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Public Sector Management

Vak
2012-2013

Public Sector Management

Description

The subject of this seminar is the analysis of reform in the public sector. This is done by way of comparing reform in western nation-states. An almost inescapable conclusion of reading recent and current policy documents written by academics, governments and international organisations like IMF, OECD and the World Bank is that reforms are happening almost anywhere. But the questions arises if this is true. In how far are these plans implemented? An additional matter is to see if anything is implemented at all, where and under which conditions this is done. Many themes seem to be presented as reforms, but are they reforms or a mere return to old habits. Starting point is that reforms are multi-faceted, multi-layered and multi-dimensional. Some coincide or are more like twins than separate entities. The most important layers of reforms are: – separation between public and private sector, – changes in the division of tasks, competences and means between government and citizen, – the relations between politics and civil service, – reorganisations of the civil service as far as structure, culture and routines is concerned, – civil service reform: towards a new civil service: legal status, mobility, HRM and training, – changes in the organisation of the civil service, service attitude and New Public Management.

Course objectives

Orientation on the content of governance and government in the public sector and its domains and foundations. Academic skills and skills of social science research.

Timetable

Friday 7-9-2012 14:00 17:00 CDH-SCHOUW A2.05
Friday 14-9-2012 14:00 17:00 CDH-SCHOUW A0.01
Friday 21-9-2012 14:00 17:00 CDH-SH K.VOORHOUT
Friday 28-9-2012 14:00 17:00 CDH-SCHOUW A0.01
Friday 5-10-2012 14:00 17:00 CDH-SCHOUW A0.01
Friday 12-10-2012 14:00 17:00 CDH-SCHOUW A0.01
Friday 19-10-2012 14:00 17:00 CDH-SCHOUW A0.01

Modes of instruction

During the first part of the lecture a general introduction to the theme will be given. The second part will give the opportunity for the students to present the result of a group assignment related to the theme of the session.

Assessment method

Assignments. Course material is also obligatory for the assignments as far as it is set out in sheets, handouts and other information media.

Study material

  • Geert Bouckaert and Christopher Pollitt (2004), Public Management Reform: a comparative analysis, Oxford: Oxford University Press;

  • Dijkstra, Gerrit S.A. and Frits M van der Meer, Disentangling blurring boundaries: the public/private dichotomy from an organisational perspective, in: Retracing public administration, Elsevier Science Ltd, 2003, 89-106

  • Frits M. van der Meer (ed.) (2011), Civil service systems in Western Europe, Cheltenham/Aldershot: Edward Elgar (via docent)

  • Frits M. van der Meer (2009), Public Sector reform in Western Europe and the rise of the enabling state: an approach to analysis, in R Mathur (ed.), Glimpses of Civil Service reform, 171-195, Hyderabad, Icfai Press (via docent).

Blackboard

Where applicable Blackboard will be used.

Registration

Via USIS

Contact information

Drs. C. Nagtegaal, Msc.PA; Room: 5B-47
cnagtegaal@fsw.leidenuniv.nl

Remarks

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