Admission requirements
Only students from the MPA specialization Public Management and Leadership can take this course.
Description
Public policy making increasingly takes place in inter-organizational (public sector) networks. In these networks, public organizations, NGOs, private organizations, and citizen groups jointly engage in bargaining, coordination, and resource exchange to solve policy problems that affect all members to some extent. We see these networks at various levels of government (supranational, national, and local), and in various forms (e.g., public-private partnerships, international trade networks, transnational governance organizations, e-governance, and grass-root citizen initiatives).
The relatively recent interest in public sector networks has already sparked a wealth of literature on their initiation, functioning, management, and performance. Questions that will be addressed in this course are: can networks be distinguished from more traditional forms of organization (i.e. markets and hierarchies), and how? How and why do these networks emerge? What characteristics of members, relationship structure, and policy context may affect network performance? How should organizational leaders go about managing (their) networks? Apart from these theoretical questions, we connect the study of these research questions in this course to actual networking skills as a manager in inter-organizational settings by means of an expert seminar, and personal practice.
Course objectives
To understand and compare the key theories in the field of network management and public service performance.
To critically evaluate state-of-the art empirical research in this field.
To provide strategic advice (in written and oral form) to managers in collaboration with other students.
To engage effectively in actual networking situations as a manager.
Labour market
The course contributes to your preparation for the labour market by teaching you actual networking skills for the workplace, as well as an analytical toolbox to think about networking efforts strategically.
Timetable
On the right side of programme front page of the E-guide you will find links to the website and timetables, uSis and Blackboard.
Mode of instruction
Lectures (6 x 3 hours)
Networking skills seminar (1 x 8 hours)
Compulsory attendance for the skills seminar.
Course Load
140 hours:
lectures and seminars: 26h
fieldwork: 10 hours
examination : 5 hours
self-study: 99
Assessment method
Individual written exam: 80%
Group skills seminar presentation: 20%
Blackboard
The Blackboard page will be operational at the latest two weeks before the start of the course.
Reading list
The study material consists various academic articles assigned for each session.
Registration
Register for every course and workgroup via uSis. Some courses and workgroups have a limited number of participants, so register on time (before the course starts). In uSis you can access your personal schedule and view your results. Registration in uSis is possible from four weeks before the start of the course.
Also register for every course in Blackboard. Important information about the course is posted there.
Contact
Dr. J. Schalk j.schalk@fgga.leidenuniv.nl