Revised and Posted Nov 3, 2012
PA 510: Public Leadership & Cultural Competence
Fall 2012 (Nov 10, 17 & Dec 1)
Instructor: Marcus Ingle, Ph.D.
Instructor: Masami Nishishiba, Ph.D.
Office Location: URBN 670 F
Office Location: URBN 670Q
Office Phone: 503-725-8202
Office Phone: 725-5151
Email: mingle@pdx.edu
Email: nishism@pdx.edu
Course Description
In this course, students will reflect and analyze their experiences in their international field trip
to Vietnam/Korea by applying a theoretical framework for cross-national and cross-cultural
comparison. Students will also integrate their learnings from the Washington DC trip and
explore the implications of the comparative perspectives in their own public leadership and
cultural competence.
Course Objectives
1. Develop a better understanding of the cross-national and cross-cultural comparative
framework.
2. Reflect on experiences in both Vietnam and Korea using the comparative framework.
3. Consider implications of the cross-national and cross-cultural comparisons for the
development of public leadership and cultural competence.
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Revised and Posted Nov 3, 2012
Assigned Readings
1. Borrego, E. A., & Johnson, R. G. (2012). Cultural competence for public
managers : managing diversity in today's world. Boca Raton, FL: CRC
Press.
2. “Introduction” in Derr, C.B., Roussillon, S. & Bournois, F. Eds. (2002). CrossCultural Approaches to Leadership Development. Quorum Books, Connecticut.
Course Schedule
Below is the general course schedule. The content is subject to change.
Date /
Room
Saturday
November
10, 2012
Topics
Readings

Borrego & Johnson Part I
Vietnam and Korea trip reflections:
Lessons learned
Assignments
AM: Group discussion by trip group
URBN
250
PM: Presentation by each group

Implications of lessons learned
from the international trip in
becoming “culturally competent
public managers and leaders.”
(Masami and Marcus)
NOTE: During lunch time invited
speaker session (Amanda Fritz) for all
EMPA students and alumni.
D2L discussion
Saturday
November
17, 2012

Borrego & Johnson Part
II & III
Cultural competence for public
managers.
PM: 1:15~Guest speaker (Jack
Straton “Confronting 21st Century
Racism.")
Cramer 325
(Masami only; Marcus is teaching another
EMPA class.)
D2L discussion
Saturday
December
1, 2012
Cramer 325

Borrego & Johnson Part
IV & V
Derr, Roussillon &
Bournois,
“Introduction”
Public leadership and cultural
competence
 Guest speaker (TBD)
(Masami and Marcus)
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Revised and Posted Nov 3, 2012
Assignments
1. D2L Threaded discussion
There will be 4 discussion threads for the course. Two threads will be prepared for Nov 10 ~
Nov 17 period and 2 more threads will be prepared for Nov 17~ Dec 1 period. Students are
required to post at least 1 comment for each discussion thread (A total of 4 comments for the
course). Students are required to provide comments to one or more postings by other people (a
minimum of 4 comments for the course). The postings should be your thoughts, reactions and
questions to the discussions/ guest speaker presentation, and reading assignments for the
week.
Discussion Threads for Nov 10~Nov17
Thread 1) Provide your thoughts and reactions to the presentations/discussion on the
international field trip. What are the implications of the international field trip to your own
development as a culturally competent public manager and leader?
Thread 2) Provide your thoughts and reactions to Borrego & Johnson Part I, II & III.
Discussion Threads for Nov 17~December 1
Thread 3) Provide your thoughts and reactions to the guest speaker’s presentation.
What are you key take-aways? Any unanswered questions?
Thread 4) Provide your thoughts and reactions to Borrego & Johnson Part IV & V and
Derr, Roussillon & Bournois “Introduction”.
2. Final Paper
Develop your definition and concept of culturally competent leadership. Support your
argument with references from the literature. What are the key components of culturally
competent leadership? How would you assess the level of culturally competent
leadership of a person or an organization? Provide specific examples. What are the
action steps you would suggest to an individual and/or to an organization if they were to
further develop their level of cultural competent leadership?
The paper should be no longer than 20 pages1 (not including tables, charts and references),
double-spaced, 12-point font, formatted in either APA or Chicago style. Submit your paper
electronically using the e-mail function of D2L. Your papers should be a word document. Use
the following convention for your file name : “EMPA 510_Last name”.
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Note that this is not a minimum requirement. The paper can be much shorter than 20 pages, as long as
the required contents are covered.
3
Revised and Posted Nov 3, 2012
More instructions will be provided in class.
Grading Criteria
Participation and Class Assignments
Attendance and engagement in class sessions
D2L Discussion Thread Postings (5 points each for each
posting and comments on other people’s postings)
Final paper
Points
20
40
40
TOTAL
100
A = 93-100 points, A- = 90-92.9 points, B+ = 87-90.9 points, B = 83-86.9 points
B-=80-32.9 points, C+ = 77-79.9 points, C = 73-76.9 points, C- =70-72.9 points
D+=67-69.9 points, D=63-66.9 points, D-=60-62.9 points, F = below 60 points
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