WCU Week 3 Policy Analysts and Makers Communication Obstacles Discussion

Objectives

1. Evaluate contemporary problems inherent in the workplace and public governance in the context of classical ideas and theories found within public administration literature
2. Understand and articulate the major paradigms of the field of public policy and administration
3. Interact effectively and demonstrate composure, professionalism, and respect for others.

What is Due?

Week 3 Discussion:There are often communication obstacles and difficulties between policy analysts and policy makers. Why do these obstacles emerge? Why are they often difficult to overcome? What steps – either individually, organizationally, institutionally, or structurally – could be taken to ameliorate and perhaps prevent these obstacles? Use required readings for this week to support your discussion. (200 words)

Denhardt, R., Denhardt, J., & Blanc, T. (2014). Public administration: An action orientation.7th edition. Cengage Learning

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&so…

Introduction

One of the most important cycles in the public administration involves planning, implementation, and evaluation. This is especially more important as managers and administrators have been tasked with doing more for less, often in a system of constrained resources. Strategic planning and long-range planning differ in their rationale and process, but both provide insight into preparing for planning. It’s important to note that while in theory planning, implementation, and evaluation seem to be different activities, in practice they are often less distinct. As an administrator and manager, it is important that we make an effort to properly address each of these three stages. The concept of “managing for results” involves goals and objectives being articulated as public outcomes, and the design and implementation of programs, which are then evaluated against standards.

Public organizations’ budgeting and financial management activities are similar to private sectors activities. Although there are some similarities, there are still several important differences. First, public agencies are accountable to citizens and elected officials. Budgets are one form of government accountability. Government spending has spillover effects for the overall economy. Government priorities are reflected in their budget, and represents government decisions about public policies. Budgets are related to fiscal policy and public policy, along with taxation and government spending.

Red tape, rules and regulations are sometimes seen as barriers to effective personnel management. It is important to understand the reason why these rules and regulations were adopted. The Pendleton Act and the Civil Service Reform Act are two of the strongest efforts to reform civil service and reorient it towards merit rather than political favoritism. There is often tension or difficult relationships between political appointees and career executives, and this embodies in part the tension between responsiveness and effectiveness. Our readings this week also discuss labor relations, along with the rise and decline of public service unions, as well as public employment discrimination.

Learning Activities

Read: Denhardt & Denhardt Chapters 4, 5, and 6. These readings provide the foundation for our course, as well as the DPA program as a whole, in terms of defining and understanding public administration. In addition to an introduction to the field, these readings explore the major paradigms of political and interorganizational context of public administration.

Watch: the pledge from the Office of Personnel Management Director Jeff T.H. Pon to reform civil service and read the April 6, 2018 Washington Post coverage about the Trump Administration planning to overhaul civil service