Course Purpose: Our primary purpose is to understand the current context and practice of human resource management in the public sector. Like other parts of government, hrm has been undergoing many changes. Our focus will be on best current practices. You can identify the topics covered by looking at the schedule .
Course objectives: We will work on these in class. Some objectives I would include are:
1. to analyze the conflicting demands on human resource management and the values underlying those conflicting demands.
2. to make ethical decisions on complex human resource management issues.
3. To apply theoretical perspectives to practical problems in hrm.
4. To enhance computer skills necessary for effective practices in hrm.
Texts:
Berman, Bowman, West, Van Wart Human Resource Management in Public Service
Thompson. Classics of Public Personnel Policy Third Edition (part of group project)
Cases (available on the web or in Ucompass)
You will also have other reading assignments from the Internet. SOmeof these will be added during the semester. Regularly check Ucompass.
The course management system we use is Ucompass Educator. You can find it at t https://ucompass.mnsu.edu/secure.html If you've used this in a previous course, remember your user name and password.
You may wish to join the ASPA Listserv for students. To subscribe send an e-mail to: listserv@e-mail.rutgers.edu. In the body of the e-mail, type the words Subscribe aspa_students.
Note: . This is the time to read the materials on the comprehensive exam reading list related to HRM. It is also time to read regularly in PAR and RPPA (as well as other journals on the list). Or, you may want to read some of the other books about personnel and diversity issues that are in our library. You will find that a reading journal of these materials will advantage you at comp time.
Requirements: I propose:
Other notes: All graduate students should regularly check their e-mail. (Be sure to set a forward on your mnsu.edu address if you will be checking some other account. I encourage you to communicate with each other about the class and with me through the e-mail.
Any student needing special arrangements is encouraged to visit with me at your earliest convenience. If you are a student with a documented disability, please see me as early in the semester as possible to discuss the necessary accommodations, and/or contact the Disability Services Office at 507-389-2825 (V) or 1-800-627-3529 (MRS/TTY). All students are welcome to contact me throughout the semester with questions or observations about the class, with any concerns or with any difficulties about the class. I do my best to be available during office hours. You may contact me in my office whether I am having formal office hours or not. E-mail is a more reliable way to contact me than a message on my answering machine.
APA is the style guide for this course and this department. Students in other departments may use the format preferred by that department.
Students are encouraged to work with each other in seminars. However, any papers, exam material or other graded work is to be your own. The same paper is not to be turned in to more than one class without notification and approval by all faculty concerned. All other ethical conduct provisions of the university, the department and the public administration profession are expected to be upheld, in spirit and in letter.
The Schedule: . Check the course site on the web regularly. You may find writing assignments and additional internet assignments added as we develop a better sense of what we need to do to reach our objectives. For each chapter be sure you have read and thought about the exercises at the end. In some cases, I've made specific assignments from them.,
Aug 27 No class meeting. The instructor is at a conference.If you checked your MavMail, you got this message. If you came to class, do take a few moments to get acquainted with others who came. Then, you can purchase your texts, sign on to Ucompass, introduce yourself on the discussion board, and negin preparing for next week.
Sign up with Ucompass Do so by next Monday. Contribute something to the discussion thread on introductions.
Sept 3 Public Service Heritage
Read Introduction and Ch. 1 of Berman. Prepare to discuss the exercises. That is, think about each of them. Be ready to start the conversation for each. You may need to review the chapter and make some notes. We may start the class with a quickie quiz over the key terms.
Also read "Civil Service Tsunami" in Governing, May 2003. http://www.governing.com/articles/5civil.htm
Be sure to become acquainted with the OPM, MSPB,, and the FLRA by checking their web sites (you can access these from the Public Administration Resources page I've constructed). You'll want to understand their role and responsibilities.
Sept 10 Rights and responsibilities
Read Ch 2 of Berman.. As is true for each week, prepare the exercises. Also read the case Grief and the grievance process at http://www.governing.com/choice/mc0201.htm
And read the Morality of Public Administration
http://www.aspanet.org/publications/COLUMNS/archives/2001/Dec/king
1214.html
Be sure to check out the EEOC's web site. including http://www.eeoc.gov/docs/accommodation.html for ADA Enforcement Guidance. You'll want to be thoroughly familiar with the laws enforced by the EEOC and the issues regarding them.
Sept 17 Recruitment
Read Ch 3 of Berman. Write out exercise 11 and bring to class. (Whenever, I ask you to bring something to class, it should be keyboarded, never hand written. Bring in examples from exercise 13. Also prepare the case the Vacuous job description at http://www.governing.com/choice/mc0200.htm
Sept 24 Selection
Read Ch 4 of Berman. Prepare the case the Tormenting talent turnover http://www.governing.com/choice/mc1000.htm
Bring exercise #10 to class.
Oct 1 Position management
Read Ch 5 of berman. Prepare the case Can Personnel be Fixed? http://www.governing.com/choice/mc1098.htm
Oct 8 Compensation
Read CH 6 of Berman. Also read Sharing best practices
http://www.aspanet.org/publications/COLUMNS/archives/2002/01Jan/lavigna0118.html
You may wish to check current federal salaries http://www.opm.gov/oca/payrates/index.htm
You can find Minnesota salaries off the DOER page at http://www.doer.state.mn.us/
Also note the Legislative Auditor's Report on Minnesota State Employee Compensation at http://www.auditor.leg.state.mn.us/ped/2000/pe0005.htm
View the slide show covering the highlights.
Oct 15 Family friendly policies
Read Ch 7 of Berman. Prepare the case The flex time conundrum http://www.governing.com/choice/mc0801.htm
Turn in exercise #6
Oct 22 Training and development
Read Ch 8 of Berman.
Oct 29 Appraisal
Read Ch 9 of Berman.
Nov 5 Unions
Read Ch 10 of berman. Also read Working together with unions http://www.aspanet.org/publications/COLUMNS/archives/2002/06June/lavigna0621.html
Nov 12 Quality and Productivity
Read Ch 11 and the conclusion of Berman.
Read at least one case from MSPB at http://www.mspb.gov/ Be prepared to report on it to the class. Hand in your summary of the case.
Nov 19 Presentations
Nov 26 No class Thanksgiving vacation
Dec 3 Presentations
Dec 10 Final