L. Christopher Plein

Organic planning: A new approach to public participation in local governance

Abstract In the past few years, a new form of citizen-oriented policy deliberation has emerged. Often using the concept of “visioning” as a vehicle, efforts have been carried out to foster citizen discussions regarding the desired future of a community, region, or jurisdiction. The future orientation of such deliberations allows for a wide array of issues and concerns to be identified and acted upon in a developmental format. This paper seeks to draw some generalizations from this new phenomena. We argue that this is a new form of citizen participation that builds upon, but is distinct from, previous citizen participation practices and models. We call this new variant organic planning .

Making Engagement Work: University Outreach and Welfare Reform in West Virginia

Abstract Much attention has been given to the concept of the “engaged university” that seeks to reaffirm the role of higher education in serving society through outreach, teaching, and research. Higher education commissions and associations, as well as individual institutions, have endorsed efforts to connect higher education with society through outreach and applied research. Salient policy issues, which have a direct bearing on institutions of higher learning and frame questions that are ripe for university response, help to sharpen the role of university engagement. Welfare reform is such an issue. This article explores how some of the dimensions of university engagement have been put into operation through a case study of West Virginia Universitys response to welfare reform. It gives attention to some of the barriers and obstacles to engagement and emphasizes that public administration and affairs faculty may be well-placed to facilitate outreach and to incorporate service activities in teaching and research. The article recommends that institutions help orient faculty to areas of societal and policy concern and need, rather than closely direct outreach activities. The article also stresses the importance of interdisciplinary effort and emphasizes the need for finding connections between teaching, research, and service.

Responding to Welfare Reform Competing Perspectives of Social Service Delivery in an Economically Disadvantaged Rural State

This study compares administrative and caseworker perspectives on service delivery processes in rural areas in an Appalachian state with high levels of poverty and unemployment and limited economic resources for investment and development. The focus of this study is on the implementation of West Virginia Works, West Virginia’s public assistance program that was adopted in response to new federal welfare law enacted in 1996. The data source used in this research comes from focus groups with approximately 80 caseworkers and 5 West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources administrators with key knowledge of welfare reform in West Virginia. Implications for service delivery and public policy are discussed.

Barriers to information sharing in state agencies: the case of the texas general land office

This paper explores barriers to information sharing and how they might be overcome. Through a case study of the Texas General Land Office, computer-based information sharing is explored in the organizational setting. In particular, the State Real Property Inventory information system is examined in terms of utilization of hardware, software, and local area networks. In addition, managerial and user attitudes towards computer use are explored. We find a number of technological and organizational factors that need to be addressed in order to improve computer- based information sharing. These technological and organizational barriers combine to create an inefficient environment for adoption and use. Finally, we suggest some improvements on how management and users can utilize information sharing technologies in more effective ways in the context of structural integration of information technology.