MN3024 Public Sector Management

Academic year

2024 to 2025 Semester 2

Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.

Key module information

SCOTCAT credits

20

The Scottish Credit Accumulation and Transfer (SCOTCAT) system allows credits gained in Scotland to be transferred between institutions. The number of credits associated with a module gives an indication of the amount of learning effort required by the learner. European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits are half the value of SCOTCAT credits.

SCQF level

SCQF level 9

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) provides an indication of the complexity of award qualifications and associated learning and operates on an ascending numeric scale from Levels 1-12 with SCQF Level 10 equating to a Scottish undergraduate Honours degree.

Planned timetable

To be confirmed

This information is given as indicative. Timetable may change at short notice depending on room availability.

Module coordinator

Prof K M Orr

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module Staff

To be confirmed

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module description

The purpose of this module is to introduce students to the organisation and management of public services and to engage with important debates about the principles and purposes of public sector management. Doing so is worthwhile given the significance of public sector organisations in the economic and social lives of people across the world. The distinctiveness of the tasks of public management will be explored, including developing a critical appreciation of the limitations of economic rationalist ideas drawn from private sector orthodoxy. The importance of public sector organisations to major contemporary challenges, such as sustainability, and health and social inequalities, will be examined.

Relationship to other modules

Pre-requisites

BEFORE TAKING THIS MODULE YOU MUST PASS MN2001 AND PASS MN2002

Assessment pattern

Coursework = 100%

Re-assessment

100% coursework

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

.One 2-hour lecture for 11 weeks; 1 tutorial (one hour) four times across the semester.

Scheduled learning hours

26

The number of compulsory student:staff contact hours over the period of the module.

Guided independent study hours

170

The number of hours that students are expected to invest in independent study over the period of the module.

Intended learning outcomes

  • An understanding and scope of the distinctive and defining features of public sector management
  • A critical understanding of key concepts and theories relevant to public sector management
  • Awareness of, and an ability to interpret, key trends and pressures in the public sector
  • Familiarity with methods of enquiry appropriate to the domain
  • The ability to undertake critical analysis, evaluation and synthesis of ideas in relation to problems and challenges facing public sector managers
  • Greater autonomy and initiative in learning, and an enhanced range of communication skills