This is an introductory course designed to give students a working knowledge of the history, theories and practice of public administration around the world. Students would be introduced to the concepts and major topics of public administration and its intellectual development. Some attention would be given to its practical application through case studies. This course will provide an overview of all subjects in the field and will serve as a basis for further study in public administration.
Course Objectives:
Define public administration within the context of its four frames – Political, legal managerial and occupational – and with an appreciation of the complexity of attempting such a definition. Locate public administration within its interdisciplinary context. Define the subject matter that is the focus of public administration and articulate the value of studying public administration. Provide a brief background of the study of public administration and its key early players.
Learning Outcomes:
Students who successfully complete this course would have:
A sense of alternative theoretical approaches to the examination of public administration and of their respective strengths and limits. A sense of the historical development of public administration and the major thinkers underlying modern public organizational theory. Awareness of the complexity of public administration in terms of mixes of values, interests, competing orientations, and other factors, and of the ubiquity and effect of the evaluation of policies. Ability to critique various organizational situations from various public administration theoretical perspectives. A sense of overall trends in the development of public administration in a globalizing world. Enhanced ability to explore public administration issues and to present the results of those explorations clearly, concisely, and in compelling form in written and oral communication.
Required Reading:
Shafritz, J. M; Russell, E. W. and Borick, C. P.(2013). Introducing Public Administration (8th edition). Longman Publishing. Shafritz, J. M. and Hyde, A. C(2008). Classics of Public Administration(6th Edition). Wadsworth-Cengage.
Additional Readings:
Robert A. Croff(2008). American Public Administration: Public Service for the 21st Century. Pearson Longman. Woodrow Wilson: The Study of Administration (See Stillman, Chapter 1) Dwight Waldo: The Study of Public Administration, New York, Random House, 1955 James Madison: The Federalist No. 51, 1788
George H. Frederickson, The State of Social Equity in American Public Administration, Paper delivered at 4th Social Equity Leadership Conference, Cleveland, OH, February, 2005
Overview of Course Requirements and Grading:
Final Research Paper (100 points total )
2 Journal Critique Homework(100pts @ 50 points each)
Mid Term Exams(100 points)
Final Exams(100points)
Attendance/Active Participation(20 pts)
Course Activities to Meet Objectives: Participation: Students are expected to participate fully in class discourse/discussions. Students must work independently when completing written assignments. Homework Assignments
Students are to respond appropriately to all questions posed on the homework assignments. Failure to respond to questions shall negatively impact your grade. This is a learning community and we would learn from one another.
Research Paper
(a) Choose three (3) experts (one each from the Classical Approach, Behavioral Approach and Administration-as-Politics Approach) and discuss their main contributions to the field of public administration. (b) Do you think their theories are still relevant in the Ghanaian context today? State the reasons for your answer. (c) What are some of the challenges in implementing their theories by modern day public administrators in Ghana? (d) This would not be less than 8 pages double spaced paper. (e) References – please use the APA format for all your references. Internet citations are discouraged and do not cut and paste. For APA guidelines (see www. apastyle. org/pubmanual. html) or http://owl. english. purdue. edu/owl/ (f) Research papers would be graded on the following criteria: Content (40%), Clarity of Thoughts (40%) and Format (20%). Journal Critique Assignments
Students must choose two articles from 2010 (or above) issues (one for each assignment) from reputable journals that deal with contemporary issues in public administration…. examples International Journal of Public Administration, Journal of Public Management and Social Policy, Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory; Public Administration Review; Public Performance and Management Review; American Review of Public Administration; International Journal of Public Management, etc.
(a) Students must bring out the main thematic ideas expressed by the author(s). (b) Students must bring out the main lessons learnt in the article? (c) What are the major strengths and weaknesses in the article as expressed by the author(s). (d) Paper should be about three double spaced pages and consist of items listed in (a) through (d). (e) Please use APA format to cite their sources and may introduce outside sources to buttress their points. Midterm and Final Examinations
There will be one midterm examination and a final examination for the course. Dates would be announced in the class as the semester progress.
Due dates and late assignments:
All assignments are due on the date advertised in the syllabus. Each day an assignment is late will result in a 20 points grade reduction in the assignment grade and rejected outright after 3 days.
Academic Integrity
Students should familiarize themselves with the university policies regarding academic policy found in the GIMPA Code of Student Conduct. If you have any questions regarding this policy, please feel free to discuss with me. Please be aware of the following:
“ Plagiarism, or presenting another’s works or ideas as one’s own, is a form of stealing. The instructor reserves the right to examine any source used by the student before giving a grade on a paper, and to give an “ incomplete” in the course if necessary, to allow time to obtain sources. Students should be prepared to show source material to the instructor for the purpose of verifying information. Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated.
Academic dishonesty includes the following offenses:
1) Claiming as your own work a paper written by someone else (including unpublished papers). 2) Turning in a paper that contains paraphrases of someone else’s ideas but does not give proper credit to that person for those ideas.
3) Turning in a paper that uses the exact words of another author without
using quotation marks, even if proper credit is given in a citation, or that changes the words only slightly and claims them to be paraphrases.
4) Turning in the same paper, even in a different version, for two different courses without the permission of both professors involved.
The public administration faculty has agreed that violations of academic integrity must have consequences. Consequently, students who cheat (behaviors cited in point 1 and 2 or similar behavior) may receive at least a 0 in the assignment ; other forms of dishonesty, similar to those covered in points 3 through 4 may result in a Failing Grade for the course. Additions and Changes
Announcements will be made regarding additions or changes to this syllabus. The professor reserves the right to make changes to the reading schedule and course syllabus to meet the learning objectives of the course and to accommodate other professional expectations which may include research activities, professional conferences and unplanned obligations. Thank you very much for your understanding and cooperation. Tardiness
Punctuality to class will help you in the long run, as most of the discussions would be interactive in nature. Students must attend all scheduled lectures and on time. Daily class attendance would be taken. Coming to class late not only disturbs an on-going class but jeopardizes your ability to stay focused. Only three(3) unexcused absences would be allowed for this class. NB: Students that miss a maximum of four (4) lectures will find it very difficult to catch up and therefore difficult to pass the class. If you are late for more than 30minutes, please do not show up for lectures as the harmony in an on-going class could be disrupted. Use of Electronic Devices
Students are allowed to use Laptops and I-Pads during class for the express purpose of taking notes. If you want to use your cell phone to take important calls or texts, please leave the lecture room and come back in when you are done. Please do not use your cell phone to browse the internet or text while class is in session. Students who abuse this policy shall be asked to leave the lecture room.
Class Schedule, Activities and Reading Assignments
Week 1(September 23, 2014)
Readings: Chapter 1 of Shafritz, Russell and Borick & Chapter 1 of Classics Lectures: Defining Public Administration – one field several definitions (political, legal, occupational and managerial). Deliverables: none
Week 2(September 30, 2014)
Readings: Read Chapter 2 of Shafritz et. al & Chapter 2 of Classics Lectures: The Political & Cultural Environment of Public Policy & Administration Suggested Readings: Dwight Waldo- The Study of Public Administration Deliverables: none
Week 3(October 7, 2014)
Readings: Chapter 3 of Shafritz et. al
Lectures: The Continuous Reinvention of the Machinery of Government Suggested Readings: Lynn, Laurence E., Heinrich, Carlyn J., Hill, Carolyn, J. (2001). Improving Governance: A New Logic for Empirical Research. Washington, D. C.: Georgetown University Press. Deliverable: None
Week 4(October 14, 2014)
Readings: Chapter 4 of Shafritz, Russell and Borick
Lectures: Intergovernmental Relations
Suggested Readings: American Intergovernmental Relations
Deliverable: 1st Journal Critique Due in Class.
Week 5(October 21, 2014)
Readings: Chapter 5 of Shafritz eet. al
Lectures: Honor, Ethics and Accountability
Suggested Readings: Denhardt, Kathryn G. (1988). The Ethics of Public Administration: Resolving Moral Dilemmas in Public Organizations. New York: Greenwood Press & Ghana Civil Service Code of Conduct Document. Deliverable: none
Week 6(October 28, 2014)
Readings: Chapter 6 of Shafritz et. al
Lectures: The Evolution of Management & Organizational Theory Suggested Readings: Ammons, David N. & Newell, C. (1989). City Executives: Leadership Roles, Work Characteristics, and Time Management. Albany: State University of New York Press. Deliverable: None
Week 7(November 4, 2014)
Readings: Chapter 7 of Shafritz et. al
Lectures: Organizational Behavior
Suggested Readings: Bozeman, Barry. (1987). All Organizations Are Public. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. Deliverables: none
Week 8(November 11, 2014)
Readings: Chapter 8 of Shafritz et. al
Lectures: Managerialism & Performance Management
Suggested Readings: Lynn, Laurence E., Heinrich, Carlyn J., Hill, Carolyn, J. (2001). Improving Governance: A New Logic for Empirical Research. Washington, D. C.: Georgetown University Press. Deliverable: Mid Term Exams Due in Class
Week 9(November 18, 2014)
Readings: Chapter 9 of Shafritz et. al
Lectures: Strategic Management in the Public Sector
Suggested readings: Peters, Guy. (1996). The Future of Governing : Four Emerging Models. Lawrence, KS: University Press of Kansas. Deliverable: None
Week 10(November 25, 2014)
Readings: Chapter 10 of Shafritz et. al
Lectures: Leadership; forms of power; traits of leadership
Deliverable: 2nd Journal Critique Paper Due in Class.
Week 11(December 2, 2014)
Readings: Chapter 11 of Shafritz et. al
Lectures: Personnel Management & Labor Relations
Activity: Work on Final Research Paper
Week 12(December 9, 2014)
Activity: Final Research Paper Due & Presentations
Week 13(December 16, 2014)
Activity: Course Summary; Course Evaluation & Discussion of Outstanding Class Matters Deliverable: Final Research Paper due in class.
Week 14
Activity: Final Exams
Date & Venue TBA.
Bibliography
Barnard, Chester. (1938). The Functions of the Executive. Cambridge: Harvard University Press.
Waldo, Dwight. (1948). The Administrative State: A Study of the Political Theory of American Public Administration. New York: Ronald Press.
Bozeman, Barry. (1987). All Organizations Are Public. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
Gusfield, Joseph. (1981). The Culture of Public Problems: Drinking-Driving and the Symbolic Order. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Lynn, Laurence E., Heinrich, Carlyn J., Hill, Carolyn, J. (2001). Improving Governance: A New Logic for Empirical Research. Washington, D. C.: Georgetown University Press.
Peters, Guy. (1996). The Future of Governing : Four Emerging Models. Lawrence, KS: University Press of Kansas.
Light, Paul C. (1995). Thickening Government: Federal Hierarchy and the Diffusion of Accountability. Washington, D. C.: Brookings Institutions.
Rosenbloom, David. (2000). Building a Legislative-centered Public Administration: Congress and the Administrative State, 1946-1999. Tuscaloosa: University of Alabama Press.
Pressman, Jeffrey & Wildavsky, Aaron. (1984). Implementation, 2nd Edition. Berkeley: University of California Press.
Agranoff, Robert (2007). Managing Within Networks: Adding Value to Public Organizations. Washington, DC: Georgetown University Press.
Denhardt, Kathryn G. (1988). The Ethics of Public Administration: Resolving Moral Dilemmas in Public Organizations. New York: Greenwood Press.
Roberts, Nancy & King, Paula. (1996). Transforming Public Policy: Dynamics of Policy Entrepreneurship and Innovation. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
Ammons, David N. & Newell, C. (1989). City Executives: Leadership Roles, Work Characteristics, and Time Management. Albany: State University of New York Press.
