| CODE | SPI5604 | |||||||||
| TITLE | Quantitative and Qualitative Techniques for Public Policy, Plans and Programmes | |||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 05 - Postgraduate Modular Diploma or Degree Course | |||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 7 | |||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 5 | |||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Spatial Planning and Infrastructure | |||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | The study-unit deals with the various layers of policy, plan and programme making that shape a government and its administration, their development and assessment at various stages. This with a view to further understanding at what levels the suitable intervention related to sustainability may be undertaken. Qualitative and quantitative tools will be introduced as a means for promoting sustainability and increasing robustness. Moreover, corporate social responsibility initiatives are today becoming more popular as a means of compensating for the impact that development may have on the community. Understanding how CSR works and how it may contribute towards the sustainability of infrastructure will be discussed. Study-unit Aims The aims of this study-unit are to: 1. familiarise participants with the various levels of policy, plan and programme making and implementation structures within the public administration; 2. comprehend how the organisation of government may contribute towards factoring sustainable concepts in policy, plan and programme design; 3. demonstrate an understanding of the impact of fiscal policy on sustainable infrastructural development; 4. factor social policy into sustainable infrastructural development; 5. introduce the concept of corporate social responsibility as a means of engaging the public and private sector in public policy, planning and design; 6. provide a link between corporate social responsibility and sustainability; 7. introduce qualitative techniques such as scenario building, governance and consultation; 8. introduce analytical tools such as decision-making support, optimization approaches, uncertainty analysis, Life Cycle Analysis tools and procedures. Learning Outcomes 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - comprehend the limits of fiscal policy to increase outputs and outcomes and to reduce costs within the public sector; - quantify the potential social impact of infrastructural development on society and mitigation measures to develop social policy responses thereto; - demonstrate an understanding of what makes successful policy, plans and programmes - critical success factors and key performance indicators; - comprehend the concept of the policy, planning and programme cycle and its importance for infrastructural development; - comprehend and explain the relationship between CSR and corporate and managerial behaviour and how to secure stakeholder involvement; - describe and critique the various components of financial, social and environmental responsible behaviour; - enable the generation and evaluation of scenario building; - demonstrate familiarisation with concepts related to decision-making support, optimization approaches, uncertainty analysis, Life Cycle Analysis tools and procedures. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - demonstrate an understanding of the implications for public finance of a range of public policies, plans and programmes and decisions; - critically assess the situation of policy, planning and programming activities and tasks in respect of the infrastructural dimension; - lead and manage policy, planning and programming cycle processes; - evaluate possible actions of a corporation in response to its environment; - apply critical and interpretative skills to an evaluation of corporate activity; - apply qualitative and quantitative techniques to policies, plans and programmes at an ex ante and ex post scenario. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings An Introduction to the Policy Process - Birkland, Thomas A. - 2001 Reforming Public Service Provision - Braun, Paul-Mathias - 2005 Liberating the Corporate Soul - Barrett R Social responsibility; corporate governance issues - Batten J A & Fetherston T A (eds) Life Cycle Assessment: Principles, Practice and Prospects - Horne R, Grant T & Verghese K A Practical Guide to Risk Management - Coleman T |
|||||||||
| ADDITIONAL NOTES | Pre-requisite Qualifications: Bachelor degrees in Engineering, Geography, Science, Management or any related subject. | |||||||||
| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture | |||||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
|
|||||||||
| LECTURER/S | Jean Paul Fabri |
|||||||||
|
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 2023/4. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
||||||||||