Course 2011-2012 a.y.

Go to class group/s: 31

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

Course Director:
GRETA NASI

Course Objectives

Change and innovation processes in the public sector are fundamental for the modernization of the public sector. In most cases these processes are implemented with the support of consulting firms either because problems have or appear to have hard or no solutions, when leadership needs backup with an expert opinion, when there is great resistance to change, when stakeholders hold conflicting strategies, when there is no clear road map or when there is a need to overcome internal shortage of skills and competences.

This course examines how governments, in Europe and around the world, are designing and implementing innovation strategies, both at a national and local level, and it analyses the impact of change processes on government’s strategies, organization, relationship with stakeholders and overall performance. In doing so, it discusses the role of consulting firms in supporting these activities and the methodologies they apply to the public sector.

Throughout the course students have the opportunity to meet with practitioners from the public sector division of consulting firms as well as with public managers who are currently implementing innovation processes.

Upon completing this course students learn how to develop and implement an innovation strategy for a public agency; how to address such critical concerns as strategic innovation management, methodologies for consulting; how to assess the impacts and the performance of innovation processes in public agencies; how to manage a consulting project aimed at introducing an innovation in a public agency.

Course Content Summary

It provides concepts for managing innovations in the public sector, including:

• an analytical framework to assess needs, prioritize objectives, support decision making and set the road map for implementation, given the public agency’s context;
• the diverse change management approaches public agencies may adopt;
• tools and capabilities to plan and develop a change processes;
• peculiarities of project management methodologies applied tothe public sector;
• consultancy techniques in change management theories for the public sector;
• skills and competences to manage change in public agencies.

Detailed Description of Assessment Methods

Attending students

The final grade is determined by weighting grades for the following components:

• Simulation formulation, presentation and discussion (30%)
• Case study discussion (25%)
• Written Final exam (45%)

Non attending students

Written exam.

Textbooks

Course pack prepared by the instructor

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

Prerequisites

NONE

Last change 12/05/2011 13:30