The Modern Civil Service: Working in Government
| Module title | The Modern Civil Service: Working in Government |
|---|---|
| Module code | POC3119 |
| Academic year | 2019/0 |
| Credits | 15 |
| Module staff | Dr Nick Kirsop-Taylor (Convenor) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 11 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 20 |
|---|
Module description
In this module you will learn about the historical and social roots of the civil service as a critical component in good governance. You will learn about the emergence of different forms of civil service and bureaucracy through a broad internationally-situated series of cases including (though not exclusively) the Roman civil service, the Shang dynasty bureaucracy, the Napoleonic bureaucratic model and the British civil service. You will learn about the ‘emergence’ of the modern civil service and will be introduced to the key forms and structures that the agencies and institutions of the executive can take. You will engage with a number of critical key debates in contemporary discourse including issues of public accountability, funding, and professionalism. Through the experiences of a range of guest speakers you will get the opportunity to learn about the contemporary ‘lived experience’ of the civil servants.
The weekly seminars will offer you the opportunity to understand and progress along personal professional journeys towards civil service entrance exams in general, and the UK Fast Stream in particular. In seminars you will undertake reflective activities, trial entrance exam activities, and undertake preparatory exercises for the Fast Stream selection process. This process will be captured in a reflective portfolio, with a professional CV and personal biography as the tangible products to help you on the next step of your postgraduate career. In summary, this module will give you the dedicated time and support to maximise your post-graduate opportunities for civil service careers.
Module aims - intentions of the module
This module aims to introduce you to the fundamental historical, international, and governmental dynamics that have shaped the modern civil service, and argue for the critical role of the executive bureaucracy in contemporary good governance. It aims to provide you with a well-rounded understanding of the reality of contemporary civil service careers, and through its specific support of Fast Stream applications, offer you the time and support to construct competitive Fast Stream applications.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. Describe in detail the historical emergence of the classical and the modern bureaucracies
- 2. Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the key contemporary tensions and challenges facing the UK civil service
- 3. Argue comprehensively about the role of the executive in good governance
- 4. Critically discuss in depth how the contemporary challenges and tensions facing the civil service may impact upon individual bureaucrats
- 5. Evidence a strong understanding and knowledge about the forms of UK civil service entry examination
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 6. Demonstrate a strong understanding of a range of the key concepts in public administration theory and discourse
- 7. Discuss how theory and research is contextualised through contemporary international case studies.
- 8. Synthesise contemporary political dynamics from historical evidence and sources
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 9. Critically reflect upon and evidence a career development pathway
- 10. Plan and implement their own career development pathway in the civil service
Syllabus plan
Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover some or all of the following topics:
An introduction to public administration and public management studies
- The emergence of ‘classical’ bureaucracy, and the ‘modern’ civil service
- The structure of contemporary government and bureaucracy, including critical perspectives on the bureaucracy
- Contemporary currents & challenges effecting the civil service: the Weberian legacy, joined-up government, the hollowed-out state, turf wars and austerity
- An expose into departmental public administration research: street level bureaucracy, the green state and others
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 22 | 128 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | 11 | 11 x 1-hour lectures |
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | 11 | 11 x 1 hour seminars. The seminars will offer a mixed format of reflective discussions coupled to career development elements. This will include activities, research time, guest speakers and supported learning to support learners engagement with their professional development pathway towards the Fast Stream. |
| Guided Independent Study | 80 | Reading and preparation for weekly lectures and seminars |
| Guided Independent Study | 48 | Coursework preparation and writing |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Civil Service assessment exercises | 2 x 30 minute exercises | 5, 9, 10 | Oral in seminars |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 75 | 0 | 25 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essay | 25 | 1,500 words | 1,2,6,7,8 | Written |
| Oral exam | 25 | 20 minutes | 2,3,4,6 | Oral |
| Career portfolio [leading to outputs of 1) completed CV and 2) personal biography] | 50 | 2,000 words | 3,5,9,10 | Written and oral in seminars |
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 | Essay (1,500 words) | 1,2,6,7,8 | August/September reassessment period |
| Oral exam | Oral exam (20 minutes) | 2,3,4,6 | August/September reassessment period |
| Career portfolio | Career portfolio (2,000 words) | 3,5,9,10 | August/September reassessment period |
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
Basic reading:
Stanley, M. (2000). How to be a civil servant. Metheun Publishing. Second Ed.
Massey, A. Eds. (2011). International handbook on civil service systems. Edward Elgar Publishing. First Ed.
Supplementary reading (illustrative):
Agere, S. (2000). Promoting good governance: principles, practices, perspectives. Commonwealth secretariat. London. First Ed.
Eckersley, R. (2004). The Green State: rethinking democracy and sovereignty. MIT Press: New York. First Ed.
Fukuyama, F. (2014). The origins of the political order. Profile books. New York. First Ed.
Fukuyama, F. (2014). Political order and political decay. Profile Books. New York. First Ed.
Josserand, E., Teo, S., Clegg, S. (2006). ‘From bureaucratic to postâ??bureaucratic: the difficulties of transition’. Journal of organisational change management: 19 (1)
Lipsky, M. (2015). ‘Street level bureaucracy: the dilemmas of the individual in public service’. SAGE, Fifth Ed.
Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources
There will be a significant volume of additional resources available on ELE.
| Credit value | 15 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 7.5 |
| Module pre-requisites | POC1014 The public policy process |
| Module co-requisites | None |
| NQF level (module) | 6 |
| Available as distance learning? | No |
| Origin date | 20/09/2018 |
| Last revision date | 20/09/2018 |