public management - public affairs

Course Home - Syllabus Spring 2, 2015

Public Management Course Syllabus

Course Information

Course Description

The common and distinctive elements of management on the several levels of government are studied. The management philosophy of public organizations, strategy, and organizational behavior are discussed.

Core Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:

1. Describe the core concepts of public management in a democratic society.

2. Apply public management concepts to public organizations at the federal, state, and local levels.

3. Demonstrate how public management theory informs practice.

4. Analyze public management challenges and opportunities from multiple perspectives.

5. Assess the implications that specific public issues and problems have for public managers.

Course Assessments

Explanation of Assignments

Students are expected to follow these standards for all assignments:

1. All papers must be word-processed, double-spaced, written in 12-point font,

and 1inch margins.

2. Papers must contain no misspelled words or grammatical errors.

3. Use proper format for citations and footnotes, as well as quotation marks.

The Weekly Essays, Final Paper, and Book Review must be submitted in the Drop Box.

Response to Weekly Discussion Questions

(Due by 10:00 p.m. CT each Tuesday.)

Students are expected to respond to weekly discussion questions in the class threaded discussions. Postings must be made by 10:00 p.m. On Tuesday in order to be considered timely. Responses to weekly discussion questions will be graded based on the following criteria:

• Response demonstrates an understanding of the course material by referencing the course material – 6 pts possible

• Response includes an example –6 pts possible

• Response demonstrates professional writing skills and does not include errors – 3 pts possible

Each weekly response is worth a maximum of 15 points.

Grading Rubric

Requirements and Points Exceeds

Expectation Meets

Expectation Does Not Meet

Expectation

Requirement:Response demonstrates an understanding of the course material by referencing the course material.

Points: /6 points

The student demonstrates a comprehensive understanding of the course material.

The student demonstrates a basic understanding of the course material.

The student fails to demonstrate a basic understanding of the course material.

Requirement:Response Example is thoroughly

The student provides a

The student fails to

includes an example.

Points: /6 points

explained and directly relevant.

relevant example.

provide an example.

Requirement: Response demonstrates professional writing skills and does not include errors

Points: /3 points

No errors. One or two errors.

Three or more errors.

Response to Peer Discussion Questions

(Due by 10:00 p.m. CT each Friday.)

Students are expected to respond to at least one other student’s weekly discussion issues in the class threaded discussions. Postings must be made by 10:00 p.m. On Friday in order to be considered timely. Each response to peer discussion questions will be graded on the following criteria:

1. Response demonstrates an understanding of the course material – 6 pts

possible

2. Response acknowledges the other student’s position and is respectful of the other's views – 6 pts possible

3. Response demonstrates professional writing skills and does not include errors – 3 pts possible

Each weekly peer response is worth a maximum of 15 points.

Grading Rubric

Requirements and Points Exceeds

Expectation Meets

Expectation Does Not Meet

Expectation

Requirement:Response demonstrates an understanding of the course material.

Points: /6 points

The student demonstrates a comprehensive understanding of the course material.

The student demonstrates a basic understanding of the course material.

The student fails to demonstrate a basic understanding of the course material.

Requirement:Response acknowledges the other student’s position and is respectful of the other's views

Points: /6 points

The response is professional, and makes a meaningful contribution to the class discussion.

The response is professional and respectful.

The student’s response is unprofessional or disrespectful of other's views.

Requirement:Response demonstrates professional writing skills and does not include errors

Points: /3 points

No errors. One or two errors.

Three or more errors.

Lessons Learned

(Due by 10:00 p.m. CT, Friday in Weeks 1-7)

Students are expected to write a short paragraph reflecting on the lessons that they have learned from the supplemental text (Bolman and Deal, Wilson, or Moore) that they have selected. Their comments should focus on the implication for public management based upon topics they have found especially relevant or any other information they believe will be beneficial to others in the class. Lessons learned will be graded based on the following criteria:

1. Response outlines at least one significant concept from the text – 6 pts possible

2. Response demonstrates reasonable progress reading the text – 6 pts possible

3. Response demonstrates professional writing skills and does not include errors – 3 pts possible.

Each lessons learned is worth a maximum of 15 points.

Grading Rubric

Requirements and Points Exceeds

Expectation Meets

Expectation Does Not Meet

Expectation

Requirement:Response outlines at least one significant concept from the text

Points: /6 points

The student demonstrates an understanding of the material, and is able to explain the implications for public management.

The student demonstrates a basic understanding of the course material.

The student fails to demonstrate a basic understanding of the course material.

Requirement:Response demonstrates reasonable progress reading the supplemental text

Points: /6 points

Evidence that the student is on track to complete the book ahead of schedule.

Evidence that the student is on track to finish the book in a timely manner.

The student does not appear to be routinely reading the text.

Requirement:Response demonstrates professional writing skills and does not include errors

Points: /3 points

No errors. One or two errors.

Three or more errors.

Weekly Essays

(Due in Drop box by 10:00 p.m. CT, Friday in Weeks 1-6)

In Weeks 1-6 students will select a current issue regarding the federal, state, or local government from one of the following sites:

http://www.governing.com/ http://www.govexec.com/

They will be expected to write a one to two page essay which:

1) Describes the issue

2) Explains how the issue is related to the concepts in the Hill and Lynn text (preferably related to the current week’s reading)

3) Explains the implications for public managers.

Each weekly essay is worth a maximum of 25 points.

Grading Rubric

Requirements and Points Exceeds

Expectation Meets

Expectation Does Not Meet

Expectation

Requirement:Describes the Issue

Objective: Apply public management concepts to public organizations at the federal, state, and local levels.

Points: /6 points

Provides a sophisticated and detailed description of the issue.

Describes the issue thoroughly and accurately.

Leaves out important information regarding the issue.

Requirement:Relates the Issue to the Readings in the Text

Objectives: 1) Describe the core concepts of public management in a democratic society. 2) Demonstrate how public management

Demonstrates a strong grounding of key theories, models or approaches presented in the text.

Demonstrates an acceptable grounding of key theories, models or approaches presented in the text.

Demonstrates a weak grounding of key theories, models or approaches presented in the text.

theory informs practice. 3) Analyze public management challenges and opportunities from multiple perspectives.

Points: /10 points

Requirement:Explains the Implications for Public Managers

Objective: Assess the implications that specific public issues and problems have for public managers.

Points: /6 points

Explains the implications for public managers at a highly effective level.

Explains the implication for public managers.

Does not adequately explain the implications for public managers.

Requirement: Professional Writing Skills

Objective: N/A

Points: /3 points

No errors. One or two errors.

Three or more errors.

Book Review (Due by 8:00 a.m. CT on Saturday of Week 8)

Students will write a (5 page )book review for the book that they have selected. Students are encouraged to examine the content and format of book reviews in academic journals such as Public Administration Review for guidance. The review must outline the key points of the book, and explain the implications that the book has for public management and public affairs.

The book review is worth a maximum of 100 points.

Grading Rubric

Requirements and Points Exceeds

Expectation Meets

Expectation Does Not Meet

Expectation

Requirement:Key Points of the Book

Provides a thorough,

Describes the key

Leaves out central ideas

Objectives: 1) Describe the core concepts of public management in a democratic society. 2) Analyze public management challenges and opportunities from multiple perspectives.

Points: /50 points

but succinct description of the key points of the book. The student is able to relate the key ideas to other books or concepts from the course.

points from the book thoroughly and accurately.

from the book.

Requirement:Explains the Implications for Public Management and Public Affairs

Objective: Assess the implications that specific public issues and problems have for public managers.

Points: /40 points

Explains the implications for public management and public affairs at a highly effective level.

Explains the implication for public management and public affairs.

Does not adequately explain the implications for public management and public affairs.

Requirement:Professional Writing Skills

Objective: n/a

Points: /10 points

No errors. One or two errors.

Three or more errors.

Final Paper (Due by 8:00 a.m. CT on Monday of Week 8)

Students will apply the concepts they have learned from Hill’s and Lynn’s book

Public Management: A Three-Dimensional Approach and their selected supplemental text to a management issue in an organization or a relevant public management issue in their community. Hill and Lynn outline the managerial challenges that lend themselves to their three-dimensional approach:

• Situations with widely dispersed information.

• Crisis scenarios.

• Transforming an organization.

• Responding to early warning.

• Creative problem solving.

• Managing people.

Students may use a public management issue or challenge that fits one of these criteria or they may select another situation or challenge to analyze. The public management issue or challenge must be submitted to the instructor for approval by the second week of class.

After the public management issue or challenge has been identified, each student will write a 10 -12 page paper which includes:

• A comprehensive discussion of the public management issue or challenge.

• An explanation of how the issue or challenge can be analyzed and diagnosed from the three-dimensional perspective. Specifically, using Hill’s and Lynn’s model deliberative process, students should:

• Analyze the facts of the situation from the perspective of each dimension (structural, cultural, and craft), and

• Develop a strategy to address the issue or challenge, explaining which dimensions are emphasized.

• A discussion of how their selected reading (Bolman and Deal, Moore or Wilson) applies to the issue or challenge.

The final paper is worth a maximum of 200 points.

Grading Rubric

Requirements and Points Exceeds

Expectation Meets

Expectation Does Not Meet

Expectation

Requirement: Discussion of the Public Management Issue or Challenge

Objective: Apply public management concepts to public organizations at the federal, state, or local levels.

Points: /50 points

Examines the management issue or challenge at a highly effective level.

Examines the management issue or challenge at an acceptable level.

Fails to examine the management issue or challenge at an acceptable level.

Requirement: Analysis and Diagnosis Using Hill’s and Lynn’s Model

Provides a sophisticated analysis of the issue or

Analyzes the facts of the situation from the

Fails to utilize one or more of the dimensions

Deliberative Process

Objectives: 1) Describe the core concepts of public management in a democratic society. 2) Demonstrate how public management theory informs practice. 3) Analyze public management challenges and opportunities from multiple perspectives.

Points: /75 points

challenge by analyzing the facts from the perspective of each dimension, and developing a strategy to address the issue or challenge at a highly effective level.

perspective of each dimension, and develops a strategy to address the issue or challenge.

to analyze the facts and/or fails to develop a strategy to address the issue or challenge.

Requirement:Application of Selected Reading

Objectives: 1) Demonstrate how public management theory informs practice. 2) Analyze public management challenges and opportunities from multiple perspectives.

Points: /50 points

The selected reading is fully integrated into the paper. Concepts and theories from the selected reading are used to analyze the situation and to develop a strategy.

The selected reading is used in the paper. Concepts and theories from the selected reading are included.

No attempt is made to include the selected reading in the final paper.

Requirement:Professional Writing Skills

Objective: n/a

Points: /25 points

No errors. One to four errors.

More than four errors.

Point Distribution and Grading Scale

Activity Points Percent

Response to Weekly Discussion Questions (8 weeks x 15 points each)

120 15%

Weekly Response to Peers (8 weeks x 15 points each) 120 15%

Lessons Learned (7 weeks x 15 points each) 105 13%

Weekly Essays (6 essays x 25 points each) 150 19%

Book Review (1 Review x 100 points) 100 13%

Final Paper (1 Paper x 200 points) 200 25%

Total 795 100%

Grading Scale

Letter Grade Percent Points

A 90-100% 715-795

B 80-89% 636-714

C 70-79% 556-635

D 60-69% 477-555

F Below 60% 476 and below

Late Submission Policy

Written assignments must submitted during the week they are due in order for students to receive credit. The student will lose 25% for each week that the assignment is late. I do not grant incomplete grades except in exceptional circumstances such as family, medical or legal emergencies. These emergencies must be documented.

Course Policies

Rules for Online Participation

• Students should use email for private messages to the instructor and other students.

• The Discussion Area is for public messages and all writings in this area will be viewable by the entire class.

• All students will participate in weekly online discussions.

Academic Writing Style

Students of HSPA’s Master of Public Affairs (MPA) and Bachelor of Public Administration (BPA), in all PA prefix courses, are expected to be familiar with and follow consistently the Turabian: A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses and Dissertations- Chicago Style for Students and Researchers (8th Edition) accepted norms for overall writing guidelines, including all citations, reference pages and title pages. Students should specifically use the Turabian (Author-Date) Style for all citations.