Discussion:
Understanding what motivates people in the workplace requires understanding their needs. Therefore, the willingness of an individual to do something is conditioned by the organization's ability to satisfy some need for that individual. Scientific management theory assumed that workers were motivated by monetary rewards and sanctions.
Some advocate a constitutional amendment that would require the federal government to balance its budget on an annual basis. What would be the chief advantages and disadvantages of such an amendment? Do you favor it? Should such an amendment have a clause allowing an unbalanced budget in times of emergency?
During the early and mid-1980s, many states raised their drinking age to 21 in response to federal prompting and as a means of promoting traffic safety. How would you go about analyzing the impact of this policy? What kind of approach would you take, and what kinds of information would you seek and use?
Congressional Debate on Budget Deficits - The federal budget has failed to follow simple and proven principles of basic economics.
What are the positive and negative effects of politics on governmental leadership? What is the effect of media on leaders in government?
Which resource do you feel is most valuable to a public administrator? How do limitations on authority affect the ability of public administrators to make decisions in the public's interest?
What steps can public administrators take to increase their flexibility and effectiveness in responding to public needs? For what kind of executive or manager would you prefer to work? Why?