The Public Servant’s Guide to Government in Canada is a concise primer on the inner workings of government in Canada. This is a go-to resource for students, for early career public servants, and for anyone who wants to know more about how government works. Grounded in experience, the book connects core concepts in political science and public administration to the real-world practice of working in the public service. The authors provide valuable insights into the messy realities of governing and the art of diplomacy, as well as best practices for climbing the career ladder.
Budgets in the United States follow rules of presentation and use terms that make sense to few outside the world of government finance. Moreover, practices vary widely among the thousands of governments in the country, between federal, state, and local levels. Understanding Government Budgets offers detailed explanations of each of the different types of information found in budgets, featuring annotated examples from both state and local budgets, as well as the budget of the federal government. It stresses that the choices made about format and organization influence the story a budget tells about government. The goal of the book is to make the format of budgets and the information they contain accessible and understandable, helping users make better sense of government and its performance. Perfect for undergraduate or graduate level courses in budgeting and public administration, Understanding Government Budgets also makes a useful guide to budgets for the average citizen with an interest in how government operates or journalists writing about it.
Shows government agencies how to meet the needs of customers seamlessly, that is, in a smooth, effortless, responsive manner. Details a step-by-step approach to assess, design and implement significant change in all levels of government?and how to overcome resistance along the way.
Grounded in solid research, Social Media in the Public Sector explores the myriad uses of social media in the public sector and combines existing practices with theories of public administration, networked governance, and information management. Comprehensive in scope, the book includes best practices, the strategic, managerial, administrative, and procedural aspects of using social media, and explains the theoretical dimensions of how social behavior affects the adoption of social media technologies. Praise for Social Media in the Public Sector "Mergel has produced a foundational work that combines the best kind of scholarship with shoe-leather reporting and anthropology that highlights the debates that government agencies are struggling to resolve and the fruits of their efforts as they embrace the social media revolution. Social Media in the Public Sector is a first and sets a high standard against which subsequent analysis will be measured." —Lee Rainie, director, Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project "Mergel is an award-winning author who again wields her story skills in this book. She excels in explaining in concrete, practical terms how government managers can use social media to serve the public. Her book puts years of research into one handy guide. It's practical. It's readable. And it's an essential read." —John M. Kamensky, senior fellow, IBM Center for The Business of Government "Mergel moves beyond the hype with detailed, comprehensive research on social media technologies, use, management, and policies in government. This book should be required reading for researchers and public managers alike." —Jane Fountain, professor and director, National Center for Digital Government, University of Massachusetts Amherst "Comprehensive and compelling, Social Media in the Public Sector makes the case that to achieve Government 2.0, agencies must first adopt Web 2.0 social technologies. Mergel explains both how and why in this contemporary study of traditional institutions adopting and adapting to new technologies." —Beth Simone Noveck, United States Deputy Chief Technology Officer (2009-2011)
Who cares about Public Servants? Brenda Viola does. Why? Because she's walked in your shoes. As a Public Information Officer for a first-ring suburb of Philadelphia, she worked shoulder to shoulder with Municipal Clerks, Librarians, Teachers, Public Works, Parks and Recreation, Building and Planning, Police, Firefighters, Administrators, and Elected Officials. Late-night meetings leading into early mornings and dealing with well-meaning but demanding citizens are just two challenges that can lead to burnout and breakdowns. The Public Servants' Survival Guide is for you - the unsung heroes who directly affect the quality of life in a community. You make a difference and impact people, literally, where they live. This is legacy work and while the work may energize you, the demands on your time, energy, and attention could drain even the most resilient. You may or may not be the City Manager or Board President, but you are the CEO of your own life. Taking care of you will be the smartest thing you will ever do. And this book will help you restore joy in your work AND in your life. Instead of heading toward a breakdown, you'll be empowered to prepare for a breakthrough. ABOUT THE AUTHOR A former news anchor, QVC show host, and PR/Marketing pro, Brenda Viola's professional path has been diverse and fulfilling. Her ten years as an award-winning Public Information Officer for a first-ring suburb of Philadelphia spurred the creation of Municipal Education (ME) Seminars - a professional, skill development and personal growth initiative company that helps government workers reclaim the joy of public service, while avoiding burnout. When Brenda is not speaking at a conference, hosting a webinar, or posting inspirational messages on her 10,000+ member Facebook page (@BrendaViola722), she's singing bad karaoke at the Gulf Gate Moose Lodge in Sarasota, Florida where she resides. Brenda soaks up the year-round sunshine, enjoys a close-knit community of good friends, and relishes downtime to enjoy a good book or don her helmet to join her favorite guy, Mark, on his Harley Davidson.
Public Service Information Technology explains how all areas of IT management work together. Building a computer-based information system is like constructing a house; different disciplines are employed and need to be coordinated. In addition to the technical aspects like computer networking and systems administration, the functional, business, management, and strategic aspects all are equally important. IT is not as simple as expecting to use a software program in three months. Information Technology is a complex field that has multiple working parts that require proper management. This book demystifies how IT operates in an organization, giving the public manager the necessary details to manage Information Technology and to use all of its resources for proper effect. This book is for technical IT managers and non-technical (non-IT) managers and senior executive leaders. Not only will the Chief Information Officer, the IT Director, and the IT Manager find this book invaluable to running an effective IT unit, the Chief Financial Officer, the HR Director, and functional managers will understand their roles in conjunction with the technical team. Every manager at all levels of the organization has a small yet consequential role to play in developing and managing an IT system. With practical guidelines and worksheets provided in the book, both the functional team and the technical team will be able to engage collaboratively to produce a high-quality computer-based information system that everyone involved can be proud to use for many years and that can deliver an effective and timely public program to citizens. This book includes: Multiple layers of security controls your organization can develop and maintain, providing greater protection against cyber threats. Job-related worksheets you can use to strengthen your skills and achieve desired program results. Practices you can apply to maximize the value of your contracts and your relationships with for-profit companies and other contractors. New method for deciding when contracting or outsourcing is appropriate when internal resources are not available. Improved method for estimating intangible benefits (non-financial gains) attributable to a proposed project. An approach to deciding what parts of a business process should or should not be automated, paying critical attention to decision points and document reviews.
This thoroughly revised and updated third edition of The Ethics Challenge in Public Service is the classic ethics text used in public management programs nationwide. It also serves as a valuable tool for public managers who work in a world that presents more ethical challenges every day. It contains a wealth of practical tools and strategies that public managers can use when making ethical choices in the ambiguous pressured world of public service. The book contains new material on topics including social networking, the use of apology, ethics as applied to public policy, working with elected officials, and more.
Records management has undergone significant change in recent years, owing to the introduction of freedom of information legislation as well as the development of e-government and e-business and the need to manage records effectively in both the private and public sector. There are very few purely practical texts for records managers and this book aims to fill that gap. The author has spent his entire career in public sector records management and has contributed to records management standards for governments around the world. The text is wholly practical and written at an accessible level. Although the author discusses legislation and examples from the UK, the book is relevant to public sector records management at an international level. It will be essential reading for professionals in record management posts as well as anyone who is responsible for record keeping as part of their operational duties.
