PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION DEPARTMENT
FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY
COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES
(Section: RVC; Class Number: 20016)
PAF 4404: IT and E-government for Public Administration (3 units)
Spring 2009 Syllabus
Website: http://www.fiu.edu/~ganapati
Instructor
Office
Telephone
Email
Office hours
Sukumar Ganapati
PCA 363B, University Park Campus
(305) 348-6275
ganapati@fiu.edu
Wednesday. 3.00 pm to 6.00 pm;
[or By appointment]
Class hours
Location
Duration
Flexible, Online
FIU Online Course [http://online.fiu.edu]
January 5, 2009 to April 18, 2009
Catalog Description
Surveys personal and societal value assumptions in the context of the technological society.
Examines organizational societal value structures, and the ways in which technology creates
rapid change and new alternative in values. Interrelationship of the past, present, and future is
explored.
Course Objective
The main objective of the course is to introduce students to the technological impact on society
and its governance. Consistent with the catalog description, the course will explore how
information technology is changing societal values, personal and collective expectations, and
the governance structures. The manifest forms of e-government will be examined in this
context.
Educational Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the course, students should be able to:
 Identify different elements of information technology (IT)
 Identify the IT related issues in society and governance
 Identify e-government models
 Identify success and failure factors in implementing IT
Course Design
The course is designed to be delivered in two parts. The first part will deal with the uses and
impact of technology on society. In this, we will discuss how IT affects democracy. Scholars and
practitioners hope that IT will facilitate e-democracy, but there are also genuine concerns with
respect to privacy, security, and unequal technological access. The second part will deal with IT
and governance issues. In this, we will discuss how IT impacts governance structures, such as
the changing face of public sector organizations and different models of e-government. We shall
also delve on how public sector agencies can manage IT, and what factors lead to the success
or failure of adopting IT.
Course Requirements
Since this is a fully online course, students will be required to read through the online materials
on a weekly basis. We will cover one chapter from the textbook each week, with supplementary
materials. The supplementary materials are required to deal with the IT developments that are
happening at a very rapid pace. Materials will be posted online on Wednesday or Thursday.
There will be two tests, four quizzes, and two group discussions for the class. The first test will
be an essay paper, dealing with a question given separately. The second test will be short
answer questions dealing with topics covered in the class. The quizzes will be short multiple
choice questions based on the materials covered during the period of the quiz. The best three of
the four quizzes will be considered for grading purposes. The group discussion will entail online
discussion of topics related to each of the parts identified in the course design.
I am very unlikely to entertain requests for make-up exams or assignments unless it is
warranted due to compelling unforeseen circumstances. Further, there are no extra credits.
Unless otherwise important, I will respond to routine student emails principally on Wednesdays
and Thursdays.
Test schedule and weightage
First Test (Essay Paper)
Second Test (Short answer questions)
Quizzes (4, take best 3)
Group Discussion
25 Feb 2009
22 Apr 2009
Total
Grade Distribution
A: 92 or more
A-: 88 to 91
25 points
25 points
30 points
20 points
100 points
B+: 84 to 87
B: 80 to 83
B-: 76 to 79
C+: 72 to 75
C: 68 to 71
C-: 64 to 67
D+: 60 to 63
D: 56 to 59
D-: 52 to 55
Text
The following textbook is required for the course:
Garson, G. D. (2006) Public Information Technology and E-Governance: Managing the Virtual
State. Jones and Bartlett Publishers.
The book is a bit expensive ($77.95). However, I will be using the entire book, as reflected in the
reading list. Hence, I hope you find it to be your money’s worth.
Additional weblinks are given on class website.
Schedule of Readings
(Based on 1 week cycle, beginning Wednesday)
1/7/2009
Introduction
Chapter 1: The Vision of E-Governance
1/14/2009
The Technology in IT
Chapter 2: A Brief History of Public-Sector Information
Technology Policy
1/21/2009
Does IT promote democracy?
Chapter 3. E-Democracy
1/28/2009
Digital Divide
Chapter 4. Information Equality and the Digital Divide
2/4/2009
Transparency and Accountability
Chapter 5. Information Access and Governmental Transparency
2/11/2009
IT Privacy issues
Chapter 6. Information Technology and Privacy
2/18/2009
IT Security Issues
Chapter 7. Security Policy
2/25/2009
IT Regulation
Chapter 8. Regulation and Taxation Issues
3/4/2009
IT’s impact on organizations
Chapter 15. Public Information Technology. Organization
Behavior, and Organization Theory
3/11/2009
IT Outsourcing
Chapter 10. Partnering, Outsourcing, Contracting, and
Procurement
3/18/2009
Spring Break
3/25/2009
E-government models
Chapter 9. The E-Government Business Model
4/1/2009
Managing IT
Chapter 11. Planning for Public Information Systems
Chapter 12. Needs Assessment and Project Management
4/8/2009
Factors affecting IT implementation
Chapter 13. Implementation Success Factors
4/15/2009
Evaluating IT implementation
Chapter 14. Evaluation of Public Information Systems
4/22/09
Second test due
First test
introduced
Initiate Group
Discussion 1
End Group
Discussion 1
First test due
Initiate Group
Discussion 2
End Group
Discussion 2
Statement on plagiarism
Plagiarism is the representation of another person's words, ideas, and creative work in
general as one's own. This misrepresentation is a breach of ethics that seriously compromises a
person’s reputation. Professional careers have been ruined by revelations of plagiarism. To avoid
plagiarism, researchers and professionals in public, private, or nonprofit organizations must
scrupulously give credit whenever they use another person’s idea, opinion, theory, written or
spoken words, as well as any facts, statistics, graphs, drawings—any pieces of information—that
are not common knowledge. The following rules should be observed to make sure that the
distinction between one's own words, ideas or work, and those of others is justly maintained.
1. Put in quotations everything that comes directly from the text of another’s work,
especially when taking notes.
2. Alternatively, you can paraphrase another person’s work, but be sure you are not just
rearranging or replacing a few words. A good strategy is to (1) read over what you want to
paraphrase carefully, (2) cover up the text with your hand, (3) write out the idea in your own
words without peeking, and (4) check your paraphrase against the original text to be sure you
have not accidentally used the same phrases or words, and that the information is accurate.
3. Whether you quote, paraphrase or otherwise borrow another’s work, always cite or
indicate the source of the information, and provide references following one of the many
accepted styles or formats.
4. Common knowledge such as George Washington’s date of birth or the meaning of OLS
regression need not be quoted, cited, or referenced. However, borrowing another’s original or
creative presentation of common knowledge should follow the abovementioned rules. When in
doubt, follow the rules.
Of course, submitting a paper that is completely the work of another person is plagiarism in
its most extreme form. A student who plagiarizes all or part of an assignment can expect severe
cumulative penalties, ranging from failure in the course to expulsion from the university, with an
annotation of the sanction received on the student’s transcript.
Statement on academic misconduct
Florida International University is a community dedicated to generating and imparting
knowledge through excellent teaching and research, the rigorous and respectful exchange of
ideas, and community service. All students should respect the right of others to have an equitable
opportunity to learn and honestly to demonstrate the quality of their learning. Therefore, all
students are expected to adhere to a standard of academic conduct, which demonstrates respect
for themselves, their fellow students, and the educational mission of the University. All students
are deemed by the University to understand that if they are found responsible for academic
misconduct, they will be subject to the Academic Misconduct procedures and sanctions, as
outlined in the Student Handbook.