Diversity and Public Administration: Theory, Issues, and Perspectives

Diversity, and the role of the culturally competent administrator, have become important topics in public administration education. Yet the leading texts only provide a cursory mention of diversity or do not cover it at all. This book fills this void. Diversity and Public Administration features original contributed chapters organized and edited by Dr. Mitchell Rice, Director of the Race and Ethnic Studies Institute of the Bush School of Government and Public Service, Texas A&M University. The book presents a balanced, comprehensive overview of the policies and practices for achieving racial and ethnic diversity in public organizations, with a strong orientation toward improving diversity management in the public sector. This work can be used as a main text as well as a supplementary text in public administration classes that focus on diversity, diversity management, public administration and multiculturalism, diversity and public productivity, public service delivery and diverse populations, and public policy and changing demographics.

Table of Contents:
1. The Multiple Dimensions of Diversity and Culture, Harvey L. White and Mitchell F. Rice; 2. Workforce Diversity Initiatives and Best Practices in Business and Governmental Organizations: Developments, Approaches, and Issues, Mitchell F. Rice and Dhananjaya M. Arekere; 3. Increased Diversity of the Workforce: Opportunities for Research in Public and Non-Profit Organizations, Blue Wooldridge, Jackie Smith-Mason, and Barbara Maddox; 4. Teaching Public Administration Education in the Post-Modern Era: Connecting Organizational Culture to Diversity to Social Equity, Mitchell F. Rice; 5. Diversity in Public Administration Education: A View from California, Kyle Farmbry; 6. Public Service in America's Urban Areas: Why the Bar in Perception and Practice Remains Higher for African American Public Managers, Otha Burton, Jr. and Mfanya Donald Tryman; 7. Diversity Newcomers and the Challenge of Balancing Organizational Expectations: Assuming Ethical Responsibility, Mylon Winn and Floydette Colden Scruggs; 8. Networking, Career Management, and Diversity in the Public Sector, Wilbur C. Rich; 9. Responding to the Health Needs of a Diverse Population: The Need for Diversity in the Health Professions, B. Lee Green, Rhonda K. Lewis and Daphne C. Watkins; 10. Cultural Competency and the Practice of Public Administration, Margo L. Bailey; 11. Cultural Diversity and Productivity, Audrey Mathews; 12. Embracing Workplace Diversity in Public Organizations: Some Further Considerations, Mitchell F. Rice and Harvey L. White

Review :
"Social equity has always been a key value underlying public administration. Dr. Rice's book breaks new ground by linking this traditional interest in diversity with broader issues like the interaction of administration and culture."