Not available in 2022/23
PP4G3 Half Unit
Designing and Managing Change in the Public Sector
This information is for the 2022/23 session.
Teacher responsible
Dr Simon Bastow
Availability
This course is available on the CEMS Exchange, Double Master of Public Administration (ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳-Columbia), Double Master of Public Administration (ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳-University of Toronto), Global MSc in Management, Global MSc in Management (CEMS MIM), Global MSc in Management (MBA Exchange), MBA Exchange, MPA Dual Degree (ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ and Columbia), MPA Dual Degree (ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ and Hertie), MPA Dual Degree (ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ and NUS), MPA Dual Degree (ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ and Sciences Po), MPA Dual Degree (ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ and Tokyo), MSc in Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Master of Public Administration and Master of Public Policy. This course is available with permission as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit.
Course content
The course examines important challenges for governments and public sector organisations in being able to design and manage transformative change in public services. Two key aspects of change are fundamental:
- the instrumental capacity of government to design and implement policy and programme change in coherent, sustainable and successful ways, and
- the adaptive capacity of government to respond effectively to change in the external environment - e.g. global crisis, demographic shifts, digitisation, or changes in public opinion - and avoid problems of obsolescence or 'out-of-touch' policies.
We look at this dual challenge across developed and developing country contexts, and across core areas of government policy and public services. The course is primarily about government and public sector, however an important element is looking at the capacity of governments to coordinate with private and third sectors in designing and managing transformative change.
From the outset we discuss how governments can develop coherent responses to so-called 'wicked' public policy and management problems. These are often complex, multi-faceted and intractable problems that require well-designed and complementary measures. We look at the interplay of different governance factors such as the impact of politics, bureaucracy, culture, incentives and motivations, administrative capacity, amongst others, and explore the potential for and limitations on transformative change. The course works through key aspects of holisitic design: including strategy, culture, motivation and coordination, leadership, social-technical systems, resilience, and policy and organizational learning. There is strong emphasis on transformation through digital change.
The co