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Exploring Public Administration: An Introduction
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Exploring Public Administration: An Introduction

First Edition


April 2026 | 500 pages | CQ Press
With an approachable “pracademic” perspective that blends theory with on-the-job experience, Exploring Public Administration offers an engaging introduction to public administration. Authors Samantha Mosier and Casey Fleming use specific examples and clear prose to illustrate the dynamics between public management and policymaking across the federal, state, local, and nonprofit levels. Practitioner-written case studies connect concepts to practice and offer insight into the day-to-day work of public servants, and a chapter on getting into the civil service offers advice for students considering a career in the field.
 
Preface
 
Acknowledgements
 
About the Authors
 
Chapter 1: Introduction
What Is Public Administration?

 
Our Dual Approach to the Study of Public Administration

 
Public Is Not Like Private Administration

 
The Four E’s: Values of Public Administration

 
Public Administration – The Discipline in Review

 
Conclusion

 
Key Terms

 
Review Questions

 
Discussion Questions

 
Further Recommended Resources

 
 
Chapter 2: The Bureaucracy and Its Government Role
Bureaucracy as the 4th Branch

 
The Structure of the 4th Branch

 
Public Policy and the Policy Process

 
The Policy Activities of the Bureaucracy

 
The Implementation & Oversight Activities of the Bureaucracy

 
Summary

 
Key Terms

 
Review Questions

 
Discussion Questions

 
Further Recommended Resources

 
 
Chapter 03: Decision-Making
Theoretical Approaches to Decision-Making

 
Applied Decision-Making

 
The Importance of Information

 
Chapter Summary

 
Key Terms

 
Review Questions

 
Discussion Questions

 
Further Recommended Readings

 
 
Chapter 4: Budgeting
Budgeting Basics

 
Approaches and Types of Budgeting

 
The Public Budget Process

 
It’s All About the Benjamins: Revenue and Spending in Government

 
Conclusion

 
Key Terms

 
Review Questions

 
Discussion Questions

 
Further Recommended Readings

 
 
Chapter 5: Organizational Theory and Design
What Are Organizations? What Is Organizational Theory?

 
Organizations as Closed Systems: Early Approaches to Organizations

 
Organizations as Open Systems: A Mid-20th Century Shift in Perspective

 
Economic Theories of Organizations

 
Conclusion

 
Key Terms

 
Review Questions

 
Discussion Questions

 
Further Recommended Readings

 
 
Chapter 6: The Civil Service and Labor Relations
A History of the Civil Service

 
Merit and Civil Service Principles

 
The Legal Framework of the Government Workplace

 
Labor Relations in the Public Service

 
Chapter Summary

 
Key Terms

 
Review Questions

 
Discussion Questions

 
Further Recommended Readings

 
 
Chapter 7: Strategic Human Resource Management
The Changing Landscape of Public Human Resource Management

 
Position Management: Defining Needs and Jobs

 
Recruitment: Attracting the Next Generation of Public Servants

 
Selection: Who to Hire? Who to Promote?

 
Compensation and Benefits: Rewarding Employees

 
Training and Development

 
Appraising Employee Performance

 
Conclusion

 
Key Terms

 
Review Questions

 
Discussion Questions

 
Further Recommended Readings

 
 
Chapter 08: Leadership and Management
Leadership in Public Organizations

 
Theories And Approaches to Studying Leadership

 
Other Factors of Leadership

 
Followership

 
Chapter Summary

 
Key Terms

 
Review Questions

 
Discussion Questions

 
Further Recommended Readings

 
 
Chapter 09: Accountability and Ethics
Defining Ethics

 
Managing Ethics in Public Administration

 
Accountability Revisited

 
Chapter Summary

 
Key Terms

 
Review Questions

 
Discussion Questions

 
Further Recommended Readings

 
 
Chapter 10: Implementation
Studying Implementation

 
Organizations’ Performance-Based Challenges

 
Intergovernmental and Collaboration Challenges

 
Implementation in the Age of the Internet

 
Chapter Summary

 
Key Terms

 
Review Questions

 
Further Recommended Readings

 
 
Chapter 11: Evaluation and Assessment
The Importance of Reflection

 
Performance Management

 
Policy Analysis

 
Program Evaluation

 
Chapter Summary

 
Key Terms

 
Review Questions

 
Discussion Questions

 
Further Recommended Readings

 
 
Chapter 12: Getting Into the Civil Service
The Benefits and Drawbacks of Civil Service

 
Getting Started

 
Advancing Your Career

 
Chapter Summary

 
Review Questions

 
Discussion Questions

 
Further Recommended Readings

 
 
Appendix 1: Check Your Progress Answer Key
 
Glossary

Mosier and Fleming present an insightful analysis of public administration's challenges—policy implementation, bureaucracy, and accountability—while offering innovative solutions. Essential for students and professionals alike, this work is a beacon for navigating modern governance.

Simon H. Okoth
Virginia Commonwealth University
Review

A great new text that covers the breadth of the field of public administration in a way that is accessible and understandable to students.

Chad Kinsella
Ball State University
Review

Exploring Public Administration gives students a bird's-eye overview of the sector, while also performing dazzling deep dives into innovative historic and cultural examples. This text would benefit professors of introductory-level public administration or politics and policy courses.

Nicole Hefty
Western Michigan University
Review

A masterful examination of contemporary public administration. Essential reading for both scholars and practitioners as it offers scholarly information and practical insights into the complexities of public service.

Patricia Moore
Kean University
Review

Samantha Mosier and Casey Fleming have an ability to talk to introductory students in public administration. This ease of reading makes grasping concepts much easier for students.

Matthew Thomas
University of Alabama
Review

A fresh, captivating look at the driving forces behind public administration.

Frederick D. Gordon
East Tennessee State University
Review

This text is a comprehensive approach to public administration and provides students with insight into the history of the field as well as major pertinent issues that impact public service and bureaucracy.

Beth Rauhaus
Texas A&M University, Corpus Christi
Review

This text blends a practitioner's perspective with the necessary theoretical elements. Chapter 12, "Getting into the Civil Service," is a great help in showing students future job and internship possibilities with the government. This career-ready focus is much appreciated.

Branson Herrera
Northwest Missouri State University
Review

Exploring Public Administration delves into the ins and outs of public administration in a practical manner. The authors do a good job of demystifying the field and offering practical lessons.

Sombo Muzata
James Madison University
Review

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ISBN: 9781071814420
£133.00