Managing in the public and voluntary sectors

Learning Outcomes

Learning Outcomes

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Critically evaluate public economic reforms, the use of devolved financial management, performance management and the concept of ‘public value’.
• Identify the key characteristics of public service operations and demonstrate a mastery of the need to integrated and co-ordinated different parts of the public policy process.
• Understand the complex government policy system in which voluntary and public services are delivered.
• Develop an autonomous viewpoint about the ‘new public managerialism’ and the application of business and management methods to the public and voluntary sector context.
• Critically assess public policy implementation and delivery and the management of change, with reference to local practice and examples.

• The context and purpose of voluntary and public sector work and international variations in core practice
• Policy and policy implementation
• Governance and accountability
• Managerialism and professionalism in the public and voluntary sectors: including managing professionals and teams
• The development of ‘new public managerialism’ and the debate about the use of business models in the public and voluntary sectors
• ‘Public value’, public sector economics, alternative budgetary models and the use of devolved budgets
• Managing performance and evaluating public policy
• Managing change
• Systems and complexity based approaches to managing public and voluntary organisations
• Using information systems in public and voluntary organisations

Teaching and learning methods

Students will reflect on the reading material and key concepts via lectures and small group exercises. Intensive teaching input will aim to support student’s use of private study and project work. Students will be permitted to use examples from their own practice background, but will also be encouraged to consider similar issues from other agencies perspectives.

Students will be encouraged to support each other in the workshops and small group exercises.

Resources & Reading list

General Resources

Journals. Relevant journals include: International Journal of Public Sector Management International Public Management Journal Public Administration Public Finance and Management Public Management Public Money and Management

Textbooks

Burnham, J & Horton, S. (2013). Public Management in the UK: A New Introduction. London: Palgrave.

Hill, M (2013). The Public Policy Process. London: Pearson.

Benington, J & Moore, M.H. eds. (2011). Public Value: Theory and Practice.. London: Palgrave.

Hughes, O.E. (2012). Public Management & Administration. An Introduction. London: Palgrave.

Formative

This is how we’ll give you feedback as you are learning. It is not a formal test or exam.

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.

Referral

This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.

Repeat Information

Repeat type: Internal & External