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Designed as a text for upper-level undergraduate-and graduate-level courses in public administration, public management, public policy, organizational behavior, this book looks at how people work effectively in public organizations. Written entirely by experienced practitioners, the text is unique in that it addresses throughout both the practical concerns of the working administrator and those of the theorist. By using their own on-the-job experiences as illustrative samples, the contributors clearly demonstrate how theory can improve practice and how practice can be used to generate theories.
Following an introductory chapter by the editor on the role of practitioners in the intellectual development of public administration, the text is divided into four sections. Part One, on the individual in public organizations, covers the ways in which managers learn and teach, presents an alternative contemplative paradigm of organizational behavior, and explores the role of the heroic individual in public administration. Part Two focuses on other people and public organizations, examining such issues as organizational learning, internal evaluation in organizations, organizational pathologies, and controlling conflict. Turning to the question of structure and public organizations, the contributors address ways in which organizational structure can be influenced, describe a learning model of organization, identify archetypes in organizations, and analyze the structure of power in public organizations. The final section looks at the management and leadership skills necessary to be successful in public administration.
List of contents
Preface
The Role of Practitioners in the Intellectual Development of Public Administration by Christopher Bellavita
The Individual and Public OrganizationsManagers Are Learners and Teachers by Patrick J. Sheeran
Contemplation and Administrations: An Alternative Paradigm by Nancy J. Eggert
The Hero's Journey in Public Administration by Christopher Bellavita
Other People and Public OrganizationsOrganizational Learning and the Environment of Evaluation by Richard C. Sonnichsen
Organizational Evil: Concepts and Practices by Paul B. Lorentzen
Integrating Interests to Control Conflict: A Critique of Federal Sector Labor Relations by Frank D. Ferris
Structure and Public OrganizationsInfluencing Structure: From Hierarchy to Chaos by Arthur A. Ciarkowski
A Learning Model of Organization by Paul W. Waldo, Jr.
Archetypes in Organizations by Judith M. Lombard
The Structure of Power in Public Organizations by Frank J. Nice
Skills and Public OrganizationsUnderstanding Effective Management by William F. Pilkington
In Search of the One-Minute Megatrend: Theory and Practice in Management Development by Barbara Bertsch Boyd
The Transforming Power of Public Leaders by Peter M. Wheeler
Learning from Experience by Christopher Bellavita
Bibliography
Index
About the author
CHRISTOPHER BELLAVITA has worked for federal, state, and local governments, he is a consultant to several public organizations and has taught at the University of California's and the University of Southern California. His previous works include The Policy Organization and Performance and Credibility as well numerous articles in academic and professional journals on behavior in public organizations.
