Study-Unit Description

Study-Unit Description


CODE PPL3104

 
TITLE Decision-making for Policy Leaders

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

 
MQF LEVEL 6

 
ECTS CREDITS 6

 
DEPARTMENT Policy, Politics and Governance

 
DESCRIPTION This study-unit examines decision-making in public and private organisations. Various aspects of decision-making are considered, including the history and definitions of decision-making, the importance of decision-making in organisations, what influences decision-making, and how decisions are taken.

The unit covers the development of decision-making theory and models, and the types of decisions that are found in individual and group decision-making, the decision-making process, and the influence of intuition, judgement and creativity in the decision-making process.

From a practical viewpoint, the tools and techniques employed in decision making, and the incidence of error and bias in decision making are examined. The notion of leadership in decision making is also discussed, as well the importance of ethics in decision making.

Case studies taken from public policy and private organisations are employed to illustrate the various aspects of decision-making theory and practice.

Study-unit Aims:

This study-unit is intended to:

(a) examine the most important theories and models of decision-making, and how these impact the decision-making process;
(b) examine leadership qualities and styles, and management tools and techniques that assist to avoid error and bias in decision-making;
(c) assist students in understanding how policies are conceived (agenda setting), formulated (policy analysis and policy making) and implemented as well as evaluated.

Learning Outcomes:

1. Knowledge & Understanding
By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:

(a) acquire a critical understanding of the classic theories of decision-making;
(b) be more knowledgeable of policy processes under democratic governance.

2. Skills
By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:

(a) analyse decision-making case studies with a view to drawing lessons about complex choices;
(b) analyse decision scenarios and make recommendations to complex issues.

Main Text/s and any supplementary readings:

Core readings about decision-making and policy-making:

(a) Colebatch, H K. 2002 (Second Edition). Policy. Maidenhead, UK: Open University Press. ISBN 0-335-20971-8.
(b) Gauci, V J. 2005. The Genesis of Malta’s Foreign Policy. Malta: Agenda. ISBN 99932-672-0-1.
(c) Hill, M. 2005 (Fourth Edition). The Public Policy Process. Harlow, Essex: Pearson Education. ISBN 0-582-89402-6.
(d) Mizzi, E. 1995. Malta in the Making, 1962-1987: An Eye-witness Account. Malta: Author’s copyright. ISBN 99909-68-01-2.

Supplementary readings

(e) Dye, Thomas R. 2005. Understanding Public Policy. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson, Prentice Hall. ISBN 0-13-117452-5.
(f) Hill, Michael (ed). 1997. The Policy Process: A Reader. Harlow, Essex: Pearson Education. ISBN 0-13-616947-3.

 
STUDY-UNIT TYPE Lecture, Seminar and Tutorial

 
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
Assessment Component/s Assessment Due Sept. Asst Session Weighting
Presentation (10 Minutes) SEM2 Yes 35%
Examination (2 Hours) SEM2 Yes 65%

 
LECTURER/S Joe Gerada
Mario Thomas Vassallo
Cleavon Vella

 

 
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