Table of contents

The course is connected to the following study programs

Learning outcomes

Upon successful completion of the course students should be able to:
  • Give an account of recent government-led reform efforts and its effects across the public sector
  • Grasp the various ways to conceptualize and theorize change processes across the public sector
  • Explain how the public sector in Norway and beyond (e.g. across the Nordics) is affected by global- reform trends and ideas
  • Discuss the extent to which new, emerging forms of governance, management and collaboration affect dynamics across the public sector, nationally (state) and locally (region)

Contents

The course introduces students to various concepts and theoretical perspectives to make sense of recent and ongoing dynamics across the public sector at large, with a focus on reform and change processes. Major concepts include; instrumental versus institutional accounts; New Public Management (NPM), New Public Governance, Post- NPM, Hybrid and network organizing, co-production and co-creation; etc. Typical questions include, but are not limited to: What are the main drivers and rationales for reform processes across the public sector? What are the prevalent government/policy logics, ethical considerations and strategic agendas? How and why are local actors responding as they are? What types of reform effects - short (outputs) and long run (outcomes) - are detected, and what key lessons can be learnt?

Teaching and learning methods

Combination of lectures, seminars, group work and presentation of group work.

Examinations

The exam consists of two parts:

1) Group assignment - group based grading (30% of the final grade).

2) Individual written exam (70 % of the final grade).

Both parts must be passed in order to get a final grade. Graded A-F.

Student evaluation

The person responsible for the course decides, in cooperation with student representative, the form of student evaluation and whether the course is to have a midway or end of course evaluation in accordance with the quality system for education, chapter 4.1.

Offered as a free-standing course

Yes. Subject to availability or capacity.

Reduction of Credits

This course’s contents overlap with the following courses. A reduction of credits will occur if one of these courses is taken in addition:

Course Reduction of Credits
ORG940 – Administrasjon og ledelse i offentlig sektor. 10
Last updated from FS (Felles studentsystem) Oct. 15, 2026 7:50:34 AM