PUBLIC MANAGEMENT

PA 6311
University of Texas at Dallas
Fall 2010

Professor:
Karen Jarrell, Ph.D.
karenl@utdallas.edu (preferred communication method)
Phone: (972) 883-2708
Office: MC 1.406
Office hours: Thursday 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. or by appointment

Class Meeting:
Monday - 7:00 p.m. to 9:45 p.m.
WSTC 1.216

Course Description:
Public Management is a multi-faceted course designed to give graduate students in public affairs
an understanding of public management as a field of academic study and an area of professional
practice. Public administration involves the core activities of government that are performed, for
the most part, by highly trained professionals in specialized organizations at all three levels of
government- federal, state, and local. While it is impossible to cover all the material from the
academic discipline, this course will attempt to familiarize students with the various complexities
of public administration. All students of government need to recognize the tremendous
importance of public administration and administrators within the political system.

Course Objectives:
On completing this course, students will be able to:
Recognize the fundamentals of public management as a field of academic study and as an
area of professional practice.
Assess how the core activities of government are performed from the legal, managerial,
and political perspectives.

Required Texts:
1. David H. Rosenbloom, Robert S. Kravchuk, and Richard M. Clerkin Public
Administration: Understanding Management, Politics, and Law in the Public Sector, 7th
Edition (2009). ISBN 0073403892.
2. Richard S. Stillman, Public Administration Concepts and Cases, 9th Edition (2009).
ISBN 0618993010.

Recommended Reading:
1. Eugene Bardach. Getting Agencies to Work Together: The Practice and Theory of
Managerial Craftmanship. Brookings Institution Press. (1998), ISBN 0-8157-0797-5
2. Mark H. Moore. Creating Public Value: Strategic Management in Government. Harvard
University Press (1997), ISBN 0674175581
3. L. Douglas Kiel. Managing Chaos and Complexity in Government. Jossey-Bass
Publishers (1994), ISBN 0-7879-0023-0. Out of print.
 PA 6311 Syllabus
Fall 2010
Basic Course Expectations
Timely, Consistent Attendance - Attendance is very important since the class meets only once
per week. If you know you will not be able to attend, please alert the professor in advance via
email or telephone. More than two absences will affect your final grade.

Active Participation - This course is a seminar and depends on your active participation in class.
That means that you have to read the assignments carefully and come prepared to share your
opinions and insights with other class members. Thus, active class participation is mandatory.
Note that the quality, tone, and timeliness of class comments are more important than their
frequency and length.

Read, Read, Read – then Write, Proofread, Write, Proofread, Write Proofread, Write, and then
DO IT ALL OVER AGAIN - Students are responsible for ALL material presented in class.
There will be material presented in the classroom that cannot be found in the textbook or course
readings. It is your responsibility to get notes from students after an absence. The professor will
not provide class notes to students. Use the space below to collect information from a fellow
student you may contact in the event you must miss class.

Name Email Phone

Course Grading:
Wilson Reaction Paper 10%
Journal Articles (2 articles @ 5 points each) 10%
First Exam 25%
Final Exam 25%
Case Briefs (5 briefs @ 4 points each) 20%
Class Participation 10%

Extensions & Special Exceptions:

All work is due on time. As a rule, an extension for written work is not permissible. Unless
otherwise specified, submit all class assignments in hard copy during class meetings. Students
must obtain prior permission to submit course assignments via email. If you are in need of
special consideration or extension of deadlines, you should address your situation with the
professor in private (by email or in person). Please do not ask for exceptions before, during, or
after class.

The Case Method

To promote thinking about action (and action research), this course will primarily employ the
case method. A case is a narrative account of an actual or realistic problem that typically portrays
public managers confronted with the need to make a decision. Cases present information, but not
analysis; students are responsible for supplying the latter. Moreover, unlike problem sets or
papers to which students are usually accustomed, and which tend to be relatively solitary
exercises, this class will utilize in-class and small group discussion to develop solutions to the
problems posed in cases. Most weeks the professor will assign at least one case study from the
Stillman book for in-depth analysis and discussion. Students are expected to come to class
having read all assigned readings and prepared to discuss theoretical foundation readings and
how it relates to the weekly case study.

-2-
 PA 6311 Syllabus
Fall 2010
SYLLABUS: CLASS AGENDAS & READINGS

Scope and Purpose of Public Administration

August 23 Introduction, Course Overview, & Objectives

August 30 The Roots of Public Management

Rosenbloom & Kravchuk Chapter 1
Stillman Reading 1.2 (Stillman)
In Class Review: Stillman Case Study 1 - (Blast in Centralia No. 5)
WEEKLY JOURNAL ARTICLES

September 13 The Roots of Public Management

The Constitution & Federalist Papers 10 & 51
Stillman Reading 1.1 (Wilson)
Wilson Reflection Paper Due
WEEKLY JOURNAL ARTICLES

The Pattern of Public Administration in America

September 20 The Political Environment

Rosenbloom & Kravchuk Chapter 2
Stillman Reading 4 (Long)
Case Brief Due: Stillman Case Study 4 (The Columbia Accident)
WEEKLY JOURNAL ARTICLES

September 27 Intergovernmental Relations

Rosenbloom and Kravchuk Chapter 3
Stillman, Reading 5 (Conlan)
In Class Review: Stillman Case Study 5 (Wichita Confronts Contamination)
WEEKLY JOURNAL ARTICLES

October 4 The Structure of the State (Bureaucracy’s Impact on People and Informal Groups)
Rosenbloom and Kravchuk Chapter 4
Stillman, Reading 2 (Weber) and Reading 6 (Mayo);
GROUP WORK
Case Brief Due: Stillman Case Study 2 (How Kristin Died)
Case Brief Due: Stillman Case Study 6 (American Ground:
Unbuilding the World Trade Center)
WEEKLY JOURNAL ARTICLES

The Multiple Functions of Public Administrators

October 11 Public Personnel

Rosenbloom and Kravchuk Chapter 5
Stillman, Reading 7 (Stillman) and Reading 11 (Wise)
GROUP PRESENTATION:
Stillman Case Study 7 - In-class Review (The Decision to Go to War with
Iraq)
Stillman Case Study 11 – In-class Review (Who Brought Bernadine Healy
Down?)
WEEKLY JOURNAL ARTICLES

October 18 Budgeting
Rosenbloom and Kravchuk Chapter 6

-3-
 PA 6311 Syllabus
Fall 2010
Stillman, Reading 12 (Rubin);
Stillman Case Study 12 – In-class Review (Death of a Spy Satellite Program)
WEEKLY JOURNAL ARTICLES

October 25 Decision Making

Rosenbloom and Kravchuk Chapter 7
Stillman, Reading 8 (Lindblom)
Case Brief Due: Stillman Case Study 8 (How a City Slowly Drowned)
WEEKLY JOURNAL ARTICLES

November 1 Administrative Communication and Collaborative Processes

Stillman, Reading 9 (Garnett) and Reading 10 (Thomson and Perry)
Stillman Case Study 9 - In-class review (The Shootings at Columbine High School:
The Law Enforcement Response)
WEEKLY JOURNAL ARTICLES
EXAM #1 Posted to eLearning: Due by November 3rd at midnight

November 8 Policy Analyses and Implementation

Rosenbloom and Kravchuk Chapter 8
Stillman, Readings 15 (Friedrich) and (Finer)
Case Brief Due: Stillman Case Study 15 (Torture and Public Policy)
WEEKLY JOURNAL ARTICLES

November 15 Regulatory Administration

Rosenbloom and Kravchuk Chapter 9
Stillman, Reading 14 (Heclo)
Stillman Case Study 14 – In-class Review (Reinventing School Lunch: Transforming
a Food Policy into a Nutrition Policy)
WEEKLY JOURNAL ARTICLES

November 22 Public Administration & The Public

Rosenbloom and Kravchuk Chapters 10 & 11
Stillman, Reading 13 (Light)
Case Brief Due: Stillman Case Study 13 (Expectations)
WEEKLY JOURNAL ARTICLES

November 29 The Softer Side of Public Administration (Accountability and Ethics)

Rosenbloom and Kravchuk Chapter 12
Stillman, Reading 16 (Waldo)
Stillman Case Study 16– In-Class Review (George Tenet and the Last Great Days of
the CIA)
WEEKLY JOURNAL ARTICLES

December 6 The Future of Public Administration/ Exam Review & Course Wrap-Up
Rosenbloom and Kravchuck Chapter 13
Stillman Reading 3 (Gaus)
Stillman Case Study 3 – In-class Review (Exemplar of Politics and Public
Management)
WEEKLY JOURNAL ARTICLES

December 9 THURSDAY - Final Exam Available at noon on eLearning

December 13 MONDAY - Final Exams Due by 9:00 a.m. (Submit via UTDALLAS Email)

-4-
 PA 6311 Syllabus
Fall 2010
COURSE COMPONENTS

Wilson Reaction Paper

Students are required to write a two to three (2-3) page reaction paper to Woodrow Wilson’s The
Study of Administration. The essay is Reading 1.1 in the Stillman text. The reaction paper should
include the following.
1) An overview of Wilson’s argument
2) An explanation of the Politics-Administration Dichotomy
3) An applied reaction to Wilson’s argument
a. Is a dichotomy possible?
b. What are the advantages and disadvantages to a strict separation of politics
and administration?

Case Briefs (5)

Students are required to complete five (5) Case Brief Memos throughout the semester. Each
memo should be three to five (3-5) pages in length and explore how weekly theoretical readings
relate to the case brief analysis. In addition to helping students synthesize theoretical and
practical ideas about public management, this exercise develops students’ writing skills. All
memoranda prepared for this class must follow the standard format outlined below (Appendix I).
Each student may be required to have a writing conference with the professor. Students must
plan their writing conference prior to completing their third memo; in other words, meetings may
take place after submitting either one or two memos. Each conference will last approximately 30
minutes, you will be notified if a conference is required, and a sign-up sheet will be available
during class.

Journal Articles (2)

Students are required to read and analyze two peer-reviewed journal articles. Each journal article
analysis paper should be approximately 500 words (two pages). First, students will choose an
article from the list provided in this syllabus. Students will present the chosen article on the
designated date. The written analysis is due the same day. Second, students will find a peer-
reviewed article from a journal such as Public Administration Review, Public Performance and
Management Review, or Review of Public Personnel Administration that applies to one or several
of the topics discussed in class. Students must summarize the main points of the journal article
and be prepared to present their report to the class. When presenting an in-class article, students
must post the electronic file (.pdf) to eLearning no later than 4:00 p.m. the day before class
(Sunday afternoon).

Each article analysis paper should address, at a minimum, the following questions.
1) What is overarching theme of the article?
2) How does it apply to the other course readings on a similar topic?
3) Do you feel as though the research is antiquated or in need of updating?
Why or why not?
4) How does the article affect or influence public management and administrative
practices?

-5-
 PA 6311 Syllabus
Fall 2010
Examinations
There will be two non-cumulative exams in this class. The professor will post all exams through
Web CT with specific deadlines for submission. Please Note: All exams are solitary efforts,
completed by the student without the assistance of others. The professor will file academic
dishonesty charges against any student(s) for any attempt(s) at cheating. The professor will test
primarily from materials contained in class readings, cases, and discussions. Exams will contain
multiple choice, essay, and short answer questions.

Aesthetic Requirements & Citations

Citations must be used where appropriate, but there is no specified method of citation for
assignments. Use whichever is preferred for your area of study (i.e. APA Style, Chicago Manual
of Style, Turabian), but students must be consistent in their style. Endnotes or parenthetical
citations must include the necessary information to give credit to authors. Students should only
use footnotes for further explanation of a topic in the paper. Do not use footnotes for reference
citations.

All written assignments must follow the following aesthetic guidelines.

o One-inch margins on all sides
o 12 point font size
o Times New Roman or comparable sized font style
o Double spacing
o Left justification
o Numbered pages
o Cover page including, at a minimum, student name, assignment title, and date
o Last name in the upper right corner of every page (use header function)
o One blank sheet of paper at the end of the assignment
o Stapled (no paper clips or other creative paper-connecting mechanisms)

General Disclaimer: The course syllabus may be amended at any time by the professor. If
necessary, the updated syllabus will be posted on WebCT and its changes discussed in class.

-6-
 PA 6311 Syllabus
Fall 2010
ARTICLE ASSIGNMENTS
AUGUST 30, 2010
The Roots of Public Management
1. Terry, Larry D. Administrative leadership, neo-managerialism, and the public management movement. Public
Administration Review, May/Jun98, Vol. 58 Issue 3, p194, 7p.
2. Borins, Sandford. Loose Cannons and Rule Breakers, or Enterprising leaders? Some Evidence About Innovative
Public Managers. Public Administration Review, Nov2000, Vol. 60 Issue 6, p498, 10p, 6 charts.
SEPTEMBER 13, 2010
The Roots of Public Management
A good opportunity to find some foundational articles – TWO ARTICLES REQUIRED
SEPTEMBER 20, 2010
The Political Environment
3. Lynn Jr., Laurence E. The Myth of the Bureaucratic Paradigm: What Traditional Public Administration Really
Stood For. Public Administration Review, Mar/Apr2001, Vol. 61 Issue 2, p144, 17p.
4. Meier, Kenneth J. and Laurence J. O’Toole, Jr. Political Control Versus Bureaucratic Values: Reframing the
Debate. Public Administration Review. Mar2006, Vol. 66 Issue 2, p. 177.
SEPTEMBER 27, 2010
Intergovernmental Relations
5. Wise, Charles R. The Supreme Court's New Constitutional Federalism: Implications for Public Administration.
Public Administration Review, May/Jun2001, Vol. 61 Issue 3, p343, 16p.
6. Henderson Jr., Lenneal J. Brown v. Board of Education at 50: The Multiple Legacies for Policy and
Administration. Public Administration Review, May/Jun2004, Vol. 64 Issue 3, p270, 5p.
OCTOBER 4, 2010
The Structure of the State
7. Kaufman, Herbert. Major Players: Bureaucracies In American Government. Public Administration Review,
Jan2001, Vol. 61 Issue 1, p18, 25p, 1 chart.
8. Bohte, John. School Bureaucracy and Student Performance at the Local Level. Public Administration Review,
Jan2001, Vol. 61 Issue 1, p92, 8p.
OCTOBER 11, 2010
Public Personnel
9. Selden, Sally Coleman; Ingraham, Patricia Wallace; Jacobson, Willow. Human Resource Practices in State
Government: Findings from a National Survey. Public Administration Review, Sep2001, Vol. 61 Issue 5,
p598, 10p, 3 graphs.
10. Coggburn, Jerrell D. The Benefits of Human Resource Centralization: Insights from a Survey of Human
Resource Directors in a Decentralized State. Public Administration Review, July2005, Vol. 65 Issue 4, p.
424, 12 p.
OCTOBER 18, 2010
Budgeting
11. Grizzle, Gloria A.; Pettijohn, Carole D. Implementing Performance-Based Program Budgeting: A System-
Dynamics Perspective. Public Administration Review, Jan2002, Vol. 62 Issue 1, p51, 12p, 3 graphs.
12. Ebdon, Carol and Aimee L. Franklin. Citizen Participation in Budgeting Theory. Public Administration Review.
May2006, Vol. 66 Issue 3. p. 437.
OCTOBER 25, 2010
Decision Making
13. Irvin, Renée A.; Stansbury, John. Citizen Participation in Decision Making: Is It Worth the Effort? Public
Administration Review, Jan2004, Vol. 64 Issue 1, p55, 11p.

14. Weissert, Carol S.; Goggin, Malcolm L. Nonincremental Policy Change: Lessons from Michigan's Medicaid
Managed Care Initiative. Public Administration Review, Mar2002, Vol. 62 Issue 2, p206, 11p.

-7-
 PA 6311 Syllabus
Fall 2010
NOVEMBER 1, 2010
Administrative Communication and Collaborative Processes
A good opportunity to find some foundational articles –TWO ARTICLES REQUIRED
NOVEMBER 8, 2010
Policy Analysis & Implementation
15. Weitzman, Beth C., Diana Silver, and Caitlyn Brazill. Efforts to Improve Public Policy and Programs through
Data Practice: Experiences in 15 Distressed American Cities. Public Administration Review. May2006.
Vol. 66 Issue 3. p. 386.
16. Behn, Robert D. Why Measure Performance? Different Purposes Require Different Measures. Public
Administration Review, Sep2003, Vol. 63 Issue 5, p586, 21p.
NOVEMBER 15, 2010
Regulatory Administration
17. Potoski, Matthew; Prakash, Aseem. The Regulation Dilemma: Cooperation and Conflict in Environmental
Governance. Public Administration Review, Mar2004, Vol. 64 Issue 2, p152, 12p,
18. May, Peter J. Regulation and Compliance Motivations: Examining Different Approaches. Public
Administration Review, Jan2005, Vol. 65 Issue 1, p31, 14p, 4 charts.
NOVEMBER 22, 2010
Public Administration & The Public
19. Terry, Larry D. Public Administration and the Theater Metaphor: The Public Administrator as Villain, Hero,
and Innocent Victim. Public Administration Review, Jan/Feb97, Vol. 57 Issue 1, p53.
20. Berman, Evan M. Dealing with cynical citizens. Public Administration Review, Mar/Apr97, Vol. 57 Issue 2,
p105, 8p, 7 charts.
21. Baker, William H., Addams, H. Lon, and Davis, Brian. Critical Factors for Enhancing Municipal Public
Hearings. Public Administration Review. July2005, Vol. 65 Issue 4, p. 490.
NOVEMBER 29, 2010
The Softer Side of Public Administration
22. Spicer, Michael W.; Terry, Larry D. Legitimacy, history, and logic: Public administration and the constitution.
Public Administration Review, May/Jun93, Vol. 53 Issue 3, p239.
23. Adams, Brian. Public Meetings and the Democratic Process. Public Administration Review, Jan2004, Vol. 64
Issue 1, p43, 12p.
24. Johnson, Loch K. Congressional Supervision of America's Secret Agencies: The Experience and Legacy of the
Church Committee. Public Administration Review, Jan2004, Vol. 64 Issue 1, p3, 12p.
DECEMBER 6, 2010
The Future of Public Administration
25. Goodsell, Charles T. A New Vision for Public Administration. Public Administration Review. July2006, Vol
66 Issue 4. p.623.
26. Lewis, Carol W. The Clash between Security and Liberty in the U.S. Response to Terror. Public
Administration Review, Jan2005, Vol. 65 Issue 1, p18, 13p, 9 charts.

ADDITIONAL UNIVERSITY DISCLAIMERS

Ancillary Information about University Policies and Procedures can be found at:
http://go.utdallas.edu/syllabus-policies

-8-
 PA 6311 Syllabus
Fall 2010
PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION WEBSITES

General Information
www.fedworld.gov- This web site was created to facilitate the dissemination of information to the public on the
federal government. The site provides access to a wide variety of databases, and allows the viewer to search, locate,
order, and acquire a wide range of government and business information.

www.fic.info.gov- This site provides telephone service for locating federal government information, provides a list
of toll-free FIC phone numbers and answers to many of the most commonly asked questions about federal services.

www.thomas.loc.gov- This web site provides information on Congress and the legislative process.

Organizations/Newspapers/Journals
www.policy.com- Policy.com is an online newspaper that provides up-to-date information on current public policy
issues.

www.aspanet.org/publications/par/index2.html- This site will list articles published in PAR, the leading journal in
public administration.

www.pamij.com- The homepage of the online Journal of Public Administration and Management.

www.familiesusa.org- Consumer voice for health care, offering articles and reports on health care, politics, reform,
Medicare and Medicaid, and other health care issues for women, senior citizens, and lower-income people.

www.library.vcu.edu/guides/pubadm.htlm1#dict- This site lists a number of books, research guides, and

encyclopedias on the topic of public administration.

www.aspanet.org- The is the home page of the American Society for Public Administration, the oldest and most
formidable professional organization dedicated to the study of public administration.

www.napawash.org- The National Academy of Public Administration is an independent, nonpartisan organization

charted by Congress to help federal, state, and local government improve their effectiveness, efficiency, and
accountability.

www.icma.org- This is the homepage of the International City-County Management Association, the professional
organization of the local government professional managers in the USA and numerous other countries.

www.urban.org- The homepage for the Urban Institute, a nonpartisan economic and social policy research
organization.

www.andromeda.rutgers.edu/~ncpp/ncpp.html- The home page of the National Center for Public Productivity
focuses on performance evaluation and best practices in the public sector.

Government Agencies
www.dol.gov- Department of Labor
www.treas.gov- Department of Treasury
www.usdoj.gov- Department of Justice
www.state.gov- Department of State
www.ed.gov- Department of Education
www.defenselink.mil- Department of Defense
www.hhs.gov- Department of Health & Human Services
www.commerce.gov- Department of Commerce
www.hud.gov- Department of Housing & Urban
Development

-9-
 PA 6311 Syllabus
Fall 2010
APPENDIX I – MEMORANDUM STANDARD FORMAT

TO:
FROM: [your real name, the name of your role for the case]
DATE:

SUBJECT: [a short, clear statement of the topic of the memo]

1. The Problem/Issues for Decision

This part of the memo should frame the issues evident in the case. In preparing this portion,
think about the most important things that need to be accomplished. Phrase the issues to include
a goal or specific potential achievement. Issue statements typically contain some desired
outcome. Use complete sentences. Avoid issues that can be answered with “yes” or “no.”

2. Necessary History or Background Information

This section should also include an analysis of the environmental factors that produce or
contribute to the problem or constrain the resolution.

3.Available Alternatives & Recommended Action

Recommendations must be active and specific. “Further study” or “appoint a committee” are not
acceptable recommendations. You should provide at least two recommendations in this section.

4. Reasons for the Recommendation

This section should state, as succinctly and in as compelling a logic as possible, the reasons for
each recommendation. The reasons should describe the connection between the reason for the
recommendation and how it resolves the issue(s) set forth in the first section. Reasons should
describe how the recommended action will achieve desired objectives or consequences. The
reasons for any particular recommendation are usually stated in a paragraph, not a sentence.
This may, but need not always, discuss reasons for rejecting alternative decisions. The basic
purpose of this section is to provide appropriate rationale for managerial decisions.

Avoid the line of reasoning that results in “because it’s important.” In general, avoid passive
voice and use short sentences. The best memos will be well integrated with 1) the issues
articulating what needs to be achieved, 2) clear recommendations that advance the goal, and 3)
the reasons why the recommendations provided follow the appropriate path to resolution.

5. Lessons/Implications for Public Administrators

This section should fall under a separate heading and incorporate an application of concepts from
the course readings.

- 10 -