MPA 520 Organization Theory Spring 2012
Final Examination -- click here
Dr. Rick Ghere
Zehler 304 937.229.4220
rghere1@udayton.edu
COURSE DESCRIPTION AND OBJECTIVES
Description...
The purpose of this course is to present contemporary depictions on the nature
of
public organization with particular emphasis on management and
institutional leadership.
Traditional organization topics (such as the Weberian
bureaucracy, "efficiency," and "performance")
are certain to arise but will be
examined both in terms of their rhetorical significance and
functional
utility. In this regard, the course places a bit more emphasis on the human
element--as it pertains to commitment and competence of those working in public
organizations and expectations placed upon them--than on technical notions of
organizations
as artificial instruments.
Objectives...
1. To distinguish among various organization configurations (or "structures")
found in the public sector and
understand how they affect the nature of
leadership.
2. To differentiate between "hard" and "soft"
management skills essential
for
competent public sector management.
3. To draw attention to values
and belief systems in public organizations in
regard to their (in)compatability to management systems and structures.
4. To emphasize the the logic of institutional theory as it
relates to the
institutional qualities of public organizations.
5. To understand the significance of networks and management
information
technology in strengthening or weakening public
institutions.
TEXTS
Henry Mintzberg,
Mintzberg on Mintzberg
Terry, Leadership of Public
Bureaucracies
[articles/chapters linked to this
webpage and on library e-reserve]
Jan. 17 Introduction to course
PART A: ORGANIZATION CONFIGURATIONS
Jan. 24 Configurations; The Entrepreneurial
Organization
issues
-Mintzberg Chs 6 and 7
Jan. 31 Machine and Diversified Organizations; A View
of Efficiency
issues
-Mintzberg Chs 8, 9, and 16
Feb. 7 Professional Organizations
issues
-Mintzberg Ch 10
-Alvesson, "Organizations
as Rhetoric..."
Jl of Management Studies 1993
Feb. 14 Missionary Organizations
issues
-Mintzberg Ch 12
-Dobel, "The
Beleaguered Ideal: The
NCAA’s Defense of Amateurism" 2012
Feb. 21 Innovative Configurations; Public Sector
Applications
issues
-Mintzberg Ch 11
-Agranoff “Inside Collaborative
Networks...”
Public Admin Rev
2006
-Fountain “The
Virtual State: Transforming American Government?
Natl Civic Rev
2001
-Mintzberg pp. 69-78
[read last]
PART B: ORGANIZATION MANAGEMENT
and/or
INSTITUTIONAL LEADERSHIP
Feb. 28 What Does Management Involve?
issues
-Mintzberg Chs 1 and 3
-Gosling and Mintzberg, “Five
Minds of the Manager”
Harvard Bus Rev
-Boin and Christensen, “The Development of
Public Institutions”
Admin & Soc
2008
-Terry Ch 1
Mar. 20 Conserving Mission
issues
-Terry Ch 3
-Riccucci
"Execucrats,"
Politics, and Public Policy”
Public Admin Rev
1995
Mar 27
Conserving Values
issues
-Terry,
"The Thinning of
Administrative Institutions in the Hollow State" Admin.
and Soc. 2005
-
Apr. 17 Conclusions: Configurations, Organization
Management, Institutional Leadership
issues
-Terry Ch 6
Final Examination -- click here
Students are expected to abide by the University of Dayton Honor Pledge:
I understand that as a student of the University of Dayton, I am a member of our academic and social community. I recognize the importance of my education and the value of experiencing life in such an integrated community. I believe that the value of my education and degree is critically dependent upon the academic integrity of the university community, and so in order to maintain our academic integrity, I pledge to
- complete all assignments and examinations by the
guidelines given to me by my instructors
- avoid plagiarism and any other form of misrepresenting
someone else's work as my own
- adhere to the Standards of Conduct as outlined in the
Academic Honor Code.
Detected violations will result in severe penalties.
Midterm Examination
60 pts
Course Paper
60 pts
Contribution
60 pts
Final Examination
60 pts
Total
240 pts