Can governments address ‘wicked’ or complex challenges such as climate change or control healthcare costs? Can governments in developing countries price and distribute clean drinking water? Can governments enforce contracts? These questions canvass a key issue in contemporary public policy and administration: the capacity of governments to carry out routine policy tasks. This course provides students with a rigorous understanding of theoretical and policy debates around different dimensions of capacity.
The course is structured along three questions. First, what are the different components of policy capacity? Second, what types of capacities or capabilities are needed to address contemporary policy tasks such as contracting, commissioning, regulating insurance markets, etc? Third, can any deficits in capacity or capabilities to achieve these tasks be identified before a policy or program is rolled out? How can these deficits be remedied? Students are introduced to frameworks to respond to, and interrogate these questions, using real-world policy examples.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
- understand key theoretical concepts in policy capacity literature
- understand different dimensions of capacity, and how they manifest in governments
- connect policy capacity of governments with specific policy goals and tasks
- apply frameworks to measure capacity to specific programs or policies
- identify deficits in capacities and how they can be addressed.
Indicative Assessment
- Policy Capacity Artefact (30) [LO 1,2]
- Capacity Mapping Exercise (30) [LO 3,4]
- Policy Capacity Essay (40) [LO 1,2,3,4,5]
The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.
Workload
3-day intensive format + all three assessment tasks for students enrolled in the MPA program or seeking 3-unit credit
18 contact hours plus 40-50 hours of class preparation and assessment.
Inherent Requirements
Not applicable
Prescribed Texts
None
Preliminary Reading
Wu, X., Ramesh, M., & Howlett, M. (2015). Policy capacity: A conceptual framework for understanding policy competences and capabilities. Policy and Society, 34(3-4), 165-171.
Painter, M., & Pierre, J. (2005). Unpacking policy capacity: Issues and themes. In Challenges to state policy capacity (pp. 1-18). Palgrave Macmillan, London.
Parsons, W. (2004). Not just steering but weaving: Relevant knowledge and the craft of building policy capacity and coherence. Australian journal of public administration, 63(1), 43-57.
Peters, B. G. (2005). Policy instruments and policy capacity. In Challenges to state policy capacity (pp. 73-91). Palgrave Macmillan, London.
Howlett, M., & Ramesh, M. (2016). A chilles' heels of governance: critical capacity deficits and their role in governance failures. Regulation & Governance, 10(4), 301-313.
Rayner, J., McNutt, K., & Wellstead, A. (2013). Dispersed Capacity and Weak Coordination: The Challenge of Climate Change Adaptation in C anada's Forest Policy Sector. Review of Policy Research, 30(1), 66-90.
Bali, A. S., & Ramesh, M. (2019). Assessing health reform: studying tool appropriateness & critical capacities. Policy and Society, 38(1), 148-166.
Fees
Tuition fees are for the academic year indicated at the top of the page.
Commonwealth Support (CSP) Students
If you have been offered a Commonwealth supported place, your fees are set by the Australian Government for each course. At ANU 1 EFTSL is 48 units (normally 8 x 6-unit courses). More information about your student contribution amount for each course at Fees.
- Student Contribution Band:
- 14
- Unit value:
- 3 units
If you are a domestic graduate coursework student with a Domestic Tuition Fee (DTF) place or international student you will be required to pay course tuition fees (see below). Course tuition fees are indexed annually. Further information for domestic and international students about tuition and other fees can be found at Fees.
Where there is a unit range displayed for this course, not all unit options below may be available.
| Units | EFTSL |
|---|---|
| 3.00 | 0.06250 |
Course fees
- Domestic fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2021 | $2055 |
- International fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2021 | $2940 |
Offerings, Dates and Class Summary Links
ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.
Class summaries, if available, can be accessed by clicking on the View link for the relevant class number.