Public Management

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2013:

Intensive

240 hours

200 point program: PPMN90034 Ideas in Politics

None

Political Science at Undergraduate level

166-527 Advanced Public Management

PPMN90006 Advanced Public Management

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Description, Subject Objectives, Generic Skills and Assessment Requirements of this entry.The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison Unit website: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

This is one of the capstone subjects in the Master of Public Policy and Management and will provide students with the key theoretical and analytical perspectives and debates in public management. This subject examines contemporary issues in public management in Australia and internationally through a range of theoretical and practical perspectives. It explores the nature of public management in a complex public service environment, critically examining the trends in public management reform and examining their underlying ideas and their impact on policy and practice. The subject focuses on the implications of these changes for the design and delivery of public services, the role and functions of public managers and their relations with politicians, non–governmental actors and the public.

On successful completion of this subject students should:

• have a thorough knowledge of contemporary theories and methods of public sector management;
• have skills in evaluating current challenges, trends, programs and management practices;
• have a well-developed critical understanding of the place of public management and public managers in contemporary governance systems, the dilemmas and opportunities both face;
• be familiar with issues related to designing public services, delivering public services, managing in public and innovation and change in public services.

March:

1. 1,000 word mini-thesis plan (10%) Due week beginning 25 March;

2. 1,500 word response to a public management problem (15%) Due week beginning 29 April;

3. 7,500 word mini-thesis (75%) due week beginning 10 June.

August:

1. 1,000 word mini-thesis plan (10%) Due week beginning 19 August;

2. 1,500 word response to a public management problem (15%) Due week beginning 16 September;

3. 7,500 word mini-thesis (75%) due week beginning 4 November.

Hurdle Requirement: As this is an Intensively-taught subject, Lecture/Seminar attendance is compulsory on all 6 days. Regular participation in class is required.

Assessment that is submitted after the due date and up to 10 working days late without an approved extension will be marked on a pass/fail basis only. Assessment that is submitted later than 10 working days will not be accepted or marked. In-class tasks missed without approval will not be marked. All pieces of written work must be submitted to pass this subject.

Required readings will be made available electronically via LMS prior to the commencement of the subject's intensive teaching period.

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

On successful completion of this subject students should:

• be able to demonstrate competence in critical, creative and theoretical thinking through essay writing, seminar discussion and presentations, conceptualising theoretical problems, forming judgments and arguments from conflicting evidence, and by critical analysis.
• be able to demonstrate proficiency in the application of public management theory to empirical problems.
• be able to demonstrate an understanding of the academic protocols of research and presentation.

PPMN90006 is a compulsory subject in the Master of Public Policy and Management, and the Master of Policy Studies (ASST).