STV2420 – Theorizing Public Organizations
Course content
This course will introduce you to major theoretical perspectives on the building blocks, the day-to-day operations, and change processes in public organizations. Where is the borderline between politics and administration? How do bureaucrats prioritize decisions? How does organizational structure and culture affect policy outcomes? How do public organizations change, and why are they difficult to reform???How similar or different are public organizations across countries when it comes to politics-administration relations and administrative reforms? These are some of the fundamental questions addressed in this course.
The course consists of three main parts,?each addressing key concepts, major theoretical contributions, and comparative perspectives:
(1) The building blocks of public organizations: individuals, organizations, institutions.
(2) The relationship between politics and administration.
(3) Public sector reforms.
The course uses a combination of classic texts, textbook chapters, and empirical applications of major public administration theories. The aim of this course is not only to make you familiar with theoretical perspectives, but also to enable you to use theoretical reasoning in your own empirical analyses.
Learning outcome
Knowledge
Having completed this course, you will
- have learned about seminal theories about actors and structures in public organizations
- have learned about different ways of understanding the relation between politics and administration
- have learned about seminal theories about reform and change in public organizations
- have learned about the challenges of applying theory in empirical settings
- have learned about differences between administrations in various contexts
Skills
Having completed this course, you will
- be able to utilize existing theories to analyse actors and structures in public organizations, and how they affect public policies
- be able to utilize existing theories to analyse how public organizations change over time
- be able to formulate clear research questions, and to find relevant academic texts
- be able to write academic texts drawing on relevant literature
- be able to orally communicate your academic knowledge and provide constructive criticism to other students
Competence
Having completed this course, you will
- have a better understanding of the functioning of public organizations
- have developed the ability to put differences between theories into words
- have developed academic writing skills
Admission to the course
Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for in Studentweb.
If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures.
Recommended previous knowledge
STV1400 - Offentlig politikk og administrasjon or another introductory course to public administration.
Teaching
Lectures and seminars
Compulsory activities
Attend at least three of the five seminars
Submit two short essays
Submit a short outline for your term paper
Write and present your draft term paper
Comment on other students' draft term papers
The seminars are taught in English, and the papers handed in must be written in English.
See the seminar guidelines for more information about the seminars.
See the rules for reassignment of seminar groups and the guidelines for compulsory acitivities.
Absence from compulsory activities
If you are ill or have another valid reason for being absent from compulsory activities, your absence may be approved or the compulsory activity may be postponed.
A student who has completed compulsory instruction and coursework and has had these approved, is not entitled to repeat that instruction and coursework, and does not have to in order to retake the exam. A student who has been admitted to a course, but who has not completed compulsory instruction and coursework or had these approved, is entitled to repeat that instruction and coursework, depending on available capacity.
Examination
Term paper
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You must have passed the compulsory activities in order to sit the exam
Language of examination
The examination text is given in English, and you submit your response in English.
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F is a fail. Read more about the grading system.
More about examinations at UiO
- Use of sources and citations
- Special exam arrangements due to individual needs
- Withdrawal from an exam
- Illness at exams / postponed exams
- Explanation of grades and appeals
- Resitting an exam
- Cheating/attempted cheating
You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.