(10/6) - There is no class next week (10/13) due to Fall Break. 

(10/6)  - Our next class is on 10/20 and the focus will be on decision making with a particular emphasis on decision making problems.  Be sure to have read both the Challenger and Columbia cases.  Your case memos on the Columbia Disaster are also due. 

(10/6) - Your revised memos on How Kristin Died are due at the start of class the week of 10/20.  Be sure to staple the original to your revised memo.

(9/24) - There is no class next week (9/29).  Our next class is the week of October 6th.  We will continue discussing the readings on organizing with particular emphasis on the readings related to organizational design and teams.  Your memos and the presentations for the ValuJet case are also due.

(9/24) - You can re-write the memos for the Centralia and Katrina cases and I will average the grades.  The revised memos are due at the start of class the week of October 6th.  I will average the two grades and the grade for the revised memo will be no lower than the original.  To improve your grade you should re-write the memo and your changes should go beyond merely correcting the mistakes I noted on the original memo.  You must staple the original to the revised memo and you don't need to worry about revising the attachment unless you want to.  You will get to revise the Kristin and ValuJet case memos as well.

(9/17) - Next week (9/22) we will begin discussing the readings on organizing with particular emphasis on the readings related to bureaucracy.  Your case memos and presentations for How Kristin Died are also due.  

(9/10) - Next week (9/15) your case memos on the Blast in Centralia and how a city slowly drowned are due.  The assigned individual presentations are also due.  We'll continue talking about politics vs. administration dichotomy (Wilson reading in Blackboard) but also discuss the readings related to how the environment influences public and nonprofit organizations. 

(9/4) - Next week (9/8) we'll discuss the foundations of administrative theory with special emphasis on the politics vs. administration dichotomy (Wilson reading in Blackboard) and some of the general differences between managing in the public vs. the private sector.  We'll also discuss the case memos on the Blast in Centralia (be sure to bring two copies). 

(9/1) - No class this week due to the labor day holiday.

(8/18) - Welcome to PLS 500 - Managing Public & Nonprofit Organizations!  I will periodically post reminders and announcements so you should check the website frequently.  The syllabus for this class can be viewed on the website or can be downloaded for printing by clicking here.  You should view the course schedule for dates that readings and assignments are due.  Please check the class web site and your email frequently as the course schedule may change.

(8/18) - Our first week of class is Monday August 26th.  We will discuss the introductory readings and review the course requirements.  You may want to bring a copy of the syllabus with you to class. 

(8/18) - Since this class involves a lot of professional writing, I have placed a collection of readings on Blackboard that provide advice on writing memos as well as writing other types of documents that public administrators often produce.