| CODE | PPL1083 | ||||||||||||
| TITLE | Foundations of Public Management and Governance | ||||||||||||
| 今日黑料 LEVEL | 01 - Year 1 in Modular Undergraduate Course | ||||||||||||
| EQF/MQF LEVEL | 5 | ||||||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 6 | ||||||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Policy, Politics and Governance | ||||||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | This study-unit introduces students to the core theories, frameworks, and paradigms that support the field of public management and governance. It examines the distinct nature of public organisations, highlighting differences from private-sector entities in terms of goals, accountability, stakeholder engagement, and the creation of public value. The study-unit traces the evolution of public management thought, beginning with Traditional Public Administration, which emphasised hierarchical structures, procedural compliance, and bureaucratic accountability. It then explores New Public Management (NPM), with its focus on efficiency, performance measurement, managerial autonomy, and market-oriented approaches to service delivery. Emerging paradigms, including Public Value Governance, Digital-Era Governance, and Collaborative Governance, are also examined, offering insights into citizen-centred approaches, technological innovation, and networked modes of governance. Students will analyse how these theoretical frameworks inform administrative reform, policy design, and performance management across varied cultural and institutional contexts. The study-unit highlights why public management systems in the European Union may sometimes converge in approach while diverge in others, reflecting differences in governance traditions, institutional arrangements, and societal expectations. The study-unit also introduces institutionalist perspectives, emphasising how organisational rules, norms, and structures shape individual behaviour, leadership, and decision-making. By engaging with these foundational theories, students develop the conceptual understanding necessary to critically evaluate public management reforms, governance innovations, and strategies for enhancing public service effectiveness. Study-Unit Aims: The study-unit aims to: - Introduce students to the principal theoretical and conceptual foundations of public management and governance; - To explore the distinctive features of public organisations compared to private-sector entities, including differences in goals, accountability, stakeholder relationships, and public value creation; - To trace the historical development of public management, from Traditional Public Administration to New Public Management, and more recent paradigms such as Public Value Governance, Digital-Era Governance, and Collaborative Governance; - To introduce the principles of institutionalism and demonstrate how organisational structures, norms, and rules shape leadership, decision-making, and behaviour in public organisations; - To equip students with the conceptual tools necessary to evaluate governance innovations, assess reform strategies, and engage with contemporary challenges in public management; - Develop an understanding of the evolving nature of public governance in an interconnected and digitally transforming world. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Distinguish between public and private management environments; - Identify and explain the respective roles of politicians, public managers, and other stakeholders in governance; - Demonstrate understanding of the evolution of public management theories from traditional administration to post-NPM approaches; - Assess the need for political-administrative reform and policy redesign; - Analyse how institutional structures and norms shape performance, leadership, and decision-making; - Compare and contrast public management frameworks within and beyond the European Union. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Apply theoretical perspectives to interpret real-world public management challenges; - Contribute effectively to organisational change and reform initiatives; - Exercise reflective and adaptive leadership within public organisations; - Identify and address institutional and cultural barriers to effective governance; - Critically engage with contemporary debates on public sector reform and innovation. |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture | ||||||||||||
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| LECTURER/S | William Edward Peplow Anne Marie Thake |
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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 2026/7. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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