Common Themes

There are three common themes in my courses. First, I emphasize the need for empirical, scientific, data as the foundation for better understandings of public administration theories, management processes, leadership, ethics in government, and anything else we investigate. In each course, I present my Rules for Social Science Research as guidelines (1) for acquiring empirical, scientific, data, and (2) for evaluating the research of others. The first Rule is Don't Ask. Click here for a complete list of the Rules for Social Science Research.

Second, where appropriate in each course, I discuss Quality management as the best way to manage governments. Principles of Quality Management are identified and applied to various topics; such as public administration theories, management processes and structures, leadership theories and practices, and ethics in government.

Third, and consistent with my scientific, Quality management orientation, each course emphasizes the value of system analysis and behaviorism.

• Course Documents


• PA400: Public Administration Theory
• PA522: Ethics in Public Sector Organizations
• PA524: Leadership in Public Sector Organizations
• PA527: Public Management Theory
• PA544: Qualitative Research Methods
• UPA305: Urban Government II - Managing the External Environment