Spring, 2007 Professor Lloyd Burton
Off. Hrs. Mon. 1-3, Tues.
P.Ad. 5006/7006. LEADERSHIP AND PROFESSIONAL ETHICS
Syllabus, PartI. Overview
Content and Process. This course is about the moral use of power in the public interest, and the responsibility of public administrators to lead by example in the use of that power. Through readings-based classroom discussions, students will develop a knowledge base of various views on what it means to act ethically in the practice of public administration. Through the application of this knowledge to a variety of “real-world” ethical dilemmas, students will also learn the art of moral reasoning not as a theoretical philosophical exercise, but as a practical professional skill – a skill without which public sector leaders cannot ultimately succeed.
Readings. There are three required readings for the course: Rushworth Kidder’s How Good People Make Tough Choices; Ronald Heifetz’ Leadership Without Easy Answers; andDaniel Goleman’s Social Intelligence. There will also be a small handful of required articles posted on the course website (set up on Blackboard). Part II. of the Syllabus contains week-by-week class meeting topics and reading assignments.
Evaluation. The general basis for computing grades in this course will be:
Mid-term Exam:30%
Case Study Exercise:20%
Case study Analysis:40%
Class Participation:10%
The mid-term exam is primarily a means of finding out whether students did the readings and gave them much thought. The case study exercise is an opportunity to reflect on and respond to an ethically charged decision situation actually faced by someone in a public service leadership role. The case study analysis is the development of a case study on an ethical leadership dilemma on a subject of the student’s choosing. Class participation will be evaluated on the basis of showing up, staying awake, and occasionally making a meaningful contribution to classroom discussions that evidences having done and reflected on the readings.
Faculty. Professor Burton holds the Ph.D. in Jurisprudence and Social Policy from the School of Law (Boalt Hall), University of California, Berkeley. He has chaired a gubernatorial commission overseeing clean-up of the state’s largest municipal Superfund site, and currently sits on the Denver Board of Environmental Health. He directs GSPA’s Program Concentration in Emergency Management and Homeland Security; and its Concentration in Environmental Policy, Management, and Law. For more course information, contact him either by email (above) or phone: 303.315.2482.
Spring, 2007 Professor Lloyd Burton
Off. Hrs. Mon. 1-3, Tues.
P.Ad. 5006/7006. LEADERSHIP AND PROFESSIONAL ETHICS
Syllabus, Part II. Meeting Topics and Readings Assignments
DateTopic(s) and Reading(s)
1/22/07A. TOPIC: Introduction to course content and process; readings.
1/29/07A. TOPIC: The language and learning of ethical discourse – overview.
B. READINGS:
1. Rushworth Kidder, How Good People Make Tough Choices (hereinafter, “Kidder”), Chps. 1-4.
2/5/07A. TOPIC: Recognizing, naming, and framing ethically charged decision situations.
B. READINGS:
1. Kidder, chps. 5-7.
2. Ronald Heifetz, LeadershipWithout Easy Answers (hereinafter, “Heifetz”), chp. 1.
3. Daniel Goleman, Social Intelligence (hereinafter, “Goleman”), chps. 1-4.
2/12/07A. TOPIC: Creating, analyzing, and following alternative decision paths; case study analysis assignment.
B. READINGS:
1. Kidder, chps. 8-9.
2. Goleman, chps. 6-8.
2/19/07A. TOPIC: The language and learning of leadership discourse – overview.
B. READINGS:
1. Heifetz, chps. 2-5.
2. Abraham Maslow, Motivation and Personality, chp. 1.
2/26/07A. TOPIC: Power, authority, and leadership motivation; Case study analysis prospectus due.
B. READINGS:
1. Kidder, chps. 6-7.
2. Goleman, chps. 15-16.
3. Quiet Rage (film to be shown in class).
3/5/07A. TOPIC: Leadership, law, and convention.
B. READINGS:
1. Kidder, chps. 8-9.
2. Goleman, chps. 18-20.
3. Dennis Overbye, “Free Will: Now You Have It, Now You Don’t:”, New York Times, Jan. 2, 2007, § F, p. 1.
3/12/07A. TOPIC: Altruism and its alternatives in ethical leadership.
B. READINGS:
1. Kidder, chps. 10-11.
2. Goleman, chps. 21, Epilogue.
3/19/07A. TOPIC: Organizational leadership in crisis situations; mid-term review.
B. READINGS:
1. “Fatal Confusion”, New York Times, July 7, 2002, § 1, p. 1.
3/12/07Mid-Term Exam
3/19/07Spring Break!
3/26/07A. TOPIC: Case study exercise #1.
B. READING: TBA
4/2/07A. TOPIC: Case study exercise #2.
B. READING: TBA
4/9/07A. TOPIC: Case study exercise #3.
B. READING: TBA
4/16/07A. TOPIC: Case study exercise #4.
B. READING: TBA
4/23/07A. TOPIC: Case study exercise #5.
B. READING: TBA
4/30/07Quiet Week
5/7/07Course review and evaluation; turn in Case Study Analysis.