PLSC- 334 Personnel Administration in Government
Winter 2015
Tuesday/Thursday 11:00 am-12:15 pm
Porter # 214
Dr. Barbara Patrick
Office: Department of Political Science, Pray Harrold Hall
Office Hours: 12:30-2pm TH; 1pm-4pm W or by appointment
Phone: (734) 487-1453
E-Mail: bpatric1@emich.edu
COURSE OBJECTIVE:
This course is a research seminar public human resource management. As such, we will
immerse ourselves in many controversial topics such as accountability, motivation, and
affirmative action. We will devote most of the semester to extensive reading about the topic and
then turn to the seminar’s research emphasis. Each student is expected to prepare major
theoretical papers driven research paper (support with data) concerning public human resource
management or a related topic. The last portion of the seminar will be devoted to presentations,
critiques, and discussions of these papers. I would like for you to present your research at an
academic conference.
Class Attendance and Etiquette:
Class attendance is very important. You have 3 absences, after the third absence your grade will
drop ½ a letter. Repetitive late arrivals will also result in an absence. If you arrive late or must
leave early it is your responsibility to inform me. Also it is very important that you arrive on
time on exam days. If you arrive after the first student completing the exam has left the room,
you will not be allowed to complete the exam. Make-up exams are only given with adequate
documentation at the end of the semester. Class attendance on days that student present days is
also very important. Failure to appear on present days without an excused absence will result in
a grade deduction. Late arrivals on presentation days will also affect your presentation grade.
Students with Disabilities:
If you wish to be accommodated for your disability EMU Board of Regents policy #8.3 requires
that you first register with the Access Services Office (ASO) in room 203 King Hall. You may
contact ASO by telephone at (734) 487-2470. Students with disabilities are encouraged to
register with ASO promptly as you will only be accommodated from the date you register with
them forward. No retroactive accommodations are possible.
Academic Integrity:
Academic dishonesty, including all forms of cheating and plagiarism, will not be tolerated.
Penalties for an act of dishonesty may range from receiving a failing grade for a particular
assignment to receiving a failing grade for the entire course. In addition, you may be referred to
Office of Student Judicial Services for discipline that can result in either a suspension or
permanent dismissal. The Student Conduct Code contains detailed definitions of what
constitutes academic dishonesty, and it can be accessed online at www.emich.edu/sjs
Classroom Conduct:
Students should conduct themselves in ways that are consistent with promoting an efficient
learning environment for themselves and everyone else. Students should be conscientious,
helpful, properly motivated to learn, honest, and respectful of others and their opinions at all
times. Such conduct is consistent with generally regarded norms of professionalism, including
those found in graduate, professional degree programs. If a student “commits the offense of
disorderly conduct when he/she does any act (e.g. being disobedient) in such unreasonable
manners as to alarm or disturb another and to provide a breach of peace,” the professor reserves
the right to deduct points for inappropriate conduct and refer the student to the University for
further investigation of the matter. The professor also reserves the right to excuse the student
from class for the remainder of the semester and give the student a letter grade of “F” for the
course.
University Policies:
Students With Disabilities: If you wish to be accommodated for your disability, EMU Board of
Regents policy #8.3 requires that you first register with the Access Services Office (ASO) in
room 203 King Hall. You may contact ASO by telephone at (734) 487-2470. Students with
disabilities are encouraged to register with ASO promptly as you will only be accommodated
from the date you register with them forward. No retroactive accommodations are possible.
Notice to all foreign students (F and J visa): To comply will all federal regulations, please
contact the EMU office of International Students (OIS), 244 EMU Student Center, 734.487.3116
Academic Honesty:
Each student in class is expected to adhere to the highest standards of academic honesty.
Cheating and plagiarism violate the rules of the University and the ethical standards of
professional public administration. Cheating and plagiarism will be punished to the full extent
allowed by University rules and regulations. Plagiarism is generally defined in your student
handbook as presenting as your own work that done by someone else, even if only an idea and/or
not quoted directly. Cite, quote, and when in doubt, ask the instructor. Those caught cheating
will be given a zero for the work in which the cheating occurred. Possible plagiarism will be
dealt with on a case by case basis. In addition, you may be referred to the Office of Student
Judicial Services for discipline that can result in either a suspension or permanent dismissal. The
/Student Conduct Code/ contains detailed definitions of what constitutes academic dishonesty,
and it can be accessed online at http://www.emich.edu/studentconduct/
Observance of Religious Holidays
University Policy: Eastern Michigan University recognizes the rights of students to observe
religious holidays without penalty to the student.
University Practice: Students will provide advance notice to their instructors in order to make
up work, including examinations that they miss as a result of their absence from class due to
observance of religious holidays. If satisfactory arrangements cannot be made with the
appropriate instructor(s), students may appeal to the head(s) of the department(s) in which the
course(s) is/are offered.
There are many resources on line regarding the observance of religious holidays; here is one site
with an extensive listing of holiday dates: http://www.interfaithcalendar.org/2013.htm
GRADING SCALE:
Research Paper and Presentation: 20%
Class Assignments and Participation: 20%
Test One: 20%
Test Two: 20%
Test Three: 20%
Research Papers and Presentations:
An important step toward your research project is preparation of a research proposal or design,
due February 18. We will discuss the content and expectations for your research design in class.
Helpful information will also be posted on My Courses. Your individual papers are due April
10.
Your paper presentation begins March 31. Expectations for oral presentations will be similar to
those of professional conferences. Each presenter will have approximately 10 minutes to
summarize his or her paper. You will need to emphasize the major points and call attention to
findings or conclusions that you want to stress. You may use overheads or other appropriate
media (power point), but please do not exceed the 10 minute presentation time. Please give your
presentation the time and care that it requires as it will account for 10% of final grade.
Following each presentation, we will have an opportunity for open discussion of the paper and
the topic it raises. In some cases (depending on the relatedness of the papers), we may discuss
several papers jointly, more in the style of a professional conference panel.
Research Papers
Each student is required to complete a 7 to 10 page research paper that relates to material from
the course. The paper should be analytical and written in a professional manner. Grammar and
spelling will be considered in determining the grade of the paper. Professional journals should
be used. You should use a minimum of 10 peer review journal articles in your paper. Sources
that may be helpful in locating journal articles include EBSCO HOST, JSTOR and other indexes
available through EMU Library. The final product should double spaced in 12 point Times New
Roman format using Chicago style format.
CLASS ASSIGNMENT
Article Critiques (10% of Grade)
Each student will review and present one articles that are assigned for class reading. On the
evening of your presentation day, you should submit a 1 to 2 page written critique of the week’s
reading. You should also provide a brief handout for your classmates and the instructor.
Assignments for presentation will be made during the first class session.
Current Issues in Public Personnel Administration: (10% of grade)
As future leaders in the field of public administration it is important that you posse the skills to
think critically and offer solutions to issues or problems that will occur in the field. The ability
to critically analysis materials and issues will be especially important to those of you who may
continue on to a graduate program. Given the significance of this skillset, students will work
individually to assess a current issue in the field of public personnel management. The
assessment will require students to identify central questions related to the issue, why it’s
important to the field of public administration, key stakeholders impacted by the issue, and
viable alternatives on how the issue may be adequately addressed by administrators and
policymakers.
COURSE OUTLINE:
Week One (January 6-8, 2015)
Tuesday- Introduction
Thursday -Public Personnel Historical Overview
Mosher Handout-Posted on My Courses
Week Two (January 13-15, 2015)
Tuesday- - Public Personnel Historical Overview Continued…
Llorens, Jared and R. Paul Battaglio, Jr. (2010). “Human Resources Management in a Changing
World: Reassessing Public Human Resources Management Education.” Review of Public
Personnel Administration, 30(1): 112-132.
Hays, Steven and Richard Kearney (2001). “Anticipated Changes in Human Resource
Management: Views from the Field,” Public Administration Review, 60(5): 585-597
Thursday- Recruitment and Retention Issues
Ingraham, Patricia and Heather Getha-Taylor (2004). “Leadership in the Public Sector: Models
and Assumptions for Leadership Development in the Federal Government.” Review of Public
Personnel Administration, 24(2): 95-112.
Fisk, Glenda and Amie Skattebo (2010). “Recruiting the Best and Brightest for Employment in
Canada’s Public Sector.” Center for the Study of Democracy, Queen’s University (see My
Courses).
Chetkovich, Carol (2001). “Winning the Best and Brightest: Increasing the Attraction of Public
Service.” John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University (see My Courses)
Week Three (January 20-22, 2015)
Tuesday- Research Topic Discussion
The Why and How of Research- Topics, Outlines, Locating Academic Sources, Writing the
Literature Review, Including Data or Case Studies
Thursday- The Merit System and Civil Service Reforms
Hamilton, David (2002). Is Patronage Dead? The Impact of Anti Patronage Staffing Systems,
Review of Public Personnel Administration, 22(1): 3-26.
Bowman, James, Marc Gertz, and Sally Gertz (2003). “Civil Service Reform in Florida State
Government: Employee Attitudes 1 Year Later,” Review of Public Personnel Administration,
23(4): 286-304.
Bowman, James (2010). “The Success of Failure: The Paradox of Performance Pay.” Review of
Public Personnel Administration, 30(1): 70-88.
West, William and Robert Durant (2002). “Merit, Management, and Neutral Competence:
Lessons from the US Merit Systems Protection Board, FY 1988-FY1997” Public Administration
Review, 60(2): 111-122.
Week Four (January 27-29, 2015)
Tuesday- Public Service Motivation
Maslow Handout-See My Courses
Perry, James and Lois Wise (1990). “The Motivational Bases of Public Service.” Public
Administration Review, 50(3): 367-73.
Perry, James (1997). “Antecedents of Public Service Motivation.” Journal of Public
Administration Research and Theory, 7(2): 181-97.
Frederickson, H. and David Hart (1985). “The Public Service and the Patriotism of
Benevolence.” Public Administration Review, 45(5): 547-553.
Thursday- Public Service Motivation Continued
Frank, Sue and Gregory Lewis (2004). “Government Employees Working Hard or Hardly
Working?” American Review of Public Administration, 34(1): 36-51.
Battaglio, R. Paul, Jr. (2010). “Public Service Reform and Motivation: Evidence From an
Employment At Will Environment.” Review of Public Personnel Administration, 30(3): 341363.
Brewer, Gene, Sally Selden, Facer (2000). “Individual Conceptions of Public Service
Motivation.” Public Administration Review, 60(3): 254-64.
Week Five (February 3-5, 2015)
Tuesday- In Class Activity and Review Session
Thursday- Test One
Week Six (February 10-12, 2015)
Tuesday- Employees and Sexual Harassment
Reese, Laura and Karen Lindenberg (2003). “The Importance of Training on Sexual Harassment
Policy Outcomes.” Review of Personnel Administration, 23(3): 175-91.
Newman, Meredith, Robert Jackson, and Douglas Baker (2003). “Sexual Harassment in the
Federal Workplace.” Public Administration Review, 63(4): 472
Sowa, Jessica and Sally Selden (2003). “Administrative Discretion and Active Representation:
An Expansion of the Theory of Representative Bureaucracy.” Public Administration Review,
63(6): 700-710.
Thursday- Gender and Salary/Pay Issues
Guy, Mary and Meredith Newman (2004) “Women’s Jobs, Men’s Jobs: Sex Segregation and
Emotional Labor.” Public Administration Review, 64(3): 290-98.
Dolan, Julie (2004). “Gender Equity: Illusion or Reality for Women in the Federal Executive
Service?” Public Administration Review, 64(3): 300-08.
Reese, Catherine and Barbara Warner (2012). “Pay Equity in the States: An analysis of the
Gender Pay Gap in the Public Sector. Review of Public Personnel Administration, 32(4): 312331.
Brinck, Kerr, Will Miller, and Margaret Reid (2002). “Sex based occupational segregation in US
state bureaucracies, 1987-97.” Public Administration Review, 62(4): 412-23.
Research Proposals Due
Week Seven (February 17-19, 2015)
Tuesday- Affirmative Action, Gender, Race, and Employment Equity Issues
Affirmative Action and Employment Handout- See My Courses
Bradbury, Mark, and R. Paul Battaglio, Jr. John Crum (2010). “Continuity Amid Discontinuity?
George W. Bush, Federal Employment Discrimination, and Big Government Conservatism.”
Review of Public Personnel Administration, 30(4): 445-466.
Burns, Prue and Jan Schapper (2008). “The Ethical Case for Affirmative Action.” Journal of
Business Ethics, 83(3): 369-379.
Thursday- Research Workshop
Week Eight (February 24-26, 2015)
Winter Break
Week Nine (March 3-5, 2015)
Tuesday- Affirmative Action, Gender, Race, and Employment Equity Issues Cont.
Steinbugler, Amy, and Julie Press and Janice Dias (2006). “Gender, Race, and Affirmative
Action: Operationalizing Intersectionality in Survey Research.” Gender and Society, 20(6): 805825.
Stivers, Camille (2007). “So Poor and So Black: Hurricane Katrina, Public Administration and
the Issue of Race.” Public Administration Review, 67(1): 48-56.
Thursday-Test Two
Week Ten (March 10-12, 2015)
Tuesday- The Hatch Act and Family Medical Leave Act
Bowman, James and Jonathan West (2009). “State Governments “Little Hatch Acts” in an Ear
of Civil Service Reform: The State of the Nation.” Review of Public Personnel Administration,
29(1): 20-40.
French, P. Edward (2009). “Implications of the Family and Medical Leave Act for Local
Governments: Helping Administrators Understand the Law.” Review of Public Personnel
Administration, 29(1): 76-88.
French, P. Edward and Doug Goodman (2009). “The New Mental Health Parity Law: Issues and
Concerns for Public and Private Sector Employers.” Review of Public Personnel Administration,
29(1): 189-196.
Thursday- Collective Bargaining
Spero, Sterling (1962). “Collective Bargaining in Public Employment: Form and Scope.”
Public Administration Review, 22(1): 1-5.
Methe, David and James Perry (1980). “The Impact of Collective Bargaining on Local
Government Services: A Review of Research.” Public Administration Review, 40(4): 359-371.
Nesbit, Rebecca, Tina Nabatchi, and Lisa Bingham (2012). “Employees, Supervisors, and
Workplace Mediation: Experiences of Justice and Settlement.” Review of Public Personnel
Administration 32(3):260-287.
Week Eleven (March 17-19, 2015)
Tuesday- Collective Bargaining Continued…
Nabatchi, Tina and Lisa Bingham (2010). “From Postal to Peaceful: Dispute Systems Design in
the USPS REDRESS Program.” Review of Public Personnel Administration, 30(2): 211-234.
Crocker, Jillian and Dan Clawson (2012). “Buying Time: Gendered Patterns in Union
Contracts.” Social Problems, 59(4): 459-40.
Kearney, Richard (2010). “Public Sector Labor-Management Relations: Change or Status Quo?”
Review of Public Personnel Administration, 30(1): 89-111.
Thursday- Emerging Issues in Personnel
Wadsworth, Lori and Rex Facer, and Chyleen Arbon (2010). “Alternative Work Schedules in
Local Government: Cui Bono?” Review of Public Personnel Administration, 30(3): 322-340.
Jacobson, Willow and Shannon Tuft (2013). “To Post or Not to Post: Employee Rights and
Social Media.” Review of Public Personnel Administration, 33(2):84-107.
West, Jonathan, Loo See Beh, and Meghna Sabharwal (2013). “Charting Ethics in Asia-Pacific
HRM: Does East Meet West, Ethically?” Review of Public Personnel Administration,
33(2):185-204.
Week Twelve (March 24-26, 2015)
Tuesday- Emerging Issues in Personnel
Hsieh, Chih-Wei and Mary Guy (2009). “Performance Outcomes: The Relationship Between
Managing the Heart and Managing Client Satisfaction.” Review of Public Personnel
Administration, 29(1): 41-57.
Mankin, Lawrence and Ronald Perry (2004). “Terrorism Challenges for Human Resource
Management.” Review of Public Personnel Administration, 24(1): 3-17.
Thursday- Research Day
Week Thirteen (March 31-April 2, 2015)
Tuesday-Presentation Day
Thursday- Presentation Day
Week Fourteen (April 7-9, 2015)
Tuesday-Presentation Day
Thursday-Presentation Day
Week Fifteen (April 14-16, 2015)
Tuesday-Review Day
Thursday- Wrap Up Session
Final Exam-April 23 11- 12:30 pm
The instructor reserves the right to amend the syllabus.