PADP 8420 Leadership in Public Service

Course Description

Any organized activity needs effective leaders, and we need good leaders at all levels in government and nonprofit organizations. Experts on public administration, however, have argued that government and the nonprofit sector face special challenges in developing excellent leaders. Compared to major business firms, government invests less in leadership development. Many government agencies and nonprofit organizations, however, do devote attention to developing skillful leaders. Many excellent leaders and managers work in government. This course provides opportunities for students to develop their leadership knowledge and skills, and involves students in consideration of how to meet the challenges of improving leadership in the public and nonprofit sectors.

Scholars and practitioners in public administration also face the challenge of deciding how to use the elaborate body of research and theory on leadership. Most of this material has been developed by researchers in management and in industrial/organizational psychology, who devoted little explicit attention to leadership in government and nonprofit settings (although they have often studied leadership in such settings and drawn generic conclusions, as if there is nothing unique about such settings). In addition, the literature ranges from arcane academic research to glib aphorisms and anecdotes from practicing managers or experienced consultants. This diversity arises because there exists no consensus on how to learn about leadership.

This course approaches these challenges in several ways. It covers theories and advice about leadership from the management literature, including the most recent developments in that field. A second section of the course covers biographical analyses of innovative leaders in government and nonprofit organizations, and a book providing practical suggestions for leaders in government. Students will work on a book project of their choosing.

Objectives for the Course:

1. Students will become well informed in leadership theory and research, with a knowledge of all prominent theories and of related research methods and results.
2. Students will learn about advice and guidance for handling practical challenges of leadership in organizations, such as running a meeting effectively, dealing with difficult employees and colleagues, leading teams, leading change, and other challenges.
3. Students will become well informed about leadership development strategies.
4. Students will apply leadership concepts and behaviors through exercises, case studies, and oral reports.