- To handle accurately the concepts relating to the structures and administrative actors.
- To appreciate the close link that exists between the field of politics and public administration, as well as between the analysis and the professional practice.
- To note the transit of the bureaucratic model of management towards a managerial model and this towards the model of governance in the context of the recent transformations of the State and public administration.
- To understand the basic elements that make up the design of public organizations from the point of view of its structure.
- To perceive the role of organizational culture -and the world of values in general- about the behaviour of the political and administrative actors.
- To understand the dynamics of power, conflict and political management in the administrative settings.
- To use the comparative method to learn about the Spanish political and administrative system through its contrast with other systems.
Description of contents: programme
1. Political System and Public Administration.
2. Key factors in designing public administration structures. Spanish administrative system as an example of structural complexity.
3. The evolution of public management. Bureaucratic model, new public management and public governance.
4. Strategies and instruments for the improvement of public management. Excellence and quality management models in public services.
5. Conflict, interests and power networks in public administrations. Political power and bureaucratic power. Public managers as political managers. Leadership and innovation in public sector.
6. Public values and organizational culture. Culture and organizational change. Motivation in public sector.
7. Public sector models and comparative public management.
Learning activities and methodology
Continuous assessment: text analysis, case studies, individual or in-group research papers and/or oral presentations, short essays, in-class debates, etc.
Tutorial sessions: individual on the established schedule.
Assessment System
% end-of-term-examination 60
% of continuous assessment (assigments, laboratory, practicals...) 40
Basic Bibliography
BOVAIRD, T.; LÖFFLER, E., eds. (2015), Public Management and Governance, London, Routledge. 3rd. edition.. .. .. .
CONTEH, C.; GREITENS, T.J.; JESUIT, D.K.; ROBERGE, I. (2018), Governance and Public Management. Strategic Foundations for Volatile Times, Routledge. .. .. .
KUHLMANN, S.; WOLLMANN, H. (2019), Introduction to Comparative Public Administration. Administrative Systems and Reforms in Europe. Elgar Publishing. .. .. .
POLLIT, C.; BOUCKAERT, G. (2017), Public Management Reform A Comparative Analysis. Oxford Univ. Press, 4th edition. .. .. .
SHAFRITZ, J. M.; RUSSELL, E.W.; BORICK, C.P.; HYDE, A.C. (2016), Introducing Public Administration. Routledge, 9th Edition. .. .. .
Additional Bibliography
CHRISTENSEN, T.; LAGREID, P.; RONESS, P.; ROVIK, K. (2007), Organizational Theory and the Public Sector. Routledge. .. .. .
HUGHES, O.E. (2003), Public Management and Administration. Palgrave-Macmillan. .. .. .
JOYCE, P. (2015), Strategic Management in the Public Sector. Routledge. .. .. .
KLIJN, E.; KOPPENJAN, J. (2015), Governance Networks in the Public Sector. Routledge. .. .. .
PERRY, J.L. (1996), Handbook of Public Administration. Jossey-Bass. .. .. .
PETERS, B.G. (2003), Handbook of Public Administration. Sage. .. .. .
POLLIT, C. (2016), Advanced Introduction to Public Management and Administration. Elgar Publishing. .. .. .
VAN DE WALLE, S.; GROENEVELD, S. (2018), Theory and Practice of Public Sector Reform. Routledge. .. .. .
The course syllabus may change due academic events or other reasons.
