SAMPLE OUTLINE
PADM 436 CRN(s): 1242 1333 (Online)
Policy-Making
Process
Term: Summer, 2007
Instructor: Robert C. Zinke, Ph.D.
Phone: (509) 979-6624
Email: zinker@earthlink.net
Term Dates: June 4, 2007 – August 12, 2007
Course Description
This course examines the ways in which policies are
formulated and implemented in public and private sector bureaucracies. The course will examine various components of
the policy making process, and it will focus on the diverse roles of interest groups, media and
constituencies, who seek to set the policy making agenda of public and private
organizations. The role of policy
experts and administrative actors in policy making and policy implementation will
also be examined.
Course Objectives:
This course has three main
purposes:
1) To introduce
key concepts and models of public policy making as they relate to the theory
and practice of public administration and organizational management;
2) To strengthen
academic and interpretive skills needed by individuals to function as effective
participants in the policy making process, and
3) To develop
appropriate thinking skills needed to critically assess and evaluate
institutional performance in the larger political, cultural and socioeconomic
environments of public and private sector organizations as they seek to
implement public policies.
Expected Course Outcomes
It is expected that at the
end of this course the student will be able to:
1) Understand the various models and theories of
policy making that are used by public and private sector organizations to
formulate decisions and implement those decisions within their domains.
2) Function more
effectively as participants in policy and decision making processes within
public and private organizations.
3) Critically assess
the way policies are made in the organizations in which they work and identify
alternative policy making models that will change or improve organizational
decision making.
4) Participate more fully as citizens rather
than mere residents in the public and private decision making processes.
Changes:
Please note that
modifications of this syllabus may be made at any time at the professor’s
discretion.
Course Text and Materials
Required
Dye, Thomas R. Understanding
Public Policy. 12th Edition. (Prentice Hall, 2008) ISBN: 0130260088
Kingdon, John W. Agendas,
Alternatives, and Public Policies. 2nd Edition.
(Addison-Wesley Pub Co,1997) ISBN: 0673523896
Suggested
Please see the bibliographies listed at the end of
the various chapters in Dye, Understanding
Public Policy. Also, please see the
following:
Mahood, H.R. Interest Groups in American National
Politics: An Overview.
Box, Richard C.
Citizen Governance: Leading
American Communities into the 21st Century.
Theodoulou, Stella Z., and Cahn,
Matthew A. Public
Policy: The Essential
Course Requirements
1. Read all assigned
materials for each class session.
2. Fully participate in Threaded Discussion
Forums.
3. Open the Folder
for each week under Assignments and follow the directions contained therein.
Assessment Criteria (Assignment Descriptions Follow)
·
Discussion Forums 35%
·
Individual Assignments 35%
·
Mid-Term Examination 15%
·
Final Manifestation 15%
·
Virtual Chat 5% (Extra Credit)
Discussion Forum 35%
On selected weeks during
the term, you will be asked to enter the Discussion Board and respond to the
question(s) raised and participate in the Discussion Forums. Please note that
you have a week, from Monday – Sunday. For example, for Week 1, you will have
from 6/4-6/10 to complete and participate in the Forum. Every Monday, grades
will be assigned for the previous week’s entries. No grades will be given for
responses/participation after midnight on Sunday of the respective weeks. A
complete entry consists of your own written response to the question raised, as
well as a fully engaged response to the comments of other students. Please respond to the question, and pay
attention to announcements for direction and/or instructions on this method of
interaction.
Individual Assignments
There are a total of 4
individual assignments. The lengths of various papers are specified. Some of these assignments will involve
personal reflection and observation of local policy making processes.
Assignment
1 (40% of Assignments Grade) –
During the next 10 weeks, make at least 2 visits to a city council or a county
commissioner/freeholder meeting in the jurisdiction in which you reside. Based on what you observe and experience,
write a 4-5 page answer to the following question: In terms of policy making
and policy influence, what is the difference between acting as a ‘citizen’ and
acting as a ‘resident’? (This assignment is due, Friday, August
3, 2007.)
Assignment
2 (20% of Assignments Grade) –
In no less than 1 and no more than 2 pages, describe a decision that you had to
make for yourself or for your work. What
was the model of decision making that most closely resembled how you made your
decision? Due: Friday, June 22
Assignment 3 (20% of Assignments Grade) – To what organization(s) do you belong that seek to
influence public policy in the federal, state, or local policy arenas? How do they seek to influence policy making
and for what ends or goals? (No less
than 1, no more than 2 pages) Due:
Friday, July 6.
Assignment
4 (20% of Assignments Grade) -
In the next few weeks, we will be looking at various policy issues/problems
covered in the Dye text. Choose one of
these issues/problems and identify 2 web sites that deal with the issue/problem
in that chapter. Critique the sites by
answering the following questions for each site: 1.) What
is the stated mission or objective of the site?
2.) To whom is the site addressed (which groups or policy makers)? 3.)
What policy position does the site seek to advocate or address? 4.)
What underlying political or organizational bias does the site reflect, if any? (2-3 pages)
This assignment is due Monday, August
6.
Mid-Term Examination
15%
There will be a mid-term
examination in the 6th week, due no
later than Sunday, July 14, 2005. This is an open book examination that
includes short-answer definitions and essay type responses to questions
covering assigned readings up to the end
of week 5.
Final Manifestation 15%
Two
weeks before the end of the quarter, students will receive questions to be
answered in a “Final Manifestation” paper, Due
Friday, August 10. This
will be a series of 5 or 6 questions, for which you will be required to answer
one of the questions, and you will be given a choice of 2 other questions. This might feel like a ‘final exam’ but it is
intended as an opportunity for you to integrate the class materials, the forum
discussions, the assignments, and your experiences in the course.
Participation —Virtual
Chat Room 5% (Extra Credit)
Please note that student
will be required to sign into the chat room and participate in at least 2 real-time
discussions. When we get together to chat, it is important to remember that we
are involved in a collaborative effort to discuss the progress of the course,
potential course-related issues or problems that students are dealing with, and
suggestions for improving the delivery of the course. During the first two weeks of the term, a
regular, weekly time period will be established which is most convenient for
students and the instructor. It is
expected that the length of the weekly chats will be at least 30-45 minutes per
session.
.
Grading Scale
Grades for coursework, as
well as the final grade, will be based upon the following scale:
A 96-100 Has unusually sharp insights into material; initiates
thoughtful questions.
A- 90-95
Sees many sides of an issue. Articulates well; writes clearly and
logically.
B+ 87-89
Grasps subject matter at a level considered "good to very
good."
B 84-86 Is an active
listener and participant
B- 80-83
Accomplishes more than the minimum requirements.
C+ 77-79
Demonstrates a satisfactory comprehension of
the subject matter.
C 74-76 Accomplishes
the minimum requirements. Communicates orally and in writing
at an acceptable level for college.
C- 70-73 Has a good understanding of all
materials.
D+ 67-69
Quality and quantity of work in and out of class is
below average.
D 64-66 Quality and quantity of work in and out
of class is barely acceptable.
F < 63 Quality and quantity of work in
and out of the class is unacceptable.
Late Submissions:
Only in the most extreme
emergencies will students be allowed to miss an examination or delay the
submission of an assignment. Where possible, the instructor should be informed
beforehand. For all other cases, the student will receive a one-letter
downgrade for the assignment.
Academic Honesty:
Each student is
responsible for upholding accepted standards of honesty ethical academic
performance. Unless otherwise indicated
by an instructor, students are expected to maintain the following standards of
integrity: All examinations, term papers, oral and written assignment and
recitations are to be the work of the student presenting the material. The use of wording, ideas or findings of
other persons, writers, or researchers requires explicit citation in the
course; the use of the exact wording requires a "quotation" format. (
Submitting Assignments
When asked to submit an
assignment, please send me your papers by e-mail or submit then via your
Weekly Folder in Blackboard. Please
remember to print a back up copy of
your assignments in case you need them. The
submission of your assignment is your responsibility so be sure you send it
properly. Evaluative marks on Individual assignments will be reduced by one
letter grade for late submissions.
Discussion Board
During selected weeks, you
will be required to click on the Discussion Board and enter a Discussion Forum.
Familiarize yourself with this feature. Learn how to read a contribution from a
classmate or me and on how to add your own "thread". When you are
asked to respond to a person's ideas, please do so in a constructive and
substantive way. Please apply the theories, concepts and terms of the course so
far to your critique of the ideas presented. Just agreeing or disagreeing is
not enough nor is telling your own story of a
experience that relates to the topic. Please note that a critique and/or
analysis should address both strengths and weaknesses. Suggestion: You might
want to read the comment(s) first, then, review your material and click back
into the Forum to make clear, instructive and constructive responses.
Mid-Term Examination
The Mid-term Examination
must be completed within a week of its posting on Blackboard. Late submissions
will not be accepted. How to Prepare: Read each chapter carefully learning the
terms, concepts and theories.
Feedback:
Every attempt will be made
to offer feedback on individual assignments in a timely manner. If students have questions or need additional
feedback, they are encouraged to notify the instructor. Feedback consists in advice on preparing for
the exams or folder assignments and how to improve their course performance.
Students are encouraged to provide a brief, critical analysis that not only
provides descriptive facts, gleaned from readings and discussions, but which
also reflects the ‘individual voice’ of the student. It is important that each student provides a
definite, recognizable point of view toward the comment or question to which
they are responding.
Schedule of
Week 1 (June 4)
A. Readings:
1. Dye,
Chapter 1: Policy Analysis: What
Governments Do, Why They Do it, and What Difference It
Makes, pp. 1-10
2. Klingdon,
Chapter 1: Agendas, Alternatives, Public
Policies, Chapter 1, pp. 1-20.
B.
Discussion Forum
1 – Please introduce yourself,
saying: 1.) your Full Name, 2.) where you grew up, and 3.) what do you
want to learn about policy making in this course.
C. Assignment
1 – During the next 10 weeks, make at least 2
visits to a city council or a county commissioner/freeholder meeting in the
jurisdiction in which you reside. Based
on what you observe and experience, write a 4-5 page answer to the following
question: In terms of policy making and policy influence, what is the
difference between acting as a ‘citizen’ and acting as a ‘resident’
? (This assignment is due no later than Friday, August 4.)
Week 2 (June 11)
A. Readings:
1. Dye,
Chapter 2: Models of Politics: Some Help
in Thinking About Public Policy, pp. 11–30.
2. Klingdon,
Chapter 4: Processes: Origins,
Rationality, Incrementalism, and Garbage Cans, pp.
71–89.
B. Discussion
Forum 2 – Compare and contrast the rational
decision making and the incrementalist
models of policy making. In terms of how
policy making is carried out in public sector and private/non-profit sector
organizations, do you think it makes a difference which model is used?
C. Assignment
2 – In no less than 1 and no more than 2 pages, describe a decision that you
had to make for yourself or for your work.
What was the model of decision making that most closely resembled how
you made your decision? (Due: Friday, June 23)
Week 3 (June 18)
A. Readings:
1. Dye,
Chapter 3, The Policymaking Process: Decision-Making
Activities, pp. 31-59.
2. Klingdon,
Chapter 2, Participants on the Inside of
Government, pp. 21-44.
3. Klingdon,
Chapter 3, Outside of Government, But Not
Just Looking In, pp. 45-70.
B. Discussion
Forum 3 – How is bureaucracy involved in policy implementation? Why is the bureaucracy involved in policy
implementation?
C. Assignment 2 Due: Friday, June 23.
(See week 2)
Week 4 (June 25)
A. Readings:
1. Klingdon,
Chapter 5, Problems, pp. 90-115.
2. Klingdon,
Chapter 6, The Policy Primeval Soup, pp. 116-144.
3. Klingdon,
Chapter 7, The Political Stream, pp. 145-164.
B. Discussion
Forum 4 – Does how a problem is
defined affect what policies are formulated and developed to solve that
problem?
C. Assignment
3 – To what organization(s) do you belong that seek to influence public
policy in the federal, state, or local policy arenas. (No less than 1, no more than 2 pages) Due:
Friday, July 9.
Week 5 (July 2)
A. Readings:
1. Klingdon,
Chapter 8, The Policy Window, and Joining the Streams,
pp. 165-195.
2. Klingdon,
Chapter 9, Wrapping Things Up, pp.
196-209.
3. Klingdon,
Chapter 10, Some Further Reflections,
pp. 209-230.
4. Dye,
Chapter 15, Policy Evaluation: Finding Out What Happens after a Law is Passed, pp. 333-350.
B. Due – Assignment #3, Friday, July 7.
(See Week 4)
Week 6 (July 9)
Open
Book Mid-Term Exam
Week 7 (July 16)
A. Readings:
1. Dye,
Chapter 4, Criminal Justice: Rationality
and Irrationality, pp. 60-92.
2. Dye,
Chapter 5, Health and Welfare: The Search
for Rational Strategies, pp. 93-124.
3. Dye, Chapter 6, Education: The Group Struggle, pp. 125-154.
B. Discussion
Forum 5 – Choose one of the policy areas assigned in the readings for this
week, and write a critique of the Dye’s treatment of that area. Why did you
choose to critique this area as opposed to the other two?
C. Assignment
4: In the next few weeks, we will be looking at various policy
issues/problems covered in the Dye text.
Choose one of these issues/problems and identify a web site that deals
with the issue/problem in that chapter.
Critique the site: 1.) What is the stated
mission or objective of the site? 2.) To
whom is the site addressed (which groups or policy makers)? 3.)
What policy position does the site seek to advocate or address? 4.)
What underlying political or organizational bias does the site reflect, if any? (2-3 pages)
This assignment is due Monday, August 9.
Week 8 (July 23)
A. Readings:
1. Dye,
Chapter 7, Economic Policy:
Incrementalism at Work, pp. 155-176.
2. Dye,
Chapter 8, Tax Policy: Battling the
Special Interests, pp. 177-196.
3. Dye,
Chapter 9, International Trade and
Immigration: Elite-Mass Conflict, pp. 197-216
4. Dye,
Chapter 14, Homeland Security: Terrorism
and Nondeterrable Threats, pp. 315-332
B. Discussion
Forum 6 – In this era of globalization and international terrorism,
domestic and international issues are intertwined. How relevant are Dye’s discussions of these 3
chapters in light of the global economy and international terrorism?
Week 9 (July 30)
A. Readings:
1. Dye,
Chapter 10, Environmental Policy:
Externalities and Interests, pp. 217-239.
2. Dye,
Chapter 11, Civil Rights: Elite and Mass
Interaction, pp. 240-272.
3. Dye,
Chapter 12, American Federalism:
Institutional Arrangements and Public Policy, pp. 273-293.
4. Dye, Chapter 13, Defense Policy: Strategies for Serious Games, pp. 294-315.
B. Discussion
Forum 7 – How have environmental and civil rights issues changed or not
changed the shape of traditional American federalism?
C. Due – Assignment #1, August 3. (See week 1)
Due – Assignment # 4, August 6. (See week 7)
Week 10 (August 6)
Final
Manifestation: Putting it all together. (To be handed out 2 weeks before the
end of the quarter. Due Friday,
August 10) This
will be a series of 5 or 6 questions, for which you will be required to answer
one of the questions, and you will choose the other 2. This might be seen as a ‘Final Exam’ but it
is intended as an opportunity for you to integrate the materials and your
experiences in the course.