Discussion 1: Legislatures, overhead agencies, and special interest groups have a tremendous amount of influence over public and nonprofit organizations. Therefore, it is particularly important that public and nonprofit managers learn how to work effectively with external groups while maintaining the integrity of their organizations.

In this Discussion, you explore challenges related to working with legislatures, overhead agencies, and interest groups, and consider ways to overcome these challenges.

For this Discussion, review this week's Learning Resources. Think about how legislatures, overhead agencies, and interest groups influence the operations of public and nonprofit agencies. Then, think about strategies you might use to address challenges related to working with your chosen external group.

With these thoughts in mind:

Description of at least two challenges related to working with external groups such as legislatures, overhead agencies, or special interest groups; explain why they are challenges. Then, explain how you might address these challenges as a public or nonprofit manager. Be specific.

Discussion 2: Working with external groups is often a central responsibility of managers and leaders in public and nonprofit organizations. This responsibility takes diplomacy, relationship management skills, and cultural competency to be able to communicate effectively with diverse groups that exist within networked governance structures.

The changing demographics globally, nationally, and regionally, will require public sector and nonprofit organizations to develop more culturally competent managers and leaders. Cultural competency reflects certain cultures, communication, and policies within an organization that enables it to more effectively serve its diverse populations.

For this Discussion, think about how you would communicate with external groups as a leader or manager and how you would demonstrate cultural competence in your communication with external groups.

With these thoughts in mind:

Two examples of how communicating with external groups is essential to working within a networked structure. Provide an example of how you would demonstrate cultural competence with external groups in order to develop strong collaborative governance structures.

Application: Maintaining Order and Qualified Immunity

Are you aware that a teacher or other school official can search a student locker without permission or a warrant? Though there are concrete legal standards associated with search and seizure, there are also exceptions to the standards. One circumstance where the legal standards of search and seizure may not apply is in public schools. The Supreme Court recognizes that maintaining order in schools is vital to public safety and security in the school community. Therefore, school officials have the authority to conduct searches on students and their belongings when necessary to maintain order. When a search does not clearly violate recognized constitutional rights and/or is in good faith, qualified immunity can shield school officials who conduct searches from liability.

This assignment requires you to revisit the Safford v. Redding case of search and seizure from this week's Learning Resources. After reviewing the case, think about the issues related to search and seizure such as the rights of the student, the role and responsibility of school officials, and maintenance of order in the school environment.

The assignment (2-3 pages):

• Explain whether the school was justified or not in searching the student and explain why.
• Explain whether qualified immunity should exist for school officials or not and explain why.
• Explain whether you agree or disagree with the precedent set by this case.