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Leadership in Public Organizations: An Introduction
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Comments/Reviews
Description: This is the first concise yet comprehensive treatment of public sector leadership for upper division and graduate students. In addition to the most up-to-date review of leadership theories in the field, Leadership in Public Organizations covers the major competency clusters in detail, and provides both the research on each competency and practical guidelines for improvement. These competencies are graphically portrayed in a Leadership Action cycle that aids students in visually connecting theory and practice. Other important features of the text include discussion questions and scenarios at the end of each chapter, numerous exhibits, and an easily reproducible leadership assessment instrument.
Selected Contents:
Preface
1. Introduction
Major Types of Leadership
Variations in Organizational Leadership
History of the Study of Organizational Leadership
Perennial Debates in Leadership Theory
A Discussion of Some Important Terms and Concepts
An Operational Definition of Leadership
Conclusion and Organization of the Book
Questions and Exercises
Scenario: The Story of Jim
2. Understanding Theories of Leadership and Leadership Styles
Use of a Causal-Chain Model to Compare Approaches and Theories
Contingency Factors
Types of Leaders
Conclusion
Questions and Exercises
Scenario: Leadership Analysis Based on Style Strengths and Situational Needs
3. Early Managerial and Transactional Theories of Leadership
Classical Management Theory
Trait Theory
Transactional Approaches
Conclusion
Questions and Exercises
Scenario: The Promotion to Unit Supervisor
4. Charismatic and Transformational Approaches
Conger and Kanungo's Charismatic Leadership Theory
Transformational Leadership Theory: Tichy and Devanna, Kouzes and Posner, and Bass
Comparing Transactional and Transformational Approaches to Leadership
Questions and Exercises
Scenario: Considering Change through Charisma and Transformation
5. Distributed and Specialized Approaches to Leadership
Distributed Leadership Approaches
Specialized Approaches
Conclusion
Questions and Exercises
Scenario: Distributed Leadership
Scenario: Examining Gender, Power, and Ethics
6. Integrated Leadership Approaches
Chemers's Integrative Theory
Hunt's Synthesis
Van Wart's Leadership Action Cycle
Conclusion
Questions and Exercises
Scenario: How to Develop Jason Henderson?
7. Traits That Contribute to Leader Effectiveness
Self-confidence
Decisiveness
Resilience
Energy
Need for Achievement
Willingness to Assume Responsibility
Flexibility
A Service Mentality
Personal Integrity
Emotional Maturity
Conclusion
Questions and Exercises
Scenario: Using Traits to Select a Candidate
8. Skills That Contribute to Leader Effectiveness
Communication Skills
Social Skills
Influence Skills
Analytic Skills
Technical Skills
Continual Learning
Conclusion
Questions and Exercises
Scenario: Focusing on Skills in Development
9. Assessments by Leaders and the Goals to Which They Lead
Sources of Information
Assessment of the Organization and Its Environment
Constraints of Leadership
The Science and Art of Goal Setting
Selecting Major Goals
Conclusion
Questions and Exercises
Scenario: A Mediocre Unit
Scenario: An Agency Must Prepare for a Paradigm Shift
10. Task-Oriented Behaviors
The Underlying Logic of Each of the Behavior Domains
Monitoring and Assessing Work
Operations Planning
Clarifying Roles and Objectives
Informing
Delegating
Problem Solving
Managing Technical Innovation and Creativity
Conclusion
Questions and Exercises
Scenario: Using Task Behaviors as a Supervisor
11. People-Oriented Behaviors
Consulting
Planning and Organizing Personnel
Developing Staff
Motivating
Building and Managing Teams
Managing Conflict
Managing Personnel
Conclusion
Questions and Exercises
Scenario: Personnel Changes
12. Organizational-Oriented Behaviors
Scanning the Environment
Strategic Planning
Articulating the Mission and Vision
Networking and Partnering
Performing General Management Functions
Decision Making
Managing Organizational Change
Conclusion
Questions and Exercises
Scenario: Executive Trade-Offs
13. Leadership Development and Evaluation
The Nature of Leadership Development
Structured Experience and Associated Development Methods
Formal Training Design
Starting with an Action Research Model to Evaluate Leadership
Revisiting the Many Possible Definitions of Leadership
The Role of Context
Who Evaluates and How?
A Final Example of a Great Administrative Leader
Conclusion
Questions and Exercises
Appendix A. Assessment of Organizational Conditions and Leader Performance
Appendix B. General Instructions for the Assessment of Organizational Conditions and Leader Performance
References
Index
About the Author
Review(s): Unlike some introductory leadership texts, this volume does not dumb down the topics. It is written at a college-text level and requires critical thinking by the reader. Van Wart and Suino succeed at this by presenting the target concepts in clear and concise language. The text is well-written, well-organized, and accessible. The authors provide clear descriptions of the topics, as well as salient examples. Review of Public Personnel Administration
    
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