GV483 Half Unit
Public Management Theory and Doctrine
This information is for the 2025/26 session.
Course Convenor
Prof Martin Lodge
Dr Stefano Merlo
Availability
This course is available on the MSc in Development Management (Political Economy), MSc in Development Management (Political Economy) (LSE and Sciences Po), MSc in Public Policy and Administration and MSc in Regulation. This course is available with permission as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit. This course uses controlled access as part of the course selection process.
How to apply: to apply for a place on this course, please write a short statement of 200 words (max) outlining the specific reasons for applying and how the course will benefit your academic/career goals. Priority will be given to students on the programmes listed in the ‘availability’ section of the course guide. You should check that you meet any pre-requisites in the course guide before applying (where applicable). Places on capped courses cannot be guaranteed.
Deadline for application: The deadline for applications is 12:00 noon on Friday 26 September 2025. You can expect to be informed of the outcome of your application by 12:00 noon on Monday 29 September 2025. Any places remaining after this date will be allocated based on priority and written statement - up until course selection closes.
For queries contact: gov.msc@lse.ac.uk
This course has a limited number of places and access cannot be guaranteed. Priority will be given to students on the programmes listed above.
Course content
The course offers an intensive introduction into key areas of public management with reference to both developed and lesser developed world contexts. Topics include administrative doctrine, implementation, organizational change and inertia, capacity building, performance-management, leadership, institution creation, transparency and risk management. Public management is treated as an interdisciplinary field of study, with a particular emphasis on the administrative practices and change as well as the critical analysis of practical arguments about Public Management.
Teaching
10 hours of lectures and 13.5 hours of seminars in the Autumn Term.
This course has a reading week in Week 6 of Autumn Term.
Formative assessment
Essay
Essay
Students are expected to complete two formative essays.
Indicative reading
M Barzelay, Public Management as a design-oriented profession discipline, 2019; C Hood, The Art of the State, 1998; C Hood and M Lodge, Politics of Public Service Bargains, 2006; D Honig, Mission driven bureaucrats, 2024; A Hassel and K Wegrich, How to Do Public Policy, 2022.
Assessment
Blog post (40%, 1000 words) in Autumn Term Week 11
Essay (60%, 2500 words) in January
Key facts
Department: Government
Course Study Period: Autumn Term
Unit value: Half unit
FHEQ Level: Level 7
CEFR Level: Null
Total students 2024/25: 44
Average class size 2024/25: 15
Controlled access 2024/25: YesCourse selection videos
Some departments have produced short videos to introduce their courses. Please refer to the course selection videos index page for further information.
Personal development skills
- Self-management
- Specialist skills