| CODE | PPL1083 | ||||||||||||
| TITLE | Theoretical Aspects of Public Management | ||||||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 01 - Year 1 in Modular Undergraduate Course | ||||||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 5 | ||||||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 6 | ||||||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Policy, Politics and Governance | ||||||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | This study-unit is designed to map out the theoretical framework constituting the specialised discipline of public management. It looks into the differences and similarities between the management of public entities and that of private organisations. In addition, it delves into the contribution of New Public Management (NPM) and how it reshaped the traditional public administration models. Within this context, the unit analyses the driving forces behind political administrative reforms and policy redesigns against cultural and institutional limitations. From a comparative perspective, this unit addresses the application of convergence criteria in managing public entities in the European Union and beyond, and why in some cases this convergence has not occurred. Finally, the theoretical framework of institutionalism is introduced in order to better understand to what extent is individual performance restrained by established rules and norms of structured institutions. This study-unit is considered strategic in laying the theoretical foundations of the whole programme of studies. Students are exposed to the different traditions, approaches and frameworks of public management. In addition, it imparts the need for continuous improvement and, to this effect, it adopts an evolutionary outlook towards public service reform and renewal programmes. Thus, having been orientated to the theoretical context of managing public entities in this unit, students will be in a better position to grasp the applied knowledge and skills in the remaining units within the course. Study-unit Aims: The unit aims to, in the first instance, introduce students to the theoretical principles framing the science and practice of public management. First, it seeks to help students differentiate between public and private organisations and, then, distinguish the roles of functions of politicians and public officers. Then, it exposes students to the introduction of New Public Management (NPM) in the 1980s and 1990s and the more recent institutional theories that explain the interactivity of individuals within structured organisations with their own rules and norms. Furthermore, the unit helps students understand the need of regular political administrative reforms and policy redesigns within the Public Service. Learning Outcomes: Knowledge & Understanding By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: • distinguish between public and private enterprises; • differentiate the roles and functions of politicians and public officers; • demonstrate knowledge of what New Public Management entails; • comprehend the need for political administrative reform and policy redesign initiatives; • assess how the rules and norms of structured institutions impact on individual performance, decision-making and leadership; • compare and contrast different public management models within the European Union and beyond. Skills By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: • participate in organisational reform schemes and programmes; • enhance their leadership skills; • assess and counteract cultural restraints and institutional limitations; • comprehend theoretical knowledge to explain and interpret grounded realities and developments within the Public Service. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Main Text - Pollitt, C. and Bouckaert, G. (2012), Public Management Reform, UK: Oxford University Press. - Farnham, D. and Horton, S. (2017), Managing the New Public Services, USA: Macmillon. Supplementary Text - Jenkins, K. (2008), Politicians and Public Services, UK: Edward Elgar. - Carney, P. (2016), Understanding Public Policy, USA: Palgrave. |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture, Tutorial and Project | ||||||||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | William Edward Peplow Anne Marie Thake (Co-ord.) |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2024/5. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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