PUAD 501 Concepts of Public Administration

 

This course is a survey of the fundamentals of public administration, management strategies, and management techniques at the national, state and local levels. This course is intended to provide a comprehensive examination of contextual, structural-functional, and dynamic features of public agencies and organizations.  The emphasis is on the interrelationships of policy development, administrative action, and the fundamental issues in managing public programs in the American federal system.

 

Course Objectives:

1. To broadly survey the literature of public administration and public affairs.

2. To provide a concise, comparative analysis of profit-seeking and not-for-profit institutions and entities.

3. To convey a sense of the nature, scope and magnitude of the governmental and the third sectors.

4. To acquaint students with career opportunities in the public and non-profit sectors.

 

Required Texts:

1.Robert B. Denhardt, and Joseph W. Grubbs, Public Administration: An Action Orientation. (Harcourt, 1999) 3rd Ed.

2. Richard J Stillman II, Public Administration: Concepts and Cases (Houghton Mifflin, 2000), 7th Ed.

 

Modus Operandi:

Class attendance is quite important in this course, because class presentations introduce a lot of significant material, rather than a rehash of required readings.  Students are expected to have completed the assigned readings prior to the appropriate class sessions.  In addition, students are expected to be generally aware of current developments in public affairs.  In the course of the term, the instructor will refer to current events in illuminating various ideas and concepts we deal with.

 

Examinations and Grading:

There will be a mid-term and a final examination; the mid-term counting 30 points.  The final will count 40 points.  Another 20 points may be earned through case presentations.  The remaining 10 points are assigned according to seminar participation.  Hence, the letter grades will be assigned according to the following scale:

A         90-100

B         80-89

C         70-79

D         60-69

F          below 60

 

Class Procedures:

Since this course is scheduled over four weekends, topical outlines and readings are scheduled as follows:

Jan. 26 and 27             1 .Nature and scope of the public sector

2. External and internal environment of public agencies and organizations

3. Cultural and ethical environment  

 

Feb. 9 and 10               Policy planning; program development, and implementation; policy/program evaluation and performance measurement.

 

Feb. 23 and 24             1. Organizational culture, structure and design

2. Management of people and operations

 

March 9 and 10            Resource Management:

1. Financial resources

2. Human resources

3. Technological resources

4. Future of public management

 

Examination Dates:   

Mid-term-Feb. 10

Final-Mar. 10

 

Dates                          Readings

 

Jan.26-27                     Denhardt,chs. 1,2,3,and 4

Feb.9-10                      Denhardt,chs. 7 and 8

Feb.23-24                    Denhardt,chs 9,10 and 11

Mar.9-10                     Denhardt, chs. 5,6,and 12

Note: Stillman readings and cases will be assigned during the first weekend session, in accordance with each student's preferences.

 

A brief note about the instructor:  Professor Arslaner is at the College of Business and Public Administration, Drake University, Des Moines, Iowa.  He is on sabbatical.  He and his wife, Carol spent two terms in Rota during the 1993-1994 academic year with UMUC, the first year of the graduate public administration program. They both immensely enjoyed their experience in Andalusia, as well as, other assignment locations.  They are looking forward to returning to Rota.