POLITICAL SCIENCE
497:
SMALL GROUP STUDY IN
POLITICAL SCIENCE
TOPIC: Public Sector
Leadership in the 21st Century
Spring 2009
Northern
Department of Political Science
Samantha M. Fisher, MPA
Office: IASBO 202
Email: samfisher@niu.edu
Class Time: Monday and Wednesday, 3:30 PM - 4:45 PM
Classroom: DuSable 466
Office Hours: Monday and Wednesday, 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM.; or by appointment
Course Objectives
and Goals:
Welcome to POLS 497. POLS 497 is a small group seminar which focuses more on discussion than lecture. The topic of POLS 497 varies from professor to professor; this section will focus on public sector leadership in the 21st century. The goal is for you to have a strong understanding of the different skill set that is needed for public sector leadership versus private sector, ethic standards expected within the public sector, and initiatives that are modern developments in public leadership approaches (i.e. Strengths Finder 2.0, Appreciative Inquiry, etc.).
University Policies:
Academic
Dishonesty
Regarding
plagiarism, the NIU Undergraduate Catalog states: "Students are guilty of
plagiarism, intentional or not, if they copy material from books, magazines, or
other sources without identifying and acknowledging them. Students guilty of, or assisting others in, either cheating or plagiarism on
an assignment, quiz, or examination may receive a grade of F for the course
involved and may be suspended or dismissed from the university." The above
statement encompasses a paper written in whole or in part by another; a paper
copied word-for-word or with only minor changes from another source; a paper
copied in part from one or more sources without proper identification and
acknowledgment of the sources; a paper that is merely a paraphrase of one or
more sources, using ideas and/or logic without credit even though the actual
words may be changed; and a paper that quotes, summarizes or paraphrases, or
cuts and pastes words, phrases, or images from an
Internet source without identification and the address of the web site.
Students
with Disabilities
Under
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, NIU is committed to making
reasonable accommodations for persons with documented disabilities. Those
students with disabilities that may have an impact on their course work must
register with the Center for Access-Ability Resources (CAAR) on the fourth
floor of the Health Services Building (753-1303). CAAR will assist students in
making appropriate instructional and/or examination accommodations with course
instructors. It is important that CAAR and instructors be informed of any
disability-related needs during the first two weeks of the semester.
Attendance and
Participation:
Students should come to class having read all of the week’s assigned readings and ready to discuss the material. Attendance and participation credit is noted in the grading scale listed below. Online participation via Blackboard discussion boards are also included in this participation point system.
Department
Website:
Undergraduates
are strongly encouraged to consult the Department of Political Science web site
on a regular basis. This up-to-date,
central source of information will assist students in contacting faculty and
staff, reviewing course requirements and syllabi, exploring graduate study,
research career options, tracking department events, and accessing important
details related to undergraduate programs and activities. To reach the site, go to http://polisci.niu.edu
Required Texts:
See schedule of assignments below and “Course Documents” section of Blackboard for all of your reading materials.
Grading Scale and
Point Distribution: 100 Points Total
Five Short Essays: 50 Points (10 points per essay)
Leadership Presentation: 25 Points
Attendance and Participation: 25 Points
All short essays
should be submitted via Blackboard online in the Microsoft Word format listed
below:
-Times New Roman Font
-12-Point Size
-Double-Spaced
Leadership
Presentation:
You are required to prepare a 15 minute maximum presentation on your role model public administrator. This can be any public figure in American or International government, nonprofit sector, or a general non-governmental organization. You must outline in the presentation why you believe this individual’s public leadership style is ideal using the Five Exemplary Leadership Practices you learned within the course. Feel free to make charts, a PowerPoint presentation, video clips, even dress up and present a speech as your ideal public leader…. just get creative!
Course Schedule:
Week 1, January 12, 2009: Introduction
Assignment: Please write a one-page short essay in regards to one of the Five Exemplary Leadership Practices you feel is the most important for a public sector leader to possess in order to be successful.
Lecture: Class Introduction & Overview
Introduction of Basic Concepts
General Discussion on Leadership in 21st Century
Week 2, January 14, 2009: Five Exemplary
Leadership Practices
Work Due: Short Essay #1 Due- Upload Via Blackboard
(Most Important Exemplary Leadership Practice)
Assignment: Please write a one-page short essay in regards to one of the Ten
Commitment Statements you feel is the least important for a public sector leader to
possess and still remain successful.
Lecture: Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership Discussion
Week 3, January 19, 2009: Ten Commitment
Statements of Leadership
Assignment: Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday- NIU Closed
Lecture: No Class
Week 4, January 21, 2009: Movie Day
Movie Day: Mr. Smith Goes To Washington
Work Due: Short Essay #2 Due- Upload Via Blackboard
(Least Important Leadership Commitment Statement)
Assignment: None
Lecture: Ten Commitment Statements of Leadership
Also, view the transition from a citizen to a public sector leader in the film:
Mr. Smith Goes To Washington
Week 5, January 26,
2009: Movie Day
Movie Day: Mr. Smith Goes To Washington
Assignment: Please
write a one-page short essay in regards to one of the Five Exemplary Leadership
Practices you feel Mr. Smith possessed that enabled his success in
Lecture: View the transition from a citizen to a public sector leader in the film:
Mr. Smith Goes To Washington
Week 6, January 28, 2009: Ethics in the
Public Sector
Work Due: Short Essay #3 Due- Upload Via Blackboard
(Mr. Smith Goes To Washington Leadership Skills)
Assignment: Please write a one-page essay in debating whether or not you agree with the
Strengths Finder 2.0 argument of honing your strengths primarily instead of investing a
majority of time developing your natural weaknesses.
Lecture: Discuss Strengths Finder 2.0 Approach to Leadership
Week 7, February 2,
2009: Strengths Finder 2.0
Work Due: Short Essay #4 Due- Upload Via Blackboard
(Strengths Finder 2.0 Debate)
Assignment:
Please write a one-page short essay citing an example of an unethical decision made by a public
official. What was the unethical decision made, the ramifications the decision
had on the public, and where can that public official begin to rectify the
problem that they have caused? Why are strong ethics important for public
leaders?
Lecture: Discussion of the Importance of Ethics in Public Leadership
Week 8, February 4, 2009: Appreciative
Inquiry
Work Due: Short Essay #5 Due- Upload Via Blackboard
(Ethical Dilemma and Ramifications Example)
Assignment: Prepare Leadership Presentation
Lecture: Appreciative Inquiry Discussion/ Overview of Leadership Presentation Expectations
Week 9, February 9,
2009: Leadership Presentations
Assignment: In-Class Leadership Presentations
Lecture: In- Class Leadership Presentations
Week 10, February 11, 2009: Leadership Presentations
Assignment: In-Class Leadership Presentations
Lecture: In-Class Leadership Presentations/ Closing Reflections
***NOTE: The
professor reserves the right to modify the syllabus at any time via verbal
announcement in class or posting on Blackboard.