Management of Public Services
A.Y. 2024/2025
Learning objectives
The course aims to provide useful knowledge for understanding the constitutive characteristics and economic functionality of public administrations, of public services and public enterprises in Italy and in Europe. The course therefore provides the necessary knowledge of alternative ways for the management of public services. Special focus will be placed on the subjects of the processes of regulation and liberalization of public services also in relation to the European context. Some lessons will be dedicated to analyzing the functioning of specific public services, thus developing the ability to analyze, interpret and solve the various management problems of public companies and other institutions providing public services. The course aims to develop skills that allow the identification of constraints and opportunities for the management of public services also in relation to real cases.
Expected learning outcomes
At the end of the course the student will be able to: learn the constitutive characteristics and economic functionality of companies and public administrations, of public services and public enterprises in Italy and in Europe; understand the alternative kinds of management of the public services and the management characteristics of the different alternatives; analyze, interpret and solve the various management problems of public companies and other institutions active in the provision of public services; identify the constraints and opportunities for the management of public services, also in reference to concrete cases.
Lesson period: Third trimester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
Third trimester
Course syllabus
The course is aimed to provide the knowledge useful to understand the management of public service and publicly owned companies in Italy and Europe.
The lectures provide the basic notions to deal with the alternative approaches to run public services and their relevant managerial characteristics.
Particular attention will be paid to the analysis of the subjects involved in regulation and liberalization processes concerning public services in the European context.
Besides, the study of the working of specific public services will help to develop the managerial skills to analyse, interpret and solve problems typical of publicly owned companies and other institutions which deliver public services.
The lectures provide the basic notions to deal with the alternative approaches to run public services and their relevant managerial characteristics.
Particular attention will be paid to the analysis of the subjects involved in regulation and liberalization processes concerning public services in the European context.
Besides, the study of the working of specific public services will help to develop the managerial skills to analyse, interpret and solve problems typical of publicly owned companies and other institutions which deliver public services.
Prerequisites for admission
It is important to have a prior knowledge of:
- how public administration works;
- difference between the role of political guidance and control and the role of management
- the basics of business administration.
- how public administration works;
- difference between the role of political guidance and control and the role of management
- the basics of business administration.
Teaching methods
Frontal lessons
In order to make the notions examined during the course understandable and immediately verifiable, the functioning of specific types of public institutions and companies from the economic point of view will be examined, also through in-depth analyses, group assignments and firsthand experiences by external teachers and professionals.
In order to make the notions examined during the course understandable and immediately verifiable, the functioning of specific types of public institutions and companies from the economic point of view will be examined, also through in-depth analyses, group assignments and firsthand experiences by external teachers and professionals.
Teaching Resources
RENATO MELE, RICCARDO MUSSARI (a cura di) (2009) L'innovazione della governance e delle strategie nei settori delle public utilities. Bologna: il Mulino
All the book except pages 71-210 and 455-517.
All the book except pages 71-210 and 455-517.
Assessment methods and Criteria
Examination procedure for attending students
Attending students, exclusively in the first exam session in December, will have to discuss the case study developed during the course based on the instructions provided by the lecturer.
A group presentation of the work carried out will be required, and on the day of the exam, an individual discussion will be conducted to assess, also in relation to the case study:
- knowledge and applied understanding in relation to the syllabus.
- the capacity for independent judgement also in relation to specific public services.
- oral communication skills, especially in relation to the use of specific terminology concerning the economic functioning of public services.
Examination procedure for non-attending students
The exam for non-attending students, after the first call, is exclusively in written form and organized as follows:
- Up to three questions (open-ended) will be administrated to assess the achievement of objectives in terms of knowledge and understanding.
- One or more questions to assess knowledge and applied understanding (e.g., analyzing a management situation); this question also aims at verifying the ability for independent judgment.
The exam also aims to evaluate written communication skills, especially in relation to the use of specific language related to the economic functioning of public services.
Regarding the grading scale (how grades will be assigned), regardless of attending or non-attending mode:
A. Scores in the range of 18-22 will be assigned when:
- Adequate knowledge and applied understanding in reference to the curriculum are demonstrated.
- Limited ability to collect and/or interpret data and formulate independent judgments.
- Sufficient communication skills, especially regarding the use of specific language related to the economic functioning of public services.
B. Scores in the range of 23-26 will be assigned when:
- Good knowledge and applied understanding in reference to the curriculum are demonstrated.
- Fair ability to collect and/or interpret data and formulate independent judgments.
- Adequate communication skills, especially regarding the use of specific language related to the economic functioning of public services.
C. Scores in the range of 27-30 will be assigned when:
- Good or excellent knowledge and applied understanding in reference to the curriculum are demonstrated.
- Reasonable or excellent ability to collect and/or interpret data and formulate independent judgments.
- Fully appropriate communication skills, especially regarding the use of specific language related to the economic functioning of public services.
D. Honors will be granted when there is excellent knowledge and applied understanding in reference to the curriculum, exceptional judgment, and communication skills.
Attending students, exclusively in the first exam session in December, will have to discuss the case study developed during the course based on the instructions provided by the lecturer.
A group presentation of the work carried out will be required, and on the day of the exam, an individual discussion will be conducted to assess, also in relation to the case study:
- knowledge and applied understanding in relation to the syllabus.
- the capacity for independent judgement also in relation to specific public services.
- oral communication skills, especially in relation to the use of specific terminology concerning the economic functioning of public services.
Examination procedure for non-attending students
The exam for non-attending students, after the first call, is exclusively in written form and organized as follows:
- Up to three questions (open-ended) will be administrated to assess the achievement of objectives in terms of knowledge and understanding.
- One or more questions to assess knowledge and applied understanding (e.g., analyzing a management situation); this question also aims at verifying the ability for independent judgment.
The exam also aims to evaluate written communication skills, especially in relation to the use of specific language related to the economic functioning of public services.
Regarding the grading scale (how grades will be assigned), regardless of attending or non-attending mode:
A. Scores in the range of 18-22 will be assigned when:
- Adequate knowledge and applied understanding in reference to the curriculum are demonstrated.
- Limited ability to collect and/or interpret data and formulate independent judgments.
- Sufficient communication skills, especially regarding the use of specific language related to the economic functioning of public services.
B. Scores in the range of 23-26 will be assigned when:
- Good knowledge and applied understanding in reference to the curriculum are demonstrated.
- Fair ability to collect and/or interpret data and formulate independent judgments.
- Adequate communication skills, especially regarding the use of specific language related to the economic functioning of public services.
C. Scores in the range of 27-30 will be assigned when:
- Good or excellent knowledge and applied understanding in reference to the curriculum are demonstrated.
- Reasonable or excellent ability to collect and/or interpret data and formulate independent judgments.
- Fully appropriate communication skills, especially regarding the use of specific language related to the economic functioning of public services.
D. Honors will be granted when there is excellent knowledge and applied understanding in reference to the curriculum, exceptional judgment, and communication skills.
SECS-P/07 - BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION AND ACCOUNTING STUDIES - University credits: 6
Lessons: 40 hours
Professor:
Turri Matteo
Professor(s)