Overview

Public administration is a craft that demands real-world application of concepts and theories often learned in a classroom. Yet many students find it difficult to make the leap from theory to practice unaided. The Public Administration Workbook, Ninth Edition is specifically designed with the theoretically grounded, practice-oriented student in mind. It reviews scholarship in political science, law, industrial psychology, and the sociology of organizations and then allows students to see how these intellectual fields inform the analytical and managerial tasks that comprise public administration. Where standard public administration textbooks examine the nature of public agencies and explain how bureaucracies relate to other institutions, this workbook promotes a more effective way of learning—by doing—and more directly prepares those who will pursue careers in public agencies. Each chapter begins with a discussion of relevant concepts and scholarship before moving on to a hands-on exercise analyzing core analytical and management challenges. This edition incorporates nonprofit management into the discussion and examples in each chapter and explores the opportunities and challenges of AI for public administration. It also addresses the Trump presidency, recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions, the effects of and responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, remote work changes to workforce dynamics, and capital budgeting and public budgeting needs. The book is further supported by a detailed Instructor’s Manual written by the author to guide instructors on solutions, explanations, and ideas for using or modifying the exercises to fit a variety of course needs. The Instructor’s Manual for the ninth edition offers suggestions for incorporating AI into specific exercises and into public administration more generally. The Public Administration Workbook, Ninth Edition is an essential textbook for undergraduate and graduate courses on public administration in continuing education and professional training programs, as well as degree courses.

Full Product Details

Author:   Dennis L. Dresang (University of Wisconsin, Madison, USA)
Publisher:   Taylor & Francis Ltd
Imprint:   Routledge
Edition:   9th edition
Weight:   0.810kg
ISBN:  

9781041085515

ISBN 10:   1041085516
Pages:   340
Publication Date:   02 November 2025
Audience:   College/higher education ,  Professional and scholarly ,  Tertiary & Higher Education ,  Professional & Vocational
Format:   Hardback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   Not yet available  
This item is yet to be released. You can pre-order this item and we will dispatch it to you upon its release.

Table of Contents

PART I. DECISION MAKING AND POLICY ANALYSIS Exercise 1. Rational Decision Making Exercise 2. Policy Evaluation Exercise 3. Designing Organizations Exercise 4. Administrative Ethics PART II. PUBLIC MANAGEMENT Exercise 5. Operational Management: Techniques for Total Quality Management Exercise 6. Project Management: Critical Path Method Exercise 7. Contract Management: Privatization Exercise 8. Regulatory Management: Administrative Law Exercise 9. Emergency Management: Tabletop Exercise PART III. HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT Exercise 10. Job Analysis and Job Description Exercise 11. Performance Evaluation Exercise 12. Classification and Compensation Exercise 13. Succession Planning Exercise 14. Recruitment and Selection Exercise 15. Collective Bargaining PART IV. BUDGETING Exercise 16. Line-Item Budgeting Exercise 17. Performance and Program Budgeting Exercise 18. Outcome-Based Budgeting

Reviews

“The Public Administration Workbook has always been my go-to resource to prepare students for real-world applied knowledge. From the perspective of someone who teaches graduate-level courses in public budgeting, I cannot say enough when it comes to the workbook’s value as a hands-on tool to move beyond abstract concepts and directly engage with the practical skills students will need as public administrators. Dresang’s thoughtful integration of theory and application makes this an indispensable resource not just for students but also for instructors seeking to deliver a lasting, skills-based learning experience. It is more than a textbook—it is a toolkit for effective governance.” Alejandro Rodriguez, Associate Professor of Public Administration, University of Texas at Arlington “I have been using The Public Administration Workbook since it was first published. The 9th Edition offers even more in-depth applied exercises along with an overview of the most important topics in the discipline. The HR and budgeting chapters are integral to my public administration courses at both the undergraduate and graduate level.” Paula A. Holoviak, Professor of Philosophy and Government, Kutztown University

Author Information

Dennis L. Dresang is Professor Emeritus of Public Affairs and Political Science at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA.

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