Bocconi University PhD in Public Policy & Administration IV QUARTER 2018-2019

PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION

Professor:
Valentina Mele
E-mail: valentina.mele@unibocconi.it
Office: Via Roentgen 1, #3-C1-03
Phone: 02 5836 2507

Main objective of the course is to provide an introduction to public administration as an interdisciplinary field of
study with a primary emphasis on public management and public policy.

After the successful completion of the course, candidates are expected to understand the variety of explanations of
structure and behavior in public organizations and to be able to identify, analyze, criticize and formulate arguments
about public administration.

Through the course, candidates will be exposed to key areas of public administration with reference to different
institutional contexts, including traditional public agencies and international organizations. Topics include
governance and governing at the national and supranational level, public sector reforms, as well as dynamics of
public policy making.

Critical essays will keep candidates on track with the course load and prepare them for the final exam. Through
essays, you will practice analytical and writing skills, including how to write clear concise memos and reflection
pieces. Through the preparation for the final exam, candidates will develop analytical skills needed to analyze and
discuss salient public administration issues. Last, the special issue review will provide a first-hand understanding of
dominant themes and methodological choices that characterize the current public administration scholarly debates.

The course mixes formal lectures and class discussions based on readings. Candidates are expected to be prepared on
the readings before class. You will be asked on the spot for your opinions and reasons for your arguments. In order
to maximize the learning experience and maintain a good learning environment both in class and outside the classroom,
it is important to keep in mind the following points:
- Express your opinions clearly.
- Tolerate and celebrate differences in opinions.
- Make an effort to participate.
- Never be shy to ask questions, no matter how difficult or simple they are.
- Please switch off your mobile and use your laptop only for learning purposes (notes and readings).

Course Evaluation:
Short Critical essays 30%
Class participation 15%
Special issue review 15%
Final exam 40%

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Bocconi University PhD in Public Policy & Administration IV QUARTER 2018-2019

- SHORT CRITICAL ESSAYS (3): You will have to write three short essays (approx. 1200 words) with a
conceptual critique based upon the readings assigned and upon the previous class discussions. The essays will
be structured around questions that you will receive on the class preceding the deadline. The essay is due at the
beginning of the class session and must be handed in printed. Proper citations and complete references must be included
in the essay. The essay receiving the lowest score will be dropped from the calculation of the final grade.
The instructor will organize ‘clinical sessions’ providing individual feedback on each essay.

- CLASS PARTICIPATION includes attendance and meaningful contribution to discussion, as well as respect
of the deadlines.

- JOURNAL REVIEW. In maximum 2,500 words you will have to select and examine one virtual issue
among those available in JPART (https://academic.oup.com/jpart/pages/Virtual_Issues) and PAR
(https://publicadministrationreview.org/virtual-issue-archive/).
The review will respond to the following questions:
a) Are there common substantive themes emerging from the analysis of the virtual issue?
b) Map the issue: empirical vs theoretical papers, RQs, empirical settings, and research strategies
c) By reading the articles chronologically, do you notice that knowledge on the substantive issue(s) has
cumulated and if so how?

- FINAL EXAM will consist of a closed-book exam.

# Date Topic & assignments Readings

1 1stApril Course presentation & overview
14.30-16.00
An introduction to public
administration as a discipline and
as a substantive area.
Raadschelders, J. C. (2011). The future of the study
of public administration: Embedding research
object and methodology in epistemology and
ontology. Public Administration Review, 71(6), 916-924.

The publicness of public Riccucci N. (2010) Public Administration.

administration Traditions of inquiry and philosophies of
knowledge. Chapter I e II.

Weintraub (2000), The theory and politics of the

private/public distinction; Chapter 1

2 4th April The hierarchical approach:
traditional public administration
14.30-16.00
and public bureaucracies.
Wilson, W. (1887) The Study of Administration.
Political Science Quarterly, 2(2): 197-222.
Weber M. The theory of social and economic
organization. Chapter III.

Extra reading: Hughes, O. (2015) The traditional

model of public administration

3 8th April The intersection with
management: the advent of NPM
16.15-17.45
and its disciplinary implications.
The shift from government to
governance
Hood, C. C. 1991, A Public Management for All
Seasons? Public Administration pp. 3-19.
Peters, B.G and J. Pierre 1998. Governance
without Government? Rethinking Public
Administration Journal of Public Administration
Research and Theory 8(2): 223-243

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Bocconi University PhD in Public Policy & Administration
4 12th April The shift from government to
governance and public networks.
14.30-16.00
#1 critical essay due.
5 15th April The public role of the private
sector
16.15-17.45
6 29th April An exploration of research strands and journals. Presentations based on the review of a
virtual issues. Virtual issue review due.
16.15-17.45
7 2nd May Decision-making and policy-
making: bounded rationality,
14.30-16.00
muddling through and garbage
can
8 6th May Decision-making and policy-
making: three streams approach
16.15-17.45
and evidence-based PA.
9 9th May Decision-making and policy-
making: behavioral public
14.30-16.00
administration
#2 critical essay due.
10 13rd May The artificial debate between
16.15-17.45 policy drafting and policy
implementation. Pros and cons of
the ‘stagist approach’. Inertia and
resistance to public
administration reforms.
IV QUARTER 2018-2019
Kettl, D. F. 2006. Managing boundaries in
American administration: The collaboration
imperative. Public Administration Review, 66(s1), 10-
19.
Provan, K. G., & Kenis, P. (2008). Modes of
network governance: Structure, management, and
effectiveness. Journal of public administration research
and theory, 18(2), 229-252.
Werner T. (2012), Public forces and private politics
in American big businesses. Introduction.
Cambridge University Press (pp.1-15)
Haufler V. 2001 A public role for the private
sector. Chapter 1 (pp7-30).
Background reading: Weintraub (2000), The theory
and politics of the private/public distinction;
Chapter 1
Kingdon, J. W. (1984). Agendas, alternatives, and
public policies. Boston: Little, Brown. Chapter IV
Lindblom, C.E. (1959) The Science of "Muddling
Through" Public Administration Review, Vol.
19(2):79-88.
Kingdon, J. W. (1984). Agendas, alternatives, and
public policies. Boston: Little, Brown. Chapter VII
Head, B. W. (2008). Three lenses of Evidence‐
Based policy. Australian Journal of Public
Administration, 67(1), 1-11.
Battaglio Jr, R. P., Belardinelli, P., Bellé, N., &
Cantarelli, P. Behavioral Public Administration ad
fontes: A Synthesis of Research on Bounded
Rationality, Cognitive Biases, and Nudging in
Public Organizations. Public Administration Review.
Bellé, N., Belardinelli, P., Cantarelli, P., & Mele, V.
(2018). On iron cages and suboptimal choices: An
experimental test of the micro-foundations of
isomorphism in the public sector. International Public
Management Journal, 1-42.
Patashnik, E.M. 2003. ‘After the Public Interest
Prevails: The Political Sustainability of Policy
Reform.’ Governance 16 (2): 203–234.
Mele V. and A. Compagni (2010), ‘Explaining the
Unexpected Success of the Smoking Ban in Italy:
Political Strategy and Transition to Practice, 2000–
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Bocconi University PhD in Public Policy & Administration IV QUARTER 2018-2019

2005’, Public Administration, 88, 3, pp.819-835.

11 16th May International governance and Djelic M.L., Sahlin-Andersson K., eds. (2006),
14.30-16.00 governing through evidence. Transnational Governance: Institutional Dynamics of
Regulation, Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University
Press, Chapter 18 (Institutional dynamics in a re-
ordering world).

Baccaro, L. and V. Mele. 2011 “For Lack of

Anything Better. International Organizations and
Global Corporate Codes”. Public Administration.
89(2).

12 20th May International organizations as Trondal, J. (2016). Advances to the study of

(public) organizations.
14.30-16.00
#3 critical essay due.
international public administration. Journal of
European Public Policy, 23(7), 1097-1108.
Mele, V. and G. Cappellaro “Dilemmas and
practices of cross-level coordination among
International Organizations”.