A challenge public organizations face in motivating their workforces is the strong union influence. In 2018, the United States Supreme Court abolished agency fees in the public sector, changing the landscape of union membership. In examining the unique motivational factors of public sector employees, Perry and Wise developed a theory called public…

Explores how professional education for public service careers must change to meet the new demands of a society that expects its services to be more customer-focused. Proposes eight principle of good teaching practice that would improve the instructional approaches used in public service education and promote the development of leadership…

This paper reports the findings of a study of the role of sports in the lives of U.S. Congressmen and focuses attention on six gifted athletes for whom sports provided preparation for government service. The word "hero" as used in this paper refers to former members of Congress who were admired for their athletic prowess and for their…

Although personnel management in the public sector has become increasingly difficult because of recent social changes, more worker and middle management involvement in decision-making processes can improve all levels of personnel management. The social changes affecting personnel management have assumed three forms: (1) the entrance into the work…

A study was conducted of professional socialization, public service values, and political orientations of the state administrators in Kentucky. A sample of 3,000 Kentucky public managers was mailed a six-page self-administered questionnaire in three waves. A response rate of 49 percent generated 1,467 usable questionnaires. About 69 percent of the…

A study was conducted to determine whether data from a 1988-89 Kentucky survey measured differences in the value level held by minority and women administrators and their respective counterparts (majority and male administrators). The sample included 1,500 public service managers who had received inservice training and 1,500 who had not. The 1,471…

The design of a national service program for youth is discussed. National service can be defined as a program in which all youth, or at least a large fraction, upon reaching some specific age are given the opportunity, and perhaps the obligation, to engage in organized public service--military service, community service, or public works--for a…

Distinctions must be made between the positive intent of certain legislation and the negative backlash which this legislation can create for those persons it is intended to help and protect. Recent laws have been passed, for example, requiring physicians to obtain a patient's consent before treatment can begin and to provide sufficient information…

Originally presented at a Conference on Labor in Nonprofit Industry and Government held at Princeton University, the studies are the first to provide an economic discussion of the public sector labor market. Melvin Reder examines the effect of the absence of the profit motive on employment and wage determination in the public sector. Orley…

A model for undergraduate programs designed to integrate foreign language instruction with training for an international public service occupation is outlined. The language component and professional training, taught separately at first, are brought together at the end of the program in an internship in an international public service…

While natural resource professionals are adept at managing resources, they often lack the skills and desire to work effectively with the public. School-based partnerships are a potential vehicle for enhancing social interaction skills. Research shows that teachers benefit from partnerships but the benefits of partnering for the resource…

This paper identifies and explores three major factors that affect the career choices of African Americans. First, the future of the American employment market is strongly based in technology, yet approximately two-thirds of the African American population reported their level of education at high school completion and lower. Second, African…

Reflections on the fundamental problems of teaching political science in community colleges are outlined. Facing the stark reality of a student population deficient in reading and writing skills, the teacher must make difficult concepts and material comprehensible in order to create a sense of attachment for the nation, its Constitution, laws, and…

The Public Service Research Program at the University of California at Davis is described. The goal of the program is to develop a systematic approach to an integrated community/university program. Requirements are that a public policy issue must be addressed, faculty and students must be involved, and collaboration with a government agency or a…

Three presentations are provided from Symposium 33, Work Motivation, of the Academy of Human Resource Development (HRD) 2000 Conference Proceedings. "An Attitudinal Examination of the Role of HRD in Voluntary Turnover in Public Service Organizations" (Kenneth R. Bartlett, William R. McKinney) compares public service managers who voluntarily left…