27. Public Administration Review

Description of Publication: Public Administration Review

If government workers represent 18 percent of the U.S. labor force, why were they victims of about 30 percent of the cases of workplace violence during the years 1987-1992? The 1995 bombing of the federal building in Oklahoma City serves as the most recent and tragic example of public employees being murdered while at work. If you are looking for valuable insight into the public administration arena, the Public Administration Review (PAR) is an excellent place to start. One is often tempted to simply look at the government as a source of information on regulations and data management. But it is one of the world's largest complexes of organizations both as customer and employer. Despite the general mood of politicians to reduce government size and influence, make no mistake, these organizations will be around for a while, controlling what you do and how you do it. cover

PAR is published by the American Society for Public Administration. Established in 1939, ASPA is the largest and most prominent professional association in the field of public administration. With a diverse membership composed of more than 12,000 practitioners, teachers, and students, ASPA has emerged as the focal point for intellectual and professional interaction, thereby serving as the principal arena for linking thought and practice within the field of public administration. This is the only organization that, in my experience, displays its Code of Ethics on the back of its journal (i.e., "Serve the Public Interest, Respect the Constitution and the Law, Demonstrate Personal Integrity, Promote Ethical Organizations and Strive for Professional Excellence").

PAR continues its 55-year history as the preeminent scholarly journal in the field. It covers a wide range of issues including total quality management, strategic planning, ethics, information technology, administrative systems in other countries, organizational culture. Examples of recent articles are:

"Congressional Budget Reform: The Unanticipated Implications for Federal Policy Making," by Philip G. Joyce, and "Designing Effective Performance-Measurement Systems under the Government Performance and Results Act of 1993," by R. Kravchuck and R. Schack.

Articles (8 to 10 pages) are each preceded by an abstract of approximately 200 words. The journal itself runs approximately 90 to 100 pages with a few ads at the back plus a fairly comprehensive book review section. To get further information, check the Web site at www.fedworld.gov.

By the way, if you have your eye on a government job, you may want to apply for the Presidential Management Intern Program (PMI). Graduate students from a variety of academic disciplines completing or expecting to complete a master's or doctoral-level degree from an accredited college or university during the current academic year are eligible. These individuals must also have a clear interest in, and a commitment to, a career in the analysis and management of public policies and programs. PMI winners receive an initial two-year appointment. After successfully completing the two-year program, PMIs may be eligible for conversion to a permanent government position and further promotional opportunities. The Office of Personnel Management facilitates and provides a structured orientation session and graduation ceremony. Additionally, federal agencies also arrange for seminars, briefings, and conferences, as well as on-the-job training and other developmental opportunities. Federal agencies also provide PMIs with rotational assignments. PMI applications can be obtained by calling the Career America Connection at (912) 757-3000.
For information on Civil Service careers call the Office of Personnel Mangement, (202) 606-2424.

Public Administration Review
www.aspanet.org
info@aspanet.org

Public Administration Review

bimonthly publication
ISSN 0033-3352
For more information, call: the American Society for Public Administration (ASPA),
Phone (202) 393-7878
Fax (202) 638-4952

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