Your final research paper will be based
on a topic of your choice. You may use some of the readings assigned in the
class and expand on a particular topic.
In order to complete this task, you will need to write the first half of your
final paper. To be successful, a minimum of five (5) pages of substantive
content for your final paper must be submitted in APA format.
Research paper topic: Organizational
Culture
Category: Public administration
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“Exploring Organizational Culture: Understanding its Impact on Employee Behavior and Organizational Success”
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“Exploring the Current State of Knowledge on (Policy Issue): A Literature Review”
Review:
Review the rubric for this assignment below.
Review the Example Capstone Literature Review.Download Example Capstone Literature Review.
Research: Conduct a review of peer-reviewed academic research (the literature) that relates to your policy issue. You will need to include at least 8 academic peer-reviewed journal articles in this submission. The sources you include should demonstrate you have synthesized a critical mass of scholarly research. The peer-reviewed articles you submitted in Literature Review Prep can (and should) be part of this submission, if appropriate. Analyze and synthesize all of your sources to identify the current state of knowledge on issues related to your policy.
Consider key themes, major debates, gaps, overlaps, and areas where further research is needed.
Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of existing studies.
Identify the research findings from each study.
Tip: Use Franklin’s LibraryLinks to an external site. for your research. Consider visiting the Franklin MPA LibguideLinks to an external site. for a list of public administration academic journals. You are also encouraged to use:
Google Scholar Button:Links to an external site. Install the Scholar button to look up papers as you browse research.
Libkey Nomad:Links to an external site. LibKey Nomad is a browser plugin you can use to access scholarly articles you find on publisher websites for free using your Franklin University Library account.
Unpaywall:Links to an external site. This site collects Open Access content from publishers and repositories, making it easier for you to find articles. Download the browser extension to find articles as you browse.
Compose: Draft your submission using the subheadings below.
Title Page: Include an APA-formatted title page with an updated version of your working title.
Introduction:
Begin with a mini-introduction paragraph that serves as a roadmap for your literature review.
Outline the structure you are using, subtopics, categories of research perspectives, and/or themes that you will cover.
Include the high-level insights you have noticed about the research you’ve discovered.
Finally, address what will not be included in your literature review to establish boundaries for your work.
Suggestion: Write the introduction after you completed writing the literature review.
Literature Review: Organize your academic journal articles by category or theme.
Use a subheading to identify each theme.
Within each theme, present research articles chronologically by publication date.
Present the progression of the research as you would recounting a conversation among scholars.
Summarize the studies, highlight the research findings, point to where scholars agree and disagree, and mention what areas have yet to be explored.
Conclusion: Summarize your high-level insights about the current state of knowledge on your chosen policy issue.
References: Include all and only the sources you used to inform your writing. Must be in APA format. Use the APA Resources provided above
Polish:
Word Count: Your submission should fall between 1500 to 3500 words, including the title page and References. Be sure you adhere to this word count.
Format: Papers must conform to American Psychological Association (APA)Links to an external site. formatting standards. Use the APA Resources provided above.
Editing and Flow: Your submission should reflect a careful editing process and demonstrate your best graduate-level writing and critical analysis. Sections should be woven together in a logical and cohesive way using topic sentences, fully developed paragraphs, transition sentences, and properly formatted subheadings.
Turnitin: Submit the completed first draft of your Word document. Your work will automatically be checked by Turnitin. Access your Turnitin report by reviewing your Submission Details for this assignment. Revise your work if needed based on the feedback.
Submit: By the due date indicated, submit the final version of your work. -
“Crafting an Effective Introduction and Background for Your Master’s Thesis in Public Administration” “Methodology for Qualitative Analysis of Secondary Data in Public Administration Research”
InstructionSheet:Chapter1-Introduction/ProblemStatement Objective: The purpose of this instruction sheet is to guide you in writing an effective introduction and problem statement for your Master′s thesis in Public Administration. This chapter sets the stage for your research by providing an overview of the problem, its significance, and the research question you aim to address. Instructions: 1. Contextualize the Problem: • Begin by providing background information on the broader context in which the problem exists. Explain why it is important to study this problem within the field of Public Administration. • Identify any key trends, events, or policy changes that have contributed to the emergence or relevance of the problem. 2. Define the Problem: • Clearly define the specific problem or research question your thesis aims to address. Be precise and concise in formulating the problem statement. • Consider using statistics, data, or real-world examples to illustrate the significance and urgency of the problem. 3. Significance of the Problem: • Discuss why it is essential to investigate this problem. Explain its potential impact on public administration theory, practice, or policymaking. • Highlight any gaps in existing knowledge or previous research that your study aims to fill. 4. Research Objectives: • Clearly state the main objectives of your research. These objectives should align with the problem statement and guide your study. • Outline the specific questions you seek to answer or the hypotheses you aim to test. 5. Scope and Limitations: • Define the boundaries and scope of your research. Explain what aspects of the problem you will focus on and what aspects you will exclude. • Discuss any potential limitations or challenges that may affect the validity or generalizability of your findings. 6 6. Structure of the Thesis: • Provide an overview of how your thesis is organized. Briefly describe the subsequent chapters and explain how they contribute to addressing the research problem. 7. Referencing: • Throughout the introduction, include references to relevant literature, theories, or empirical studies to support your statements and provide context. • Use proper citation and referencing techniques following the APA style guide. Remember, the introduction and problem statement should capture the reader′s attention, provide a clear understanding of the problem, and justify the importance of your research. The chapter should be well-structured, concise, and supported by relevant sources. 7 4. InstructionSheet: Chapter2-Background Objective: The purpose of this instruction sheet is to guide you in writing an effective background chapter for your Master′s thesis in Public Administration. The background chapter provides a comprehensive overview of the historical context, the policy under analysis (in the case of policy analysis), or a thorough presentation of the research problem without overlapping the literature review that follows. Instructions: 1. Historical Context: • If you choose to focus on the historical context, provide a detailed account of the historical developments, events, and factors that are relevant to your research topic. • Discuss the historical evolution of the problem, policy, or phenomenon you are studying within the field of Public Administration. • Analyze the historical trends, changes, or reforms that have influenced the development of the topic and its current significance. 2. Policy Analysis (if applicable): • If you choose to analyze a specific policy, provide a comprehensive overview of the policy itself. Explain its objectives, scope, implementation, and impact. • Identify the key stakeholders, institutions, and actors involved in the policy- making process. • Discuss the historical background and rationale behind the policy, including any major policy shifts, reforms, or controversies associated with it. • Analyze the policy′s intended goals and assess its effectiveness in achieving them. 3. In-depth Presentation of the Research Problem: • If you choose to present an in-depth analysis of the research problem, provide a comprehensive overview of the problem′s context, scope, and significance. • Clearly define the research problem and explain why it is important to study it within the field of Public Administration. • Identify the key factors, trends, or challenges associated with the research problem and discuss their implications. 8 4. Conceptual Framework • If you have developed a conceptual framework, briefly introduce it in this chapter. Provide an overview of the main concepts, variables, and relationships within the framework. • Explain how the conceptual framework aligns with the research problem and contributes to understanding it. • However, avoid providing an in-depth discussion of the conceptual framework, as it will be covered in detail in a separate chapter. 5. Referencing: • Throughout the chapter, include references to relevant literature, historical documents, policy documents, or scholarly sources to support your statements and provide context. • Use proper citation and referencing techniques following the APA style guide. Remember, the background chapter sets the stage for your research by providing the necessary context and understanding of the historical developments, policy under analysis, or the research problem itself. Choose one of the three approaches based on your research focus. Present a well-structured, concise, and supported chapter that provides the necessary background information to comprehend the significance and relevance of your study in the field of Public Administration 3. bjective: The purpose of this instruction sheet is to guide you in developing the methodology chapter for your Master′s thesis in Public Administration. The focus will be on using a qualitative analysis approach with secondary data. You will present your methodology for source identification in the scientific literature in a transparent manner, including the specific search engines used and how they were employed. Additionally, you will outline your process of paring down or narrowing down, which involves applying criteria and filters to reduce the number of articles for analysis. You will also address the selection criteria for non-scientific sources, clearly listing them separately as they should be limited in number. Finally, you will include a paragraph identifying the themes that will serve as headers in the literature review chapter and emphasize the use of sources to inform readers about the state-of-the-art methods employed in qualitative analysis of secondary data. Ensure the methodology chapter explains the analytical strategies involved in analyzing secondary data qualitatively.
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“Improving Performance Management, Retention, and Market Equity: A Case Study of Deloitte, Shek Inc., and Zenyah”
Case Discussion Questions 1
Which aspects of Deloitte’s new performance management system do you find most radical?
If you were a manager at Deloitte, how would you have reacted to such a system? Would your answer change if you were an employee?
What are your thoughts regarding measuring performance with four simple questions? Do you think these are the right questions? How would you know if a particular question is effective?
How would you motivate managers to conduct frequent check-in meetings with employees? How would you counter the argument that these meetings take a lot of time?
How transparent is this system? Do you think Deloitte’s decision not to share individual ratings with employees is warranted?
Click to learn more …
Read the Deloitte University Press report titled “Performance Management Is Broken: Replace ‘Rank and Yank’ With Coaching and Development.”
https://dupress.deloitte.com/dup-us-en/focus/human-capital-trends/2014/hc-trends-2014-performance-management.html
Case Discussion Questions 2
Exercise 10.2: Creating a Retention Management System
You are working at Shek, Inc., an organization providing private and group surfing and scuba diving lessons, adventure tours, and rental services to tourists in Hawaii. Your company has around 200 employees consisting of instructors, sales, marketing, and office personnel. The company has an annual turnover rate of 80%, which you suspect is too high.
Questions
How would you assess why employees are leaving? After you choose your method of measurement (survey, interviews), develop questions to include in your instrument. How would you analyze the data to identify the top reasons for employee departures?
Let’s assume that you found out the following top three reasons for turnover in this company:
Management is very authoritarian and not supportive of employees.
Employee schedules vary a lot and often are announced with very short notice.
Employees feel they are working all the time with little downtime.
Case Discussion Questions 3
Exercise 11.2: Conducting a Market Review
A video game company named Zenyah with 8,000 employees recently hired your consulting firm to develop a more externally equitable pay structure. Zenyah began as a start-up 10 years ago and has grown very rapidly ever since. Lately, the company has been having difficulty recruiting and selecting talented candidates for key software development, marketing, and sales jobs, which is likely due to the external labor shortage for individuals qualified for those jobs. As such, Zenyah has asked your consulting firm to conduct a market review for the following benchmark jobs:
Computer programmer
Systems software developer
Applications software developer
Market research analyst
Marketing manager
Advertising sales agent
Advertising and promotions manager
Sales representative
As part of the contract, Zenyah has requested that your consulting firm conduct new job analyses on the benchmark jobs, as it suspects that the job descriptions are out of date and inaccurate. As a starting point, you decide to use O*NET (ONETonline.org) to draft initial job description summaries that you can use to compare to the job description summaries that appear in the market review sources.
Questions
Using O*NET, write three- to five-sentence job description summaries for each benchmark job.
Using Salary.com and CareerOneStop.com as free market review sources, gather pay data for as many of the benchmark jobs as you can, and enter the data into a table. Be sure to match the job description summaries you created for Zenyah with the job description summaries in the market review sources to ensure you are making an appropriate comparison. -
“Protecting Free Speech Rights for Public Employees: A Case Analysis of Bennett v. Metro. Gov’t of Nashville & Davidson County”
There is no minimum or maximum page count required for this assignment. The last one was 4-6 pages
Using the case attached and at least two outside sources:
Briefly describe the facts of the case leading up to Bennett being terminated. While supporting facts are necessary for the story to flow, you should concentrate your efforts on the facts that are most important related to whether Bennett was retaliated against for protected First Amendment speech. Using this case and at least two outside sources, thoroughly explain the balance between the public employee’s freedom of speech and the public employer’s right to require limits to that speech. Explain what this case tells us about the public employee’s rights related to free speech. Finally, this case mentions the due process rights HCC afforded Bennett. Using our readings, explain why public employees like Bennett are afforded due process, where that requirement comes from, and what is generally considered adequate due process. Your paper should be double spaced with one 1” margins. There is no minimum or maximum page count. Your grade will be based on how well you explain the concepts and not how long or short your paper is. A complete and concise addressing of the points is welcome. Your reader should not need to be familiar with the case of have an advanced understanding of the law understand the principles you explain in your paper.
You should use the points to be addressed as headers in your paper.
Facts of the case
Balancing of First Amendment rights
What this case tells us
Due process for public employees Case Link: Bennett v. Metro. Gov’t of Nashville & Davidson
https://learn.umgc.edu/d2l/common/viewFile.d2lfile/Database/ODg3NDUxNDY/Bennett%20v.%20Metro.%20Gov%27t%20of%20Nashville%20_%20Davidson%20Cnty.%20(6th%20Cir.%202020).pdf?ou=1032573 -
“Political Economy in Public Administration: An Integrated Analysis of Democratic Processes and Market Systems” “Balancing the Scales: Examining Galbraith’s Theory of Social Balance, Critiques of U.S. Monopoly Capitalism, the Swedish Model of Social Democracy, and the Mondragón Cooperative as Forms of Economic and Social Governance
Integrated Analysis of Political Economy in Public Administration
Description:
For this final project, you will create a PowerPoint presentation with a minimum of 15 slides, synthesizing the key concepts from Modules 5-6 and relating them to the overall Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs) of our course. The presentation should demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the political economy’s role in public administration, incorporating analyses of different economic and political models, as well as their real-world applications.
Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs) Addressed:
Evaluate the concept of political economy in the context of public administration.
Assess various political structures and their influences on public administration.
Analyze market structures, failures, and bureaucratic challenges.
Critique free market and planned economy concepts within the scope of democratic values.
Debate governance models in public management.
Appraise privatization and public/private partnerships in U.S. public administration.
Instructions:
Develop a PowerPoint presentation with at least 15 slides. Each slide should focus on a specific concept or case study and provide in-depth analysis and reflection.
Include a voice-over or video recording for each slide lasting between 30 seconds and 1 minute, clearly articulating the content and your analysis.
Ensure the presentation is structured logically, with an introduction, body, and conclusion.
Incorporate insights from the course’s entire curriculum, emphasizing Modules 5-6.
Use graphics, charts, and other visual aids to enhance the presentation’s effectiveness.
Adhere to professional presentation standards with clear and concise slides free of clutter.
Cite all sources in APA style, both on the slides and in the accompanying speaker notes.
Submission:
The PowerPoint file with embedded audio or video files must be submitted through Canvas.
Late submissions will incur a penalty per the course policy, except under extraordinary circumstances with documented evidence.
Grading Criteria (500 points total):
Content (200 points)
Coverage of SLOs (100 points): Comprehensive and clear coverage of the course SLOs.
Depth of Analysis (50 points): Critical examination of political economy concepts and their application.
Integration of Modules (50 points): The integration of the content from Modules into the overall presentation is effective.
Presentation Design (100 points)
Visual Clarity and Appeal (50 points): Use of visuals that effectively complement and enhance the spoken content.
Organization (50 points): Logical sequence and coherent flow from slide to slide.
Delivery (100 points)
Clarity of Voice-over/Video (50 points): Clear articulation, pacing, and audibility in recordings.
Engagement and Presentation Skills (50 points): Ability to engage the audience and present information compellingly.
Research and Citation (50 points)
Accuracy of APA Citations (25 points): The slides and speaker notes should use the correct APA citation format.
Quality of Sources (25 points): Utilization of credible and relevant sources to support the presentation content.
Technical Execution (50 points)
Audio/Video Quality (25 points): High-quality audio and video recordings without technical issues.
Slide Functionality (25 points): Slides and multimedia elements function as intended without errors.
Total: 500 points
****TEXTBOOK****
TEXTBOOK WEBSITE: https://archive.org/details/introductiontopo0008edisack_y5r0
Email/username: Elizabeth.russell0101
Password: 2ESBu!JcfKx!EY4
TO READ BOOK CLICK BORROW FOR 1 HOUR (can only read book in 1-hour increments)
NOTES FROM THIS WEEK’S LESSON
Weeks 5-6 Notes
Democratic Processes and Market Systems in Public Administration
Module 3 of this course explores the interplay between democratic processes and market systems, examining diverse economic models and their implications for governance and public administration. This section will cover critical theorists and financial models, including Galbraith’s theory of social balance, critiques of U.S. monopoly capitalism, the Swedish model of social democracy, and the Mondragón cooperative as a form of worker democracy.
John Kenneth Galbraith and the Theory of Social Balance
John KeGalbraith’s work emphasizes the need for balance between different sectors of the economy to achieve social and economic stability. In his discussions on the social balance theory, Galbraith argues that public policy should aim to balance the power of different economic groups to prevent any one group from dominating the socio-economic landscape. This perspective is crucial for public administrators who must navigate the complexities of financial interests and power dynamics in policy formulation and implementation.
U.S. Monopoly Capitalism: An Irrational System?
This module segment examines critical perspectives on U.S. monopoly capitalism, questioning its rationality and sustainability. The critique focuses on the concentration of economic power within a small number of large corporations and its adverse effects on competition and economic equity. Understanding these dynamics is vital for public administrators involved in regulation and policy-making aimed at fostering competitive markets and preventing monopolistic practices.
The Middle Way: Swedish Social Democracy
Swedish social democracy, often called” the “Middle” Way,” balances market capitalism with strong social welfare policies. This model demonstrates how government intervention can coexist with a market-based economy to promote social welfare, economic stability, and equality. The Swedish example provides valuable lessons for public administration students on the potential of social democratic policies to mitigate the harsher aspects of capitalism while promoting economic growth and social welfare.
The Mondragón Cooperative: A Path to Worker Democracy
The Mondragón Cooperative in Spain represents a unique model of worker democracy within a capitalist framework. As one of the largest cooperatives in the world, Mondragón is organized around democratic principles that allow workers to have a say in the management of the enterprise, share profits, and make decisions. This model presents an alternative approach to traditional capitalist enterprises by emphasizing worker ownership and participation, offering insights into the possibilities of democratic governance in business practices.
Due: End of Week 6
PRESENTATION: Students are required to present a comprehensive review of the political economy in public administration, incorporating the theories and models discussed throughout the course.
****I attached two previous essays written for this class to help pull ideas from*** -
Resource Dependency Theory and Organization Survival in Public Management Resource Dependency Theory and Its Implications for Organizational Survival in Public Management: A Critical Analysis of Boin et al.’s Research
What does a resource dependency theorist say about organization survival? Arjen Boin and his colleagues challenge the idea that organizational adaptation always matters to organizational survival. What is the basis for their claim? What implications might their research have to a public manger attempting to overcome organizational turbulence? In your answer provide existing examples. Make sure to include the main scholars associated with the literature.
Use resource
Title: Understanding and Managing Public Organizations
Author: Hal G. Rainey, Sergio Fernandez, Deanna Malatesta
Rainey: Chapter Three: What Makes Public Organizations Distinct
Rainey: Chapter Four: Analyzing the Environment of Public Organizations
Rainey: Chapter Five: The Impact of Political Power and Public Policy
https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=buh&AN=124968554&site=eds-live&authtype=sso&custid=083-900 -
“Enhancing Student Engagement at John Jay College: A Mini Logic Model”
Attached Files:
civic-engagement-logic-model.pdf
civic-engagement-logic-model.pdf – Alternative Formats
(167.907 KB)
Example student 1
Example student 1 – Alternative Formats
(118.052 KB)
Example student 2
Example student 2 – Alternative Formats
(76.502 KB)
After thoroughly reviewing the assigned
course materials and going through the PowerPoint presentation, please
take a moment to examine the attached logic model for the University of
Nevada. This model illustrates a “democratic civic engagement logic
model,” which aligns with the topics we’ve covered in our class.
Your assignment is to create a mini
logic model (use the attached example) to enhance student engagement,
specifically at John Jay College. You can select any facet of student
engagement, whether it’s extracurricular workshops for career
development, establishing a student center providing tutoring services,
or creating a counseling center to support students during challenging
times.
In your mini logic model, incorporate at
least four essential elements for each category: input, outputs
(activities and participation), and outcomes (short-term, medium-term,
and long-term). -
Title: Comprehensive Analysis of the NYPD Law Enforcement Explorers Program
Selection of Agency and Program
Choose a government agency from New York City, which you can find listed at NYC.gov. Alternatively, you can select a government agency and program beyond New York City.
I must approve your choice of agency and program, Professor Morote, no later than November 6, 2023.
Step Two: Agency and Program Description
• In your paper, describe the selected agency and program comprehensively.
Step Three: Mission Statement
• If a misions lemen Misiony exam ant, es ate ofe aty shag is eysationa an. EXplin in the lecture otes for the ninth discussion board, ema gunding framework.
Step Four: Logic Model
• Develop a Logic Model tailored to the selected program. This model should illustrate the program’s inputs, actilities, outputs, outcomes, and goals.
Step Five: Performance Measurement Indicators
• Create a set of performance measurement indicators that align with the Logic Model you’ve constructed. These indicators should effectively measure and evaluate the program’s performance.
Examples of NYC Government Agency Programs:
NYPD: Law Enforcement Explorers
HRA: Special One-Time Assistance (SOTA)
DFTA: Senior Citizen Rent Increase (SCRIE) -
“Advantages of Qualitative Research in Public Administration: A Biblical Perspective” “Exploring the Human Experience in Public Administration: The Value of Qualitative Research and a Biblical-Covenantal Perspective”
Instructions
In at least 300 words, reply to the original poster. You must use at least two scholarly journals to support your response. You must also use at least one reference from the New International Version Bible. All citations must be in APA 7th Edition format with both in-text citations and a References page. If citations are from a book, the page number must be included. Journals must be from within the past 5 years. You must also use the attached text as a reference.
FYI…In the replies, many students do not analyze other students’ comments. Remember, you should write about the other student’s comments; that is, the good and bad points. Don’t just say you agree and tell the other student your opinion or just ask questions; that’s not sufficient. Look at several of their comments; list them in your reply, for context, and then critique them. I.e.: I agree that on this point…; however, I disagree that it should be… On the other hand, you said that…, and, while I agree on part of that, I believe a better way… That’s analysis. Again, don’t simply tell them your opinions, as that is the biggest problem I see. Listing their comments is also important so that it gives a better understanding of what you are saying, according to the context of the comments.
Prompt
Public administrators conduct research to plan, solve problems, and support their decisions. They must collect data to support these tasks and other courses of action. Unfortunately, the literature indicates that these public administrators mostly use quantitative methods. What can qualitative research offer than quantitative methods cannot offer to support these public administration tasks?
Original Poster (Christopher Arnold)
Scholars concur that qualitative research methods in public administration fulfill a valuable role yet are underrepresented as an approach within the overall body of academic literature (Ospina et al., 2018). Despite the wide range of perspectives, theories, ontologies, and methods, purely qualitative methods have been perceived as a niche and, more so, have served as a buttress for quantitative data in mixed methods inquiries (Ospina et al., 2018). Yet qualitative research methods informed by a biblical-covenantal worldview offer several advantages to public administration researchers over quantitative methods, particularly in support of practical, real-world applications (Lune & Berg, 2017).
1 Thessalonians 5:21 instructs us to test all things and hold fast to that which is good. This suggests that as public administration researchers, we should seek to understand the cultural, economic, political, and social context of public administration tasks to support data-driven decision-making and problem-solving (Lune & Berg, 2017).
For example, in the study of federalism and intergovernmental relations, where power is shared between various agencies across executive, legislative, and judicial branches at one or more layers of government, a purely quantitative approach is overly reductive, since quantifying outputs into zeros and ones does not help qualify the outcomes and the impacts of policymaking (O’Toole, 1990). Qualitative methods, on the other hand, provide a nuanced understanding of the dynamics between stakeholders, including elected officials, public administrators, and special interest groups, elucidate the inputs that influence the outcomes, and enable program evaluation of the implementation of policies to identify the factors which facilitate or hinder effective governance and stewardship (Lune & Berg, 2017).
These methods also become useful in defining unintended consequences, which aids in designing more effective and responsive policies (Stout, 2013). Romans 13:1 means that every person should be subject to the governing authorities. Paul’s was underpinned by the message that while we are obligated to obey, we should not do so unquestioningly, particularly when the actions of the government of, by, and for the people conflict with a higher moral duty (Ingram et al., 2003).
Qualitative research methods provide the ways and means to explore these phenomena and explore the human experience with public administration, something numerical data cannot provide (Lune & Berg, 2017). “For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him?” (1 Corinthians 2:11). Public administration researchers pursue knowledge not merely for the sake of knowledge but to gain wisdom and positively affect the policies, programs and services their system of government seeks to provide (Stout, 2013).
The tasks that comprise intergovernmental affairs, intergovernmental relations, and intergovernmental management, existing within a larger ethical framework, may impact different communities differently (Bolleyer, 2011). While the numbers may indicate a policy is adhering to program requirements or meeting a certain bottom-line policy goal, qualitative review can make policymaking more flexible and responsive by understanding how these tasks are experienced and perceived (Lune & Berg, 2017).
As the saying goes, perception is reality; various epistemologies argue that reality is reality (Rocheleau, 1986). How that reality is shaped varies from school to school (Ospina et al., 2018). “Then said Pilate unto him, ‘What is truth?’” (John 18:38). Romans 10:12 illustrated how earthly distinctions are meaningless to the heavenly father, and all who call upon him shall abound in riches. Transformative leaders seek to bridge this divide and address structural inequalities to promote equitable governance (Fischer, 2010). This is evocative of the covenantal duty or obligation between public administrators and those they govern, with their consent (Fischer, 2017).
Thus, seeing beyond the numbers can be said to help researchers understand the often subjective realities of the individuals and communities impacted by public administration (Stout, 2013). When insights from a Christian worldview and a biblical-covenantal perspective are incorporated, policymaking not only becomes more effective, but more just (Fischer, 2017). Transformation is enabled through servant leadership and the performance of stewardship, which reflects the experiences and needs of all individuals and organizations in the communities with a single set of values (Fischer, 2010). Recognizing these advantages, universities providing instruction in public administration research have made great strides in incorporating instruction in qualitative methods into their mandatory curricula (Stout, 2013). “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’” (Matthew 25:40).
Word Count: 897
References
Bolleyer, N. (2011). The influence of political parties on policy coordination. Governance, 24(3),
469-494.
Fischer, K. (2010). A biblical-covenantal perspective on organizational behavior & leadership,
Faculty Publications and Presentations, 523.
Fischer, K. J. (2017). The power of the covenant idea for leadership, reform, and ethical
behavior. The Journal of Values-Based Leadership, 10(2), 13.
Ingram, T. N., LaForge, R. W., Avila, R. A., Schwepker Jr, C. H., & Williams, M. R. (2003).
Government: A Public Administration Perspective. ME Sharpe.
Lune, H., & Berg, B.L. (2017). Qualitative research methods for the social sciences, 9th.
Pearson.
Ospina, S. M., Esteve, M., & Lee, S. (2018). Assessing qualitative studies in public
administration research. Public Administration Review, 78(4), 593-605.
O’Toole Jr., L.J. (1990). Theoretical developments in public administration: Implications for
the study of federalism. Governance 3(4), 394-415.
Rocheleau, B. (1986). Public perception of program effectiveness and worth: A
review. Evaluation and Program Planning, 9(1), 31-37.
Stout, M. (2013). Preparing public administration scholars for qualitative inquiry: A status
report. Public Administration Research, 2(1), 11.