Module Three – Project One Guidelines and Rubric
Overview
For your first competency project, you
will develop a paper outlining your position on an essential debate within the
discipline of public administration. Public administration is a unique field of
study that incorporates tools and theories from diverse disciplines, such as
public policy, political science, organizational management, and business
administration. The tools of public administration are similar to those in
business-related fields, but its goals are uniquely the public good and public
welfare. In the first three modules in this course, we will examine the main
law governing the field of public administration (i.e., the U.S. Constitution),
explore the contribution of Woodrow Wilson (the founder of the discipline), and
determine how public administration is similar to business administration in
its means, but not its goals. In this position paper, you will define public
administration, compare it with and contrast it to business administration,
evaluate key business concepts and theories for their relevance and resonance,
and finally defend whether public administration should be its own field of
study. This is the first of three competency projects in this course; it is due
in Module Three.
In this assignment, you will
demonstrate your mastery of the following course competency:
· Explore theoretical origins of public administration and
the evolving nature of the profession
Prompt
The
purpose of this project is to take and defend a position on whether or not
public administration should be its own field of study. To that end, you will
answer these questions in support of your argument: How is public
administration defined? How is it different from and similar to business
administration? How has public administration incorporated concepts and
theories from business administration?
Specifically,
you must address the critical elements listed
below.
I.
Introduction: In this section, state your position on whether you think
public administration should be considered its own field of study. Why or why
not?
II.
History of Public
Administration: In this section, you
will define public administration as an academic discipline and outline the
major events that have shaped its evolution.
A. Define the academic discipline
of public administration.
B. Illustrate the causes and results of Woodrow
Wilson’s contributions to public administration as its own discipline.
C. Explain the role civil service reform played
in forming high standards in public administration in the United States.
III.
Public Administration
vs. Business Administration: Compare and contrast
business administration and public administration.
A. Identify theories that have been
incorporated into public administration from business administration, and how
those theories have evolved over time. For example, how did classical
organizational-management theory impact modern organizational culture and
management? Of these theories, which have you experienced in practice? Provide
an example.
B. Evaluate the purpose of public
administration compared to business administration. How are they similar and
how are they distinct?
C. Assess the practical realities of public
administration compared to business administration. In which sectors of the
economy are both practiced? How are the career opportunities and codes of
conduct different?
IV.
Conclusion: In this section, conclude your paper by restating your
thesis and summarizing the major points of your argument.
What to Submit
Your position paper must be 3–4 pages
in length (plus a cover page and references) and must be written in APA format.
Use double-spacing, 12-point Times New Roman font, and one-inch margins.
Include at least three references cited in APA format.
Project One Rubric
Criteria
Exemplary (100%)
Proficient (85%)
Needs Improvement (55%)
Not Evident (0%)
Value
Introduction
Meets “Proficient”
criteria and addresses critical element in an exceptionally clear,
insightful, sophisticated, or creative manner
States position on
whether public administration should be its own field of study
Addresses “Proficient”
criteria, but there are gaps in clarity, logic, or detail
Does not address
critical element, or response is irrelevant
10
History of Public Administration:
Definition
Meets “Proficient”
criteria and addresses critical element in an exceptionally clear,
insightful, sophisticated, or creative manner
Defines the
academic discipline of public administration
Addresses
“Proficient” criteria, but there are gaps in clarity, logic, or detail
Does not address
critical element, or response is irrelevant
10
History of Public Administration:
Woodrow Wilson’s Contributions
Meets “Proficient”
criteria and addresses critical element in an exceptionally clear,
insightful, sophisticated, or creative manner
Illustrates the
causes and results of Woodrow Wilson’s contributions to public administration
as its own discipline
Addresses
“Proficient” criteria, but there are gaps in clarity, logic, or detail
Does not address
critical element, or response is irrelevant
10
History of Public Administration:
Civil Service Reform
Meets “Proficient”
criteria and addresses critical element in an exceptionally clear,
insightful, sophisticated, or creative manner
Explains the role
civil service reform played in forming high standards in public
administration in the United States
Addresses
“Proficient” criteria, but there are gaps in clarity, logic, or detail
Does not address
critical element, or response is irrelevant
10
Public Administration vs. Business
Administration: Theories
Meets “Proficient”
criteria and addresses critical element in an exceptionally clear,
insightful, sophisticated, or creative manner
Identifies
theories that have been incorporated into public administration from business
administration
Addresses
“Proficient” criteria, but there are gaps in clarity, logic, or detail
Does not address
critical element, or response is irrelevant
15
Public Administration vs. Business
Administration: Purpose
Meets “Proficient”
criteria and addresses critical element in an exceptionally clear,
insightful, sophisticated, or creative manner
Evaluates the
purpose of public administration compared to business administration
Addresses
“Proficient” criteria, but there are gaps in clarity, logic, or detail
Does not address
critical element, or response is irrelevant
10
Public Administration vs. Business
Administration: Practical Realities
Meets “Proficient”
criteria and addresses critical element in an exceptionally clear,
insightful, sophisticated, or creative manner
Assesses the
practical realities of public administration compared to business
administration
Addresses
“Proficient” criteria, but there are gaps in clarity, logic, or detail
Does not address
critical element, or response is irrelevant
10
Conclusion
Meets “Proficient”
criteria and addresses critical element in an exceptionally clear,
insightful, sophisticated, or creative manner
Defends whether
public administration should be its own field of study
Addresses
“Proficient” criteria, but there are gaps in clarity, logic, or detail
Does not address
critical element, or response is irrelevant
15
Articulation of Response
Submission is free
of errors related to citations, grammar, spelling, and organization, and is
presented in a professional and easy-to-read format
Submission has no
major errors related to citations, grammar, spelling, or organization
Submission has
some errors related to citations, grammar, spelling, or organization that
negatively impact readability and articulation of main ideas
Submission has
critical errors related to citations, grammar, spelling, or organization that
prevent understanding of ideas
10
Total:
100%
