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66 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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What is Privatization?
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The government's use of the private sector (both for profit and not for profit) to implement public programs
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Why should the government privatize?
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The government should privatize to help cut costs, increase efficiency and improve workforce productivity
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What is the most common type of privatization?
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Contracting out
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What is Contracting out in regards to privatization?
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It is the practice of having a third party handle a public problem
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What is the policy of shutting down a public program in order to force the public to use a private party?
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Load shedding
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What is the process of the government paying the public to use a private service?
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Vouchers
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What is the process of selling government assists to a third party?
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Asset selling
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Is asset selling common within the United States?
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No (according to the teacher... however it is not unheard of. The Daily Show did a whole thing on how a few states are selling their buildings for private use)
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What are some problems though to be solved by privatizing?
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In theory, privatizing reduces the inefficiency of the public sector, removes many of the rules and regulations that the public sector faces, and reduces the political influences associated with the public sector
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What factors help to make privatization successful?
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Privatization is more successful when the government can clearly specify the tasks in advance and evaluate performance and intervene or replace private contractors when they perform poorly. As well, it helps when the firm hired has experience in the area and when the firm provides other useful services.
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What are some of the advantages of nonprofits?
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They have some of the advantages of privatization, but are generally mission driven and have a positive public image.
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Non profits are recommended for agencies that: ...?
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Generate little or no profits;
Require compassion and commitment to people; Entail a comprehensive, holitic approach; Require extensive trust on the part of the customers/clients; Involve volunteer labor; Necessitate hands-on, personal attention |
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What is Public Budgeting?
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The process by which scarce resources are allocated among competing activities/interests in society
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Where does most of the government's revenue come from?
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Taxes
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What is a progressive tax?
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A tax in which taxes increase as wealth increases
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What is a regressive tax?
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A tax that taxes the poor unequally to the rich
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What is a Proportional Tax?
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It imposes an equal burden (relative to resources) on the rich and poor. "Proportional" describes a distribution effect on income or expenditure, referring to the way the rate remains consistent (does not progress from "low to high" or "high to low" as income or consumption changes), where the marginal tax rate is equal to the average tax rate.
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What are the criteria when evaluating taxes?
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Equity (Fairness)
Yield (Efficiency in generating revenue) Elasticity (response to economic conditions) Ease of Administration ( understandable, compliance, evasion) Government accountability (obtained through popular vote) |
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What makes up 31% of total government revenues?
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Individual and corporate income tax
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What makes up 32% of local revenues?
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Property tax
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What is the largest source of state revenues?
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Sales tax
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What are User Fees?
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People pay user fees for the use of many public services and facilities. At the federal level in the US, there is a charge for walking to the top of the Statue of Liberty, to drive into many National parks, and to use particular services of the Library of Congress
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What are some advantages of lotteries?
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They are great revenue produces, voluntary, can relieve state pressure to increase taxes and can be earmarked.
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What are some disadvantages to lotteries?
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Low revenue yields, proceeds can fluctuate and are regressive
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Where is leadership needed in the public sector?
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Leadership is needed in developing a clear vision for an organization; working across multiple constituencies; recognizing social and ethical values; creating vibrant organizational networks; enhancing organizational performance; maintaining democratic values
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What is an Administrative leader?
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A person who moves public policy forward by defining organizational goals and persuading others to accomplish them.
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What is the difference between management and leadership?
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Management involves everyday operations. Technical details. That sorta thing. Leadership complements management
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What is the Comprehensive Definition of leadership?
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The process of moving a group or organization toward a mutually defined goal
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What is the Leadership Traits/Trait theory?
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Leaders have a set of inherent qualities
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What is the Leadership Behaviors/Behavioral theory?
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States that leaders have inherent behaviors that allow them to lead
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What is the Contingency Theory of Leadership?
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States that being an effective leader is relative to a situation.
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What is Transformational Leadership?
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It is a leaders ability to generate motivation and express a clear vision. As well, a transformational leader gets followers to transcend their self-interest and work toward a greater purpose
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How are women and leaders?
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More democratic, open, and participatory. As well, women are better communicators and are often more transformational
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What is the Veterans Preference Act?
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The Veterans Preference Act adds 10 bonus points to entrance exams taken by veterans. As well, disabled veterans who pass their test get moved to the top of the candidate list
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What are some good selection devices when deciding on hiring personnel?
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Work samples/job tryout; Aptitude tests; Structured interviews; Peer evaluations; Job knowledge test; Behavioral consistency; Integrity and conscientiousness tests
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What are some bad selection devices when deciding on hiring personnel?
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References; Seniority in terms of years of experience; Age; Grades; Interests; Training and eduction point method; Unstructured interviews
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Does compensation work well in the public sector?
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No
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How does financial compensation affect performance?
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Performance increases by 23% through financial incentives
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How does social recognition effect performance?
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Performance increases 17% through social recognition
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How does positive feedback effect performance?
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Performance increases 10% through positive feedback
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What is Employee Appraisal?
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The process of assessing employee productivity
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What are the functions of performance evaluations?
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Employee development; Correcting poor performance; Conveying standards of work quality to employees; Determining pay; Documenting work history for disciplinary/promotion purposes
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What are some problems with Employee appraisal?
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May reflect rater's strengths/weaknesses; Can lack credibility; Many jobs are difficult to measure performance; Performance appraisal functions may conflict
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What is a critical incident in terms of Performance Evaluations?
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Anytime something big, good or bad, happens, it is marked down in the record
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What can improve performance appraisal?
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Participation in appraisal system development; Rater training; Clear rationale, goals, objectives; Rating format compatible with organization/objectives of appraisal system
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What is the Pygmalion Effect?
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A fancy word for describing self fulfilling prophecies.
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Why is removing someone from Civil Service hard?
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Rules/procedures make it difficult to remove employees
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What is the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)
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An agency established to encourage private sector compliance with the Civil Rights Act
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What is the Equal Employment Opportunity Act?
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The act extended EEOC's authority to include non-federal public employment
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Has court support for Equal Opportunity increased or decreased in recent years?
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Decreased
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What is the general definition of ethics?
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All definitions imply that ethics is morality in action. Another definition is the process of using reason to help make decisions in one's personal and professional life.
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What is the difference between occupations and professions?
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Professions are the groups that those of a particular occupation subscribe to.
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What are some characteristics of a successful code of ethics?
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Provide guidelines for a modest level of ethical behavior; Cover a wide range of occupations within the same profession; Establish compulsory guidelines
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What are some problems with codes of ethics?
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Wide diversity of jobs in public service; Vague codes; Focus on preventing bad behavior, not promoting good behavior; Don't provide guidance to employees
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What did the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 do?
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It Created the Office of Government Ethics, which was reorganized in 1989
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What is Prudence in Management?
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It is the idea of moderation in all things. Characteristics include: Avoiding ideological rigidity; Exercising foresight; Organizing authority and resources to achieve goals; Acting with care and patience, but moving quickly as the opportunity arises
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What is Whistle Blowing?
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The reporting of incidents by an employee to an entity who is capable of taking proper
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How is Formal Communication defined?
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Communication through formal channels. Usually consists of rules and regulations
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How is Informal Communication defined?
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Communication outside of formal channels. This is most communication.
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What are the ego states in transactional communication analysis?
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Parent, Adult and Child
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What are some barriers to communication?
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Using language that others cannot understand; Frame of reference; Status distance; Geographic distance; Self protection of the initiator; Pressure from other work; Deliberative restrictions on information
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What are some unique communication demands in PA?
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The freedom of information act gives citizens the right of free access to government information
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What are some exceptions to the Freedom of Information Act?
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* Specific information established by Executive order as classified due to national defense/foreign policy
* Personnel rules/practices of an agency * Trades secrets, commercial or financial information that is obtained from a person and is privileged * Interoffice memos * Personnel files * Law enforcement records * That could interfere with enforcement proceedings * Would compromise a fair trail, could invade privacy * Compromises a confidential source * Techniques and procedures for investigations * Could endanger the life or physical safety of any individual * Reports prepared for the supervision or regulation of financial institutions * Geological and geophysical information/data (maps/well) |
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What did Clinton do in regards to the Freedom of Information Act?
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Clinton released previously classified national security document +25 y.o. and of historic interest
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What did Bush do in regards to the Freedom of Information Act?
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Restricted access to records of former presidents. This was revoked by President Obama
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What did Obama do in regards to the Freedom of Information Act
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* Can classify certain specific types of information relevant to national security after it's requested
* Automatic declassification of old information not identified as requiring continued confidentiality |
