HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGEMENT

Public Administration 3333

Professor: Bowden, C.
Office: GR 3.406
Office Hours: R 6:00 – 7:00 PM or by appointment
Phone: (972) 740-4366
E-mail: cbowden@utdallas.edu or
cbo1000@aol.com

COURSE DESCRIPTION AND OBJECTIVES

This course is offered for students who are pursuing or preparing for management careers in public agencies with
special emphasis on human resources management. The public administration degree program is intended for
individuals called upon to manage in the arenas of government, non-profits, or business. This course is an
examination of the ways in which the fiscal and administrative policies of public administration shape the structure
of opportunities and incentives in urban areas. Human Resources Management examines issues such as leadership,
motivation, decision making, conflict resolution, performance, and other important challenges of personnel
management in government organizations. Human Resources managers must synthesize many forms of knowledge
creatively to meet the varied and multiple challenges of public administration. The ability to understand the
substance of policy and programs; the ability to grasp the administrative, political, and ethical implications
imbedded in them; and the ability to then act upon the issues with effect, and together define the worth of the
contemporary human resources manager.

COURSE ORGANIZATION
In approaching the study of human resource management, one might dichotomize his or her efforts into (1) the study
of specific tools or techniques of managing the operations of human resources, and (2) the impact of political and
administrative behavior both in the public agency and in the community at large. Considerable bodies of literature
exist for both of these areas. The management technique literature is issued primarily from professional human
resources associations while behavioral contributions flow from professional associations and a wide variety of
university and other sources. Our emphasis in this course will come down equally on technique and behavior.
Generally, we will treat the technique areas through an examination of issues presented through contemporary
literature review and lectures from the professor and human resources management practitioners. Class exercises,
lectures and the portfolio project will highlight the managerial behavior dimension.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS
There are three graded course requirements. Each student will be evaluated on (1) Class Participation, (2) a
Midterm Portfolio Project, and (3) a Final Portfolio Project. The student portfolio projects will be on topics assigned
by the Professor. General guidelines for the portfolio are provided on the last page of this syllabus, although the
Professor may provide alternative formats. The course grade will be determined as follows: Class Participation
(33%), Midterm Portfolio Project (33%) and, Final Portfolio Project (33%).

OTHER INFORMATION
Policy for late submittals – Work submitted after the due date will not be evaluated, and therefore assigned the grade
of “F” for the work not evaluated. The only exception to this policy will be in the case of prior permission granted
by the Professor for work to be submitted after the due date. A class session prior to each due date will be devoted
to a review of assigned responsibilities.

Students are expected to attend class regularly with punctuality. Any student who arrives late or leaves class early
will be counted absent. Any student with excessive absences (more than 2) will receive a minimum of a 20%
reduction of their final course grade. Students with excessive absences should withdraw from the course by the
appropriate withdrawal dates. If the student does not attend class regularly, the Professor will not evaluate their work
and assigned a performance grade of "F" for the course.

Students who are prepared for class and intellectually engaged will receive the benefit of any doubt when grades are
assigned. Professor Bowden prefers that class be energized by questions from students. Students should bring one
written question to each class period. The question should emanate from class lectures/discussion, assigned readings
or contemporary issues in the media.

RECOMMENDED TEXT
TBA
SCHOLASTIC DISHONESTY
Each student in this course is expected to exercise independent scholarly thought, expression and aptitude. This
addendum to the course syllabus is provided to assist you in developing and maintaining academic integrity while
seeking scholastic success.

General Comments:
• All academic exercises (including assignments, essays, laboratory experiments and reports, examinations,
etc.) require individual, independent work. Any exception(s) will be clearly identified.
• Be sure your name or identifying number is on your paper.
• Complete and turn in academic exercises on time and in the required format (hardcopy, electronic, etc.).
• Retain confirmation of document delivery if submitted electronically.
• Retain all research notes and drafts until the project or assignment has been graded.
• Obtain written authorization from your instructor prior to submitting a portion of academic work previously
submitted for any academic exercise. (This includes an individual or group project submitted for another
course or at another school.)

Essays and Significant Papers:

Be prepared
• To present periodic drafts of work in process
• To correctly and completely reference all sources of information using the citation format prescribed
• To turn your completed assignment in timely and in the prescribed manner (electronic, hardcopy, etc.)

Examinations:
Be prepared
• To leave all personal belonging at the front of the room or other designated location (this includes cell phones,
turned off of course, and beverage containers)
• To present your UTD Comet Card
• To remove your cap or hat
• To remove the batteries from any electronic device (e.g. calculator)
• To exchange blue books or bring them early as required
• To change seating
• To sign out when exiting the testing room
• To be escorted for lavatory use

All episodes of suspected scholastic dishonesty will be reported according to University policy. Students who
violate University rules on scholastic dishonesty are subject to disciplinary penalties, including the possibility of
failure in the course and/or dismissal from the University. Since such dishonesty harms the individual, all students
and the University, policies on scholastic dishonesty will be strictly enforced. Penalties that may be assessed for
scholastic dishonesty may be reviewed in Subchapter D. Penalties at
http://www.utdallas.edu/student/slife/chapter49.html
 STUDENT PORTFOLIO PROJECT

Your Student Portfolio Project assignment is to prepare 10 brief reports researching the following challenges and
issues confronting management of Human Resources in public administration. Five (5) of these reports will be due
at Midterm and five (5) will be due on the date of the Final Exam. Examples of such topics are as follows:

Hiring, Firing, and Things In-Between

Compensation
Employee Benefits
Classification Systems
The Recruitment Process
Retention
Pay Systems
Conditions of Employment and Related Matters
Sexual Harassment
AIDS Policy
Workplace Violence
Removing Employees
Quality of Work Life
Information Technology Innovations
Performance and Appraisals
Grievances and Appeals
Training and Development
Leadership and Motivation
The Changing Character of Labor-Management Relations
Steps in the Bargaining Process
To Strike or Not to Strike
Unions and Associations
Mediation and Arbitration
Correcting Patterns of Discrimination in Public Employment
ADA
Questions of Compliance
Affirmative Action and Reverse Discrimination
The Glass Ceiling
The Debate over Comparable Worth
Equal Opportunity Employment
Downsizing
Decentralization
Diversity
Political Appointee-Career Executive Relations
The Relationship between Political and Career Executives

The specifics and organization of the reports are left to your discretion; however, it should contain the following: (1)
a short description of the problem under study, (2) an overview of the present situation in regard to the problem, (3)
the resources and constraints (e.g., social, political, economic) in dealing with the problem, (4) an outline of
alternative courses of action, (5) an evaluation of each of the outlined alternatives, (6) your specific
recommendations for dealing with the problem at hand, and (7) a dissenting opinion (if appropriate).

Regularly, you will casually present the status of your research in class for the purpose of monitoring your progress
and enlightening the other students as to your research. Each written report should be a minimum (to receive the
minimum passing grade) of 3 (three) typed, single or double-spaced pages, 10-12 point font and in the appropriate
format with a selected bibliography, and footnotes where appropriate.