Course Summary:
Analyzes the nature of public administration, its structure and limitations; includes staff organization and chain of command, unemployment policies, personnel training and management, employees, organizations, and public relations
Course Objectives:
- Explain what encompasses the field of public administration
- Explain what it means to be a public administrator
- Acknowledge that public administration is a wide-ranging and complex subject that involves core activities of government
- Explain the core activities provided by highly trained public administration experts and specialized organizations
- Explain the core purpose of public administration
- Recognize that public administration encompasses a large and dynamic portion of government at all three levels of the federal system, engaging even in nonprofit and private enterprise
Course Outline
Overview of Public Administration
- Define public administration
- Explain the functional responsibilities within the public system
- Discuss the concepts of democratic rule
- Discover the similarities and variations between private and public business
- Define the responsibilities of the public administrator
- Discuss some of the broad challenges of public administration
The Political Context of Public Administration
- Understand how political dynamics affect the functionality and administration of public programs
- Recognize and comprehend the different levels of government – federal, state, and local
- Define and discuss the different types of city structure and management
- Understand the policy process through various levels of government
- Develop a sensitivity to the political process
Interorganizational Context of Public Administration
- Discuss the relationships between government entities
- Explain the history of the federal/local government relationship
- Discuss the interactions of government and nonprofit organizations
- Develop an understanding of the grant process and network
- Relate the changing roles of government, public policy, and the effects on nonprofits and social service organizations
- Develop an overview of management and operational characteristics of nonprofits
Designing and Managing Organizations
- Distinguish the development and application of general organizational and management practices
- Comprehend the decision-making process within the governmental arena/shifting priorities
- Identify and understand the organizational culture and learning
- Differentiate the functions of management as defined by Fayol and Gulick
The Management of Human Resources
- Develop an understanding of employee selection, hiring, and development in the public sector and our system of merit versus spoils-based employment/governmental relations
- Grasp the application of the Civil Service Reform Act and the changes such legislation achieved
- Identify assessment and accountability within the governmental structure
- Outline management/labor relations and issues in government
- Explore civil rights and Americans with Disabilities Act
- Explain discriminatory practices
Leadership and Management Skills in Public Organizations
- Discuss the concept of leadership versus management, structure, and power
- Define the five bases of social power
- Relate effective knowledge of communication and the application of appropriate practices
- Develop a concept of delegation, motivation, and goal setting
- Explain the dynamics of group interactions and decision making versus individual decision processes
- Develop a process for resolving conflicts and negotiating/bargaining
- Ethics of Public Service
Discuss the definitions of right and wrong and the ethical questions posed in public service
- Explain what is meant by morality and ethics
- Explain how a public manager interacts with elected officials
- Develop an understanding of the challenges of following orders versus doing the right thing, whistle blowing, and conflicts of interest
- Explain the intent and importance of the Hatch Act
Administrative Reform and Technology
- Explain the perceived weaknesses of government and why it needs to be reformed
- Discuss how MBO affects operations
- Relate the impact of technology on operations and service
- Discuss how quality circles can improve problem solving and service delivery
- Explain how recognition programs affect quality and productivity
- Develop an appreciation for the human side of technological improvements
Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation
- Develop an understanding how public policies and programs are conceived, defined, and implemented
- Conceptually understand the planning process in general and as it applies to public service
- Understand program and process evaluation and the differences between the two
- Understand how human interaction in the planning process affects the outcome
- Utilize PERT/CPM techniques theory for implementation of public programs
Budgeting and Financial Management
- Develop an understanding of what fiscal policy is and how it can influence the economy
- Explain the budgeting function in a public agency
- Determine, from the federal perspective, the sources of revenue and the impact of expenditures
- Develop a broad understanding of various taxes employed at different levels of government and determine whether they are progressive or regressive
- Compare from a state and local perspective, the sources of revenue and the impact of expenditures
- Learn to use the budget as a managerial tool
- Develop a comprehension of how the fiscal year and budget cycle work
- Discuss the importance of auditing
- Develop an understanding of risk management and risk mitigation
- Become familiar with the budget systems government can employ
- Recognize the types of funds used in public agencies
The Future of Public Service
- Explain the importance of delivering quality public services
- Discuss the challenges of attracting qualified personnel to government positions
- Synthesize the current identified trends in the public sector
- Develop an awareness of the role of technology in the public work environment
- Define the evolving role of citizens in the governance process
- Recognize the growing role of ethics in public service going forward