Organization and management in public administration WP-AD-1-OiZ1-ćw
Organization and Management in Public Administration is a course devoted to the analysis of organizational and managerial processes in the public sector. It introduces students to the fundamental concepts, theories, and methods of organization and management, with particular emphasis on their application in public administration. The course examines organizational structures, organizational authority, management functions, leadership, and decision-making processes within public institutions. Special attention is given to the specific nature of public administration as an organization operating within a legal, political, and social environment and responsible for the delivery of public services.
The course covers issues related to the organization of public offices, human resource management, professional competencies, organizational culture, ethics in public service, quality management, and the evaluation of administrative performance. Students become familiar with contemporary approaches to public management, including New Public Management (NPM), Public Governance, and strategic management in the public sector. Particular emphasis is placed on administrative modernization processes and on the opportunities and challenges associated with transferring management techniques and tools originally developed in the private sector to public organizations.
A significant component of the course focuses on the analysis of management instruments such as management by objectives, benchmarking, outsourcing, controlling, process management, performance measurement, quality management systems (including TQM, CAF, and ISO), and modern human resource management practices. The course also explores the role of innovation, efficiency, accountability, citizen orientation, and service quality in contemporary public administration.
Students critically assess the advantages and limitations of applying private-sector management approaches to public institutions and examine the conditions under which such solutions can contribute to improving administrative effectiveness and organizational performance. Attention is also given to the differences between public and private organizations, especially regarding public accountability, legal constraints, democratic legitimacy, and the pursuit of public value rather than profit maximization.
The course aims to provide students with the knowledge and analytical skills necessary to understand the functioning of public organizations, evaluate management processes within public administration, and select appropriate managerial methods and tools for addressing organizational challenges. It prepares students to critically assess contemporary administrative reforms and equips them with competencies necessary for participation in organizational and managerial processes within public institutions.
(in Polish) E-Learning
(in Polish) Grupa przedmiotów ogólnouczenianych
Course coordinators
Subject level
(in Polish) Punkty ECTS
Learning outcome code/codes
Type of subject
Preliminary Requirements
Learning outcomes
EU1: Characterizes the fundamental concepts, principles, and theories of organization and management applied in public administration.
EU2: Explains the functioning of organizational structures in public administration and the role of legal, social, and ethical norms in management processes.
EU3: Analyses management processes in public administration, with particular emphasis on decision-making, human resource management, leadership, and quality management.
EU4: Selects and evaluates methods and tools of organization and management used to address organizational challenges in public administration.
EU5: Proposes and justifies appropriate management methods and solutions for specific organizational problems encountered in public administration.
Assessment criteria
Fail (2.0)
The student:
EU1: does not characterize the fundamental concepts, principles, and theories of organization and management applied in public administration;
EU2: does not explain the functioning of organizational structures in public administration or the role of legal, social, and ethical norms in management processes;
EU3: does not analyse management processes occurring in public administration;
EU4: does not select or evaluate methods and tools of organization and management used in public administration;
EU5: does not propose solutions to organizational problems encountered in public administration.
Satisfactory (3.0)
The student:
EU1: characterizes, at a basic level, the fundamental concepts, principles, and theories of organization and management applied in public administration;
EU2: explains, at a basic level, the functioning of organizational structures in public administration and the role of legal, social, and ethical norms in management processes;
EU3: analyses, at a basic level, management processes occurring in public administration;
EU4: selects and evaluates, at a basic level, methods and tools of organization and management used in public administration;
EU5: proposes, at a basic level, solutions to selected organizational problems encountered in public administration.
Good (4.0)
The student:
EU1: characterizes, to a good standard, the fundamental concepts, principles, and theories of organization and management applied in public administration;
EU2: explains, to a good standard, the functioning of organizational structures in public administration and the role of legal, social, and ethical norms in management processes;
EU3: analyses, to a good standard, management processes occurring in public administration, including contemporary public management approaches;
EU4: selects and evaluates, to a good standard, methods and tools of organization and management used in public administration;
EU5: proposes and justifies, to a good standard, solutions to organizational problems encountered in public administration.
Very Good (5.0)
The student:
EU1: demonstrates a very good understanding of the fundamental concepts, principles, and theories of organization and management applied in public administration;
EU2: demonstrates a very good understanding of the functioning of organizational structures in public administration and of the role of legal, social, and ethical norms in management processes;
EU3: thoroughly analyses management processes occurring in public administration, drawing upon concepts such as New Public Management, Public Governance, and strategic public management;
EU4: effectively selects, compares, and evaluates methods and tools of organization and management used in public administration, including solutions adapted from the private sector;
EU5: proposes, justifies, and critically evaluates solutions to organizational problems encountered in public administration, taking into account efficiency, effectiveness, accountability, and the specific nature of public service delivery.
Additional information
Information on level of this course, year of study and semester when the course unit is delivered, types and amount of class hours - can be found in course structure diagrams of apropriate study programmes. This course is related to the following study programmes:
Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system: