Study-Unit Description

Study-Unit Description


CODE PPL3091

 
TITLE Public Management

 
UM LEVEL 03 - Years 2, 3, 4 in Modular Undergraduate Course

 
MQF LEVEL 6

 
ECTS CREDITS 4

 
DEPARTMENT Policy, Politics and Governance

 
DESCRIPTION This study-unit provides a critical analysis of the theory and practice of New Public Management, comparing it to management in the private sector and the extent to which tools and techniques developed for business can be used in managing or delivering public services. The impact and effect of recent reforms in the organisation and delivery of public services is assessed.

NPM places the manager at the centre of public administration, with the latter's performance being gauged by its ability to create value NPM entails a changed emphasis on regulation, devolution of key tasks, privatisation, business planning, performance management as well as organisational change. Electronic government has greatly facilitated these changes.

The study-unit reviews these core ideas about contemporary public management, as well as appraising criticism of NPM and of its consequences, including the decline of coherence in policy delivery and the fragmentation of the public sector.

The following items are covered: theoretical and conceptual underpinnings of public management; managing discretion; optimising policy-making; entrepreneurship in the public sector; leadership; managing for outcomes and quality; accountability and participation; contract working; the creation of public value.

Study-unit Aims:

The study-unit grounds undergraduate students of public policy in the theory and practice of contemporary public management.

It complements study units that deal with decision-making (PPL3181), industrial relations (PPL3042), and leadership (PPL2223), as well as laying the foundations for Honours level courses in project evaluation (PPL4000), policy analysis and evaluation (PPL4021), electronic government (PPL4054), strategy (PPL4010) and regulatory policy (PPL4223).

Learning Outcomes:

1. Knowledge & Understanding:

By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:
- describe the essential ideas and instruments embodied in what is known as 'New Public Management';
- relate contemporary systems of public management to the broad framework of public governance and policy-making;
- appraise the tenets of contemporary public management from the standpoint of scholarly critiques of NPM, as well as empirical evidence of the effects of NPM on the efficiency, effectiveness, responsiveness and sustainability of public services.

2. Skills:

By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:
- write case studies describing NPM initiatives and appraising their outcomes;
- write thoughtful, evidence-based critiques of proposals to improve the management of selected public services, or to privatise such services.

Main Text/s and any supplementary readings:

- Bekkers, V, J. Edelenbos & B. Steijn. 2011. Innovation in the Public Sector: Linking Capacity and Leadership. London: Palgrave Macmillan.
- Christensen, T. & P. Laegreid (eds). 2010. The Ashgate Research Companion to New Public Management. Aldershot: Ashgate.
- Fenwick, J. & B. Macmillan (eds). 2010. Public Management in the Post-Modern Era: Challenges and Prospects. London: Edward Elgar.
- Ferlie, E, L Lynn & C. Pollitt (eds). 2005. The Oxford Handbook of Public Management. Oxford: OUP.
- Flyn. N. 2007. Public Sector Management. London: Sage.
- Horner, L, R. Lekhi & R. Blaug. 2006. Deliberative Democracy and the Role of Public Managers: Final Report of The Work Foundation's Public Value Consortium.
- International Journal of Public Sector Management.

(NB. Besides these leading texts, the University Library has a good selection of supplementary texts. Large numbers of official reports, studies, handbooks and other official literature are available online from the websites of governments and international organisations such as the World Bank.)

 
STUDY-UNIT TYPE Lecture and Seminar

 
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
Assessment Component/s Assessment Due Sept. Asst Session Weighting
Assignment SEM1 Yes 30%
Examination (2 Hours) SEM1 Yes 70%

 
LECTURER/S Anne Marie Thake
Mario Thomas Vassallo

 

 
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.

https://www.um.edu.mt/course/studyunit