Admission requirements
Not applicable
Description
Just about every modern social or political phenomenon involves one or more digital technologies, whether at its core or peripherally. This course is intended for those interested in understanding how digitalization affects society through its (mis)use in public policy and service delivery. It provides a broad overview of emerging opportunities, challenges, and risks created by digitalization in the public sector. The course will be particularly concerned with why and how public managers work within the systems logic of bureaucracies to adopt and implement these technologies.
Students will be introduced to Public Administration theories and the workings of government as well as different themes that are linked to the major problems identified for digitization within government. This includes providing a basic understanding of the politico-administrative characteristics that distinguish public from private sector organizations and how these characteristics affect the challenges and opportunities of the use of digital technologies in government.
Course objectives
By the end of the course, students will be able to:
understand key public administration concepts that relate to digitization;
recognize key dynamics in government that facilitate or hinder successful implementation of digital technologies, and how to navigate them;
weigh, consider, and discuss the public values tradeoffs associated with public sector digitization using real world examples and academic literature; and
carry out a research project that critically evaluates an example of public sector digitization from the perspective of protecting and improving public values.
Schedule
The timetables are available through My Timetable (see the button in the upper right corner).
Teaching method
The course is based on a combination of facilitated class discussions and case-based exercises. Do not expect the professor to cover each and every topic from the assigned readings when facilitating discussion. Hence, it is essential that you read the assigned literature in advance of each session, and come prepared to discuss them. Note that asking questions about course readings is a very valuable form of discussion, and is strongly encouraged. Laptop use in class is absolutely not permitted unless the instructor has received an accommodation notice from a university study advisor in advance.
Assesment method
Individual Decision Memo (40%). You will produce a brief memorandum analyzing a digitalization-related policy or program.
Decision Memo Peer Feedback (10%). You will provide anonymized feedback on several of your peers’ decision memos. You will also evaluate the anonymized peer feedback that you receive for your own memo.
Group Research Project Report (35%). Working in teams, students will prepare a report (no more than 3000 words, excluding references) critically analyzing an existing or proposed data-driven policy or program. Placement in teams will be randomized.
Group Research Project Presentation (15%). Each team will give an in-class presentation on their project.
Note on assignments and AI
The use of Large Language Models (LLMs) or any other form of generative artificial intelligence for any assignment is explicitly prohibited**. Evidence of its use will result in an automatic 0 on the assignment**.
Resit, review & feedback
The individual memo can be retaken if the student scores below 5.5. More details about the essay and final paper will be made available via Brightspace. Class participation and in-class assignment grades are not subject to a resit.
Reading list
Bibliographic information for all readings will be provided on Brightspace, so that students can access the readings through the University library. There are no assigned textbooks.
Registration
Enrolment through MyStudyMap (button in upper right corner) is mandatory. General information about course and exam enrolment is available on the website https://www.student.universiteitleiden.nl/en/your-study-programme/courses-and-exams/enrolment/leiden-university
Contact
Programme Co-ordinator: ms. Esme Caubo
Remarks
none.