Explores the value of formal and informal mentoring for preparing senior administrative ranks in the public sector. Evaluates planned mentoring programs and their administrative implications, using a conceptual framework identifying essential features of mentoring roles, qualifying characteristics, relationships, stages, and favorable…

An approach to designing a competency-based master's program in public administration that integrates political science, management, and value-based approaches into a holistic package is described. Pedagogically the approach seeks to balance conceptual knowledge with skill acquisition for specific situations, providing a curriculum more relevant…

There has been rising concern about the disconnect between universities, their communities and society at large. This is of special interest to professional schools, whose missions are founded on connecting practice and theory. We argue that cooperative inquiry, an action-based methodology, can help foster connectedness and contribute to healing…

Are public and private organizations fundamentally different? This question has been among the most enduring inquiries in public administration. Our study explores the impact of organizational ownership on two complementary aspects of performance: service quality and access to services for impoverished clients. Derived from public management…

Contained in this bibliography are listings dating from 1974 through 1975 on political science, politics, and public administration. The bulk of the documents are committee reports, conference proceedings, guides, commercially published books, and project reports. Arrangement is by author. Some entries are annotated; all citations include title,…

Describes current activities and trends in the academic area of policy studies and analyzes recommendations for improving policy studies activities, based on a 1976 national survey of chairpersons of political science departments and directors of interdisciplinary programs. (JG)

The author reports findings indicating that information resources management has not penetrated operations at the federal level successfully. Recommendations for practice include (1) changing the oversight focus to program support and long-term capacity, (2) developing a governance base, (3) providing incentives, and (4) revisiting the Paperwork…

Although local planning and budget departments are commonly separated, their decisions often interact. Using the concepts of club theory, the author addresses this interaction. He concludes that the optimum local budget and level of local development are interrelated. Marginal decision making and careful use of fiscal impact analyses are…

Presents survey data indicating that public administration education programs need to be more attuned to the professional requirements of international and U.S. students working in developing nations. Reviews instructional materials and techniques required to achieve this result.(JDH)

Describes how college students can develop a better understanding of the operation of county government as it is represented in the budget. Students analyze the budget for information relating to 1) organization and structure, 2) functions and services, 3) funding sources, 4) governmental priorities, 5) intergovernmental relationships, and 6)…

Provides an overview of public administration and its similarities to library and information science, and notes research themes in public administration (innovation, organizational development and change, decision-making and evaluation, personnel, financial concerns, marketing, dissertations). Future of public administration research and its…

Recommends that library administrators turn to public administration models in preference to business administration models for network management; this choice is predicated on the not-for-profit aspects of public service organizations. (RAA)

Argues that incrementalism's weakness is that it is another rational approach to problem solving when what is needed is a nonrational approach--creativity. Offers guidelines for improving creativity in oneself and in the work environment. (IRT)

Data were collected from 12 states with Certified Public Manager training programs to establish benchmarks. The 38 benchmarks were in the following areas: program leadership, stability of administrative/financial support, consistent management philosophy, administrative control, participant selection/support, accessibility, application of…

A survey of 462 alumni of schools that require public administration students to complete an ethics course indicates that ethics education is having a positive influence on graduates but that other factors are also influential. The ethical environment of the program must also be taken into account. (JOW)