Course 2025-2026 a.y.

30152 - PUBLIC MANAGEMENT

Department of Social and Political Sciences

Course taught in English

Student consultation hours
31 - 32
BAI (6 credits - I sem. - OP  |  SECS-P/07) - BEMACS (6 credits - I sem. - OP  |  SECS-P/07) - BIEF (6 credits - I sem. - OP  |  SECS-P/07) - BIEM (6 credits - I sem. - OBS  |  12 credits SECS-P/07) - CLEF (6 credits - I sem. - OP  |  SECS-P/07)
Course Director:
VALENTINA MELE

Classes: 31 (I sem.) - 32 (I sem.)
Instructors:
Class 31: VALENTINA MELE, Class 32: VALENTINA MELE


Suggested background knowledge

None

Mission & Content Summary

MISSION

The public sector is a crucial component of the business environment, as government decisions and activities impact the private sector and citizens’ daily lives. Public management has changed enormously in recent years due to reform initiatives in many countries. Furthermore, functions and activities that used to fall under the compass of the public sector are now performed by a variety of actors, including companies and NGOs (Non-Governmental Organizations). In light of these changes, the primary purpose of this course is to introduce students to foundational concepts and current developments in the field of governance and public management. Throughout the course, students will discuss and work on assignments that stimulate their understanding of the collective sphere, how we decide collectively, and how managerial techniques can be employed to deliver better public services. Students will also be exposed to 'the public role of the private sector', i.e., a set of non-market strategies that are considered essential to succeed in the global competitive landscape.

CONTENT SUMMARY

  • Governments and globalization, Public Management and Governance
  • Public and private management: What’s the difference?
  • Decision making in public sector
  • Strategy and financial management in the public sector 
  • Performance measurement and HR management in government and non profit organizations 
  • Business-Government relationships: public affairs and lobbying, corporate citizenship, public-private partnerships.
  • The role and functions of International Organizations and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs).

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILO)

KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING

At the end of the course student will be able to...
  • Recognize the main functions of government and the different levels of government.
  • Explain the public role of the private sector.
  • Recognize the interactions between companies and government and between companies and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs).
  • Understand the managerial challenges of International and Non-Governmental Organizations.
  • Appreciate the challenges in performance measurement applied to the public sector

APPLYING KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING

At the end of the course student will be able to...
  • Design a public communication campaign (e.g., stop smoking).
  • Analyze the regulatory impacts on companies and design a responsible public affairs strategy.
  • Interpret a cost-benefit analysis for a public decision (e.g., investment in health).
  • Formulate a performance assessment for public organizations.
  • Plan and present a partnership between a company and a nongovernmental organization.

 


Teaching methods

  • Lectures
  • Guest speaker's talks (in class or in distance)
  • Collaborative Works / Assignments
  • Interaction/Gamification

DETAILS

  • Guest speakers engage in interactive sessions with students aimed at sharing the professional challenges and opportunities of working for or with public organizations.
  • Interactive class activities enable students to develop skills such as designing a public campaign or a lobbying strategy.
  • Each year, attending students work in groups as consultants for a real client, which could be a government organization, a nongovernmental organization, or a company working with the public sector.

Assessment methods

  Continuous assessment Partial exams General exam
  • Written individual exam (traditional/online)
    x
  • Collaborative Works / Assignment (report, exercise, presentation, project work etc.)
x    
  • Active class participation (virtual, attendance)
x    

ATTENDING STUDENTS

The grade breakdown for attending students is as follows:

a) Exam
b) Active class participation

c) Groupwork

 

General exam is held in written form and is composed of closed and open-ended questions referring to the concepts, models, and cases discussed in class and one short 'business case', which must be solved by students. The open-ended questions are mainly aimed at verifying learning of analytical and management abilities and their correct comprehension. The business case is based on the skills developed through in-class interactive learning, and it is used to assess the ability to apply the knowledge students acquire during the course critically.This exam will have the same form and background materials as the first and second partial exams described above.

 

b) Active participation: For students attending in person (continuous assessment).

 

 

c) Groupwork Consulting

Students work in groups as consultants for a real client. The specific goals are presented in detail at the launch of the consulting project, along with the assessment criteria.

 

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The status of 'attending' is granted to students who participate in the group work. Students who decide to be attending are in charge of checking the instructions, forming their groups, and respecting the deadlines. No exceptions are allowed.

Attending student status is valid only until February 2026. Afterwards, the exam  is for non-attending students only.

 

Please check the Syllabus and Blackboard to get further details. 

 


NOT ATTENDING STUDENTS

The assessment method for non-attending students is based on a final exam in written form. It is composed of closed and open-ended questions referring to the concepts presented in the textbook for non-attending students.

 

The open-ended questions are aimed at verifying learning and correct comprehension of the functioning dynamics and managerial tools of public organizations.

 

They are based on the entire textbook (all chapters). When preparing for the non-attending exam, you don't need to read or study slides and class-notes.

 

Please check the Syllabus and Blackboard to get details and, in due time, a mock exam for non-attending students.

 

 


Teaching materials


ATTENDING STUDENTS

All materials indicated in the Syllabus (readings, slides, cases, incidents..) and made available on Blackboard/online course reserve.


NOT ATTENDING STUDENTS

  • O.E. HUGHES, Public Management and Administration, Macmillan Education UK, 5th edition. PLS CONSIDER THAT WE DRAFT OUR QUESTIONS BASED ON THIS EDITION OF THE TEXTBOOK.
Last change 04/06/2025 01:44