PA 630
Fall 2014
SEMINAR IN PUBLIC PERSONNEL ADMINISTRATION
Tuesdays 19:00 – 21:40
INSTRUCTOR:
OFFICE:
OFFICE HOURS:
TELEPHONE:
Professor Darrell L. Pugh, Ph.D., J.D.
PSFA 173
Wednesdays 3:00-4:00
(619) 594-4546
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Public Personnel Administration is a course designed to introduce students of public
administration to the functions, contexts and issues that constitute the field of personnel
administration as practiced in the public sector. By the conclusion of this course, students should
be able to identify and discuss a wide variety of personnel activities; be knowledgeable about
contemporary issues; and understand the values and contexts that compose the public personnel
management system. Because effective human resource management is essential to
organizational productivity, growth and survival, one of the aims of this seminar is to provide an
advanced examination of major issues in the field with an emphasis on practical, theoretical and
legal perspectives.
COURSE TEXTS
Public Personnel Management, Klingner, et. Al
Public Personnel Administration, N. Joseph Cayer
Public Personnel Management, Riccucci, N.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
Class Group Assignments:
Each student will be pair with other students and be responsible for answering a set of
questions that pertain to the module assigned for that week. Questions along with
directions for completing the assignment can be found in each of the course modules.
(80 points)
Class Quizzes
Each student will take a modular quiz for each of the eight modules. Quizzes will be
given in class. Each quiz will consist of 15 multiple choice or true false questions. Once
you begin the quiz you will have 30 minutes to complete your answers. You may use
your books and notes to help you answer the questions but, fair warning, you will not
have enough time to look up or find every answer. So do the readings, review the lectures
and power points, and BE PREPARED! (120 points) Any student requiring special
accommodations through Disabled Student Services should process the proper paperwork
well in advance of the scheduled test date. If you are a student with a disability and
believe you will need accommodations for this class, it is your responsibility to contact
Student Disability Services at (619) 594-6473. To avoid any delay in the receipt of your
accommodations, you should contact Student Disability Services as soon as possible.
Please note that accommodations are not retroactive, and that accommodations based
upon disability cannot be provided until you have presented your instructor with an
accommodation letter from Student Disability Services. Your cooperation is appreciated.
Semester Team Research Project and Paper:
Each student will be paired with another student and be responsible for preparing a coauthored semester research project and paper. The paper is to be based on a
contemporary issue in public human resource management that demonstrates the
importance of human resource management and its implications for organizational
effectiveness. Examples of such issues include but are not limited to topical areas such as
Classification, Compensation, Affirmative Action/EEO Policies and Enforcement,
Composition of the Workforce/Diversity, Changes in Labor Relations,
Downsizing/Layoffs, Employee Benefits, Merit Pay, Recent Changes in Labor and
Employment Laws, Managing Employee Productivity, and Human Resource Information
Technology.
The paper should be based on both a thorough literature review (e.g. a review of the
pertinent literature/legislation) and field research (e.g. personal research that you do in
the field to collect data such as interviews, case studies or survey instruments) assessing
at least three local jurisdictions. The literature you review should be thoroughly
discussed and provide background for your specific research question. Your field
research should either substantiate your hypothesis regarding your research question
and/or explain how your finding did not support your assumptions. Your paper should
include specific conclusions and recommendations on how human resource management
can increase organizational effectiveness/productivity based on your research findings
and conclusions.
Papers should be no more than 20 typewritten, double-spaced pages of text (excluding
references and endnotes). Your papers should be thoroughly and accurately
footnote/endnote according to an accepter format (e.g. University of Chicago Style
Guide). Papers will be due on November 18, 2014. Papers may be handed in early in but
no late papers will be accepted, except for unforeseen, documented, medical reasons.
(100 points)
COURSE OUTLINE
Aug. 26
Sept. 2 &
Sept. 9
Sept. 16
Introduction
Understanding Public Personnel Frameworks and Their Origins. Kingner Ch. 1 &
2; Cayer Ch. 1; Riccucci, Article “How we get where we are today”.
Klingner Ch 3&4; Cayer Ch. 2; Riccucci, Article “Building Public HRM Capacity
in Fragile and Transitional States: Linking theory, research, practice and
teaching”. Review Power Point Lectures on Blackboard and take the quiz on
Monday, September 9, 2014 between 6:00 am and 11:00 pm.
Understanding Labor-Management Relations Klingner Ch. 14; Cayer Ch. 8;
Riccucci, Article “Public employee unions in a new era”. Review Power Point
Lectures on Blackboard and take the quiz on Monday, September 15, 2014
between 6:00 am and 11:00 pm..
Sept. 23
Understanding Employee Rights and Organizational Justice Klingner Ch. 12 &
13; and Cayer Ch. 7; Riccucci Article “Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered
employees in the public sector workforce.” Review Power Point Lectures on
Blackboard and take the quiz on Monday, September 22, 2014 between 6:00
am and 11:00 pm..
Sept. 30
INDIVIDUAL TEAM MEETINGS Have your paper agreements ready for review
and signature (See Blackboard for Paper Guidelines and Paper Agreement.)
Oct. 7
Understanding Employee Motivation and Compensation . Klingner, Ch. 4 & 6
Cayer, Ch. 4 ; Riccucci, Article “Public sector pensions and Benefits: Challenges
in a new environment.” Review Power Point Lectures on Blackboard and take
the quiz on Monday, October 6, 2014 between 6:00 am and 11:00 pm.
Understanding Position Management. Klingner Ch. 5; Cayer Ch. 3; Riccucci,
Article “Strategic Human Resource Management”. Review Power Point
Lectures on Blackboard and take the quiz on Monday, October 13, 2014
between 6:00 am and 11:00 pm..
Oct. 14
Oct. 21
Understanding Recruitment, Selection, and Equal Employment Opportunity:
Klingner, Ch. 7 & 8; Ch. 3 and Cayer Ch. 5; Riccucci, Article “Affirmative action
and the law?” Review Power Point Lectures on Blackboard and take the quiz
on Monday, October 20, 2014 between 6:00 am and 11:00 pm..
Oct. 28
Understanding Training and Development Klingner Ch 10; Riccuci, Article
Generational differences and the public sector work force”. Review Power Point
Lectures on Blackboard and take the quiz on Monday, October 27, 2014
between 6:00 am and 11:00 pm..
Nov. 4
Understanding Performance Management Klinger Ch. 9 & 11; Riccucci, Article
“Managing human resources to improve organizational productivity: The role of
performance evaluation”. Review Power Point Lectures on Blackboard and
take the quiz on Monday, November 3, 2014 between 6:00 am and 11:00 pm..
Nov. 11
No Class
Nov. 18
RESEARCH PAPERS DUE
Nov. 23
Thanksgiving Break (No Class)
Dec. 2
Research Paper Presentations
Dec. 9
Research Paper Presentations