POAD8138 Governance and Public Policy

2017

4.5

1 x 2-hour workshop weekly

1 of POAD9124, POAD9138 has been successfully completed

This topic examines the core theories, issues and complexities of governance in shaping the environment in which contemporary policy makers work.

By examining what governance is and how it relates to democratic policy making this topic explores some of the potential pitfalls of contemporary public policy in management and practice.

The topic concludes by looking at how policy makers and managers can apply an inclusive process and good governance in their everyday practice.

The aim is to address the increasingly complex range of perspectives, interests and arenas with which public policy makers and public managers are expected to work. This topic aims to expose students to ways in which ideas about governance are shaping modern policy making. The topic will describe and debate issues of public sector reform and 'joined up' government, policy networks, democracy and participation in public policy, the management of knowledge in the changing context, and issued of accountability. In particular, the practical dilemmas facing policy makers in the changing context will be highlighted and examined throughout both in the lecture content and in the engagement of students through workshops and case studies.

On completion of this topic, students will be expected to be able to:

1. Critically analyse and discuss diverse theories of governance
2. Identify current issues facing governance at the local, national, regional, post national and global level
3. Demonstrate an applied understanding of the procedural knowledge required by policy makers in contemporary governance contexts
4. Demonstrate the ability to apply a critical ·understanding of contemporary good governance principles to practical examples of policy making.