Making Sense of Management

Book Description
Formally trained in the then-new field of public administration, John
Stanford
went into State government in California as a civil servant amid the
energy
and growth of the post-war boom, and worked his way to the
upper tier of
public service, and beyond. Curiosity and drive for new challenges led
him
through two decades of wide-ranging management roles. Whether fostering
architectural innovation on state construction projects, immersing
himself in
the state's budget process, skillfully defusing outrage over a public
art
project, or organizing a statewide program on Good Design, each expanded his understanding of
management.
Teaching at night helped him to examine and update his ideas. These
real-life
adventures in problem-solving, deeply understood, and artfully told,
chronicle
the evolution of a manager. A combination of textbook and
autobiography, this
is also an inspiring lesson in how to learn one's way into, an
rewarding
career.
JOHN STANFORD was born in Illinois, and grew up in Ontario, California.
After
graduating from UC Berkeley he got his masters in Public Administration
at
Syracuse University, then served during WWII in the Air Transport
Command. He
began a twenty-year career in California State government as an analyst
in the
Finance Department, and served in a variety of roles in Highways,
Public Works,
and General Services, where he served as Deputy Director. In 1967 he
moved to
statewide administration of the University of California, serving as
Assistant
Vice President and Controller. Throughout his career he also taught
management
and administration, and after retiring he taught and served as Dean of
the JFK
School of Management in Orinda. He and his wife Betty live in Berkeley,
California. They have three grown children and six grandchildren.