOR AND RECEIVE HIS APPROVAL PRIOR TO CONDUCTING INTERVIEWS OF AGENCY OFFICIALS FOR THIS ASSIGNMENT. PLEASE GIVE THE INSTRUCTOR AT LEAST A WEEK TO REVIEW AND APPROVE THE INTERVIEW QUESTIONS. (PLEASE SEE INTERVIEW PLAN.) Students should note that it is very difficult to identify relevant officials to interview (interviewing inappropriate individuals is a waste of your time and mine) and that it is even more difficult to interview these people. It is strongly suggested that the student begin work on this assignment at least six (6) weeks before the due date. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED! Paper #2 must include a profile of the agencies (both public and private) under study. Agencies should be profiled in terms of their background information. Background
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information for the agencies should include but should not be limited to: 1. 2. 3. chart) 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Brief presentation on the origins and history of the agencies Agencies' goal or function Administrative structure of agencies (include agency's official organizational Management theory guiding agencies' management (i.e., does the agency use the bureaucratic theory, the scientific management theory, the approach, principles the human relations school, or open systems?) Role of collective bargaining in the agency Recruitment system used by the agency Number and type (e.g., clerks, engineers, unskilled laborers, etc.) of personnel required by the agency Type of in-house training for agency personnel
NOTE: DO NOT INTERVIEW THE AGENCY OR ANY AGENCY PERSONNEL DURING THIS PHASE OF YOUR RESEARCH. DURING THIS PHASE YOU ARE ACQUIRING BACKGROUND INFORMATION THAT WILL BE USEFUL WHEN YOU CONDUCT YOUR INTERVIEWS. THE DUE DATE FOR PAPER #2 IS at the beginning of the class period on THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2005. Paper Assignment 3: Book Report Paper #3 is a book review of Reinventing Government. In addition to the guidelines (below) set out in the general instructions for all paper assignments, this assignment asks the student to assess a reading. Your assignment is to: 1. Summarize the authors' presentations (i.e., present a summary of the sections of the book). Determine the general intent (purpose or goal) of the authors of the work. Put another way, what did the authors hope to show with their work? Assess and evaluate, by your own devices, the authors' presentation. That is, it would be a good idea to compare this work to some recognized (think in terms of your text), established work (books, articles, etc.) or body of work. Summarize and present the general thrust of the work as a whole. This is your general feelings about what the book conveys. Address the issue of whether the authors make a convincing enough case for their position(s). Please explain your answer.
2.
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THE DUE DATE FOR PAPER #3 IS at the beginning of the class period on TUESDAY, APRIL 12, 2005.
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INSTRUCTIONS FOR PAPER ASSIGNMENTS: The project reports should be done in a term paper format. The project reports should be neatly organized, properly and securely fastened, and properly labeled. Your paper must have a: 1. Distinct introduction (which tells the reader what you plan to do in the paper, the questions or issues to be addressed, how you plan to address the issue, your thesis statement, and other pertinent information), Body (where the questions or issues are addressed), and Conclusion (which offers the student's brief reassessment of his/her findings).
2. 3.
In addition to the above your paper should: 1. 2. 3. Be typed double-spaced; Have a margin of at least one inch on each side and one and one-half inch at the top and bottom; Have a cover page that includes A. Your name, B. The title of your paper, C. Your school (i.e., Capital University), D. Course number and title, E. Current semester, F. Date, and G. Instructor's name and department. (All should be smartly arranged on the page.); Proper documentation of sources or references indicated in the body of the paper as well as on the bibliography and/or reference page; Use 12-point print or type; Have all pages (except the cover page and first page of the paper) of the paper numbered in the upper right hand corner; and Have paper stapled in the upper left hand corner.
4. 5. 6. 7.
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GRADES: The final grade for this course will be based on the following: Concept Paper Interview Paper Chapter Tests Book Review Final Examination The grading scale for this course is: A AB+ B B(93-100) (90-92) (86-89) (83-85) (80-82) C CD+ D C+ (76-79) (73-75) (70-72) (65-69) (60-64) F (0-59) 1/5 1/5 1/5 1/5 1/5
CLASS ATTENDANCE: Unless prevented by circumstances beyond his/her control, or because of participation in a college sponsored activity, the student is expected to attend classes on a regular basis. Regardless of the reason for the absence, however, the student is responsible for the work covered or assigned during the period of his/her absence. NOTE: Students who have four (4) or more absences at the end of the term will have their final grade lowered by one full letter grade. NOTE: NO MAKEUP WILL BE GIVEN FOR MISSED TESTS AND/OR EXAMINATIONS EXCEPT IN THOSE CASES WHERE THE STUDENT PROVIDES A WRITTEN EXCUSE THAT IS VERIFIED BY THE UNIVERSITY.
SPECIAL PROBLEMS: Students with special problems should present them at the appropriate time (preferably, at the outset of the course). In cases where difficulties prevent the meeting of a deadline, the student is advised to contact the instructor prior to the required date. The student should not conclude, however, that prior notification per se, will automatically excuse him/her from meeting the deadline. Cases which are of such an unusual nature so as to prevent prior notification will be dealt with on the basis of their merit. STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL DISABILITIES SHOULD NOTIFY THE INSTRUCTOR OF SUCH IN WRITING BEFORE THE END OF THE FIRST WEEK OF CLASSES. WARNING ABOUT CHEATING IN THIS CLASS:
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Students discovered cheating will receive a failing grade for that assignment. These students will also have their final course grade lowered by one full letter grade.
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OFFICE HOURS: Office hours will be held in Renner Hall, Room 332 on the days and times indicated below. MONDAY AND WEDNESDAY 1:00 3:00 P.M. TUESDAY AND THURSDAY 8:00 - 9:00 A.M. Special appointments can be arranged for students whose class schedules conflict with posted hours. Conferences with the instructor are encouraged early in th...