Educational administration is an applied professional field that is more like medicine and law than it is like sociology or economics. However, education has struggled for years to take a broad and somewhat ill-defined field of endeavor and create a hard discipline. This attempt has helped separate the practitioner and the professor. Collaborative…

A comprehensive overview of purpose and content of the Program (an opportunity for Federal executives to learn first-hand about United States Congress in operation through work assignments with members of Congress and staffs of Congressional committees) and a report of reactions of participants to the Program is presented. Information for analysis…

This chart represents a state-by-state compilation of the numerous statutes, executive orders, attorney general opinions, and court decisions which govern state and local government labor relations. Where available, information on each authority includes: (1) administrative body, (2) bargaining rights, (3) recognition rights and procedure, (4)…

Given the diversity of existing patterns of regulations and agencies, this directory is intended to be a guide to the administrative structure and functional responsibilities of the agencies within the various states for the conduct of public sector labor relations. It is not meant to be a statutory analysis nor does it deal with the extent of…

A study examined efforts of National Association of Schools of Public Affairs Administration member graduate programs to recruit and prepare Black and Hispanic students for government careers. Findings revealed a need for further efforts to enhance educational opportunities for minorities. (Author/CH)

Case studies of the use of Nominal Group Technique are analyzed, and an exercise with public administration students is reported suggesting that perceived levels of participation are higher in interacting than in nominal groups. Assumptions about the politics behind such methods are explored. (Author/CH)

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)

Maintains that a simple problem-solving model applied to policy design is inadequate. Argues that purposeful institutional change and government reorganization are not promising strategies for the improvement of public policy. (JDH)

A curriculum model for public administration and urban affairs educators was developed. The relationship between hypothetically formulated competencies, skills, and abilities of urban managers and agency needs as perceived by administrators, agency heads, and experts in the field is explored. (MLW)

This article discusses a study in which a graduate program in public administration was assessed using a combination of judicial and debate techniques. Findings indicated that the program lacked course integration, certain core courses, inadequate definition of management skills, and sufficient student participation. Results are evaluated and…

Traces the establishment in 1918 and development of the Native Administration course in South African universities, its competition with political science and public administration for discipline distinction, and its eventual change to Applied Anthropology in mid-1970s. (ND)

Policy analysis is a real-world decision-making tool. Its literature is published most frequently in the fields of public administration, political science, organizational psychology, economics, and business administration. A review of this literature gives insight into its nature and practice. (MSE)

Seeks to explain economists' differences of opinion, through the example of contemporary British economic debate. Observes that part of the explanation lies in the complexity of economic issues. Argues that the more important factor lies in economists' ideological differences. Contrasts the views of the libertarian and market interventionist…

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…