The New Public Management: Principles, Practice and Prospects
| Module title | The New Public Management: Principles, Practice and Prospects |
|---|---|
| Module code | POLM007M |
| Academic year | 2019/0 |
| Credits | 20 |
| Module staff | (Convenor) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 3 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 15 |
|---|
Module description
This module will provide you with comparative and critical perspectives on the theories and the applications of the New Public Management (NPM). You will explore the underlying theoretical and conceptual assumptions driving the adaptation and the application of the NPM and the impact of adopting NPM techniques on the performance of public organisation and more generally on the public-private relationships. The new arrangements between public and private organisations will be examined in addition to their implications to the public-private governance. You will also gain a critical perspective on the applications of the NPM worldwide. The results of the application greatly varied between the developed and developing courtiers and within each category of these two groups.
Module aims - intentions of the module
- To provide you with a clear understanding of the content of the New Public Management by exposing you to challenging theoretical approaches to NPM and their applicability to reform current public management issues;
- To enable you to identify circumstances in which NPM approaches are productive as well as the areas where such techniques and approaches proved to be counterproductive;
- To enable you to provide a critique of the NPM and to consider alternative approaches for public sector management;
- To enable you to compare the experience the leading countries including the UK, Australia, and New Zealand with the other experiences of application worldwide particularly in your own countries.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. demonstrate a clear understanding of the NPM as a mode of delivering public services;
- 2. apply the methods and models of the NPM in practical settings of problem-solving and organisational design;
- 3. understand the country or culture specific aspects of the NPM;
- 4. analyse the relationship between public and private management and appraise the dynamics of cross-fertilisation;
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 5. appraise and critically evaluate government reports and public policy;
- 6. synthesise and comment critically on a corpus of academic literature;
- 7. link public administration concepts and theories to real world examples;
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 8. demonstrate skills in time management, presentational effectiveness, team working and group leadership as a foundation for future career progression; and
- 9. reflect on the process of learning and evaluate personal strengths and weaknesses.
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:
- NPM: origins and introduction
- NPM in non-Western countries
- Regulation and delegation
- Disaggregation and autonomy
- Performance-based management
- Accountability and hybridization
- Contracting-out and for-profit policy implementation
- Plenary discussion: is NPM dead?
Most sessions will integrate student presentations.
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 18 | 182 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | 18 | 6 x 3 hour seminars |
| Guided independent study | 82 | Reading, thinking and preparing for lectures and workshops |
| Guided independent study | 80 | Planning and completing written assignments |
| Guided independent study | 20 | Researching and devising group presentation |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Individual in-class presentation | 10 minutes | 1-8 | Oral feedback |
| Plenary discussion | 60 minutes | 1-8 | Oral 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 | 80 | 3300 words | 1-8 | One week marking turnaround with written and oral feedback for this assessment |
| Reflective learning log | 20 | 800 words | 9 | Electronic feedback via ELE within one week. |
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 (3300 words) | 1-8 | August/September reassessment period |
| Reflective learning log | Reflective Learning Log (800 words) | 9 | August/September reassessment period |
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
Basic reading:
Ahmed Badran (2011) The Regulatory Management of Privatised Public Utilities: A Network Perspective on the Regulatory Process in the Egyptian Telecommunications Market, VDM Verlag Dr. Müller.
Bourgoyne, J. (2007) ‘Responsive, responsible and respected government: towards a New Public Administration Theory’, International Review of Administrative Sciences.
Bouckaert, G. and Halligan, J. (2008) Managing Performance: International Comparisons, Routledge.
Dorey, P. (2005) Policy Making in Britain; an introduction, Sage.
Dunleavy P. and Margetts, H. (2006) ‘New Public Management is Dead – Long Live Digital-Age Governance’, Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory.
Flyn, N. (2007) Public Sector Management, 5th edn, Sage.
Hartlet, J. et al (eds) (2008) Managing to Improve Public Services, CUP.
Hood, C. (1998) The Art of the State, OUP.
Massey, A. and Pyper, R. (2005) Public Management and Modernisation in Britain, Palgrave.
Pollitt, C. and Bouckaert, G. (2004) Public Management Reform: a comparative analysis, OUP.
Wilks, S. (2007) ‘Boardization and corporate governance in the UK’ Public Policy and Administration.
Wilks, S. (2008) ‘Board management of performance in British central government’, in KPMG, Holy Grail or Achievable Quest? International Perspectives on Public Sector Management, KPMG.
Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources
ELE – http://vle.exeter.ac.uk/
| Credit value | 20 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 10 |
| Module pre-requisites | This module is only available to students on the MPA Programme |
| NQF level (module) | 7 |
| Available as distance learning? | No |
| Origin date | 01/10/2010 |
| Last revision date | 14/09/2018 |
