Organizational Problems

• CRJU/POSC 320 | Module 4-2

Introduction to Organizational Problems

• Do organizations have problems? Can they be fixed?
• Exploring the intersection of politics and organizational performance.

The Politics-Performance Nexus

• Government programs generally work well.
• High expectations lead to bureaucracy becoming a target when not met.
• Government's unique role: Doing what the private sector can't or won't.

Fundamental Organizational Values

• Neutral Competence: Skilled bureaucracy, insulated from political interference.
• Executive Leadership: Strong political leadership and loyal department heads.
• Representativeness: Organizations responding to legislative and client interests.

Slide 4: Neutral Competence

• Focus on creating an efficient, effective bureaucracy.
• Importance of insulating from political interference.

Executive Leadership

• Strong executive roles (president, governor, mayor).
• Politically chosen department heads.
• Balancing political choice with organizational needs.

Representativeness

• Aligning organizations with legislative interests.
• Responding effectively to client needs.
• Balancing multiple interests for better service delivery.

Effective Organizations

• Challenges in maintaining neutrality, leadership, and representativeness.
• Coordination issues and their impact on effectiveness.

Coordination and Conflict

• Need for better interagency coordination.
• Addressing functional competencies and organizational boundaries.
• Overcoming cynicism and political interference.

Criteria for “Good” Organizations

• Public acceptance, adaptability, consistent decisions.
• Professional competence and diversity.
• Accountability to executive and legislature.

Resolving Interagency Conflicts

• Balancing purpose and clientele-based agency tensions.
• Functional departments and field office coordination.
• Managing conflicting missions in federal departments.

The Role of Staff in Organizations

• Core, Auxiliary, and Control Staff roles.
• Balancing support, control, and mission delivery.

Organizational Reorganization

• Addressing failures through restructuring.
• Political implications of organizational changes.
• Challenges and opportunities in digital era reorganization.

Review and Discussion

• Reflect on organizational problems in familiar settings.
• Can these problems be fixed? How?