Public Personnel Management

“The rationale for this paper stems from the fact that black administrators in white corporate and governmental structures in this country are a relatively new phenomenon. Therefore, we must conclude that, because of the cultural diversity, black administrators have met and will continue to encounter a wide spectrum of socio-political administrative problems that are not specifically stressed or deemed warranted for study in the classroom. Although the problems discussed are mainly those of blacks, their relevance to other ethnic minority groups is important also.”

“One probable reason for the slow progress being made in the personnel field is the tendency for personnel experts to overlook the total personnel management system and to concentrate upon subactivities.”

“In recent years the public has been reluctant to accept tax increases, the principle means of supporting government services. one reason is the public's belief that government is ineffective and inefficient.”

“The administrative procedures relative to the certification process are clearly lacking … educators, individually and collectively, have made little effort to develop a coherent, rational, and fully implemented policy and procedure relative to felony convictions and certification.”

“A recent survey of high-level, appointed executives in ten states reveals that they are very satisfied with their jobs. They rank their current occupation nearer to ‘ideal’ than did previously surveyed federal or business executives, and they prefer working for state government to employment with the federal government or in private business.”

A report on a contractual discipline procedure that promises to give managers options other than discharging employees or not disciplining them at all.

“If university graduates place less emphasis on monetary incentives and productivity values than in the past, the business community may have cause for concern. Does this mean that government employers can expect to benefit from a possible change in societal values?”

Where time constraints and other practical problems make empirical validation studies impossible, concurrent validation-using weighted ratings as performance criteria-is an alternative with a number of advantages.

“We are at a productivity measurement impasse for much of the work we do in government. This paper gets to the fundamentals of defining productivity, relating measurement modes to type of work and discusses some “new measurement” will require different management styles than those we are now familiar with. This has profound implications for those in personnel management.”