Public Management

3 Credits · Level: Graduate, Undergraduate

This course introduces students to public management: the art and science of planning and implementing public programs. Participants will examine the constraints public managers face in a democratic society; how the challenges of public management vary across different organizational and policy settings; and how public management and policy analysis frequently intersect. A key objective is to offer students a useful mix of theoretical knowledge and practical skills. Throughout the course, emphasis is placed on management as a generic function performed in all sectors (public, nonprofit, and private) but participants are encouraged to focus on what factors make public management distinctive and more challenging. Some of the specific topics covered include: forms and styles of decisionmaking; the role of front-line operators and middle managers; organizational culture; the organizational environment (including Congress, the President, and the courts); managing people; management reform efforts (budget reform; privatization and contracting out; performance management). Case studies are used to explore specific challenges and scenarios.