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Canyon College



COURSE SYLLABUS: Design, Structure, and Process of Public Organizations

Course Title: Department: Instructor:

PS423 - Design, Structure, and Process of Public Organizations Political Science Michael A. S. Guth, Ph.D., J.D. E-Mail - Vitae

Please print a copy of this syllabus for future reference.

Required Textbook: - Online Bookstore

* William C. Johnson, Public Administration: Policy, Politics, and Practice, 2nd Ed., McGraw-Hill (1996). ISBN #: 1561344257
Note: this book is no longer being printed, but McGraw-Hill has approximately 300 copies in stock.

Course Description

The purpose of this course is to introduce students to the theory and practice of public management within a democratic context, as well as to serve as a gateway course for further analysis of particular substantive areas in political science. The class covers the structure, organization, direction, and control of public managers as they carry forward public policy. Particular attention is paid to the intricacies of governmental operations and the associated consequences on administration. Further, specific policy issues are critically examined in light of the tension between individual liberties and protection of the public will. Also, the ethical dimensions faced by all public managers are explored. Students see the impact public managers have on the development and delivery of public policy through the exploration of professional accountability and discretion. Government accountability projects are one of the hottest areas of public management, because citizens have used accountability as a means of restraining growth in taxes by local and state governments. Therefore, the course will devote an entire week to the subject of accountability. Students in the course will analyze large, complex organizations, particularly governmental units and other public sector agencies. Attention will be given to the principal theoretical models for their design and structure. As the textbook name suggests, this course covers the entire scope of public administration (PA). PA, as the field is known, is a modern phenomenon, emerging only a little more than a hundred years ago when government became complex enough to require full-time professional employees rather than part-time officials. The course covers public as opposed to private administration such as in a profit seeking business. It covers administration by civil servants as opposed to policy making by elected officials. Besides government administration, it covers aspects of nonprofit administration. PA has been called the "exercise of power."

Course Objectives

The objective of this course will be to study national, state, and local government management by examining the various elements (such as structure, policies & procedures, communication, operations & strategic planning, human resources, etc.) that are used to accomplish the mission of these government entities. Our focus will be more on the practical application of public administration, rather than its theory. At the conclusion of the course the student will be able to define:

• public administration as both a discipline and profession;
• the structure and organization of governments and the relationship of local, state, and federal governments;
• how public policies originate, the role of public administrators in policymaking;
• the cooperative relationship between government and private sector organizations;
• organizational theories and behaviors, including decision making and leadership;
• the legal and political factors influencing human resources management;
• the legal and political factors influencing budgeting and finance and the budgeting processes;
• the policy making process and accountability; and
• the challenges of public administration.

Within these objectives students are provided with the ability to develop reasoned judgments and critical analyses about politics and administration and to present ideas and conclusions persuasively.

Overview

This course offers a basic overview of public administration, highlighting how government goes about its business and how the citizen-participant relates to the many components of government. The course will follow this outline:

Part I: Introduction
Chapter 1: Public Administration: To Serve and Protect

Part II: Structure
Chapter 2: The Anatomy of Administration
Chapter 3: The Political Dynamics of Bureaucracy
Chapter 4: Administration in the Intergovernmental Net

Part III: Policies
Chapter 5: The Sources of Public Policy
Chapter 6: Business Regulation by Government
Chapter 7: Public-Private Administrative Relationships
Chapter 8: Public Administration and Its Publics

Part IV: Operation
Chapter 9: Administrative Leadership and Management
Chapter 10: Planning and Decision-Making in Public Agencies
Chapter 11: Public Personnel Management
Chapter 12: The Administration of Public Money

Part V: Outcome
Chapter 13: Implementing Public Policy
Chapter 14: Evaluation
Chapter 15: Administrative Accountability

Throughout the course the student will read be reading from the relatively interesting textbook by Johnson. This textbook was chosen over more than 15 other (more recent) textbooks, because of its easy-to-read style and its unique approach to public administration. Unlike the typical textbook on public administration, which seeks to apply business and management practices to public organizations, the Johnson textbook is focused on political science. Every chapter of the textbook contains important lessons in politics and political motivations. By reading this text and doing online research, the student will have an in depth understanding of the politics behind public organizations, budgets, and government at all levels. This course will stress real world conditions and real world solutions, as opposed to academic models or theories of interest primarily to academics.

This course will have weekly assignments accompanied by online research that is relevant to the topic of discussion for the week. The weekly reading assignment will be two chapters totaling approximately 60 pages in the textbook. Each week, students will complete one of two analytical exercises found at the end of each chapter. In addition, students will develop a write a scholarly article, complete with professional citations and a reference list, as the course term paper. Topics for the term papers should be selected no later than the second week of class. Please review assignments in advance. Some reading assignments may take longer than others, depending in part on a student’s interest level in the countries being examined that week, but each assignment has been tailored for completion within a week. Students must keep up with the pace of the weekly assignments, or the volume of reading and term paper requirement will soon pile up on the student and lead to a withdrawal.

Student should also read a major newspaper daily and focus on management of public organizations and public programs, e.g., the state health care program for the poor. Students with access to Infotrak will find articles useful to their term papers.

Course Policies

On-Line Participation

Since this course is offered over the Internet, which allows students to participate at "any time, any where," it is important to plan your time carefully. Students are expected to pace themselves to access assignments, prepare their work and necessary research, and submit assignments to the instructor by the established due dates. Students are expected to make use of local resources as well as required readings. Twenty-five percent of the student grade comes from weekly discussion board postings on the theme for that week. Students are expected to post an average of three substantive comments to the discussion board each week. Students should take time to type in new subject lines for their messages that describe succinctly the content of the posting, rather than merely hit reply and use the same subject line tag that a previous student or the instructor has written. That way the discussion board will more readily display the content and ideas under discussion.

Twenty-five percent of the grade will be based on the weekly analytic exercise selected by the student for each chapter. Students will have a choice of one of two possible analytic exercises at the end of each chapter. Because two chapters will be read each week, students will turn in two analytic exercises (one for each chapter) by Sunday evening at midnight (your time). The term paper will account for 50% of the grade in this course.

I like to employ a variety of methodologies to accomplish learning. I also like to have some fun. Humor is a key component of sanity and is a requirement for the successful public manager. Our class discussion may, from time to time, draw us away from the scheduled topics of the week. That is OK. We often find learning opportunities where we least expect them, and in the real world of public management you often don’t end up working on the item that was on your scheduler for that day.

All students are expected to participate actively in the discussions. A significant portion of your final grade is dependent on your being involved. I may ask one or two of you to summarize the discussion from one or more threads on the discussion board. Public managers are often expected to be able to participate in such summaries as a matter of course.

Course Week and Due Dates

Generally, Monday is the first of the course week, and Sunday is the last day of the course week. The weekly quizzes scheduled for completion during a class week should be taken by the end of the day Sunday, determined by your own time zone.

Communications with the Instructor

Because the instructor is teaching several large classes over the Internet, all students must always identify themselves as enrolled in Public Organizations PS 423 in all e-mail correspondence and any phone calls to the instructor.

Late Assignment Penalties

I must receive weekly assignments not later than Sunday midnight (your time zone) of the week due according to the syllabus. Students who anticipate that their schedule may cause assignments to be out of compliance are advised to contact instructor at least one week in advance, as an extension may be permitted with prior mutual agreement. Instructor discretion regarding point penalties for any late work will be considered final.

Absentee Policy

While this course is designed to be completed through independent study, "attendance" is recorded through discussion board postings and through the weekly quizzes submitted to the course web page. However, please note that any student who has not participated (completed assignments) for 14 consecutive days without prior discussion with the instructor regarding such absence shall be recommended for administrative withdrawal. The school shall make recommendations to the instructor as to what action will be taken.

Academic Honesty

Canyon College policies are in effect. All work must be your own. Presenting as one's own the words, ideas, or expression of another in any form is cheating through plagiarism, and will not be tolerated.

Grading

You will receive a grade each week for two analytical exercises covering that week’s reading assignment. Your final grade will be based 25% on these analytic exercises, 25% on discussion board participation, and 50% on the course paper. Each student is expected to post an average of three substantive comments to the discussion board on topics posted by the instructor each week.

Reading and Assignments

Exercises:
There are two exercises at the end of each chapter. Select one exercise from one chapter. Complete the instructions for the exercise, write a summary of the results, and submit the summary to the instructor via e-mail. On the following Monday, you should post your summary to the discussion board forum.

Each student must read all exercise summaries and respond to three analytic summaries posted by your fellow students. Responses may include additional questions, new insights gained from reading the summary, connections to course material, or other issues related to the exercise. These three responses to the analytic exercise summary responses are in addition to the required three substantive comments per week on discussion topics related to that week’s reading assignment.

Article Reviews & Discussions:
Several articles from the Internet may be assigned, depending on time constraints. After reading each article, answer the discussion forum question and identify any new terms presented in the article, and submit your completed assignment to the discussion board.

Internet Project & Response Assignment:
Select either option (A) or (B) shown below. After completing the search utilizing the Internet, prepare a summary of the results and submit to the forum. Each student must review the Internet assignments and make appropriate responses.

(A) Identify a government web site. Review the information and links for the site. Evaluate the usefulness and quality of the site (including links). Identify how the site may be used, who may use it, and for what purposes. Explain how the site may be used to enhance a students understanding of PS 423 course material.

(B) Select a topic or issue related to the public sector. Explore (surf) the Internet for available web sites related to the issue/topic. Identify some of the better sites, how they may be used, by whom, and for what purposes. Explain how the site may be used to enhance a students understanding of PS 423 course material.

Weekly Assignments:

Week 1: Introduction
Chapter 1: Public Administration: To Serve and Protect
Chapter 2: The Anatomy of Administration
Students should post three substantive messages to the discussion board and complete two analytical exercises (one for each chapter) on the assigned reading. The analytic exercise summaries will be posted by students the following Monday.

Week 2: Structure
Chapter 3: The Political Dynamics of Bureaucracy
Chapter 4: Administration in the Intergovernmental Net
Students should post three substantive messages to the discussion board and complete two analytical exercises (one for each chapter) on the assigned reading. The analytic exercise summaries will be posted by students the following Monday.

Week 3: Policies
Chapter 5: The Sources of Public Policy
Chapter 6: Business Regulation by Government
Students should post three substantive messages to the discussion board and complete two analytical exercises (one for each chapter) on the assigned reading. The analytic exercise summaries will be posted by students the following Monday.

Week 4: Policies Continued
Chapter 7: Public-Private Administrative Relationships
Chapter 8: Public Administration and Its Publics
Students should post three substantive messages to the discussion board and complete two analytical exercises (one for each chapter) on the assigned reading. The analytic exercise summaries will be posted by students the following Monday.

Week 5: Operation
Chapter 9: Administrative Leadership and Management
Chapter 10: Planning and Decision-Making in Public Agencies
Students should post three substantive messages to the discussion board and complete two analytical exercises (one for each chapter) on the assigned reading. The analytic exercise summaries will be posted by students the following Monday.

Week 6: Operation Continued
Chapter 11: Public Personnel Management
Chapter 12: The Administration of Public Money
Students should post three substantive messages to the discussion board and complete two analytical exercises (one for each chapter) on the assigned reading. The analytic exercise summaries will be posted by students the following Monday.

Week 7: Outcome
Chapter 13: Implementing Public Policy
Chapter 14: Evaluation
Students should post three substantive messages to the discussion board and complete two analytical exercises (one for each chapter) on the assigned reading. The analytic exercise summaries will be posted by students the following Monday.

Week 8: Accountability
Chapter 15: Administrative Accountability
Students should post three substantive messages to the discussion board and complete two analytical exercises (one for each chapter) on the assigned reading.

About the Professor:

Michael A. S. Guth, Ph.D., J.D., is a Managing Director at Risk Management Consulting, based in Oak Ridge, TN. His clients have included Tennessee Valley Authority, PG&E Energy Trading, Oklahoma Gas & Electric Energy Trading, General Electric Power Systems, Progress Energy, and the Petroleum Institute of Research Associates. He received his B.A. (economics) from Rice University, his M.S. (social science) from Caltech, and his Ph.D. (economics) from the Univ. of Tennessee, where he also received his law degree. He currently teaches on-line courses at the MBA level in Managerial Economics (focusing on employee and managerial incentives), Decision Analysis for Managers, and at the undergraduate level in Health Care Economics, Health Care Finance, Strategic Management, Comparative Politics, and the Design and Administration of Public Organizations. A complete list of more than twenty courses he has taught is shown at his web site, http://michaelguth.com/economist.htm. He also practices law with an emphasis on energy law, health care law, and business transactions. See his site http://michaelguth.com/. He is currently researching ways to offer health care services more efficiently and at lower cost to consumers. Michael Guth has worked as an employee or contractor to a variety of public organizations including Oak Ridge National Laboratory, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the U.S. Supreme Court, the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Department of Energy, the U.S. Department of Defense, the Tennessee Valley Authority (an electric utility and federal government agency) and as appointed member of the Local Oversight Committee Citizens Advisory Panel, Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation in Oak Ridge. In the fall of 2004, Dr. Guth will continue his legal writings as Editor-in-Chief of a new legal newspaper for Tennessee, Tennessee Law Weekly.

Dr. Guth’s philosophy of life:

“When I was hungry, you gave me to eat. When I was thirsty, you gave me to drink.....Now enter into the home of my Father.”

Dr. Guth’s philosophy for on-line education:

"Education is not the filling of a pail,
but the lighting of a fire."
-William Butler Yeats

(thanks to Kerry Prendergast, Thomas Edison State College, for showing me this quote).

Note: This syllabus is subject to change prior to the start of the academic term. In particular, weekly quizzes on the assigned reading may be substituted for the course term paper. A decision on the course format will be announced on the first day of class.