Member News: Kawika Pierson, Fred Thompson

The National Association of State Procurement Officials, Inc. (NASPO) announced on February 27 that the Willamette Center for Governance and Public Policy Research, Atkinson Graduate School of Management, Willamette University, Salem OR has been selected to receive the first grant awarded under its Academic Research Program. NASPO's Academic Research Program seeks to stimulate research on state government and public procurement issues.

The program supports research projects that are relevant to public procurement practices, public procurement policy (specifically at the state level), state government operations, and the significance of federal policy on state government operations. Research grants are available for faculty at institutions of higher education, postdoctoral researchers, and other doctoral-level scholars. Professors Kawika Pierson and Fred Thompson will carry out the NASPO funded research project, which focuses on the procurement of IT systems by state tax-collecting agencies.

Call for Papers: IIAS Study Group on Efficiency, Effectiveness and Governance

CALL FOR PAPERS ON

“TOOLS AND GOVERNANCE ISSUES

OF PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT & BUDGETING”

by

the IIAS Study Group on Efficiency, Effectiveness and Governance

at

the 2015 IIAS-AGPA CONFERENCE IN SEOUL

The 2015 IIAS-AGPA Conference to be held in Seoul, Korea on 2-4 September 2015 has the theme, ‘Shifting the Governance Paradigms to Enhance Trust in Government’. The conference aims at examining different governance issues and innovative approaches that may impact the public trust in government. It has three sub-themes: a) The Development of Governance in Asian Countries; b) Setting up new relationship between national and local governments, and c) Enhancing national integrity and public service quality.

The IIAS Study Group on “Efficiency, Effectiveness, and Governance”, in collaboration with the IIAS-AGPA conference organizer, proposes to organize papers and panels at the IIAS-AGPA Conference on the third sub-theme of the conference, with a special focus on the use of analytical and managerial tools as well as governance design to enhance the integrity, public trust, and public service quality of the government.

Specifically, we are interested in papers on the following topics:

1. The impact (or lack of impact) of managerial strategies, such as performance budgeting and management, including in the context of decentralization and inter-sectoral governance, on public service quality and public trust.

Papers may address experiences in the application of performance budgeting and performance management reforms, their role in decentralization strategies and inter-governmental and inter-sectoral collaboration, in different countries at different stages of development of governance arrangements. What has worked in terms of improving resource allocation and the effectiveness of government programs, and what have been the key challenges in achieving success and avoiding failures? Are there lessons for other countries?

2. The use of production frontier analysis in performance management and policy research.

Papers may demonstrate how different tools of production frontier analysis, such as data envelopment analysis or stochastic frontier analysis, can be used in
performance management and policy evaluation and how the use of these tools may impact the efforts to enhance the efficiency, effectiveness, and governance of public services. Papers may also discuss the limitations of these tools and the governance challenges of technical efficiency and effectiveness analysis in the public sector.

Papers and panel proposals on these topics with a comparative focus, particularly on countries in the Asia-Pacific Rim, are welcome.

Proposals should be sent to Meili Niu (new_meili@126.com) by May 10. Final papers based on accepted abstracts are to be submitted by August 1, 2015 to Meili Niu.

The IIAS Study Group on Efficiency, Effectiveness, and Governance

The Study Group on “Efficiency, Effectiveness, and Governance” is one of the study groups of the International Institute of Administrative Sciences (http://www.iias-iisa.org/), the umbrella organization of different regional public administration associations, including the Asian Group for Public Administration (http://www.iiasagpa.com/en/about/aboutagpa.html). The purpose of the study group is to examine the theories, practices, tools, and governance issues related to government performance and to compare the practices and reform strategies of different countries. The co-chairs of the study group are Alfred T. Ho (University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, USA), Meili Niu (Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China), and Andrew Podger (Australian National University, Canberra, Australia).

State and Local Government Review: Editorial Board Meeting, Young Scholar Outreach Program, & Assistance Needed

SLGR Editorial Board Meeting

On Sunday March 8, 2015, SLGR held its annual Editorial Board meeting in conjunction with the ASPA Conference in Chicago.  SLGR Editor Mike Scicchitano chaired the meeting.  Six Board members, along with the Governance Matters (GM) and Reviews & Essays (R&E) Editors, the Managing Editor, Leah Fargotstein (Editor, Sage Social Science Journals), and David Hamilton (former and most recent SIAM Chair), were also in attendance in person or participated by conference call. 

Several significant special events and activities of SLGR during the past year were noted:

Ø  Number of manuscript submissions in 2014 (80) was below last year (85); number does not include submissions to GM, R&E, or Special Issue; quality of  manuscripts seem to be getting better and there has been an increase in international submissions; we continue to need your help in encouraging more submissions.

Ø  The SLGR impact factor increased by 96% from 2013 to 2014—that is, from .098 to .192; SLGR articles being cited in PAR, J-PART, Administration & Society, UAR, JUA, SPPQ, PPMR, Urban Studies, among others; SLGR acceptance rate in 2014 was 10%.

Ø  The Reviews & Essays section featured articles on retrospective look at Deil Wright’s book of IGR, women state legislators and representation, and fiscal illusion in state and local government finances

Ø  The Governance Matters section contained articles on refinancing state and local debt, environ-mental sustainability and citizen participation, and strategic re-alignment of local governments for the New Normal

Ø  Publication of Special Issue (“Emerging from the Great Recession”) as 4^th issue (December) in 2014.

Ø  In September 2014, Anne Williams assumed duties as Podcast Editor; two podcast were produced in 2014 around GM article about state and local government refinancings and several articles in the 2013 Special Issue devoted to Local Government Collaboration; all podcasts can be accessed on SLGR website site at: http://slg.sagepub.com/site/misc/Index/Podcasts.xhtml.

Ø  In June 2014, Tracy Johns assumed the duties of Social Media Coordinator; SLGR Facebook pages has 126 “likes and the Twitter account has 129 followers.

Much of the meeting was spent in constructive dialogue about two important challenges to SLGR—(1) increased visibility for SLGR and articles published in it and (2) how international board members can advertise the journal.

Before discussing the first challenge, it was noted that one tool that is already available and should be exploited is the SLGR blog.  It has the potential to spark interest in and generate discussion about SLGR articles.  The blog is not only capable of creating awareness of journal articles but also may result in more SLGR articles being cited in scholarly work, and thus helping us achieve the goal of getting us listed on the Thomson Citation Index.  Therefore, we would ask that SIAM members (as well as non-SIAM members) take advantage of this new social media tool and assist us.  

Other ideas as to how to appropriately promote awareness of SLGR and its articles were offered and included:

Ø  Advertise top 10 cited articles on SLGR and Sage websites

Ø  Send out list of articles by subject area to scholars who conduct research in these areas

Ø  Designate someone to advertise SLGR articles through these and other venues

With respect to this last suggestion, new Board member Genie Stowers has since volunteered to spearhead the effort to help promote the journal and advertise its articles.  To date, several Board members have sent her additional and exciting ideas and suggestions.

It was also noted that the SLGR/Sage website has a very good search tool that enables an author writing on a certain topic to quickly and effectively search for SLGR articles related to that topic.

The Board also spent some time brainstorming how international SLGR Editorial Board members can advertise the journal and its articles.  Suggestions included:

Ø  International Board members can accomplish this when they travel to professional conferences and to even practitioner events

Ø  Thinking about scholars in other allied fields (e.g., planning broadly defined, urban sociology/geography) hat may find SLGR articles useful.

Other ideas are welcome, as we see great potential here.

Young Scholar Outreach Program

To date, the Young Scholar Outreach Program, that is designed to assist doctoral students seeking job placements and new faculty with a position at the instructor, assistant professor, or beginning associate professor level to get published in academia, is off to an excellent start.  Around twenty people have already contacted Dr. Scicchitano seeking guidance since the Program was launched in the Spring of 2014, and three manuscripts originating from the Program have either been published or awaiting publication in SLGR.  They are as follows:

• “Political Trust in the American States” by Aaron C. Weinschenk and David J. Helpap (March 2015, Vol. 47, No. 1 Issue)
• “Morality Politics and Municipal LGBT Policy Adoption: A Rare Event Analysis” (March 2015, Vol. 47, No. 1 Issue)
• “Government by Advice: Public Participation and Policymaking through Advisory Ballot Measures” by Todd Ely (June 2015, Vol.47, No. 2 Issue)

Persons having questions or wanting to participate in the program are encouraged to send an email to SLGR Editor Michael Scicchitano at mscicc@ufl.edu  or call him at (352) 846-2874. 

Assistance Needed

We continue to need your assistance and that of your colleagues in several crucial areas.  First, you can assist us in generating greater visibility for SLGR by signing up for e-mail alerts and encourage others to also do so.  Please consider doing that today, since it only takes a minute.  SLGR will send you an email each time a new issue publishes, and you can also add alerts for Online First articles or journal announcements. Visit http://slg.sagepub.com/cgi/alerts to create an account with your email address, and click on the alert types you’d like to receive. SAGE won’t use your email address for any other marketing purposes, only to send you information on SLGR.

            A second area in which you can help us is to cite SLGR articles where possible.  Since SLGR was purchased by Sage Publications, Inc. in early 2010, getting SLGR listed in the Thomson Citation Index has been a major goal.  Achievement of this objective will assist in raising not only the visibility of the journal but will also put us in a more esteemed category of blind-refereed academic journals.  You and your colleagues can help us in achieving this objective by citing, where relevant and appropriate, SLGR articles when you prepare papers and articles.

Northeast Conference on Public Administration: CHALLENGES OF GOVERNANCE IN GLOBAL UNCERTAINTY

The Northeast Conference on Public Administration (NECoPA) will be holding a conference on November 5-7, 2015 in Arlington, VA. ​ Please submit your proposals no later than May 30, 2015. All proposals should be submitted to necopa@gmu.edu . 

The tentative theme for NECoPA ’15 – Challenges of Governance in Global Uncertainty – focuses on policy and management problems that were once international in scope but are now considered state and/or local concerns. Possible topics include:

• Homeland Security
• Immigration Reform
• Finance and Budgeting
• Environmental Hazards
• Emergency and Crisis Management
• Universal Healthcare
• Succession Building
• Public-Private Partnerships
• Third Party Governance
• Information Technology

Panels, papers, and posters addressing these and other related themes to public administration are encouraged.

For more information on NECoPA, please visit http://psc.gmu.edu/necopa/

New Council Member: Ann O'M. Bowman

Ann O’M. Bowman is a professor in the Department of Public Service and Administration at the George Bush School of Government and Public Service. She holds the Hazel Davis and Robert Kennedy Endowed Chair.  Dr. Bowman joined the Bush School faculty in 2008, coming from the University of South Carolina where she was the James F. and Maude B. Byrnes Professor of Government. She specializes in state and local government and administration; public policy, especially the substantive areas of environment, economic development, and land use; and intergovernmental relations. Through her Intergovernmental Dynamics Project, she seeks to untangle the complex web of American state-local government relations.

Dr. Bowman has published articles in various scholarly journals; most recently these include Policy Studies Journal, Public Administration Review, Urban Affairs Review, and American Politics Research. The tenth edition of her textbook, co-authored with Richard Kearney, State and Local Government, is forthcoming in 2016. Previously she and Michael Pagano wrote Terra Incognita: Vacant Land and Urban Strategies, published by Georgetown University Press and Cityscapes and Capital: The Politics of Urban Development, published by Johns Hopkins University Press.

She has held a Lincoln Government Fellowship at the National League of Cities in Washington, D.C., and later received a Fulbright award to Denmark to serve as the Odense Distinguished Chair in American Studies. Dr. Bowman won SIAM’s Donald C. Stone Scholar Award in 1998. She has been president of three organized sections of the American Political Science Association:  Public Policy, Urban Politics, and Federalism and Intergovernmental Relations; she has been Book Review Editor for the Journal of Politics and Urban Affairs Review. Dr. Bowman was inducted into the National Academy of Public Administration in 2014. In 2015, she became president of the Southern Political Science Association. Currently she is a member of the Advisory Council of Publius: The Journal of Federalism, the Editorial Board of the Public Management and Change Series of Georgetown University Press, and the Advisory Board for the Studies in American Public Policy and Management of Johns Hopkins University Press.

New Council Member: Beverly Cigler

Bev Cigler specializes in intergovernmental relations, especially state and local policy, politics, and management, with key interests in intermunicipal and state-local relations, public finance, alternative service delivery, counties, smart growth, emergency management, and general issues of governance. Cigler is a fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration. She received national awards for her intergovernmental research and scholarship and community building for economic development, a Distinguished Alumni Award from Thiel College, Penn State Harrisburg's Excellence in Research  and Faculty Service Awards, and statewide awards from the County Commissioners Association of Pa., the Pa. Women's Commission, and a MS Leadership Award. She was awarded a Legislation Citation for contributions to the Commonwealth and served as a Penn State faculty associate in a legislative research office for 8 years and was twice a Visiting Scholar there. Her published work includes more than 170 articles, including 12 articles/essays in Public Administration Review; dozens of professional reports; and 9 books/edited collections. Dr. Cigler has delivered more than 215 speeches, workshops and testimony to elected and appointed officials of national, state, and regional organizations, and university audiences. nationwide. She currently serves on the boards of the Keystone Research Center (Pa.) and the South Central Assembly (Pa.) and on advisory committees for the County Commissioners Association of Pa., the Association of Pennsylvania Municipal Managers, the Pa. Budget and Policy Center, the Metropolitan Policy Center (University of Pittsburgh)., and the National Center for the Study of Counties. She recently served on a Pa. legislative Local Government Commission study of mandates. She has held numerous leadership positions in public administration organizations, including chair of SIAM and SPAE in ASPA, COPRA in NASPAA, and was president of two ASPA chapters. She has served on fifteen editorial boards.

New Council Member: Carl Stenberg

Carl Stenberg (BA, Allegheny College; MPA, Ph.D. State University of New York at Albany) is the James E. Holshouser, Jr. Distinguished Professor of Public Administration and Government at the School of Government, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He serves as Faculty Director of the School’s Public Executive Leadership Academy, and as Faculty Liaison with the NC City and County Management Association. His previous academic positions were Dean of the Yale Gordon College of Liberal Arts at the University of Baltimore and Director of the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service at the University of Virginia. His experience as a practitioner includes Executive Director of the Council of State Governments and Assistant Director of the U.S. Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations. He is a Fellow and former Chair of the Board of Directors of the National Academy of Public Administration and President of the American Society for Public Administration. His research interests include federalism and intergovernmental relations, leadership, and local government management.