SCIENZA DELL'AMMINISTRAZIONE E TEORIA DELLE ORGANIZZAZIONI

9 CFU - 2° Semester

Teaching Staff

MARCO VALERIO LIVIO LA BELLA

Learning Objectives

APPROACHES, METHODS AND CONCEPTS OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
The first module defines the elements of the "Statute" of the discipline: object, method and purpose. The theoretical aspects refer to the organizational perspective, which consider the public administrations as different species of only genus. A reading of the administrative phenomenon implies the "revision" of the old bipolar paradigm that asserts the clear separation between state and market. The landing almost natural in this definition is made, then, the approach systemic conceived as a field of confrontation and dialogue between the different perspectives of study, and an opportunity for integration and mutual enrichment of the many scientific papers available today on the subject.
ANALYSIS OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
Within the general theoretical framework that considers the public administrations as different species of the only genus, the aim of the second module is to investigate some perspectives to analyze public administrations. Their variety moves from large "families" or scientific areas, that for over a century occupy the scene of the studies on the administrative phenomenon. Their "history" is based on scientific and cultural paradigms, in a relationship characterized by the Modern Science of the administration and the specificities in the different national contexts.
THEORY OF COMPLEX ORGANISATIONS
Compared to traditional models of organizational analysis, focused on the characteristics of public bureaucracies, in the third module it is proposes a reading of the public administration system as "basically" a weak link or strong. It depends on the specific peculiarities. The attempt is to deep some characteristics, structural and behavioral, of organizational systems and its logic of action of public and private administrations.

Detailed Course Content

APPROACHES, METHODS AND CONCEPTS OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
Government agencies such as species of the "complex organization" genus – Public administrations and the stages of the evolutionary process of the State – Searching the typical public administration: organizational factors and metaphors organization - The Science of the administration as a ‘plural’ discipline - What approach for a " plural discipline”: the systems approach.
ANALYSIS OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
The pluralism of perspectives in Science Administration - The "policy analysis" perspective: public policies and policy making - The 'policy analysis' perspective: the life cycle of policies - The 'organizational' perspective : the structural dimension and environmental - the "organizational" perspective: the size of the subjectivity and rationality - the "bureaucratic" perspective: Max Weber and the analysis of the bureaucracy in the modern world – the "bureaucratic" perspective after Max Weber.
THEORY OF COMPLEX ORGANISATIONS
The structural and behavioral characteristics of loosely coupled systems - Governance - Implications and perspectives in the analysis of complex organizations

Textbook Information

APPROACHES, METHODS AND CONCEPTS OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
R. D’Amico, a cura di, L’analisi della pubblica amministrazione. Teorie, concetti e metodi, Vol. 1, La Pubblica amministrazione e la sua scienza, Milano, Franco Angeli, 2006.
ANALYSIS OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
R. D’Amico, a cura di, L’analisi della pubblica amministrazione. Teorie, concetti e metodi, Vol. 2, Prospettive di analisi per le pubbliche amministrazioni, Milano, Franco Angeli, 2007.
THEORY OF COMPLEX ORGANISATIONS
S. Zan, Le organizzazioni complesse. Logiche d’azione dei sistemi a legame debole, Roma, Carocci editore, 2011.

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