Managing Politics and Government module (BU52063)

This module explores the concepts and tools of Political Management. This is used by political organisations including political parties, government and campaigns. It is also used by political practitioners such as politicians, political advisers and political consultants.

It covers topics such as:

• Political planning
  • designing and implementing organisational strategy in government, parties and campaigns
• Political organising
  • power, structure and culture in government, parties and campaigns
• Political HR
  • appointing and utilising staff and volunteers in government
  • parties and campaigns
  • the mental health of political practitioners including political staff and politicians
• Political Leadership
  • using diverse power sources to exert influence in government, parties and campaigns
• Political Reviewing
  • reflection and renewal in government, parties and campaigns

What you will learn

In this module, you will:

• develop an understanding of political management and how it applies in practice
• explore strategies, concepts and tools of political management
• review how management is used in a range of political organisations and government
• comprehend the complexities of managing a political organisation
• learn to appreciate the implications of problematic political management. You will see the effect of this on democracy and society as a whole.

By the end of this module, you will be able to:

• show a detailed knowledge of the main concepts in political management
• conduct an applied assessment of political management in practice
• convey an understanding of the complexities and challenges of managing political organisations
• critically evaluate the consequences of political management practice. You will be able to evaluate the lack of effective management. You will also be able to evaluate the need to adapt concepts to suit a political environment
• apply management concepts to a non-business situation
• act in an advisory capacity. You will be able to create recommendations for practitioners on planning, reform and future best practice.
• providing written advice in the workplace style for political practitioners
• conduct ethical reflection. You will be able to consider the implications of political management for:
  • human resources management and the mental health of political practitioners (related to the UN STG 3 Good health and well-being)
  • government and democracy (related to UN STG 16 Peace, Justice and Strong institutions)

Assignments / assessment

• 1,500-word individual short report (30%)
  • You will review the state of practice of political management
• 3,000-word individual advisory report (70%)
  • You will produce a strategic plan for a political practitioner or organisation to improve their political management effectiveness.

This module does not have a final exam.

Teaching methods / timetable

• two-hour workshops
• group discussion
• independent study