Managing Effectively

This subject is not offered in 2014.

120 hours

Admission to the Master of Public Administration program and successful completion of the following subjects: The World of Public Administration and at least two of: The Nature of Governing, The Rule of Law, Managing Public Finances.

Previous study in public policy, political science, management, law, business, economics, international relations, non-profit management or cognate area.

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/

Managing Effectively is one of the core subjects in the Melbourne Master of Public Administration. The Melbourne MPA is an interdisciplinary, globally-focused degree program for managers that work within or with government. This subject is one of three professionally-oriented subjects and it builds on the World of Public Administration and the core discipline subjects to develop the professional skills of participants with a particular focus on managing effectively.

In this subject we identify and examine the key skills and capabilities public managers need to support the delivery of public outcomes and critically assesses the application of those skills in different public policy settings.

The subject provides students with an advanced understanding of the key public management practices required to deliver public outcomes effectively. These include, for example: leadership and followership, negotiation and conflict management, complex project design and management, human resource management, media management, working collaboratively and working with citizens and services users. The subject situates these practices in their social, theoretical, historical and disciplinary contexts in order to provide a solid foundation for their application and use. Its focus is on enabling public managers to develop their understanding, appreciation and capability across these areas. Managing Effectively draws from a variety of disciplines including organisational sociology, politics, history, communication studies and psychology, and focuses attention on the application of such knowledge in practice.

Students who successfully complete this subject will:

• Understand the key management challenges and develop an appreciation of the skills and capabilities needed to address them;
• Acquire knowledge of the social, theoretical, historical and disciplinary factors that underpins developments in management practice;
• Develop a deep understanding of the skills and capabilities required to meet contemporary management practice;
• Appreciate how to apply new skills and capabilities in political institutions at all levels from the local to the global.

Assessment Task 1: Practice application paper of 1000 words where students write up a practical issue related to key themes in the subject (20%) due in week beginning 7 July;

Assessment Task 2: Syndicate project (group presentation and individual paper):

• Group presentation (20%) during 18-20 July
• Group paper of 1500 words exploring key aspect of the group presentation (20%) due in the week beginning 28 July

Assessment Task 3: Professional reflection paper of 2500 words where students apply key concepts from the course to the practical issue from assessment task 1 (40%) due in the week beginning 11 August.

Hurdle Requirement: As this is an Intensively-taught subject, Seminar attendance is compulsory on all 3 days. Regular participation in class is required.

Assessment submitted late without an approved extension will be penalised at 10% per working day. In-class tasks missed without approval will not be marked. All pieces of written work must be submitted to pass this subject.

All readings will be provided via the LMS.

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

On completion of this subject students should have:

• A comprehensive understanding and appreciation of the interconnectedness and complexity of the fields of public management and administration, and of the key public management practices required to most effectively deliver outcomes;
• A sound understanding of politics, economics, law and sciences, as they apply to public management processes, developments and decisions;
• A high-level understanding of approaches to theory and practice and they ways in which they are synthesized and applied to managerial challenges in professional practice;
• Well-developed interpersonal and communication skills necessary to a range of managerial and administrative activities including report writing, workplace discussions, negotiation and management and lobbying strategies;
• The ability to draw upon an extensive repertoire of advanced managerial and administrative skills including skills in leadership, negotiation, decision analysis and strategic management.