OASV4000 Financial Management in Public Sector Course description

Measuring and managing performance are important for the public sector. Policy makers, managers and professionals in the public sector require knowledge and skills in the design, implementation, use and assessment of performance management systems. Such knowledge and skills are important for the managers' responsibility for selecting, adapting, using, and maintaining performance management systems, either by making these mandatory by regulation or voluntary by self-regulation. Managers also need knowledge on how to integrate performance management in the overall management control systems and complement these systems with other management tools and processes, such as strategic planning, budgeting, risk management, and performance audit and evaluation. This course draws on research and cases from both the international and national contexts.

The course requires basic knowledge of micro economic theory, financial and management accounting, and public sector accounting. Students who lack these will receive a mandatory additional seminar and ca. 200 pages supplementary readings. (These lectures will be given in Norwegian only.)

Knowledge:

The student has

• Advanced knowledge in management control in the public sector
• Advanced knowledge in performance management in the public sector and is able to utilise this knowledge in new areas of public management
• Advanced knowledge on measuring, analysing and reporting public service performance and its impact on organisational behaviour

Skills:

The student can

• Analyse and critically assess information from different sources and utilise this information for structuring and formulating relevant issues in performance management in the public sector
• Utilise existing theories, methods and interpretations of performance management in the public sector and work independently to solve theoretical and practical issues that are relevant for public policy and management
• Conduct an independent, limited research and development project with supervision in accordance to ethical research norms and academic standards

General competence

The student

• Can contribute to public sector innovation and reforms

The course will consist of two-day seminars with lectures, presentations, discussions, and group assignments. The course demands that students are active during the seminars, work assignments, and the writing of the course paper.

None.

The students are to write a 10-15 pages course paper (+/- 10%), individually or in groups of two students, which will be used for the formal assessment. The students will be able to submit a draft paper for comments within a given date.

In this course, students will acquire knowledge about the child welfare service’s tasks, framework conditions and key theoretical perspectives and knowledge traditions, with an emphasis on social workers’ vocational practice in the child welfare service. Students will gain insight into the professional methods, professional procedures and ethical problems in the various phases of a child welfare case. They will gain insight into various forms of exercise of power, as well as an understanding of the child welfare service’s unique position as a support and supervisory authority. 

The inter-professional teaching programme ‘Communication with Children, Youth and their Families’ INTER1200 will be taught at the start of the course. See INTERACT’s website for a more detailed description of the content of INTER1200: https://www.oslomet.no/forskning/forskningsprosjekter/interact

Students must have completed and passed the first year of the Bachelor’s Programme in Social Work.

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: 

• is familiar with key elements in the history of child welfare and its development 
• has knowledge of the organisation of the child welfare service
• has knowledge of case processing and the design of measures pursuant to the Child Welfare Act 
• has broad knowledge of the child welfare service’s decision-making processes and follow-up of measures 

• has knowledge of important theoretical perspectives and knowledge traditions in the child welfare service. 
• has knowledge of how the child welfare service conducts work in a methodical manner using investigations and measures. 
• has broad knowledge of competence to provide care, various forms of child neglect, violence and abuse 
• has knowledge of how to contribute to participation, non-discrimination and equitable services for vulnerable children and families 

  Skills 

The student: 

• can apply professional knowledge and interact with children and young people about topics that concern their everyday lives 
• can apply professional knowledge about neglect, violence and abuse in a manner that secures the child’s best interests, participation and rights
• can apply professional knowledge to assess and clarify notifications and investigate children and young people’s care situations 

• can apply professional knowledge to implement and follow up measures under the auspices of the child welfare service 
• can demonstrate flexibility in questions relating to approaches, decisions and measures during the different phases of a child welfare case
• can acquire new knowledge and research in line with evidence-based practice

General competence 

The student:

• can apply discretion and judgement in child welfare cases 
• has insight into various forms of exercise of power and the child welfare service’s unique position as a support and supervisory authority.
• has insight into ethical problems and dilemmas in interactions between children, parents and the child welfare service 
• can reflect on their own role and understanding partners’ positions 

Teaching methods vary between lectures and student-active learning methods.

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

1. One written coursework requirement of 3-5 pages in groups. 

The assignment will be read and assessed by another student group before the lecturer assesses the assignment, with the fellow students’ comments enclosed, as either approved/not approved. Students are obliged to participate with equal contributions.

The coursework requirement must be completed and approved by the given deadline in order for the student to take the exam. If the coursework requirement is not approved, the student will be given the opportunity to submit an improved version once by a given deadline.