Have an idea for a book in our series? Send your idea to the series editor, Evan Berman at evanmberman@gmail.com. A simple paragraph will do to get the discussion going. We are now looking for proposals.

Government Contracting: Promises and Perils by William Sims Curry. A guide through the minefield of government contracting and procurement, this book describes the dangerous practices commonly applied in the development and management of government contracts and provides advice for avoiding the sort of errors that might compromise their ability to protect the public interest. It includes strategies for increasing profits for government contractors, rather than incurring burdensome costs, through compliance with government mandated subcontracting and financial management systems. The book also outlines an approach for performing advance contract planning for management of the process throughout the contracting cycle, negotiating a contract that protects the interest of all parties, and ensuring successful contractor performance. For more information, and to order, please click here.

Managing Public Sector Projects: A Strategic Framework for Success in an Era of Downsized Government by David S. Kassel supplies managers and administrators—at all levels of government—with expert guidance on all aspects of public sector project management. From properly allocating risks in drafting contracts to dealing with downsized staffs and privatized services, this book clearly explains the technical concepts and the political issues involved. In line with the principles of Total Quality Management (TQM) and the PMBOK® (Project Management Body of Knowledge), the book establishes a framework to ensure the success of their public projects and programs. He supplies more than 30 real-life examples to illustrate the concepts behind the framework—including reconstruction projects in Iraq, the Big Dig project in Boston, local sewer system and library projects, and software technology. For more information, and to order, please click here.

Promoting Sustainable Local and Community Economic Development Roland V. Anglin, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA Chronicling the struggle of local revitalization as organizers move from trial and error to effective revitalization strategies, Promoting Sustainable Local and Community Economic Development documents the current transformation in community revitalization from market-based incentives to mixed strategies of public sector learning, partnerships, and community capacity.

Roland Anglin brings his unusual vantage point to the topic; drawing on his experience as a practitioner and applied academic that has allowed him to see how community economic development practices grow over time in size, scale, and impact. He highlights the difference between what is now termed community economic development (CED) and traditional local economic development practice, specifically the priority placed on community involvement in economic development partnerships between the private sector and government. The book includes case studies that demonstrate what has and has not worked in revitalization efforts, as well as how active public and private sector partnerships have been the most effective in revitalization efforts. A Resource Guide is included at the end of the book for readers who may want a more expansive understanding of community economic development.

This book surveys the breadth of innovative place and people development practices, presenting lessons and examples at a general and textured level, putting information about innovative ways to change, influence, and improve the economic development process within easy reach.

Features:

• Expands and deepens the link between economic development as a policy and administrative practice
• Assists in transitioning the debate from neighborhoods vs downtowns to arguments that link community and local economic development (writ large) to development in regions
• Presents key innovations in local and community economic development practice that will help create a new type of discussion among practitioners and researchers
• Appraises present economic development tools and makes the argument that there is no "silver bullet," only steady learning based on evidence and subsequent learning
• Helps the practitioners and researchers think differently and more expansively about the role of government in the economic development process

For more information, and to order, please click here.

Strategic Collaboration in Public and Nonprofit Administration: A Practice-Based Approach to Solving Shared Problems by Dorothy Norris-Tirrell and Joy A. Clay. Market disruptions, climate change, and health pandemics lead the growing list of challenges faced by today’s leaders. These issues, along with countless others require novel thinking and collaborative action to find workable solutions. However, many administrators stumble into collaboration without a strategic orientation. Using a practitioner-oriented style, this book provides guidance on how to collaborate more effectively, with less frustration and better results. With an emphasis on application, it uses scenarios, real-world cases, tools, and checklists to highlight key points. The appendix includes supplemental resources such as collaboration operating guidelines, a meeting checklist, and a collaboration literature review to help public and nonprofit managers successfully convene, administer, and lead collaboration.  For more information, and to order, please click here.

The New Face of Government: How Public Managers Are Forging a New Approach to Governance by David E. McNabb. Change is sweeping the globe, and at the government level, operational changes are prompting many public administrators to develop new management styles and ways of delivering services to their citizens. In the process, they are changing the face of government. The New Face of Government: How Public Managers Are Forging a New Approach to Governance explores how national leaders are changing the art and practice of government and how public managers are shaping and guiding government’s response to the transformation. This book includes a field-tested survey for diagnosing institutional disequilibrium. For more information, and to order, please click here.

The Formula for Economic Growth on Main Street America by Gerald L. Gordon – Fairfax City Economic Development Authority. Especially relevant to current economic conditions, this work examines the growth and decline of communities, identifying the key components of sustained economic growth as well as policies and actions or inactions that can lead to the demise of a local economic base. Derived from the author’s experience as president of one of America’s foremost economic development agencies, the book shows how gap analysis can be used in assessing the needs of existing communities and how to put plans in place to acquire and develop those needs. Concepts are supported with an abundant use of case studies featuring large and small, urban, and rural communities throughout the U.S. and globally. For more information, and to order, please click here.

Ethics Moments in Government: Cases and Controversies by ASPA Past President Donald C. Menzel – Ethics Management International. While ethical concerns may be among the most common problems public administrators face, there are few modern resources that one can turn to for guidance on thorny issues. Presenting typical scenarios faced by those holding the public trust, this work considers personal and organizational issues of integrity. A collection of succinctly written real-world cases presented by senior public administrators provides readers with approaches that not only slice through the problem but can also result in career advancement. Additionally, the book examines ways to build an ethical organization. For more information, and to order, please click here.

Major League Winners: Using Sports and Cultural Centers as Tools for Economic Development by Mark S. Rosentraub – University of Michigan. In addition to researching how communities use sports and cultural centers to spur economic and social development, Mark Rosentraub has advised a number of major league cities involved with multi-million dollar projects. In this book, he examines approaches that municipalities take and how they relate to the success or failure of their projects. He discusses the economics of sports and cultural centers and provides case studies examining economic redevelopment in several cities. A third section discusses errors made in the development and execution of various plans. The book closes by showing how municipalities can successfully turn municipal subsidies into income producing investments. For more information, and to order, please click here.

Organizational Assessment and Improvement in the Public Sector by Kathleen M. Immordino. In order to implement an integrated cycle of assessment, planning, and improvement, government agencies need a framework for organizational assessment that speaks to their unique needs. This book provides those who manage or work in government with an understanding of and a methodology for assessment. The book introduces the assessment concept and its significance in public organizations. It then focuses on procedures and demonstrates how communication that results from an assessment process can create a widely accepted case for change. The text presents a model grounded in the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality criteria but adapted for the language and culture of government organizations. For more information, and to order, please click here.

The Facilitative Leader in City Hall: Reexamining the Scope and Contributions by James H. Svara – Arizona State University. Two forms of local government are prevalent in American cities. The style of leadership found in mayor-council cities draws attention to the mayor and frequently involves power struggles as mayors attempt to assert control over city councils and city staff. However, the leadership of the mayor in council-manager cities can be less visible and easily overlooked. The Facilitative Leader in City Hall: Reexamining the Scope and Contributions boldly suggests a collaborative model for leadership that identifies what is unique in the council-manager setting. Mayors acting as facilitative leaders can successfully guide their cities drawing on the contributions of the council and the manager rather than attempting to drive them. For more information, and to order, please click here.

Public Administration with an Attitude, a best-selling ASPA publication by H. George Frederickson, is now available.

Read a sample chapter and order your copy today!

Accountability Cases Now Available

ASPA and its Center for Accountability and Performance (CAP) announce the publication and availability of Accountability Cases.

This innovative series, edited by Robert Schwartz and Daniel W. Williams, uses real-world cases to illuminate concepts in accountability. Cases are designed to provoke thinking about accountability dilemmas and policy decisions that public servants are likely to encounter in their professional careers.

Click here for more information.

Combating Corruption, Encouraging Ethics 2nd Ed

In their second edition of Combating Corruption, Encouraging Ethics, ASPA members William L. Richter and Frances Burke update this essential staple to delve deeply into the unique ethical problems of twenty-first century public administration. Order directly from ASPA and save 15% off the list price!