The case method is well suited for use in introductory public administration courses. Beginning students may lack related work experience to which to apply the theoretical information presented in the course. Case studies provide vehicles by which theory can be applied to practice. Praxis learning, rather than the memorization of facts, can be the result. In addition, this method offers an opportunity for lively class discussions in which students can gain confidence in their ability to propose and defend their ideas, thereby learning skills they will need as public administrators.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
BonomaThomas V.KosnikThomas J.1990Marketing Management: Text and Cases.Boston, MA: Irwin.
2.
BrockJonathan1994 “An Electronic Hallway: Desktop Case Access Becomes Available” Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, 13 (4): 778–784
3.
Case Program, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University1992The Kennedy School Case Catalog.3d ed.Cambridge, MA: Author.
4.
ChristensenC. Roland1993 “Forward” In WassermannSelmaGetting Down to Cases: Learning to Teach with Case Studies.New York: Teachers College Press: vii–xii.
5.
ChristensenC. Roland with HansenAbby1987Teaching and the Case Method: Text, Cases and Readings.Boston, MA: Harvard Business School.
6.
ChristensenC. RolandGarvinDavidSweetAnn. 1990Education for Judgment.Boston: Harvard University Graduate School of Business.
7.
DeardenJohn1988Management Accounting: Text and Cases.Engtewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall.
8.
DenhardtRobert B.1984Theories of Public Organization.Monterey, CA: Brooks/Cole Publishing Company.
DiverColin S.1985 “PPMPs Swan Song.” Public Policy and Management Newsletter.7(1). In HenryNicholas (1992). Public Administration and Public Affairs.Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, Inc.
12.
EwingDavid1990Inside the Harvard Business School.New York: Random House.
13.
FollettMary Parker1926 “The Giving of Orders.” in ShafritzJay M.HydeAlbert C.Classics of Public Administration. (1992) (3d ed.) Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Publishing Company: 66–74.
14.
FrederickPeter1980The Dreaded Discussion: Ten Ways to Start. In Roland ChristensenC.HansenAbby (1987). Teaching and the Case Method: Text, Cases and Readings.Boston, MA: Harvard Business School.
HenryNicholas1992Public Administration and Public Affairs.Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, Inc.
17.
IbsenHenrik1978 “An Enemy of the People.” In FjeldeRolf. The Complete Major Prose Players.New York: Farrar, Straus, Giroux, 277–386.
18.
JohnsonMark1995Personal communication with the Computer Network Coordinator at the Cascade Center for Public Service.
19.
KatesNancy D.1989Starting from Scratch: Alice Rivlin and the Congressional Budget Office. C16-88-872.0. Cambridge, MA: Case Program, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University.
20.
KennedyDavid M.ScottEsther1985Preparing Cases in Public Policy.Cambridge, MA: Case Program, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University.
21.
MechlingJerry1991The Minnesota Knowledge Systems Center. C16-90-1015.0.Cambridge, MA: Case Program, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University.
22.
NewmanNathanSchneidermanAnders1995The Federal Budget Gets Wired.Berkeley: UC-Berkeleys Center for Economic Research (CCER)ccer@violet.berkeley.edu
23.
NugentChristopher E.1979Introduction in Cases in Public Policy and Management.Boston: Intercollegiate Case Clearing House. In HenryNicholas. (1992). Public Administration and Public Affairs.Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, Inc.
24.
SartreJean-Paul1955 “Dirty Hands.” In No Exit and Three Other Plays.New York: Vintage Books, 129–248.
25.
ShafritzJay M.HydeAlbert C.1992Classics of Public Administration. (3d ed.). Belmont, CAWadsworth Publishing Company.
26.
ShoenfeltE.L.EastmanN.A.MendelR.M.1991“The Relative Effectiveness of Training Methods for Attaining Training Objectives: Current Opinion of Training Practitioners.” Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the Southeastern Psychological Association. New Orleans, LA, March 1991.
27.
VarleyPamela1987Striving Toward Excellence in the Stale of Minnesota. C16-87-737.0. Cambridge: John F. Kennedy School of Government.
28.
WaldoDwight. 1987 “Public Administration.” In HenryNicholas. The Emergence of Public Administration as a Field of Study. InRalph dart ChandlerA Centennial History of the American Administrative State.New York: The Free Press. 52.
29.
WassermanSelma1993Getting Down to Cases: Learning to Teach with Case Studies.New York: Teachers College Press.
