PA 5343 – 5U1: Human Resource Management

Program in Public Affairs School of Economic, Summer 2008

Political & Policy Sciences

Nicolas A. Valcik, Ph.D. Office: MP 2.234

972-883-6190 Office Hours: By Appointment
nvalcik@utdallas.edu Course Room: WSTC 1.216
Course Time: Friday 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM

Course Prerequisites: None

Course Summary

There are many human resource issues that all managers must face in both the public and
private sectors. Managers must contend with such issues as hiring, firing, personnel leave
of absences, training, recruitment and promotions just to name a few. The situations that
arise from human resource issues can tax the best managers with the complexity of the
problem and contending with individual personalities and possible legal entanglements.
Thus managers in public entities must be aware of potential consequences and impacts
that actions and policies can create within organizations. Often miscalculations can result
in lawsuits, emotional distress and/or reprimands for employees.

Course Description

This course will focus on realistic situations that a manager could very well face in the
workplace. While some situations presented to the students may seem extreme, the case
studies will be representative of situations that a manager would be required to make a set
of decisions on an issue an implement a solution. The students will be required to write a
series of memos or assignments based on an applied public affairs project (in this case the
Hydrogen Bomb project) that offers a viable and realistic solution to the problem that is
presented in the case study. There will also be a mid term project and a final project that
the students will be expected to complete during the course of study. Students will be
expected to present documents that are coherent to the instructor using proper English
and spellings. Students are expected to actively participate in class, completed assigned
readings before class and have assignments to the instructor by the assigned date. The
instructor will contact students by UT-Dallas email, so students are expected to check
their official email on a regular basis.

For Ph.D. students substituting this course for PA 7338, additional work and
readings required will be denoted with a (DR) throughout the syllabus.
Student Learning Objectives/Outcomes

In this course the students will obtain the following objectives to receive a passing grade
for PA 5343.

1. Have an understanding of human resource issues for public organizations;

2. Be able to analyze and resolve applied issues in public organizations for human
resources; and
3. Have the ability to communicate effectively resolutions of human resource issues to
other employees and managers.

Course Conduct

Students will be expected to abide in a professional manner towards the professor and
fellow students. Any student that does not act in a professional manner will be asked to
leave and can receive a zero on a case study memo grade for each infraction. Please keep
your laptops and cell phones out of sight and turned off. These devices tend to be
disruptive in a classroom and are not needed for PA 5343.

Required Texts

1. Kulik, Carol T., 2004. Human Resources for the Non-HR Manager. ISBN:0-8058-
4295-0 (hardback) or 0-80584296-9 (paperback), Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc.,
Publishers, Mahwah, New Jersey. (KC)

2. Rhodes, Richard, 1995. Dark Sun: The Making of the Hydrogen Bomb. ISBN: 0-684-
80400-X, Simon & Schuster Paperbacks, New York, New York. (RR)

3. Valcik, Nicolas, 2008. Human Resources Case Studies for Public Organizations. (VN)

Additional Required Texts for Doctoral Students

4. Laurence, Miller, 2008. From Difficult to Disturbed: Understanding and Managing

Dysfunctional Employees. ISBN: 0-8144-0922-9, AMACOM, New York, New York.
(LM)

5. Bowie, Vaughan, Fisher, Bonnie S. and Cooper, Cary L., 2005. Workplace Violence:
Issues, Trends, and Strategies. ISBN: 1-84392-134-0, Willan Publishing, Portland,
Oregon. (BV)

6. Ingraham, Patricia Wallace, 1995. The Foundation of Merit: Public Service in

American Society. ISBN: 0-8018-5111-4, The John Hopkins University Press,
Baltimore, Maryland. (IP)
Recommended Texts

1. Ingraham, Patricia Wallace, 1995. The Foundation of Merit: Public Service in

American Society. ISBN: 0-8018-5111-4, The John Hopkins University Press,
Baltimore, Maryland.

2. Strunk, William Jr., and White, E.B. 1979. Elements of Style. Third Edition. ISBN 0-
02-418190-0, Macmillian Publishing Co., Inc. New York, New York.

Grades

A = 100 – 90
B = 89 – 80
C = 79 – 70
F = below 70

Grade Breakdown

Case Studies Memos - 30%

Mid Term Project – 30%
Final Research Project – 30%
Participation – 10%

If the student is going to be absent when an assignment is due, the student must
make contact with the instructor prior to when the assignment is due to receive any
potential consideration for a late assignment. Assignments that are turned in late will
be reviewed on a case-by-case basis by the instructor to determine if the reason merits
flexibility for acceptance of the assignment. The students will receive a zero for any work
not turned in by the due date that has not been cleared by the instructor. Think about this
clause of the syllabus in terms of what an employer would view your output or effort. It is
highly advised that students meet the deadlines as assigned. The printer ran out of ink or
MS Word was down are not valid reasons. If you email an assignment to the instructor it
is your responsibility to make sure the assignment has been received.

Case Study Memos or Homework Assignments

Each student will be required to write 5 memos or assignments. These memos or

assignments should be around two pages each. An example of a case study memo is at
the end of the syllabus. The student’s memo or assignment should reflect in a concise
manner the following:

1) Identify the human resource issue(s)

2) Present a viable resolution to the human resource issue(s) as identified

The case study memos or assignments should be comprehensive and should communicate
the issue and resolution effectively to the instructor.

The TO: line in the memo should be to the person referred to in the case study. If a
person is not available then you may use a fictional character or a generic department
name.

The FROM: line in the memo should have your name listed and use a fictional position
that would be reasonable for that agency in the title.

If it is obvious reading assignments are not being completed a pop quiz may be
substituted in place of any case study!

Mid Term Research Project

Each student will be required to do a mid term research project that will be at least 10
pages in length and will cover a current topic of human resources management. The
student must get approval from the instructor on the appropriate topic. Proper citations
must be used for reference materials. To give a few examples, research topics could
address issues such as affirmative action, sexual harassment or merit system promotions.
These papers should include the following aspects:

1) Introduction of the topic (what is the issue for human resource management)
2) Why is this topic important for public organizations?
3) Research Methodology
4) What other issues interrelate to the main topic being addressed.
5) How are managers currently addressing the issue in public organizations.
6) Conclusion (what does the future hold for this issue in public organizations)
7) For doctoral students this assignment should be 20 pages overall and you must
integrate the concepts from (IP), (KC), (BV) and (LM) effectively.
Final Research Project

All students will also be required to complete a final research project. This project will
require the student to complete the following components:

1) Describe fully the type of town you would work for (i.e. small town of 4,500 or a big
municipality of 200,000 as a budget director etc.) – 1 page required

2) Choose two topics to construct a set of Human Resource policies for your municipality
(i.e. policies on Risk Management). – 9 to 10 pages required

3) For doctoral students you must write an additional 10 page report on concepts from
(VB), (IP), (KC) and (LM) explaining how your new policies can operate legally
within the human resources framework and the issues that are addressed by your new
policies that are seen as potential problems in the workplace (i.e. violence in the
workplace, risk management, sexual harassment etc.). This report should be complete
and comprehensive.

Do not copy from other municipalities’ human resources policies – this is considered
plagiarism! The policies should be comprehensive and of the student’s own work.

Work Cited

All references should be cited appropriately and preferably in Turabian or APA

standards.

Academic Integrity

No cheating or plagiarism will be tolerated. Any student that is suspected of cheating or

plagiarism will be turned over to the Dean of Students for disciplinary proceedings in
accordance with UTD’s policies and the Texas Board of Regents’ Rules and Regulations,
Part One, Chapter VI, Section 3, Subsection 3.2, Subdivision 3.22.
Calendar of Assignments

Week 1 – May 23rd – Discussion Topics: Course Introduction

History of Civil Service
Introduction to HR Management
Reading Assignments Due: KC – Chapter 1
RR – Chapters 1 and 2
LM – Chapters 1 and 2 (DR)
BV – Chapters 1 and 2 (DR)
IP – Chapter 1 (DR)
Group Work: VN – Chapters 1, 2 and 3

Week 2 – May 30th – Discussion Topic: Equal Employment Opportunity

Reading Assignments Due: KC – Chapter 2
RR – Chapters 3, 4 and 5
LM – Chapter 3 (DR)
BV – Chapters 3 and 4 (DR)
IP – Chapter 2 (DR)
Group Work: VN – Chapters 4, 5 and 6
Project Assignment: Assignment #1 Due

Week 3 – June 6th – Discussion Topic: Recruiting Process

Reading Assignments Due: KC – Chapter 3
RR – Chapters 6, 7 and 8
LM – Chapter 4 (DR)
BV – Chapter 5 (DR)
IP – Chapter 3 (DR)
Guest Speaker: Larry Wilson, Assistant VP for Business Affairs
Group Work: VN Chapters 7, 8 and 9

Week 4 – June 13th – Discussion Topic: Hiring New Employees and Research
Methodologies
Reading Assignments Due: KC – Chapter 4
RR – Chapters 9, 10 and 11
LM – Chapter 5 (DR)
BV – Chapter 6 (DR)
IP – Chapter 4 (DR)
Group Work: VN Chapters 10, 11 and 12
Project Assignment: Assignment #2 Due

Week 5 – June 20th – Discussion Topic: Interviewing Job Applicants

Reading Assignments Due: KC – Chapter 5
RR – Chapters 12, 13 and 14
LM – Chapter 6 (DR)
BV – Chapter 7 (DR)
IP – Chapter 5 (DR)
 Group Work: VN Chapters 13, 14 and 15
Project Assignment: Assignment #3 Due

Week 6 – June 27th – Discussion Topic: Conducting Performance Appraisals

Reading Assignments Due: KC – Chapter 6
RR – Chapters 15, 16 and 17
LM – Chapter 7 (DR)
BV – Chapter 8 (DR)
IP – Chapter 6 (DR)
Guest Speaker: Dr. Hobson B. Wildenthal, Provost of The
University of Texas at Dallas
Group Work: VN Chapters 16 and 17
Project Assignment: Midterm Project Due

Week 7 – July 4th – Holiday

Week 8 – July 11th – No Class – Reading to be Completed

Reading Assignments Due: KC – Chapter 7
RR – Chapters 18 and 19
LM – Chapter 8 (DR)
BV – Chapter 9 (DR)
IP – Chapter 7 (DR)

Week 9 – July 18th – Discussion Topic: Helping Employees Manage Careers

Reading Assignments Due: KC – Chapter 8
RR – Chapters 20 and 21
LM – Chapter 9 (DR)
BV – Chapter 10 (DR)
IP – Chapter 8 (DR)
Group Work: VN Chapters 18, 19, 20, and 21.

Week 10 – July 25th – Discussion Topic: Disciplining Employees

Reading Assignments Due: KC – Chapter 9
RR – Chapters 22 and 23
LM – Chapter 10 (DR)
BV – Chapter 11 (DR)
Group Work: VN Chapters 22, 23, 24 and 25
Project Assignment: Assignment #4 Due

Week 11 – August 1st – Discussion Topic: End of Employment Issues and Sexual
Harassment Issues
Reading Assignments Due: KC – Chapters 10 and 11
RR – Chapters 24, 25 and 26
 LM – Chapter 11 (DR)
BV – Chapter 12 (DR)
Group Work: VN Chapters 26, 27 and 30
Project Assignment: Assignment #5 Due

Week 12 – August 8th – Discussion Topic: Employment Age and the Workplace and
Employees with Disabilities
Reading Assignments Due: KC – Chapters 12 and 13
RR – Chapters 27 and Epilogue
LM – Chapter 12 (DR)
BV – Chapters 13 and 14 (DR)
Guest Speaker: Kerry Tate, Coordinator of Disability Services
Group Work: VN Chapters 31, 32 and 33

Week 13 – August 15th - Project Assignment: Final Project Due

 Memo
To: Klink, City Manager of Badlands, TX

From: Dr. Hartley, Assistant City Manager of Badlands, TX

Subject: Episode of misconduct by Attila the Hun

Date: 1/16/2007

Case Study: Example

On December 10, 2006 Attila the Hun, Director of Public Safety for the City of

Badlands, TX, pillaged the neighboring City of Alligator, TX with three other deputies

that are employed by the City of Badlands, TX. Besides the issue of pillaging, there are

also issues of Mr. Attila’s inappropriate dress code, intimidation of fellow employees,

sexual harassment and being heavily intoxicated on the job. Mr. Attila has already been

verbally warned and had an official written reprimand for previous rampages on other

cities that have occurred on October, 25, 2006 at the City of Cottonmouth, TX and

November 3, 2006 at the City of Atlas, TX.

In the verbal and written documentation it has been communicated to Mr. Attila

that city policies does not allow for the private raising of funds by ransacking other

municipalities. Not only is the City of Badlands responsible for repayment of funds to

those respective municipalities but the city is also liable for damages and injuries that

were incurred by Mr. Attila when he and the three deputies rode through all three towns

on horseback swinging their swords. The damages to the three municipalities are as

follows:

The City of Alligator, TX - $3,000 of damage, $100,000 appropriated from the local bank
The City of Cottonmouth, TX – 3 people trampled by horses, $200,000 appropriated from

local banks

The City of Atlas, TX – 4 horses stolen from local farms, $300,000 appropriated from

local banks and four people injured by swords

While I appreciate the efforts of Mr. Attila in these lean times of revenue

gathering from local property taxes and fees, I would like to point out that he has violated

several city policies and has been placed on probation one of his previous actions.

Additionally by agreeing to carry out illegal actions, the three deputies should also be

subject to disciplinary action. Mr. Attila’s proactive actions has in fact cost the City of

Badlands valuable funds for reparations to other municipalities, payment to a consultant

to battle bad public relations and payment to defend against civil litigation.

To resolve this issue I recommend that Mr. Attila be terminated along with the

three deputies whenever they are finally found. At this point the criminal justice system

has an all points bulletin to arrest the four city employees. In my opinion the previous

attempts to send Mr. Attila to anger management and retraining have had limited or no

success. In addition I recommend that when you do notify Mr. Attila of his termination

that it be in a neutral conference room with plenty of police officers in the room to give

you added protection. The last person to give Mr. Attila a written reprimand was hit over

the head with a slab of beef and dragged from Mr. Attila’s horse for 100 yards.