Public Organization Theory and Management
POLI 7270, 3346 Haley Center, 7:00-9:30 Th -- Mark Burns, Instructor
Course Introduction
This material is designed to give you a basic introduction to POLI 7270, Public
Organization Theory and Management. If you're in the class on the first day,
you'll receive a paper copy. In the introduction you'll find:
- Course Objectives
- Methods and Grading
- Textbooks
- Initial Class Meeting
- Additional Syllabus Components
If you're
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a Web browser, you can use the Return Symbol to go back to the start of
these instructions.
- COURSE OBJECTIVES -
This course analyzes the research literature on administrative and organizational
theory and behavior, especially as it applies to the problems and opportunities
of public management. Upon successfully completing this course, the student
will be able to:
- Identify and discuss key terms associated with the research literature
on administrative and organizational theory.
- Identify and discuss major authors and scholarly works associated with
that literature.
- Discuss major alternative research paradigms for studying the behavior
of public organizations.
- Discuss major problems of public organizations as viewed by the research
literature.
- Summarize and critically evaluate a major component area of the research
literature.
- Critically evaluate costs and benefits associated with the selection of
alternative research paradigms.
- Apply an appropriate research paradigm to an actual case of public organizational
behavior.
- METHODS AND GRADING -
The course will be conducted in seminar format, with the expectation of considerable
interaction among students and instructor.
- Course Requirements
| Assignment |
Due Date |
Grade Percentage |
| Brainstorming Session |
Jan. 24 |
n.g. |
| Outline |
Feb. 14 |
n.g. |
| Class Presentation |
- |
15% |
| Research Proposal |
Apr. 18 |
30% |
| Role as Discussant |
- |
10% |
| General Class Discussion |
- |
15% |
| Mid-Term Exam |
May 12-14 |
10% |
| Final Exam |
May 8? |
20% |
- Each student must, by Thursday, Jan. 17, select a topic from those
in the Course Schedule marked with an asterisk(*)
as the basis for both a class presentation and a research proposal.
To schedule your presentation, just put your name on the appropriate date
on the Web CT Class Forum calendar (see below). Please include the phrase
"media room" if you anticipate needing the use of an overhead projector
or Microsoft Powerpoint.
Once a student has been assigned a topic, he/she has the responsibility
to make a preliminary evaluation of available resources for the research
proposal topic (see below) and to notify me as soon as possible, but absolutely
no later than Tuesday, Jan. 22 if there appears to be a shortage
of materials for the topic.
- The Brainstorming Session (Jan. 24) will be an opportunity
for students to take a "first cut" at their work toward their class presentation
and research proposal. Each student should be prepared to give a brief (maximum
fifteen minute) informal talk to his/her peers about how he/she intends to
approach the chosen topic. Class members and the instructor will then offer
any suggestions for refinement. Students may wish to prepare a rough outline
or brief abstract to pass out to the class to facilitate this process. Note
that the formal outline is due Thursday Feb. 14.
Participation in the brainstorming session is required but carries no
formal grade. However, students who make a strong presentation and/or offer
useful, insightful suggestions to their peers will receive extra consideration
in their final grades in all "borderline" cases.
- At the start of the Class Presentation, the student should pass out
a one-to-two-page outline of his/her remarks, plus a bibliography of at least
ten sources in the Auburn University main campus and/or AUM library, including
call numbers and campus (AU/AUM), which may be used in reading on this topic;
at least five should be journal articles. Sources should preferably not include
readings used in this course or any other PO graduate or undergraduate course.
The class presentation will be divided as follows (times approximate):
- 60-90 minutes--Identify and discuss the central concerns of
the area as found in the literature. This portion should not be a detailed
analysis of all the works of all the authors but rather
an "bibliographic essay" covering major divisions or schools of thought
in the area and providing an overview of representative major authors
and works. It should not expound on the required readings for the day.
- About 90 minutes into the presentation, perhaps at the end of the foregoing
portion, allow for a 10-15 class "break."
- 30-40 minutes--Identify and specify a problem of that area that is
of particular interest to the student. The student should explain how
he/she might focus and carry out a field-based research project, such
as a thesis, in that sub-field.
- 15-20 minutes--Critique by the discussant.
- Remainder of class--questions from other students and instructor.
See my Guidelines for Oral Presentations
for tips on a successful presentation.
- The Research Proposal, 25-30 typed pages in length (plus a disk copy),
will be due on Apr. 18. It should follow the same basic format as the
class presentation and should be a suitable groundwork for the potential development
of an actual piece of scholarly research such as a thesis, dissertation, or
journal article.
The research proposal should be "field-based" in the sense that it should
draw from the relevant literature to apply some model, framework, or theory
to an actual public organizational setting. Any students with unique experimental
interests (small groups, game theory, computer simulations), should seek
prior approval from the instructor for use of such settings as an alternative
to actual organizations before preparing the research proposal. To clarify
expectations concerning the research proposal, detailed discussion of requirements
will take place on Thursday, Jan. 17.
In preparing the research proposal, students should read my Guidelines
for Research Papers and be responsible for following those guidelines.
Two typed copies of an Outline of the research proposal must be submitted
for approval and/or suggested modifications no later than Thursday Feb.
14 .
- In addition to selecting a topic to be covered by the class presentation
and research proposal, each student must serve as the Discussant for
one other presentation. In this role, the student will critically evaluate
the presentation in terms of its coverage of the literature and feasibility
of research proposed. This evaluation should include a verbal critique, possibly
including questions for the presenter.
Discussants should not hesitate to offer suggestions for alternative frameworks
for viewing the literature, alternative research strategies, or other refinements.
Neither the discussant nor the presenter should view the discussant role
as an "ax person" job but rather as the opportunity for a collegial, constructive
critique designed to help the presenter refine his/her work, hone the knowledge
of the discussant, and enlighten the other class members and instructor.
Choice of topics for the discussant role must be posted to the calendar
of the WebCT Class Forum by Thursday, Jan. 24. Use the format "Disc:
John Doe" in the date you choose.
- For the General Class Discussion grade, students will be evaluated
on the basis of quality and quantity of interaction in class discussion, with
greater emphasis on the former. Each student is expected to come to class
fully prepared to discuss the readings assigned for that day.
Class discussion is not a grade for class attendance, although
obviously one cannot discuss without attending class. However, students
who attend class without ever participating in class discussion can expect
no higher grade than "D" in class discussion unless they use the e-mail
option described below.
As an alternative to discussion in the physical classroom, students are
also welcome to raise questions or make comments in our Web CT Class Forum
(see below). Details on this opportunity will be discussed in class.
- The take-home Mid-Quarter Exam and in-class Final Exam will
be mixed objective-subjective, with a greater emphasis on the latter, and
will cover both assigned readings and in-class materials (including lectures,
student presentations, class discussion and outside speaker presentations).
The mid-quarter exam must be submitted in both a physical copy and a standard
word-processing disk format. The final exam is to be taken on "blue books"
purchased by the student. Test procedures are discussed in the Additional
Course Information.
- All students in the course are expected to have A.U. Auburn e-mail accounts
to communicate with each other and with the instructor. To set up an AU account,
simply call 844-5800 from a touchtone phone and follow the automated
directions. Assistance is available in beginning
to use e-mail.
A Web CT Class Forum has been set up to allow students and instructor
to raise discussion issues, comments, and questions outside of the physical
classroom and for making course announcements. Students should check the
Web CT Class Forum. at least once a week and at least one day prior to each
scheduled class meeting for announcements; failure to do so will be the
sole responsibility of the student. In addition, a linked
Virtual
Classroom will be set up on the Worldwide Web for purposes of posting
class-related materials such as final grades.
- TEXTBOOKS -
Textbooks for the course are available only at J & M Bookstore and
J & M II. (For non-Auburn residents: J & M is located at 115 S. College Street,
Auburn; phone: 887-7007; J & M II is next door to the Winn Dixie on S. College.
They are open Monday-Saturday).
- Denhardt, Robert. In the Shadow of Organization. Lawrence, Kansas:
Regents Press of Kansas, 1989.
- Kuhn, Thomas. The Structure of Scientific Revolutions. 3rd ed. Chicago:
University of Chicago Press, 1996.
- Morgan, Gareth. Images of Organization. 2nd ed. Beverly Hills: Sage,
1997.
- Perrow, Charles. Normal Accidents; Living With High-Risk Technologies.
New York: Basic Books, 1999.
- Smith, David B., and Arnold Kaluzny. White Labyrinth. Ann Arbor,
Michigan: Health Administration Press, 2000.
- Vaughan, Diane. The Challenger Launch Decision. Chicago: University
of Chicago Press, 1996.
- Weick, Karl. Sensemaking in Organizations. Thousand Oaks, California:
Sage, 1995.
- Two additional books will be announced early in the course to be used in
connection with class sessions for Apr. 4 and Apr. 25.
Readings will also be taken from other items placed on reserve.
-INITIAL CLASS MEETING -
- Date: Jan. 09 (Th)
- Topic: Course Organization; General Overview; Public Organizations
in a World of Change
- Post-Session Readings:
- Morgan, Ch. 1, "Introduction,".
- Morgan, Ch. 10, "The Challenge of Metaphor."
- Morgan, Ch. 11, "Reading and Shaping Organizational Life."
- Skim rest of Morgan; to be read in depth later in course.
-ADDITIONAL SYLLABUS COMPONENTS -
The other parts of this syllabus are listed below. If you are taking the class,
you are responsible for reading ALL of them, as well as this introduction,
and following their instructions.
Are you reading this introduction on the Worldwide Web? Simplicity
itself. Just use the links below to read each component. As you probably know
already, that also means you can save them as printed copy or files on disk.
Are you reading a paper handout? Then you can access this introduction--and
its links to the other course components--through the Worldwide Web address
"http://www.auburn.edu/~burnsma/POLI7270/intro.html".
- Course Schedule. What's happening on what days,
and what you need to be reading/doing.
- About the Instructor. Information
about Mark Burns and his expectations for the class.
- Additional Course Information you need to
be aware of.
- Guidelines for Oral Presentations
- Guidelines for Research Papers
Components of the syllabus, as well as other useful links to course materials,
my office hours, etc., may be quickly accessed through the Course Hub,
at http://www.auburn.edu/~burnsma/POLI
7270/hub.html.
On Alternative Organizational Forms
"Gangster? I'm no gangster. Gentlemen, all I do is provide services for people
that needs 'em."
--attributed to Al Capone, Chicago "entrepreneur"
Have ideas for other information that should be included here? Send
your suggestions!
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Introduction Page by MB (01/11/02), Ver. 2.04
Copyright © 2002. All Rights Reserved.