Analyze, Think, & Solve
The third competency set by NASPAA is the ability to think critically, make decisions, and solve problems. This competency can be mastered by demonstrating the ability to analyze, synthesize, think critically, solve problems, and make decisions.
Issues and Strategies - New Orleans
When asked to analyze a city with public administration issues and think critically about solutions, I chose to analyze New Orleans, LA. New Orleans is a city with many public planning issues, due to its age and growth. Flooding, a struggling and underfunded transit system, and an affordable housing crisis are three main issues that plague the area. As a public servant, I will encounter issues that may have more than one potential solution. For New Orleans, I suggested multiple different strategies for each main issue outlined. I demonstrated my ability to analyze, synthesize, think critically, and solve problems. While I am using New Orleans as an example, I aim to use the skills I gained from analyzing this particular city in my career as a public servant in all areas I am placed in. Learning to strategize solutions will be a skill that I use daily, whether on small or large projects or issues.
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Research - Education and Household Income in the United States To demonstrate my ability to collect, analyze, synthesize, and use data to solve problems and make decisions, I am highlighting a research project I completed. For the project, I chose to focus on the question: How does average education affect average household income in the United States? I used census data to gather the information I needed to run my tests. After running the ANOVA test in excel, I concluded that we could reject our null hypothesis that education does not affect household income. Through this experience, I gained skills in research, excel data, and more importantly - the correct way to interview a potential informant. I have already utilized these skills in my role as an economic development and specialist planner, as we uses census data daily and rely on interviews for information heavily.
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