MSLV4300 Management Control and Performance Management in the Public Sector Course description

Financial management and reporting are important elements of the advisor and manager's role in the public sector. The course provides an introduction to basic concepts, theories and models in cost and production theory in microeconomics and then applies this to key topics such as accounting, budgeting and goal and performance management in the public sector. The course covers accounting theory that is relevant to the public sector; theories and models for rational planning, incrementalism, zero-based budgeting, frame budgeting and traditional budgeting; different forms of performance management such as goal management and self-management, balanced goal management and comparisons; and evaluation and control, such as risk assessments, internal control and management audits. The course places emphasis on skills training in developing and adapting financial management models and reporting, and on practising the analysis of use and effect of such models.

None

Knowledge

The student

• has advanced knowledge of financial management and specialised insight into financial management in the public sector

• has knowledge of budgeting and goal and performance management, and can use this in new areas relating to the public sector

• is capable of analysing management issues on the basis of the discipline¿s history, traditions, distinctive nature and place in society

Skills

The student is capable of

• analysing existing theories, methods and interpretations relating to financial management and working independently on practical and theoretical problems of relevance to the public sector

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

Competence

The student is capable of

• carrying out an independent, limited research or development project under supervision and in accordance with applicable research ethical standards

• using spreadsheets

Teaching is in the form of lectures, student presentations, discussions, group work, seminars and assignments between the sessions. A high degree of independent activity is expected. The teaching will mainly be linked to the analysis of practical management issues and cases from the students' practical experience. In this context, public sector guidelines are used relating to e.g. balanced goal management in the municipalities, risk management and goal and performance management in the state.

Students will work in groups of up to three persons and submit two written coursework requirements of 5-10 pages. If the required coursework is unsatisfactory, an improved version must be submitted within a short deadline stipulated by the lecturer. Both coursework requirements must be approved before the student can take the exam. Please refer to the information about group work in the introduction of the programme description under coursework requirements and compulsory participation.

Students will take a three-hour supervised written exam.

A grade scale with grades from A to E for pass and F for fail is used.

All answer papers are assessed by an internal examiner. External examiners are used in cases of doubt about whether a pass grade should be awarded and for spot check assessments of approx. 25% of the answer papers. The grades awarded for the answer papers assessed together with an external sensor form the basis for determining the level for awarding the different grades. The internal examiner shall take the external examiner's assessment into consideration in the grading of all the exams.