PAD599 all weeks Assignments – 2015

Assignment 1: Rationale for Agency Selected
Due Week 2 and worth 100 points

For this and the following assignments, which will become a major part of your
portfolio, you will take on the role of a consultant for a government agency.
The first role of the consultant is to familiarize yourself with the agency,
its departments, and key actors. Select a local, county, state, or federal
agency and a department within the agency. Usually, you can find contact
information on their Websites.

After selecting an agency and department, you are expected
to:

1. Provide
   a rationale for your selection, and research the agency and department.
2. Interview
   at least two (2) representatives of the agency’s department for the
   different sections of the paper. (If you can obtain more than two (2)
   different interviews, do so. The more perspectives, the better. Interviews
   can be conducted in person, by phone, or by an electronic method such as
   email.)
3. Research
   the literature regarding issues that involve the selected agency and
   public administration in general.

Assume the role of a consultant who works for a consulting
firm that has asked you to research this agency and file a report with the Vice
President (VP) of Accounts and Client Support.

Write a two to three (2-3) page paper, titled Part I: Background of and
Rationale for the {Selected Agency} in which you separate the content into
sections:

1. Provide
   background information about the agency and its department, mission, and
   its goals / objectives. (Title this section Introduction.)
2. Describe
   three to five (3-5) functions of this agency. (Title this section
   Functions of the Agency.)
3. Analyze
   two to three (2-3) current events involving the agency. (Use the
   e-Activities from Week 1 and Week 2.) (Title this section Current Events.)
4. Explain
   the rationale for selecting this agency with two to three (2-3)
   justifiable reasons. (Title this section Rationale.)
5. List
   four to five (4-5) academic sources and government Websites you expect to
   access in your research. (Include no more than one (1) non-government
   Website.)

Some Websites you may want to access are:

• U.S.
  Government Printing Office located athttp://www.gpo.gov/
• The
  Federal Register located athttp://www.federalregister.gov/
• U.S.
  Government Accountability Office located athttp://www.gao.gov/
• American
  Society for Public Administrators located athttp://www.aspanet.org/public/

When using these sites, please make sure they follow APA formatting within the
text and on the Reference Page.

 

Assignment 2: Analysis of the Selected Agency
Due Week 4 and worth 300 points

As a consultant, you need to develop an in-depth analysis and evaluation of the
selected agency’s planning, organizational design, decision-making process, and
implementation and then provide recommendations for improvement. Therefore, you
will conduct interviews with agency representatives and research related
academic sources, the agency’s Website, or any government Website. The analysis
will be read by the VP of Accounts and Client Support as well as by the leaders
of the agency for whom you are working.

Write a five to seven (5-7) page paper in which you:

1. Describe
   the history of the selected agency and department by explaining its
   reasons (goals / objectives) for being established. (Title this section
   History of {Insert name of Agency})
2. Analyze
   the organizational design of the selected agency and specific department
   by describing the design and organizational chart. Assess its
   effectiveness in making major policy decisions and providing services to
   its primary recipients. (Title this section Organizational Design.)
3. Include
   a figure of the current organizational design within the text of the
   paper.
4. Recommend
   a redesign of the agency’s structure to serve the needs of the
   department’s businesses better without jeopardizing the goals / objectives
   of the agency. Explain your reasoning for changing the design and explain
   the change’s impact on the agency’s effectiveness in delivering quality
   services. (Title this section Assessment of Organizational Design.)
5. Include
   a figure of the new organizational design within the text of the paper.
6. Analyze
   two to three (2-3) major milestones, factors (internal or external), or
   actors affecting the agency’s success and its influence on the
   effectiveness of the agency’s planning, organizational design, decision
   making, and implementation. Also, analyze two to three (2-3) possible
   causes (internal or external) that appear to have the effect of impeding
   the organization’s implementation of its policy and for meeting its goals
   / objectives. (Title this section Evaluation of Planning and
   Implementation)
7. Recommend
   two to three (2-3) strategies (from criteria 4 above) that the agency
   could implement to improve its effectiveness in the areas of planning,
   decision making, organization, and / or implementation by explaining each
   recommendation and providing reasons each recommendation would bring about
   improvement. (Title this section Recommendations for Planning and
   Implementation.)
8. Include
   a Cause and Effect Diagram in the text of the paper.
9. Provide
   proof of one to two (1-2) interviews by submitting the completed interview
   forms and a list of questions you asked each interviewee. (Put this in the
   Appendix under Interview Forms.)
10. Provide
    four to five (4-5) relevant and credible outside resources that support
    the content of this assignment. (Include no more than one (1)
    non-government Website.)

Your assignment must follow these formatting requirements:

• Be
  typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch
  margins on all sides; references must follow APA format. Check with your
  professor for any additional instructions.
• Include
  a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student’s name,
  the professor’s name, the course title, and the date. The sections must
  have appropriate titles. The cover page, reference page, and appendix
  pages are not included in the required assignment page length. The
  assignment must be submitted as a Microsoft Word document.

The specific course learning outcomes associated with this assignment are:

• Examine
  the basic components and functions of public sector administration.
• Analyze
  the elements of effective planning in the public sector.
• Examine
  the steps and models used in effective decision making.
• Recommend
  ways to improve specific areas of public administration.
• Examine
  the fundamentals and process of effective organizational design.
• Evaluate
  the various strategies for and implications of implementing public
  administration programs.
• Use
  technology and information resources to research issues in public
  administration.
• Write
  clearly and concisely about public administration using proper writing
  mechanics.

Grading for this assignment will be based on answer quality, logic/organization
of the paper, and language and writing skills, using the following rubric.

Clickhere to
view the grading rubric.
Assignment 4: Evaluation of Agency’s Human Resources Management

As a consultant, you need to develop an in-depth analysis and evaluation of the
selected agency’s human resources management system and processes and then
provide recommendations for improvement. Therefore, you will conduct interviews
with agency representatives and research related academic sources and Websites.
The analysis will be read by the VP of Accounts and Client Support as well as
by the leaders of the agency for whom you are working.

Write a five to six (5-6) page paper in which you:

1.Analyze three to four (3-4) of the major components of the agency’s human
resource system, processes, and performance evaluation plan for hiring and
retaining a diversified workforce. (Title this section Human Resource
Processes.)
2.Analyze and describe the implications impacting the agency’s current
employment trend, growth, and delivery of its products and services. (Title
this section Implications of Human Resource Workforce.)
3.Recommend two to three (2-3) managerial and professional skills and
competencies required to improve the agency’s workforce by explaining each
recommendation, providing reasons each recommendation would bring about
improvement, providing two to three (2-3) ways the agency could implement
programs in preparation for those skills not visible within the agency’s
workforce as a method of promotion and advancement for current employees.
(Title this section Succession Planning for Human Resource Management.)
4.Describe the consultant position you are performing by (a) giving it a title;
(b) explaining two to three (2-3) major specifications required of the job and
how each will be measured in a performance evaluation; and by (c) explaining
two to three (2-3) ways this position will be used within the various
departments of the agency and for meeting the specific goals / objectives of
the agency. (This job description will be provided to the Agency Director who
has requested it. As a resource, you are to use the Dictionary of Occupational
Titles, located at http://www.occupationalinfo.org/ and published by the U. S.
Department of Labor located at www.usajobs.gov. (Title this section Job
Analysis and Design.)
5.Provide proof of one to two (1-2) interviews submitting the completed
interview form with a list of questions for and responses from each
interviewee. (Put this in the Appendix under Interview Forms.)
6.Provide four to five (4-5) relevant and credible outside resources that
support the content of this assignment. (Include no more than one (1)
non-government Website.)

Your assignment must follow these formatting requirements:

•Be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch
margins on all sides; citations and references must follow APA format. Check
with your professor for any additional instructions.
•Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student’s
name, the professor’s name, the course title, and the date. The sections must
have appropriate titles. The cover page, reference page, and appendix pages are
not included in the required assignment page length. The assignment must be
submitted as a Microsoft Word document.

The specific course learning outcomes associated with this assignment are:

•Recommend ways to improve specific areas of public administration.
•Analyze the major components of the system, processes, and methods for
effective human resource management in the public sector.
•Assess external organizational and employee conditions, trends, and
implications of these factors for human resource management of the private
sector.
•Use technology and information resources to research issues in public
administration.
•Write clearly and concisely about public administration using proper writing
mechanics.

Students, please view the “Submit a clickable
rubric assignment” in the Student Center.

Instructors, training on how to grade is within the
Instructor Center.

Assignment 3: Evaluation of Agency’s Ethics, Cooperation, Leadership, and Legal
Decisions
Due Week 6 and worth 270 points

As a consultant, you need to develop an in-depth analysis and evaluation of the
selected Agency’s Ethics, Cooperation, Leadership, and Legal Decisions and then
provide recommendations for improvement. Therefore, you will conduct interviews
with agency representatives and research-related academic sources and
government Websites. The analysis will be read by the VP of Accounts and Client
Support as well as by the leaders of the agency for whom you are working.

Write a five to six (5-6) page paper in which you:

1. Analyze
   two to three (2-3) current events from the past two (2) years (using the
   e-Activity in Week 4*) focusing on the administrative responsibility and
   ethical implications to the stakeholders, organization, and public
   regarding the issues in described in the current event. (Title this
   section Administrative Ethics.) (*Go to The Center for Public Integrity
   iWatch, located at http://www.iwatchnews.org/icij/about.
   Scroll to the bottom of the page to “What We Investigate.” Select a topic
   and review three (3) of the latest news items about it.)
2. Assess
   the leadership of this agency (in light of leadership models) and of the
   political context in which the agency operates, highlighting at least
   three (3) ways internal agency leaders and political leaders have
   influenced the success and / or failure of the agency. (Title this section
   Leadership Influences.)
3. Analyze
   the power the agency has in enforcing the regulations they are asked to
   uphold (using the e-Activity in Week 5). Discuss two to three (2-3)
   challenges to enforce the agency’s regulations. (Title this section Legal
   Decisions.)
4. Analyze
   three to four (3-4) strategies for the agency’s future plans for
   administrative ethics, leadership, and legal to improve the agency’s
   operation and its primary recipients. (Title this section Strategies for
   Consideration to Administrative Processes.)
5. Recommend
   two (2) strategies that will provide immediate improvement based on models
   that influence public policy and the three to four (3-4) strategies
   presented in criteria four (4) above with a reason each recommendation
   would bring about improvement. (Title this Recommendations for
   Improvements to Administrative Processes.)
6. Provide
   proof of one to two (1-2) interviews by submitting the completed interview
   form with a list of questions for and responses from each interviewee.
   (Put this in the Appendix under Interview Forms.)
7. Provide
   four to five (4-5) relevant and credible outside resources that support
   the content of this assignment. (Include no more than one (1)
   non-government Website.)

Assignment 5: Evaluation of the Agency’s Budgeting and
Cumulative Report
Due Week 10 and worth 290 points

As a consultant, you need to develop an in-depth analysis and evaluation of the
selected agency’s budgeting and then provide recommendations for improvement.
Therefore, you will conduct interviews with agency representatives and
research-related academic sources and Websites. The analysis will be read by
the VP of Accounts and Client Support as well as by the leaders of the agency
for whom you are working.

Write a five to six (5-6) page paper in which you:

1. Analyze
   the agency’s (or department’s) budget by following these six (6) steps and
   including the results of the analysis in your paper by: (a) identifying
   the agency’s budget as executive department or an independent agency; (b)
   determining which of the appropriation subcommittees has jurisdiction over
   each agency’s budget request; (c) determining where each agency’s
   operations fall in the functional classification of the federal budget;
   (d) determining the budget authority and outlays proposed for the agency;
   and (e) determining the actual outlays and budget authority for the agency
   in that year. (Title this section Budget Overview.)
2. Analyze
   two (2) major political influences on and primary accountability areas
   required of program administrators after reviewing FY2012 regarding
   mandatory and discretionary budgets. (Title this section Budgeting
   Assessment.)
3. Explain
   which intergovernmental agency, or agencies, contributes to and / or
   influences the budgetary decisions for the current and future budget over
   the next five (5) years. (Title this section Analysis of Budgeting Plans
   and Actual Expenditures.)
4. Analyze
   the impact of international policy making on the current year’s budgets
   and possible impact on future budget line items. (Title this section
   Implications of Foreign Policy.)
5. Recommend
   two (2) robust ways in which the agency could improve the budget for the
   next fiscal year. (Title this section Budget Request and Recommendations.)
6. Provide
   proof of one to two (1-2) interviews by submitting the completed interview
   form with a list of questions for and responses from each interviewee.
   (Put this in the Appendix under Interview Forms.)
7. Provide
   four to five (4-5) relevant and credible outside resources that support
   the content of this assignment. (Include no more than one (1)
   non-government Website.)

Your assignment must follow these formatting requirements:

• Be
  typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch
  margins on all sides; citations and references must follow APA or
  school-specific format. Check with your professor for any additional
  instructions.
• Include
  a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student’s name,
  the professor’s name, the course title, and the date. The sections must
  have appropriate titles. The cover page, interview forms, reference page,
  and the appendices are not included in the required assignment page
  length.

The specific course learning outcomes associated with this assignment are:

• Recommend
  ways to improve specific areas of public administration.
• Analyze
  the fundamental components of effective budgeting, including sources of
  revenue, political influences, purposes, types, and accountability of
  program administrators.
• Use
  technology and information resources to research issues in public
  administration.
• Write
  clearly and concisely about public administration using proper writing
  mechanics.

Grading for this assignment will be based on answer quality, logic/organization
of the paper, and language and writing skills, using the following rubric.

Clickhere to
view the grading rubric.