f:/mydocs/courses/S02/653-R3

This syllabus is subject to change without notice. Contact the professor for most recent changes.

 

17-88-653-01 Management Seminar

Spring 02

Room TBA

            Monday 2:00-4:45 p.m.

 

Instructors:    

Mr. William Bassett (507) 243-4346  [b]                      Mr. Timothy G. Madigan (507) 334-2222 [c]

Dr. Janet Cherrington – (Dr. “J”) [a]     Office: 106b MH        Phone/Voice Mail:  507-389-5031

“  “Office Hours:  As posted on office door & personal web page.

 

E-mails: wbassett@MCTCnet.net         tmadigan@ci.faribault.mn.us     janet.cherrington@mnsu.edu

Dr. J’s Web page:  http://www.intech.mnsu.edu/cherrington

 

Text:  Budgeting: A Guide for Local Governments,  Bland, Robert L. and Irene S. Rubin Washington, D.C., International City/County Managers Association (ICMA), 1997   ISBN: 0-87326-151-8

 

 

Reserved Book Readings:  Managing Local Government: Cases in Decision Making, Banovetz, James M., ed., Washington, DC, International City Management Association, 1990,

Cases available at MSU library Reserve Desk or from library’s E-Reserves

(password will be announced in class).

 

Course Purpose:  This course is intended to increase your understanding of the principles of management in local government.   In particular, the following areas will form the basis of our course focus:

  • The Carver Model: a self-regulating system for city councils

  • Project management: concepts and principles for organizing work processes

  • MN’s finance system and the local government budget process  

  • Ethics, conflict management and leadership

We will analyze the application of these principles and the current issues faced by local government managers through course lectures, texts, in-class presentations, and a real-world finance/project management group assignment.  The course is designed to expose you to the inner circle of board/administrator relations and the knowledge of a self-regulating “how” vs. “what” operating model for city councils.  The finance portion of the course will give students the opportunity to apply budgeting and project management principles/concepts to a real world situation and, then report on it in writing and orally.

Course Outcomes:  Upon successful completion of this course, the student should be able to do the following:

 

  • Articulate the roles of the policy board vs. an administrator and anticipated future trends.
  • Articulate an ideal way in which city councils can act and set limits.
  • Identify areas of possible conflict b/t policy boards and administrators and processes for resolving them.
  • Understand the principles and concepts of project management, possible sources of revenues, and applying the latter to a long-term infrastructure project.
  • Understand how MN’s tax system works at the state and local levels.
  • Articulate the budget process, assignment of decision-making responsibilities, and possible revenue sources for local government bodies.

Personal Skill Development Goals:  In addition to the specific course outcomes, there are 4 additional goals that are most common to all other URSI graduate courses at MSU.  They are:

 

·        to develop your creative and critical thinking powers in addressing public sector problems and opportunities.

·        to develop your personal communication skills, both written and oral.

·        to improve your ability to work and interact with others in a team approach.

·        to improve your understanding and use of technology.