Tools for analyzing transnational public management

International Public and NGO Management

4. Tools for analyzing transnational public management

September 24, 25, 2009

Looking at the management of public organizations is always difficult because there is an abundance of documentation but it is often fragmentary and jargon-laden. Much of what goes on has to be read between the lines of reports. However, with some analytical tools, international organizations can be observed easily. This session will examine methods by which the performance of international organizations can be observed, including review of program budgets, monitoring and evaluation reports, parliamentary documentation, annual reports, websites and similar sources.

Questions covered	How is international public management different from national governmental or private sector management Defining the external environment Purposes, goals, plans and visions Mapping flows of influence Finance and fund-raising
Lecture	Tools for analyzing Audio presentation
Required readings	Mathiason, Chapter 3 International Atomic Energy Agency, Instructions for Preparation of Programme Proposals for the Programme and Budget 2002-2003 (to see how programme budgets are prepared) World Health Organization, Medium-Term Strategic Plan, 2008-2013 United Nations Development Programme, Strategic Plan, 2008-2011 (skim for flavor) United Nations, Office of Internal Oversight Services, Review of results-based management at the United Nations, “Results-based management at the United Nations has been an administrative chore of little value to accountability and decision-making” (A/63/268)
Recommended readings	Barnett and Finnemore, Chapter 2 Secretary-General of the United Nations, Strengthening of the United Nations: An Agenda for Further Change Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ways in which the full implementation and the quality of mandated programmes and activities could be ensured and could be better assessed by and reported to Member States
Simulation	Meeting with the Director-General (who will be in Argentina) on outcomes for the period 2010-2015. Text of the outcome row of the Logical Framework Matrix for the Division chosen due by COB on Tuesday, September 22, 2009 for Thursday session, by Wednesday, September 23, 2009 for Friday and Saturday sessions. Since the session will be on-line, each division should plan to log on to Elluminate, using the Division name as the login name.
Discussion questions	It can be asserted that international management allows for long-term strategic planning but is constrained by a system in which managers must deal constantly with their external environment to an extent far greater than the national or private-sector level. How can managers maintain some element of control over their work? What can the Secretary-General’s reform proposals tell us about how to analyze international organizations? How can program budgeting documents best be used to analyze organizational management?
Recorded session	Monday, September 25 (morning)

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John R. Mathiason

4. Tools for analyzing transnational public management

Questions covered

Lecture

Required readings

Recommended readings

Discussion questions

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