MSLV4200 Collaboration and collaborative management Course description

The course provides insight into the literature on collaboration and collaborative management within the public sector and between the public and other sectors of society. Collaborative management will be placed in a theoretical and contextual perspective. Students are presented literature discussing collaboration and collaborative management in different contexts. The course deals with collaboration regarding the formulation and implementation of public policy, innovations in public sectors and service production. Furthermore, the course discusses challenges concerning collaboration across different tiers and sectors of government, and among public, private and third sector actors. Emphasis will be placed on theories on leadership and governance in the context of collaboration, where the differences between hierarchical and more equal relations between actors is elucidated.

Language of instruction is Norwegian.

None

After completing the course, the student should have the following overall learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge

The student has

• in-depth knowledge about collaboration and collaborative management in the public sector
• in-depth knowledge of the preconditions for implementing public policy through collaboration
• in-depth knowledge on how collaboration can promote innovation
• thorough insight into how organisational and social factors affect roles and freedom of action to exercise administration and management at different administrative levels

Skills

The student is capable of

• assessing how barriers to collaboration among different actors and organizations can be approached through collaborative management
• assessing in what situations collaborative innovations are appropriate, and the demands such innovation processes put on collaborative management
• assessing different forms of governance and coordination mechanisms

General competence

The student is capable of

• analysing and taking a critical approach to different sources of information and using them to structure and formulate arguments in the field

The teaching is session-based in the form of lectures, student presentations, discussions, group work and seminars. Students will write assignments between the sessions. A high degree of independent activity is expected. Teaching will be based on examples and cases from the students' practical experiences.

After completing the course, the student should have the following overall learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge

The student has

• advanced knowledge of demarcations relating to the concept of employee and temporary employment
• in-depth knowledge of employers¿ managerial prerogative as a legal concept and of statutory and non-statutory boundaries relating to this discretion
• in-depth knowledge of which rules apply in relation to reorganisation and workforce reductions
• specialised insight into business transfer rules

Skills

The student is capable of

• identifying and analysing legal issues relating to the connection between the employer and employee in change processes
• applying a legal methodological issue and understanding and analysing key rulings relating to reorganisation and change

General competence

The student is capable of

• disseminating the results of extensive independent work and masters writing reports, submitting professional reports and giving oral presentations as forms of communication

Teaching is in the form of lectures, student presentations, discussions, group work, seminars and assignments. A high degree of independent activity is expected in the course. The teaching will mainly be problem-based using examples and cases from the students' practical experiences. Literature and studies of rulings are main components of the teaching sessions.

The following coursework requirements must have been approved in order for the student to take the exam:

• Coursework 1: Knowledge test 1
• Coursework 2: Knowledge test 2
• Coursework 3: Knowledge test 3

The knowledge tests are short tests (5-20 questions) that must be answered after each teaching session. 

All required coursework must be completed and approved by the given deadline in order for the student to take the exam. If one or more coursework requirements have not been approved, the student will be given the opportunity to submit an improved version by the given deadline.

The exam in the course is a report that can be submitted individually or in groups of up to three students. The report can be up to 10 pages long. The front page, table of contents and literature list is not included when the number of pages is calculated. Font and font size: Arial/Calibri 12 points. Line spacing: 1.5.

Students will choose a practical work-oriented issue themselves within the framework of the thematic content of the course. A joint grade will be awarded for reports submitted in groups. If a participant falls ill, the group can submit the report at a resit/rescheduled exam, or the report can be submitted individually.

Students awarded a fail grade are given one opportunity to submit an improved version of the report for assessment.

All aids are permitted, as long as the rules for source referencing are complied with.

Grade scale A-F