Public Administrators of the 21st century face many governing challenges. In order to explore in
more depth one potential challenge for public administrators, students will research and complete
an assignment focusing on a growing challenge. Students will identify and research a particular
issue or challenge confronting public administrators. Students will apply their knowledge
of best practices in public administration and management by suggesting recommendations for
how to address those challenges via scholarship. Practitioners need to hone skills in research,
evaluation, and application of knowledge to develop enhanced critical thinking and problem
solving in the field.

You will write an 8-page research-based paper that focuses on a challenge to public
administrators governing in the 21st century. Possible topics include:

1. governing in a federalist system

2. meeting mandates from the federal or state government

3. developing performance measures

4. transparency

5. budgeting in economic recessions and beyond

6. public-private partnerships

Students may pick another topic if the instructor approves of the topic. In research and preparing
the paper, students will draw on experience if applicable and theory presented in this class and in
their course work in the major.

The paper must include at least 7-9 reference(s) that are no older than 5 years old in
addition to the course textbooks and the Bible.
There is a 2,500-word word count.
Must be in current APA formatting
8 pages in length including a Works Cited page
Include a thesis statement or research question
Identify the background of the chosen topic
Describe specific challenges to governing for public administrators as it relates to this topic
Provide 3 or more recommendations on how to alleviate or confront the challenge using scholarship and practice
Draw a conclusion that addresses the thesis statement or attempts to answer the research question.

Sample solution

Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell. 

In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.

God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.

Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.

To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.

 

References

Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.

Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies4(8), 487.

Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.

Chosen Topic: Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) in Infrastructure Development

Introduction

Public-private partnerships (PPPs) have become increasingly popular in recent years as a strategy for delivering public infrastructure projects. By combining the resources and expertise of both public and private sectors, PPPs can help to address infrastructure deficits and improve public services. However, PPPs also present unique challenges for public administrators.

Chosen Topic: Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) in Infrastructure Development

Introduction

Public-private partnerships (PPPs) have become increasingly popular in recent years as a strategy for delivering public infrastructure projects. By combining the resources and expertise of both public and private sectors, PPPs can help to address infrastructure deficits and improve public services. However, PPPs also present unique challenges for public administrators.

Background

PPPs have been used for centuries to finance and deliver public infrastructure projects. However, the modern concept of PPPs has evolved significantly in recent decades, with governments increasingly relying on private sector involvement to fund and manage infrastructure projects.

Challenges for Public Administrators

  • Risk Allocation: One of the key challenges in PPPs is the allocation of risks between the public and private sectors. Public administrators must carefully consider the risks involved in each project and allocate them in a way that is fair and equitable.
  • Contract Negotiation: Negotiating complex PPP contracts can be challenging, as it requires a deep understanding of both public and private sector interests. Public administrators must be skilled negotiators to ensure that PPPs are structured in a way that benefits the public.
  • Performance Monitoring: Once a PPP is in place, public administrators must monitor the performance of the private sector partner to ensure that they are meeting their contractual obligations. This requires effective performance measurement and evaluation systems.
  • Public Accountability: Public administrators must be accountable to the public for the success or failure of PPPs. This can be challenging, as PPPs can be complex and difficult to understand.

Recommendations

  1. Develop Strong Governance Structures: Public administrators should establish clear governance structures for PPPs, including roles, responsibilities, and decision-making processes. This will help to ensure that PPPs are managed effectively and transparently.
  2. Invest in Capacity Building: Public administrators should invest in capacity building to develop the skills and expertise needed to manage PPPs effectively. This may include training on contract negotiation, risk management, and performance monitoring.
  3. Enhance Transparency and Accountability: Public administrators should be transparent about the terms and conditions of PPPs, and ensure that there are mechanisms for public accountability. This can help to build trust and confidence in the PPP process.

Conclusion

Public-private partnerships offer a promising approach to addressing infrastructure deficits and improving public services. However, public administrators must be equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge to manage PPPs effectively. By developing strong governance structures, investing in capacity building, and enhancing transparency and accountability, public administrators can ensure that PPPs are successful and benefit the public.

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