• Class Number 6719
  • Term Code 2950
  • Class Info
  • Unit Value 6 units
  • Mode of Delivery In Person
  • COURSE CONVENER
    • Prof Ian Thynne
  • LECTURER
    • Prof Ian Thynne
  • Class Dates
  • Class Start Date 20/07/2019
  • Class End Date 12/09/2019
  • Census Date 02/08/2019
  • Last Date to Enrol 27/07/2019
SELT Survey Results

This course acknowledges that public administration is fundamentally a legal construct, with organisations as a vital core. Accordingly, the course introduces students to the foundations of public administration in terms of legal frameworks and the structure and operation of organisations formally and informally -- from theoretical, practical and comparative perspectives embracing constitutionalism, institutionalism, administrative decision-making, and bureaucratic politics. Particular emphasis is placed on the power, responsibilities, strategies and review of organisations, as shaped and constrained by legal and quasi-legal instruments and processes. The legal-organisational alignments involved are critical in ensuring the efficacy and integrity of public action in the state, market and civil society in accordance with the rule of law.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

On successful completion of this course, students will be able:

1. to understand the nature and significance of public administration in terms of its legal and organisational foundations;

 2. to use theoretical, practical and comparative perspectives concerning these foundations as analytical lenses for guiding and informing an analysis of the legal, structural and operational arrangements of organisations; 

3. to appreciate the nature and complexities of these arrangements in various governmental systems; and

4. to address ways in which the legal and organisational foundations of public administration could be transformed in a particular arena of public action.

Required Resources

Required readings are available on the POGO8137 Wattle site.

Staff Feedback

Students will be given feedback in the following forms in this course:
  • Written comments
  • Verbal comments
  • Feedback to the whole class, to groups, to individuals, focus groups

Student Feedback

ANU is committed to the demonstration of educational excellence and regularly seeks feedback from students. Students are encouraged to offer feedback directly to their Course Convener or through their College and Course representatives (if applicable). The feedback given in these surveys is anonymous and provides the Colleges, University Education Committee and Academic Board with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement. The Surveys and Evaluation website provides more information on student surveys at ANU and reports on the feedback provided on ANU courses.

Class Schedule

Week/Session Summary of Activities Assessment
1 Workshop No 1 (Saturday 27 July) Public administration: legal and organisational foundations – CORE COMPONENTS: (a) statism, (b) state-market dualism, (c) state-civil society dualism, (d) state-market-civil society synergism Workshop discussions
2 Workshop No 2 (Monday 29 July) Public administration: legal and organisational foundations – ANALYTICAL PERSPECTIVES: (a) constitutionalism, (b) institutionalism, (c) administrative decision-making, (d) bureaucratic politics Workshop discussions
3 Workshop No 3 (Saturday 3 August) Public administration: legal and organisational foundations – ORGANISING COUPLET: constructed and natural Workshop discussions
4 Workshop No 4 (Monday 5 August) Public administration: legal and organisational foundations – ORGANISING COUPLET: integration and autonomy Workshop discussions
5 Workshop No 5 (Saturday 10 August) Public administration: legal and organisational foundations – ORGANISING COUPLET: accountability and control Assessment Task 1 (10 Aug, 11:55pm) Workshop discussions
6 Workshop No 6 (Monday 12 August) Public administration: legal and organisational foundations Group project presentations

Assessment Summary

Assessment task Value Due Date Return of assessment Learning Outcomes
1: Case response (I) 20 % 10/08/2019 24/08/2019 1,2,3
2: Group project 25 % 12/08/2019 14/08/2019 1,2,3,4
3: Written discussion 5 % 17/08/2019 31/08/2019 1,2,3,4
4: Case response (II) 50 % 24/08/2019 07/09/2019 1,2,3,4

* If the Due Date and Return of Assessment date are blank, see the Assessment Tab for specific Assessment Task details

Policies

ANU has educational policies, procedures and guidelines, which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University’s academic standards, and implement them. Students are expected to have read the Academic Misconduct Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:

Assessment Requirements

The ANU is using Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website Students may choose not to submit assessment items through Turnitin. In this instance you will be required to submit, alongside the assessment item itself, hard copies of all references included in the assessment item.

Moderation of Assessment

Marks that are allocated during Semester are to be considered provisional until formalised by the College examiners meeting at the end of each Semester. If appropriate, some moderation of marks might be applied prior to final results being released.

Assessment Task 1

Value: 20 %
Due Date: 10/08/2019
Return of Assessment: 24/08/2019
Learning Outcomes: 1,2,3

1: Case response (I)

A case and specific matters concerning it will be given to you in Workshop No 1. The matters, the written responses totalling 1,200 words, and the assessment of the responses will be in accordance with Learning Outcomes 1, 2 & 3. The responses are to be submitted on or before Saturday 10 August, 11:55pm. They will be worth up to a total of 20% of your final grade for the course.

Assessment Task 2

Value: 25 %
Due Date: 12/08/2019
Return of Assessment: 14/08/2019
Learning Outcomes: 1,2,3,4

2: Group project

You are to form a group comprising 3 or 4 members. The group is to decide on an important public organisation to research and analyse in terms of its legal, structural and operational arrangements in accordance with a guide which will be distributed and discussed in Workshop No 1. The group will present its findings to the class in Workshop No 6 (Monday 12 August). The presentation will comprise an appropriately comprehensive analysis in power point form, which is to be submitted for assessment immediately after the presentation. The research, the analysis, and the assessment of the analysis will be in accordance with Learning Outcomes 1, 2, 3 & 4. The project will be worth up to a total of 25% of your final grade for the course, with each member of the group receiving the same grade for the project.

Assessment Task 3

Value: 5 %
Due Date: 17/08/2019
Return of Assessment: 31/08/2019
Learning Outcomes: 1,2,3,4

3: Written discussion

Up to a total of 5% will be awarded to you for your own written discussion (250-300 words) of the key theoretical lessons learnt from the project in accordance with Learning Outcomes 1, 2, 3 & 4 (concerning Assessment Task 2(a)). The written discussion is to be submitted on or before Saturday 17 August, 11:55pm.

Assessment Task 4

Value: 50 %
Due Date: 24/08/2019
Return of Assessment: 07/09/2019
Learning Outcomes: 1,2,3,4

4: Case response (II)

A case and specific matters concerning it will be given to you in Workshop No 1. The matters, the written responses totalling 3,000 words, and the assessment of the responses will be in accordance with Learning Outcomes 1, 2, 3 & 4. The responses are to be submitted on or before Saturday 24 August, 11:55pm. They will be worth up to a total of 50% of your final grade for the course.

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a core part of our culture as a community of scholars. At its heart, academic integrity is about behaving ethically. This means that all members of the community commit to honest and responsible scholarly practice and to upholding these values with respect and fairness. The Australian National University commits to embedding the values of academic integrity in our teaching and learning. We ensure that all members of our community understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. The ANU expects staff and students to uphold high standards of academic integrity and act ethically and honestly, to ensure the quality and value of the qualification that you will graduate with. The University has policies and procedures in place to promote academic integrity and manage academic misconduct. Visit the following Academic honesty & plagiarism website for more information about academic integrity and what the ANU considers academic misconduct. The ANU offers a number of services to assist students with their assignments, examinations, and other learning activities. The Academic Skills and Learning Centre offers a number of workshops and seminars that you may find useful for your studies.

Online Submission

The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.

Hardcopy Submission

For some forms of assessment (hand written assignments, art works, laboratory notes, etc.) hard copy submission is appropriate when approved by the Associate Dean (Education). Hard copy submissions must utilise the Assignment Cover Sheet. Please keep a copy of tasks completed for your records.

Late Submission

Late submission of assessment tasks without an extension are penalised at the rate of 5% of the possible marks available per working day or part thereof. Late submission of assessment tasks is not accepted after 10 working days after the due date, or on or after the date specified in the course outline for the return of the assessment item. Late submission is not accepted for take-home examinations.

Referencing Requirements

Accepted academic practice for referencing sources that you use in presentations can be found via the links on the Wattle site, under the file named “ANU and College Policies, Program Information, Student Support Services and Assessment”. Alternatively, you can seek help through the Students Learning Development website.

Extensions and Penalties

Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are covered by the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure The Course Convener may grant extensions for assessment pieces that are not examinations or take-home examinations. If you need an extension, you must request an extension in writing on or before the due date. If you have documented and appropriate medical evidence that demonstrates you were not able to request an extension on or before the due date, you may be able to request it after the due date.

Privacy Notice

The ANU has made a number of third party, online, databases available for students to use. Use of each online database is conditional on student end users first agreeing to the database licensor’s terms of service and/or privacy policy. Students should read these carefully. In some cases student end users will be required to register an account with the database licensor and submit personal information, including their: first name; last name; ANU email address; and other information. In cases where student end users are asked to submit ‘content’ to a database, such as an assignment or short answers, the database licensor may only use the student’s ‘content’ in accordance with the terms of service — including any (copyright) licence the student grants to the database licensor. Any personal information or content a student submits may be stored by the licensor, potentially offshore, and will be used to process the database service in accordance with the licensors terms of service and/or privacy policy. If any student chooses not to agree to the database licensor’s terms of service or privacy policy, the student will not be able to access and use the database. In these circumstances students should contact their lecturer to enquire about alternative arrangements that are available.

Distribution of grades policy

Academic Quality Assurance Committee monitors the performance of students, including attrition, further study and employment rates and grade distribution, and College reports on quality assurance processes for assessment activities, including alignment with national and international disciplinary and interdisciplinary standards, as well as qualification type learning outcomes. Since first semester 1994, ANU uses a grading scale for all courses. This grading scale is used by all academic areas of the University.

Support for students

The University offers students support through several different services. You may contact the services listed below directly or seek advice from your Course Convener, Student Administrators, or your College and Course representatives (if applicable).
Prof Ian Thynne
02 6125 6401
ian.thynne@anu.edu.au

Research Interests


Prof Ian Thynne

Prof Ian Thynne
6125 6401
ian.thynne@anu.edu.au

Research Interests


Prof Ian Thynne

Responsible Officer: Registrar, Student Administration / Page Contact: Website Administrator / Frequently Asked Questions