The intent of this core course in the MPA curriculum is to provide graduate students in public service a strong understanding of how public organizations function both as individual entities and as collective partnerships and networks. This course also examines how information technology affects the structure and behaviors of public organization. Roughly, the course is divided into two modules--
 | The first half of the course covers some basic topics
important in understanding how public organizations function. This
module provides students from diverse situations and backgrounds
(some beginning their MPA experience) a
platform for examining more sophisticated ideas related to the
organizational impacts of information technology. |
| The second part of the course prepares MPA students for confronting
the managerial challenges of working in organization networks and of
using information technology within organization settings. Mastery of
the sophisticated issues will require considerable diligence
in student preparation. |