Normative foundations are the principles of public administration. They lay the basis for what good governance represents and the scope of government. Normative foundations are the themes of justice and civil service that define the field.

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Standard F of the MPA Portfolio demonstrates an understanding of the normative dimensions of both management and policy issues by application in a range of settings and through ethical reasoning in complex situations. The works I have chosen to fulfil Standard F are from PAPA 6414: Normative Foundations and PAPA 5044: Local Government and the Professional Manager. 

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My first work for Standard F, Objective 1 is a script written a presentation in Normative Foundations on ethical and normative themes in Sophocles’ Antigone. The narrative focuses on the themes the titular character encounters and what is morally right. I focus on Antigone’s acts of civil disobedience and justice are analyzed and applied to public administration. My script displays my ability to apply the normative foundations of public administration a variety of settings or works. 

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Example 2 for Standard F, Objective 2 is a case analysis from Local Government and the Professional Manager on ethical decision making. The case analysis reflects an ethical dilemma where on a city manager who is attempting to fulfill a city police chief position. In the case analysis, the city manager facing political pressure to hire a less qualified local candidate over one who is more qualified from a different city. In my response, I listed the alternative courses of actions with the consequences of each action in order to make the best decision for the city manager.  The case analysis allowed me to practice and engage in ethical reasoning in a challenging situation. 

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The final work for Standard F, Objective 3 is a presentation from Normative Foundations analyzing the film The Man Who Shot Liberty Valence. The presentation overviews justice, specifically how the characters Ransom Stoddard, Liberty Valence, and Tom Doniphon represent types of law and justice. This presentation reflects how these themes of justice in class film reinforce the principles of public administration. Artifact 3 demonstrates my ability to engage in normative and ethical reasoning. 

 

The works selected for Standard F demonstrate my ability to use ethical reasoning and deep understanding of justice in decision-making. I have the skills to recognize normative and ethical aspects and apply them to practice within public administration.