The Politics of Quality in the Public Sector (PO0026)

? Credit Points : 20 ? SCQF Level : 10 ? Acronym : SPS-4-PQPS

Most organisations, whether private or public, are now deeply committed to pursuing strategies that incorporate notions of quality, often in the pursuit of competitive advantage. This course will consider these recent developments in the British public sector to understand the political forces behind the changing nature of the way services are being organised and managed to promote a culture of enterprise rather than sustaining traditional notions of a welfare state. Attention will be paid to the definitions and views of quality of the different stakeholders, including service users, citizens, Trades Unions, professionals, managers, and Government. Topics will include privatisation, competition, contractorisation, partnership working, resource efficiency, effectiveness, equity, consumerism and citizenship. The contexts chosen will primarily be health services, personal social services and education, although others may be used for illustration. Recent developments by the New Labour Government will be considered in contrast to 'old' Labour and previous Conservative Governments since 1979.

Entry Requirements

none

Subject Areas

Home subject area

Politics, (School of Social and Political Studies, Schedule J)

Delivery Information

? Normal year taken : 4th year

? Delivery Period : Not being delivered

? Contact Teaching Time : 1 hour(s) 50 minutes per week for 10 weeks

All of the following classes

Type	Day	Start	End	Area
Lecture	Monday	16:10	18:00	Central

Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes

To develop an understanding of the interrelationship between the strategic policy level and micro-level politics of public sector management around the issue of quality in service provision. Specifically this will involve a critical understanding of:
(a) Quality as a highly contested domain of society
(b) The historical change from administration via management to governance
(c) The policy instruments of the New Public Management and New Labour
(d) Stakeholder interests in particular service contexts