Course 2011-2012 a.y.

Go to class group/s: 31

CLMG (6 credits - II sem. - OP  |  SECS-P/07) - M (6 credits - II sem. - OP  |  SECS-P/07) - IM (6 credits - II sem. - OP  |  SECS-P/07) - MM (6 credits - II sem. - OP  |  SECS-P/07) - AFC (6 credits - II sem. - OP  |  SECS-P/07) - CLAPI (6 credits - II sem. - OBS  |  SECS-P/07) - CLEFIN-FINANCE (6 credits - II sem. - OP  |  SECS-P/07) - CLELI (6 credits - II sem. - OP  |  SECS-P/07) - ACME (6 credits - II sem. - OP  |  SECS-P/07) - DES-ESS (6 credits - II sem. - OP  |  SECS-P/07) - EMIT (6 credits - II sem. - OP  |  SECS-P/07)

Course Director:
EDUARDO MISSONI

Course Objectives

Intergovernmental Institutions (IIs) have been traditionally studied under the perspective of International Relations, Political Sciences and International Law. Since the beginning of the’90s the managerial perspective has assumed growing importance, due to the call for a greater efficiency and effectiveness and for a better transparency and accountability coming from the Member States and other stakeholders. Similar issues have gained special relevance in relation to International Non Governmental Organizations (INGOs) and new global organizational settings.

The course is organised in 4 blocks:

1. The first block of this course sets the context of the international organizations, clarifying the notion of International Institution and International Non Governmental Organization, and categorizing International Organizationsin families which can be identified consistently with their institutional design, mandates, operational nature or membership composition.
2. The second block of the course offers a functional overview of the management reforms, tools and systems in IIs: the main functions of financial management; HR management; field operations’ management; marketing and fundraising; management control and performance measurement; stakeholder management- are here taken into consideration.
3. The third block of contents of the course is dedicated in particular to the INGOs that are becoming more and more active parts of a new global governance that must be designed after the economic crisis the world is facing nowadays.
4. A forth block takes into account a more operational side of management focused on development projects and programs.

Course Content Summary

• The context within which IIs and INGOs operate and present an overview of their main institutional and operational characteristics.
• Analysis of the United Nations system; programmes, funds and specialized agencies; governance systems.
• Challenges of the interactions between the IIs, the corporate sector and civil society organizations including INGOs, with a specific focus on development cooperation.
• Main strategic frameworks and declarations that frame IGO’s mandate -Millennium Development Goals, Paris Declaration- and overview of the main issues related to interagency coordination and management at global and country level.
• The International Financial Institutions (IMF, World Bank, Regional Development Banks) as well as the other relevant families of IGOs and INGOs.
• The managerial reforms, tools and systems in International Organizations: the main management functions, such as financial management, HR management, stakeholders management, profile management and branding, field operations’ management, management control, performance measurement; with regards to both the activity ofIIs and INGOs.
• Ethics and accountability for mission driven organizations and their executives.

Detailed Description of Assessment Methods

Attending students

The course is intended to be extremely interactive and participatory in nature. Group work, class presentations and a short version of the Model UN Simulation are part of the assessment for students regularly attending classes. The final grade for this course for students regularly attending classes is based on:

• group assignment (30%)
• model UN simulation Position Paper (20%)
• final written examination (50%)

Non attending students

Students not regularly attending classes are assessed through a written exam based on all materials of the course reader and of the book of D. Dijkzeul (100% of the final grade).

Textbooks

• Course reader
• D. DIJKZEUL, Rethinking International Organizations Pathologies and Promise, Berghahn Books, 2003 (compulsory for non-attending students).

Exam textbooks & Online Articles (check availability at the Library)

Prerequisites

NONE

Last change 16/05/2011 18:25