Browse Hierarchy POLM093: Public Management and Governance

This module provides an overview of key developments in public administration and management from a comparative perspective. It combines theoretical perspectives with discussion of a wide range of case studies to consider what makes effective public management and what are the different styles of public management and how this affects public administration. The module will use the comparative method to look at the different ways public management is implemented in Europe and in other OECD countries and in understanding why is there variation across countries in public management. The module surveys a range of techniques including performance management and quality assurance, and considers contemporary debates such as the role of markets and partnerships in public management. At the end of the module you should be able to understand the factors influencing the shift from the public administration to the public management paradigm and demonstrate a critical awareness of the strengths and weaknesses of management approaches. Upon completion of the module, successful students will have a thorough knowledge of the current theories and practices in public management, how public administration have been affected at global, EU and OECD countries' levels and potential solutions to its set of problems.