Building a Dialogue around Race to Change Political Institutions, the City of Seattle Starts the Race and Social Justice Initiative

Mayor Nickels had a simple goal: he wanted to try to end all forms of racism in the workforce and the city. The city of Seattle, however, was 70% white and like many cities across the United States, had a history of explicitly racist policies and practices.

Confronting Climate Change: A Teaching Case in Policy Design and Analysis

Bicycling and Coast City

After 5 cyclist fatalities in 16 months, city leaders decided something needed to be done.

Fare Integration in the Puget Sound Region

Five transit agencies contend with conflicting agendas and technical complexity while sorting out cross boundary fare payment and collection in preparation for the launch of regional transportation service.

Strategic Human Resource Management in Local Government: The Case of Goyang’s Preferred Appointment System

Through a new human resources approach, the city of Goyang, South Korea was able to provide clear and fair career opportunities for its employees. This case study will help students understand the conditions and requirements necessary for the adoption and implementation of strategic HR practices in local governments.

For the Birds

This case describes how Amanda Fellows, a newly hired Environmental Specialist with limited experience in the electric utility environmental sector, exercised leadership within a shifting authorizing environment in which integral relationships were strained and the organization’s culture was not focused on environmental excellence.

Labeling Nanotech in Food

Should the consumer have the “right to know”, or are nanotech food labels unnecessary and unhelpful? 

U-PASS: A Fare Deal for Students?

This case allows students to imagine themselves within the role of a representative and decision maker carrying out a policy design process in a highly-sensitive and challenging economic and political environment.

The Bedford Falls Academy Charter School

Executive Director Lundberg has a new five-year contract, but must deal with a board that is divided over the use of the school’s land, only a small portion of which is actually needed for the school’s facilities. A showdown is brewing…

Missing and Runaway Person Search through Information Sharing across Government Agencies in South Korea: A Case of Interagency Collaboration

As an example of interagency collaboration, this case allows students to think further about feasible and sustainable conditions of interagency collaboration where a collaboration network should evolve as government agencies learn more about its possibilities and challenges, and be continuously refined based on emerging demands and changing environments.