What is the relationship of "calling" (a term most often associated with the clergy, not public servants) and public service leadership? Vocation and Reform in Public Administration seeks to provide an answer through the study of five major themes in the discipline. The author builds on each theme with supporting scholarship and case studies to bring about a unifying conclusion that asserts, "Public service is best performed when such a role is understood and embraced as a unique vocation. In this way, the leader becomes both "public" in that she does her work for the greater good; and in "service" as he recognizes that his work is primarily one of servanthood."
This is the final written project, a portfolio of work in five areas, for the degree of Master of Public Administration in the School of Government at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The Portfolio consists of five areas of study within the public administration program—Leadership, Public Ethics and Values, Information Analysis and Decision-Making, Financial Management, and Human Capital Management—woven together with an opening Synthesis chapter. Each chapter represents an area in which an assessment is offered with an accompanying appendix (of sample work from the program). The assessment includes an introduction to the area of study, lessons learned in the area, a description of the appendix, a critique of the appendix, and a conclusion that synthesizes the chapter. A public administration bibliography is appended to the work.
Table of Contents
Synthesis
1. Area Assessment 1: Leadership
1.1 Appendix 1: Professional Work Experience (PWE) Final Paper
2. Area Assessment 2: Public Ethics and Values
2.1 Appendix 2: Final Federal Policies and Institutions Paper on the Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act of 1883
3. Area Assessment 3: Information Analysis and Decision-Making
3.1 Appendix 3: Public Administration Analysis and Evaluation II: Research Paper on Social Changes in the United States Army Chaplaincy Area
4. Area Assessment 4: Financial Management
4.1 Appendix 4: Tax Criteria Memorandum: Public Financial Management
5. Area Assessment 5: Human Capital Management
5.1 Appendix 5: Human Resource Management Case Study on Compensation
Research Objectives and Themes
The primary objective of this portfolio is to synthesize the academic learning and professional experience acquired during the Master of Public Administration program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The work explores how core competencies in leadership, ethics, decision-making, financial management, and human capital are woven together to form a coherent approach to public service, grounded in the dual themes of vocation and administrative reform.
- The conceptualization of public service as a "noble vocation" or calling.
- The necessity of continuous organizational reform to improve productivity and ethical alignment.
- The integration of theoretical frameworks (such as Bolman and Deal’s organizational theory) with practical, real-world public administration challenges.
- The development of administrative "stewardship" rather than mere management to serve the greater good.
Excerpt from the Book
Professional Work Experience
The journeying motif of Joseph Campbell (Table 1) is not only a well-known explanation for the story-pattern used by myriad bards in innumerable societies, a favorite template for novelists and film writers, it became the ruling motif for my own experience in the UNC Chapel Hill School of Government’s Professional Work Experience (PWE). As a senior-level leader with more than a few decades of service behind me, I had entered the program to become strengthened in the administration skills that I felt I had been deficient in my, mainly, academic and ministerial (clergy) training. Yet, along the way, one sturdies herself (self-protection against what might reveal itself to be true) with remnants of a former prestige or position and asks, “What can a PWE teach an old dog like me?” I confess that I asked this of myself while dutifully complying “for all righteousness’ sake.” That is a far cry from enthusiastic anticipation—I write this to my own shame. Yet, the requirements caused me to humble myself, wait on the opportunities that might appear, listen for “the call,” and go forward into an experience and apply the new-found skills I had acquired in the MPA program.
Summary of Chapters
Synthesis: Introduces the portfolio’s overarching themes of vocation and reform, providing a personal biographical context for the author’s entry into the MPA program.
Area Assessment 1: Leadership: Examines leadership through the lens of collaborative strategies and the critique of the "super-leader" myth, illustrated by a strategic planning project.
Area Assessment 2: Public Ethics and Values: Explores the adaptability of ethics within a pluralistic society, focusing on how public service values must evolve while remaining grounded in the public trust.
Area Assessment 3: Information Analysis and Decision-Making: Reflects on the transition from a humanities-based research background to a clinical, social-scientific approach to data and organizational problem-solving.
Area Assessment 4: Financial Management: Discusses the budget as a narrative document that articulates organizational vision and demonstrates fiscal stewardship through transparency.
Area Assessment 5: Human Capital Management: Analyzes the strategic role of human capital in modern public service, emphasizing the need for equity and the management of employees as strategic assets.
Keywords
Public Administration, Vocation, Reform, Leadership, Ethics, Financial Management, Human Capital, Organizational Theory, Collaborative Leadership, Public Service Motivation, Strategic Planning, Social Equity, Decision-Making, Budgeting, Civil Service Reform
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this work?
This portfolio focuses on integrating theoretical public administration competencies with personal professional experience, centered on the themes of vocation and reform.
What are the primary thematic pillars?
The work is anchored by the themes of "vocation" (public service as a noble calling) and "reform" (the continuous effort to make government more efficient and ethical).
What is the main research goal?
The goal is to demonstrate competency in five core public administration areas—leadership, ethics, information analysis, financial management, and human capital—through self-assessment and practical application.
Which scientific methodology is employed?
The author employs a mix of organizational case study, historical analysis, and social-scientific research design (specifically for the assessment of U.S. Army Chaplains).
What does the main body cover?
The main body provides detailed assessments of five key administrative areas, detailing lessons learned from coursework and their subsequent application in real-world professional settings.
Which keywords define the work?
Public administration, vocation, reform, administrative ethics, human capital management, and collaborative leadership are the foundational concepts characterizing this work.
How does the author view the role of the public servant?
The author defines the public servant as a "noble" guardian of the republic, tasked with stewardship, maintaining ethical standards, and practicing a "patriotism of benevolence."
How does the author connect faith and public service?
The author argues for a "cooperation without compromise" model, where faith-based convictions can be maintained while effectively serving a pluralistic, democratic constituency.
What specific case study does the author highlight regarding conflict?
The author uses a strategic planning case for a theological seminary to demonstrate how organizational conflict can be addressed using "reframing" techniques from scholars like Bolman and Deal.
- Quote paper
- Michael Milton (Author), 2016, Vocation and Reform in Public Administration, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/387116
