Public Personnel Administration Fall 2015
T. Herrington
Instructions: Provide a reply for four (4) of the following questions. In your answers give attention to clarity, accuracy, relevance, depth, and logic. More specifically, give examples to illustrate what you mean with appropriate elaborations and be as specific, detailed, and logical as necessary to make sense in your replies. Each reply will count for twenty-five (25) points. Write legible.
1. The United States public service system shares of the same challenges as its counterparts on the state and local levels, as well as, member states of the international community. These public service systems each have their own unique characteristics, but are facing similar challenges. Discuss some of these challenges and responses to take on these challenges.
2. Reform of the civil service system in the United States has been an on-going debate for several decades. Compare and contrast the nature of this debate at the national and state levels. Do you think that the movement to replace independent civil service commissions with executive branch personnel agencies is a good one? Do you think that job seniority rights should be abolished in all public service systems? Will the widespread use of at-will systems lead to patronage problems again, as it did in the 19th century?
3. In its ongoing survey of the American workplace, the Gallup 2013 survey found "that only 30 percent of workers are 'were' engaged, or involved in, enthusiastic about and committed to their workplace". The survey reported on three types of employees among 100 million full-time workers. They were classified as follows: (1) actively engaged at about 30 million, (2) not engaged at about 50 million, and (3) actively disengaged at about 20 million. Discuss what motivates people the most in their jobs. How can a manager motivate employees when their needs differ? Is it reasonable to attempt to motivate people using mostly financial rewards and negative inducements?
4. Use the last examination you took in any class to discuss the reasons for using performance appraisals-and the limitations of appraisals.
5. Select a prospective job, perhaps one you are interested in. Make sure that you link it to a position description. Design a set of interview questions, including biographical,situational judgment, behaviorally anchored, and other related items you want to add.
Your interview should be for 45 minutes. What employment practices and laws would guide your actions?
6. Discuss what you would do if, in an interview for a public service job in law enforcement, you were asked whether you were a member of the #blacklivesmatter movement or Communist Workers Party of America. If you refused to answer the question and subsequently was not hired, would you do anything about it? If so, what? If not, why not? Provide a definitive explanation.
7. With extensive delegations and deregulations of the recruitment, selection, testing, and hiring processes, how is itpossible to protect the merit principle and equal employment opportunity? Be sure to use examples in your reply.