Two topics often ignored by public administration textbooks--the pedagogical objectives for the problem-oriented case study and methods for analyzing case study materials--are explored. (RM)

A study described characteristics of education for the professions and used these characteristics to assess the course syllabi for nearly 40 public personnel administration courses. Found that most of these courses lack the requirements for courses in professional education. Suggestions for instructors of public personnel administration were made.…

The 16 chapters of this book offer innovative instructional techniques used to train public managers. It presents public management concepts along with such subtopics as organizational theory and ethics, research skills, program evaluation, financial management, computers and communication skills in public administration, comparative public…

The problem of students entering universities and graduate programs with sub-standard communication skills is becoming more pronounced. Teaching communication skills is an important vehicle for enhancing student work. (BSR)

The study investigated the state of ethics education in graduate programs in public administration and policy. A survey of 139 directors of accredited programs examined three issues: (1) goals of ethics education, (2) ethical standards to which students are exposed, and (3) approaches to ethical decision making in public management. (Author/CH)

Fast-track MBA and MPA graduates cycle through several managerial assignments during their careers, requiring that they repeatedly take charge of new units or organizations. This article summarizes research on the taking-charge process, distinguishing between the entering and established phases of a managerial assignment and describing applicable…

Future studies can provide a variety of useful techniques for teachers of public administration. Three futures methods that relate to public administration are group exercises (e.g., brainstorming and a variation of the Delphi technique), classroom simulation (e.g., role playing and gaming simulation), and scenarios. (Author/CS)

A group-learning approach has been identified as suitable for dealing with large classes in a graduate public administration course to encourage student participation and to personalize the learning experience. (Author/KM)

Noting that the "case method of Instruction" involves the study of actual past occurrences in public organizations, this article advocates that Public Administration instruction for black administrators should make wide use of case materials; ten cases are presented here which, it is stated, touch upon a number of administrative problems.…

Change is a subject of ever-growing importance for public administration. Discussed are six major perspectives recommended as categories to be combined in various ways to construct graduate courses on change. Also presented are sample exercises for use with doctoral and master's students undertaking the study of change. (RM)

Describes a classroom simulation game for public administration courses to help students develop knowledge of the governmental decision-making process. The game increases knowledge of planning, budgeting, strategies for achieving organizational goals, and leadership skills. (Author/AV)

A profile of quantitative methods courses in public administration is presented. Most of these courses use one of two models of learning--the concept attainment model or the nondirective model. How a third and more promising method--the inquiry training model--has been used in the authors' course is described. (RM)

Describes the use of an implementation module in public administration or policy analysis classes. Involves developing a framework to measure implementation effectiveness, quantifying elements of the framework, forming hypotheses, and testing the framework. Concentrates upon framework development and operationalization components. (KO)

Proposes the use of works of fiction in introductory level public administration courses as a means of exploring questions concerning the bureaucratic state. "Walden Two,""Looking Backward,""The Trial, "Brave New World," and "1984" are discussed as examples of fiction which can be used. (KO)

Public history encompasses many fields of study--historic preservation, archival management, museum work, editing, archaeology, genealogy, public administration of historic resources--and is one of the fastest growing areas of departmental curriculum development on college and university campuses. Programs in public history are designed to produce…