Public Values as a Core Element of NASPAA

Abstract

The diversity of types of degrees offered by NASPAA member programs creates both challenges and opportunities. One of the most vexing of these challenges concerns the identity of our field. In this address, I suggest that bringing public values to bear upon the analysis and management of organizations, programs, and policies should be a core element of the identity of NASPAA and its member programs. At the same time, it appears that to date we have not been entirely successful in helping society incorporate public values other than economic efficiency into public policy and management. In addition to sharpening the identity of NASPAA and its members, doing a better job of helping society incorporate public values other than economic efficiency into public policy and management can help reverse the erosion of the role of government that we have witnessed over the past four decades.