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Locate the names and contact information of people to interview. Contact the representative(s) and introduce yourself as a Strayer University graduate student completing your Capstone Course. Inform him/her that through your Capstone Course you are reviewing the agency and serving as an informal student consultant and request a 30- to 45-minute interview. Inform him/her of the major areas you will be addressing: organization’s structure, cooperation with other government or not-for-profit agencies and legal decisions, human resources management, and budgeting. Request specific dates and times for the interviews, which can be by phone, in person, or by email. If by email, ask for a date to send questions and inform the interviewee of the response deadline. Be aware that one person may discuss several areas of the assignment; therefore, review all assignment questions to formulate relevant questions. Review the agency and department to gather as much information as possible beforehand.

Prepare your questions in advance, numbering them for easy reference, and familiarize yourself with the list. Ask the interviewee if you can send a suggested list of questions ahead of time to save interview time. If they respond early, review their answers and prepare to discuss further or clarify. During the interview, be courteous, respectful, professional, and clear with your questions. Follow up vague or incomplete answers with additional questions for elaboration. Inquire about other sources like documents or people. Thank the interviewee for their time and send a thank-you note afterward. If they suggest other contacts, inform them of your connection. Afterward, transcribe your notes promptly, aligning responses with questions and research, noting agreements or discrepancies, and hypothesizing reasons for differences.

Sample Paper For Above instruction

The following is an example of an interview and analysis conducted with an agency representative based on the outlined procedures. The agency selected is a local public health department, and the interview focused on their organizational structure, cooperative efforts, leadership, legal considerations, human resources, and budgeting practices.

Introduction

The purpose of this interview was to understand the organizational dynamics of a local public health agency and how they manage key operational areas. By engaging with the agency’s director, I sought insights into their structure, collaborative efforts, leadership influence, legal challenges, human resource strategies, and budgeting processes. This qualitative data, combined with extensive research, aims to inform my understanding of public agency management in a practical context.

Agency Background and Organizational Structure

The agency was established over 30 years ago to serve the community’s health needs, with the mission to promote wellness, prevent disease, and respond to health emergencies. Its organizational chart includes divisions such as epidemiology, health education, environmental health, and administration. Decision-making is centralized in the agency director and supported by department managers, with policies developed through a combination of top-down directives and feedback from staff and community stakeholders.

Operational Effectiveness and Challenges

The agency’s organizational design fosters collaboration across divisions, which has improved responsiveness and information sharing. However, some challenges include bureaucratic delays and funding constraints that hinder swift decision-making. The leadership employs strategic planning and community engagement initiatives to address these issues, yet resource limitations often impede implementation.

Legal and Political Influences

Legal frameworks, such as health regulations and data privacy laws, heavily influence operations. The agency must navigate federal and state legislation that sometimes complicates compliance. Political factors, including local government priorities and elections, affect funding allocations and program oversight, requiring adaptive leadership to balance political pressures with public health objectives.

Leadership and Future Directions

The agency’s leadership emphasizes transparency, community partnerships, and data-driven decision-making. Future plans involve integrating new health technologies, expanding disease surveillance capabilities, and enhancing community outreach programs. Leaders recognize the need for agility in policy adaptation amid changing health landscapes, especially considering emerging threats like pandemics.

Human Resources Management

The agency manages staff through comprehensive training programs, employee recognition initiatives, and adherence to federal employment laws. It faces challenges such as workforce retention amid budget constraints and addressing diversity and inclusion. Future HR strategies focus on flexible work arrangements and enhanced career development opportunities to retain talent.

Budgeting and Financial Planning

The agency’s budget sources include federal grants, state funding, and local taxes. It employs performance-based budgeting techniques aimed at maximizing impact amid limited resources. Political influences often dictate budget priorities, and the agency must justify expenditures through outcome metrics. Variances between planned and actual budgets are monitored closely, with adjustments made as needed for ongoing projects.

Conclusion

This interview provided valuable insights into the operational and strategic challenges faced by a public health agency. While organizational design and leadership foster effective service delivery, financial and legal constraints persist. The agency’s future directions focus on technological integration and workforce development to better serve community health needs.

References

  • Bryson, J. M. (2018). Strategic planning for public and nonprofit organizations. John Wiley & Sons.
  • Kettl, D. F. (2019). The transformation of government: Public administration for the twenty-first century. Johns Hopkins University Press.
  • Lipsky, M. (2010). Street-level bureaucracy: Dilemmas of the individual in public services. Russell Sage Foundation.
  • Milward, H. B., & Provan, K. G. (2018). Governing the hollow state. Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory, 28(1), 89-105.
  • Osborne, S. P., & Gaebler, T. (2017). Reinventing government: How the entrepreneurial spirit is transforming the public sector. Addison-Wesley.
  • Public Health Agency. (2020). Strategic plan 2020-2025. Local Government Publications.
  • Sabatier, P. A. (2019). Theories of the policy process. Westview Press.
  • Wallerstein, N. (2018). Community-based participatory research for health. Jossey-Bass.
  • Winston, W. L. (2017). Government budgeting: Politics, process, and reform. CQ Press.
  • Zahariadis, N. (2019). Ambiguity and choice in public policy: Political decision making in varying institutional contexts. Routledge.