Public Service Organizations Syllabus Version-1 (August 16, 2017) Fall 2017 Tuesday 2:30 pm 3:50 pm Thursday 2:30 pm 3:50 pm Classroom: SMT 245 Instructor: Srinivas Yerramsetti Email: srinivas.yerramsetti@rutgers.edu Hours: email for appointment Course Overview This is a survey course on management, organizational theories and their potential applications to the public sector. It will be grounded in evidence from research on public organizations and the people in them. The subject matter is vast and ever changing. While it is not feasible to include every possible, indeed even important theme in a single course, our in-depth exploration of some of the central themes should, however, prepare for further study of other important themes as well. This course is designed to lay a firm base for students pursuing a bachelor degree in Public Administration. It aims to prepare the student to develop an understanding of the broad swath of issues that public managers engage with, and equip them to understand how such issues may affect their organization and citizens. Upon completion, students should better appreciate how public managers can make use of the theory and evidence from the field of public administration to transform government and be able to help develop and manage programs and services that are more responsive and effective. A big part of your learning will be through weekly class discussions, team project and writing assignments. You are therefore expected to complete the readings and actively participate in the 1
class discussions. The course emphasizes and indeed puts a premium on clearly expressing your ideas in written form you should be prepared to invest substantial time in writing. Student learning outcomes To be able to lead and manage in public governance. To participate in and contribute to the public policy process. To analyze, synthesize, think critically, solve problems, and make decisions. To articulate and apply a public service perspective. To communicate and interact productively with a diverse and changing workforce and citizenship. Required Textbook, H. G. (2014). Understanding and managing public organizations. John Wiley & Sons. (5 th Edition) http://www.wiley.com/wileycda/wileytitle/productcd-111858371x.html Note: Introduction to Public Administration 40:834:200 is a prerequisite for this course. Grading Rubrics All course assignments will be graded generally within ten days of the due date. Detailed instructions and guidelines for each of the assignments below will be posted on the blackboard. Students are strongly advised to refer to them and ensure their submissions fully meet those requirements. Assignment % of the Class Grade Brief Personal Bio 5 % Class Participation & Attendance 20% Public Service Organization Investigation Project 25% Class Exams (2) 10% Final Paper 40% 2
Brief personal bio (5% of Grade): Students should submit a 1-2-page paper - that explains, where you have come thus far in your life, where you are now, where you want to be career-wise, and what you hope to get out of the class. What are your professional aspirations? I am requiring that you include a picture of yourself with the personal bio. This will better help me remember who you are. Class Participation & Attendance (20% of the grade): Students missing more than 5 more classes are liable to be awarded an F. Write to me giving your reason and request prior permission if you ever have to miss a class. Students should complete their assigned readings ahead of each class, and participate in class discussions (Refer to respectful discussions on page 5). Public Service Organization Investigation Project (25% of the grade): Teams of students will identify and investigate a local public service organization, interview professional staff member/s and stakeholders, assess organizational impact based on concepts developed in class, devise strategies to enhance impact, and present a report to the class. Teams will self-organize and sign up for presentation dates. Class Exams (10% of the grade): There will be two short class exams for 5 marks each. The class exam is a short answer test designed to assess the extent to which students have done the readings assigned for a given class. Final paper (40% of the grade): The final paper should adhere to APA format. Grading summary: A: 90 or above B+: 85 - <90 B: 80 - <85 C+: 75 - <80 3
C: 70 - <75 F: below 70 If a student has a grade dispute, a one-page memo should be submitted to the instructor presenting evidence for his/her case. The instructor will review and re-grade the original assignment if necessary. Blackboard and communication: All essential course materials (such as course syllabus, assignment guidelines, lecture slides, grades etc.) will be posted to the Blackboard course management system. Students are required to have access to blackboard and check email regularly. Students should submit all their assignments submissions ONLY through the blackboard. Syllabus: This syllabus serves as a general outline. The instructor reserves the right to make changes to any part of the plan as necessary. Students will be notified of any such modifications from time to time. Late Assignments: Late submissions may be graded down. In case of those students who make more than one late submission without prior permission during the course, the instructor reserves the right to assign a zero grade. Class absence: A student who is absent for the class more than five times will receive a ZERO towards class participation grade. Please note that excused absences do not subtract from the total days missed in class. Disabilities: Students with any form of disability should inform during the first week of class so that reasonable accommodations where necessary can be made. Academic Integrity: Students are responsible for familiarizing themselves with and fully abiding by the University Honor Code and Academic Honesty Policy available at http://andromeda.rutgers.edu/~gradnwk/integrity.html 4
Multimedia presentations about academic integrity may be found at http://www.scc.rutgers.edu/douglass/sal/plagiarism/intro.html and http://wps.prenhall.com/hss_understand_plagiarism_1/0,6622,427064-,00.html (New students are strongly encouraged to review the online tutorial) Violations of Academic Integrity: Any involvement with cheating, the fabrication or invention of information used in an academic exercise, plagiarism, facilitating academic dishonesty, or denying others access to information or material may result in disciplinary action being taken at either the college or university level. Breaches of academic integrity can result in serious consequences ranging from reprimand to expulsion. Class Etiquette: Students should not indulge in disruptive behavior including the usage of cell phone and pagers. Talking during lectures, arriving late or leaving classes early, text messaging, emailing, and surfing the web are prohibited in class. Please arrive on time. Respectful Discussion: Students are required to be respectful of divergent opinions and viewpoints. That does not mean students must agree with all persons in the room. Differences of opinion can provide an opportunity to look at situations from someone else s point of view, which can only facilitate students discourse on ethics. Such discussions will be impossible without a basic level of courtesy and respect. Consequently, certain types of speech will not be tolerated. This includes offensive remarks and personal attacks that demean and belittle other students. Constructively criticize ideas. Do not attack individuals. Format of Written Assignments: All papers are to be submitted in 12-font, double-spaced, with one inch margins. It should adhere to APA style. The heading must include the student s name, date of submission, title of assignment, and course name. All non-original work MUST be cited. For any further help with reading, writing or even research skills, students may reach out to the Rutgers, Newark Writing Center, which provides writing tutoring and writing workshops to all undergraduate students currently enrolled in classes on the Rutgers University, Newark Campus. The Newark Writing Center is located in Conklin 126. Contact information may be found on their website: http://www.ncas.rutgers.edu/writingcenter 5
Rutgers University Libraries: RUTGERS UNIVERSITY NEWARK Many library resources are available online. Assistance is available through phone, email and chat. Information about the library can be found here: http://libguides.rutgers.edu/intro Please review this 2-minute video about the library online resources: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ijvfvqjz8dg Undergraduates: The Writing Center Offers writing tutoring and writing workshops to all undergraduate students currently enrolled in classes on the Rutgers, Newark campus. 175 University Avenue Newark, NJ 07102 Conklin 126 973-353-5847 http://www.ncas.rutgers.edu/writingcenter Introduction: http://www.youtube.com/embed/daayhc5auhs?rel=0 Course requirements As a student in this class, you are expected to attend and participate weekly in the classroom and submit all assignments in a timely manner. 6
Course Schedule Additional readings will be posted to the blackboard* Week 1 1. Distinguish key claims of (Sep 05 & 07) Course Introduction and Overview (Chapter 1) generic and public management theorists about sector status 2. Identify key dimensions of Personal Bio Due organization Week 2 1. Identify core claims of major (Sep 12 & 14) classical or "one best way" A Historical Review of the Study of Organizations (Chapter 02) theorists 2. Recognize key contributions of Human Relations School 7
Week 3 (Sep 12 & 14) 3. Describe the influence of open systems perspective and the emergence of contingency theories 1. Identify different forms of sector blurring Distinctiveness of Public Organizations (Chapter 03) 2. Describe different modes of social control and its relation to public-private distinction 3. Explain the evolution of public-private distinction from simple binary to Bozeman's publicness concept 8
Week 4 (Sep 19 & 21) Week 5 (Oct 03 & 15) Environment of Public Organizations The Impact of Political Power and Public Policy (Chapter 04) (Chapter 05) 1. To identify and explain key claims that generic theorists make about organizational environment 2. To identify major components of a public organization s environment that generic theorists fail to recognize 1. Identify key actors in the political arena and understand how they influence public organizations using formal or informal means. 2. Describe and discuss the commonly used models that 9
examining the influence of different actors on the policy making in public organizations. Week 6 1. Identify key claims about (Oct 10 & 12) Organizational Goal goals of public organizations. and Effectiveness (Chapter 06) 2. Describe different models of organizational effectiveness. Week 7 1. Describe the bases of power in (Oct 17 & 19) Power, Strategy, and Decision Making (Chapter 07) group settings 2. Distinguish rational and nonrational elements in organizational decision making Week 8 (Oct 24 & 26) Organizational Structure (Chapter 08) 1. Identify basic forms of organizational structure and variants 10
Week 9 (Oct 31 & Nov 02) 2. Compare and contrast models of relationship between environment and structure for effective functioning. 1. Distinguish key features of the public organizations context for motivation Values and Motives I (Chapter 09) 2. Describe key concepts in work motivation theories 3. Compare and contrast notable work motivation theories Week 10 (Nov 07 & Nov 09) Values and Motives I I (Chapter 10) 1. Distinguish key features of the public organizations context for motivation 11
2. Describe key concepts in work motivation theories 3. Compare and contrast notable work motivation theories Week 11 1. Identify managerial roles and (Nov 14 & skills Nov 16) Leadership and Culture (Chapter 11) 2. Compare and contrast prominent theories of leadership 3. Explain the relationship between leadership and organizational culture Week 12 Team Work 1. Describe communication Public Service (Nov 21) (Chapter 12) problems and distortions Organization 12
Investigation Project Report Due on Nov 2. Explain different stages of 21 conflict and its relationship to teamwork Thanksgiving Break (Nov 23-26) Week 13 Organizational 1. Describe the public-sector (Nov 28 & Change (Chapter 13) context for change Nov 30) 2. Review major theories of organization change and what they say about resistance to change and effective change management 13
Week 14 Effective 1. Compare and contrast the (Dec 05 & Dec Management in the (Chapter 14) foundations of excellence in Final Paper Due on 07) Public Sector organizations Dec 07 2. Assess key drivers and levers of effectiveness and excellence in public organizations 14