POL 490 Contemporary Issues in Public Administration
Written Assignment 2
This assignment is based on the Case Study 2 in the Stillman text, “How Kristin Died.”  The questions below are taken from the questions given on page 75 of the Stillman text.  Your answers should be complete and cite specific page numbers in the Stillman text.  Please see the grading rubric for specific grading criteria.
1.    In your opinion, does this case support or contradict Weber’s arguments about the power position of bureaucracy in society? About the nature of bureaucratic rationality? Its hierarchy or specialization?  Its high degree of efficiency?

2.    What recommendations do you have to remedy some of the problems illustrated by this case study?  Are there comparisons with the previous case, “The Blast in Centralia No. 5?”