Credit Hours: 3

Public leaders are facing new challenges as their organizations evolve to meet increasing demands, often with fewer resources. How are public services delivered? Which organizations are doing a good job? What makes one bureaucracy run better than another?

It is critical that practitioners understand the basic themes and concepts of management and organizational operation. In this course, students will examine the evolution of organizational structure and management and build an understanding of the critical elements of high-functioning organizations.

Students will diagnose public management challenges and opportunities, learn to identify appropriate strategies to address public management issues, and examine important dimensions of organizational life such as motivation, decision-making, diversity, conflict, and power dynamics.

Get a first-hand introduction to Organizational Theory from Professor Willow Jacobson.