WorksheetsOrganizational Problems and Attempts to Change
Total questions: 12
Worksheet time: 33mins
The quest for (a) calls for the creation of a highly skilled bureaucracy insulated from the political interference that can undermine efficiency.
The quest for (a) calls for a strong elected executive (president, governor, mayor) and strong and loyal department heads that are all politically chosen.
The quest for (a) calls for organizational arrangements that respond to legislative interests and to the clienteles most affected by agency decisions.
Which of the following points from the Organizational Criteria checklist do you think are most important? (There are others)
Public Acceptance
Adaptability
Consistency of Decisions
Professional Competence
Participation, Representation, and Diversity
Classical organization theory suggests all of these as strategies for organization except....
Organization by Purpose
Organization by Process
Organization by Clientele
Organization by Place
Organization by Morals
(a) cooperation depends on the willingness of agencies to come to agreement with one another because it seeks to draw related agencies together in a common purpose
(a) coordination is backed by both authority and structure, where two warring agencies are brought together by a superior to make decisions and monitor that people follow them.
Which of the following is a staff role?
Core Staff
Auxiliary Staff
Control Staff
All of the above
A(n) _______________ is a closely linked network of interest groups, congressional committees, and public administrators that unite to protect their long-term relationships
Iron Triangle
Interagency Agreement
Lead Agency Formula
Clearance Procedure
How is your work, or previous job, organized? Would you say it is more horizontal cooperation or vertical coordination? Do you think it is the correct way to run your specific organization or do you think it could be done better the other method?
Kettl writes, "Although the staff-line distinction is not quite as simple as a difference between thinkers and doers, the culture of most operating organizations tend to put those who "do" into a more valued position than those who "think," and those who think often believe they can do best" (Kettl, 2018, p.157).
As scholars, we tend to believe that "thinkers" do know what's best. However, one day some of us might hope to become the 'doers." How do you think the balance of power between the two should be handled to result in the best possible outcome for the organization and the people they serve?
Chapter 6 of Kettl stresses that a clear sense of jurisdiction and roles of responsibility is key to avoiding conflicts within an organization in order to create change. However, Stever's article on adopting Intergovernmental management explains that strict jurisdiction lines does not work when the country is in a crisis.
Do you think that public organizations need to be managed by strict roles for each level and position, or that positions need to be organized with cross- agency coordination in mind?
