Program Outline

FIRST-YEAR COURSES Compulsory Courses (5 credits)

Markets and Economic Policy – A. Xepapadeas, A. Philippopoulos

In this module, concepts and tools of the economic science will be utilized in the analysis of public policy and public programs issues, with an emphasis on particular examples and case studies. The system of values and its function, demand and elasticity, cost, production and supply. Markets and balance. Property rights, public goods, open-access resources, externalities, market failure, and intervention. Monopoly power and regulation, asymmetrical information. Goals and means of financial policy. Political behavior and political practice. The excellent size of the public sector.

Governance, Institutions and Public Policies – G. Pagoulatos, S. Blavoukos

This module helps students understand how the process of practicing public policy and governance functions in the “real world”: i.e. in an actual environment of political expediencies, socioeconomic interests, economic and structural limitations and international influences. The module focuses on the interaction of politics and public policy. It explains the differences between Government and Governance. It examines the role of institutions in public policy. It shows, with examples from the real world, which is the procedure and the stages of public policy. It uses conceptual models of public policy (rational model, incremental, “trash can”) in order to explain why government policies are very often not rational. It explains the function of public policy in an environment of profound European integration, interdependence and globalization.

Quantitative Methods for Public Sector – I. Halikias, I. Bilias

In today’s economic and administrative environment, the number of economic measures and the requirements for their analysis in the decision making process, have increased significantly, while modern technologies facilitate both the access to more statistical data and the analysis of data. Thus, combining basic statistical methods and computing systems, significant support can be provided to the processes of formulating policy and decision making in the public sector. The aim of this module is to present all modern quantitative data analysis methods. Particular emphasis is placed on the description of case studies, while the application of all methods is done through the use of computers.

Policy Analysis and Evaluation – A. Xepapadeas

This module examines the aims, the processes and the impacts of policies and programs in the wider public sector. The basic model and the valuation tools. Criteria for the evaluation of public sector decisions and ways of actual implementation. Analysis of needs, processes, desirable or non-desirable impacts, as well as determination and valuation of policies’ cost-benefit flow. Individual methods of evaluation, presented through case studies. Cost-benefit analysis and cost effectiveness, Analysis of Regulatory Impacts, Evaluation of Programs, Multi-criteria Analysis: classification and presentation of multi-criteria decision making methods, Multiobjective Programming.

Services Administration – Ch. Tarantilis

The purpose of the course is the training of public sector managers in designing computational methods for solving the most important strategic and operational problems in Operations Management (Operations Management). Specifically, the issues addressed seeking optimal design, planning, control and organization of activities / tasks to be performed as well as the optimal use of resources (human and material) in order to provide high quality services to citizens and / or achieving minimization of costs and / or profit maximization of a public company / organization.

Budgeting Control and Public Management – G. Venieris, S. Cohen

The role of Budgets in Public Sector Management. Drawing up of Budgets. Accounting monitoring of Budgets: cash basis, accrual basis. National and international general accounting standards governing the accounting monitoring of Budgets. Consideration of Budgets in the framework of New Public Management. Cost concepts of public expenditure and cost of public services. Use of Budgets as a tool for the management of public expenditure. Comparison of the private sector’s accounting with the accounting of the Public Sector of Economy. Control and evaluation of the financial performance of Public Sector Management through Budgets. International trends in the development of New Public Management.

Strategic Management for Public Services and Organizations – S. Lioukas

This module aims at helping participants understand issues of strategic management in the sector of public services and organizations, and develop skills of strategic analysis and implementation of strategic plans for the improvement of services and the creation of public value. In this module, reference is made to concepts and alternative perspectives on the approach of strategic management, with reference to the actual processes and practices evolving in the environment of a public service. Methods and techniques of analysis are examined, which apply to whole range from diagnosing and evaluating the service’s strategic position, to the formulation of alternative options, the selection of a new strategy and its implementation. Emphasis is placed on the alignment of organization and on strategic leadership.

Information Systems and e-Governance – G. Doukidis, G. Lekakos

This module will analyze the strategic role of Information Systems in public sector management through the automation of bureaucratic processes, the digitalization of data, the offer of new services to citizens, the automation of transactions with businesses, and generally, the creation of a more “open and participatory” governance. Policies of promoting new technologies at a national level will also be analyzed.

SECOND-YEAR COURSES

Public Policy Compulsory Courses (5 credits)

Regulatory Policies and Markets – I. Katsoulacos, Ch. Genakos

Introduction – Overview: The Regulatory Role of the State in Markets – When is intervention necessary? Natural or almost natural monopolies: causes and consequences. Regulatory Burden. Types of Intervention in Natural Monopolies – brief historic overview in the EU and the USA. Public companies vs regulation of private monopolies. Privatization and market liberalization: developments in the last 2 decades. Competition Policy (CP): intervention to oligopolistic markets. Differentiations in terms of regulatory policy. Aims of CP. Basic principles of sector regulatory policy in symmetrical and asymmetrical data. Basic principles of competition policy – determination of a relative market and evaluation of significant power in the market. Law on competition: types of interventions and rationale according to the microeconomic theory.

Public Finance and Tax Policy – I. Loizidis, V. Manesiotis, I. Manousakis

Economic growth and fiscal policy in Greece and in the international economy, configuration of expenditures and taxes and their impacts on economy, tax competition and international economy, interests and redistribution of income (tax evasion, corruption, bureaucracy, etc.), electoral cycles and fiscal policy, fiscal rules and stabilization, Growth and Stability Pact.

European Integration and Public Policies – D. Bourantonis, S. Blavoukos

Customs unions, free trade zones and common markets. Theory and practice of the economic integration in the European Union. The principle of subsidiarity and its implementation in the sector of public policies. Monetary integration and Growth and Stability Pact. Examples with the implementation of the subsidiarity principle in the design of regulatory and structural community policies.

Public Management Compulsory Courses (5 credits)

Human Resources Management – N. Papalexandri, N. Konstantopoulos

The aim of this module is for participants to acquire theoretical knowledge and develop their professional skills in human resources management issues in the sector of public services and organizations. This module will focus on issues such as programming of human resources requirements, orientation and inclusion of new colleagues, assignment of duties and improvement of communication with individuals and groups, identification of educational needs and education of collaborators, setting goals, collaborators’ measurement and assessment of performance. It will also expand to reform issues in human resources management in the public sector, with reference to case studies from the Greek and international experience.

Decision Making for Public Sector – I. Mourtos

Decision making in the modern environment of public sector management is characterized by increased complexity and uncertainty. Executives are overloaded with data, while the great penetration of information and communication technologies multiplies the “data” and facilitates the use of advanced techniques and “models” for their processing. The aim of this module is to familiarize the participating executives with the basic decision making methods in complex problems of the wider public sector, as well as to develop their skills in using computer software to analyze problems and assist decision making. The module presents three categories of models: Mathematical Programming, Multi-criteria Analysis and Decision Analysis. Each unit includes a series of practical applications in sectors such as Healthcare, Transportations, Public Sector Management, Local Government etc.

Management of Reforms and Transformations – D. Papoulias

Practical experience identifies the difficulties in processing and implementing changes in the wider public sector and in the realization of successful reforms in the fields of economy and society. The aim of the module is first to provide the participants with systematic and organized knowledge in order to understand the complexity of big changes, the counterbalance between factors, the conflicts of interests involved in various phases of the change process, and the role of policy and governance. Second, based on successful examples to highlight the prerequisites and the factors which contribute to the successful outcome of the efforts for changes and wider reforms, and the requirements for successful guidance. Particular emphasis will be placed on understanding the impact of the public service culture, the capabilities of guidance and the requirements for effective change leadership. The module will be based on case studies from change and reform programs in public services and organizations, on international examples, as well as on the transfer of practices and theory from the administrative science and management.

Electives Courses(5 credits)

Cooperation between the Public and Private Sector and Privatizations – G. Sapountzoglou

The aim of this module is to highlight the economic content and the institutional framework of the Collaborations between the Public and the Private Sector. Particular emphasis is placed on the economic development of public real estate property, through the implementation of self-financing projects through the method of Collaborations between the Public and the Private Sector and through Concession Agreements. The module is supported by educational material regarding the institutional framework, the conceptual content, the analysis of the economic dimension and the processes for the implementation of Collaborations between the Public and the Private Sector. The module also includes references to case studies.

Project Management – K. Zografos, M. Mantas

The module presents issues regarding the programming, implementation, control and evaluation of projects and programs. Particular emphasis is placed on public sector projects/programs. The module covers the following sections: analysis of a project’s life cycle, alternative structures of project organization, selection and evaluation methods (ex-ante and ex-post) of projects and programs, techniques and methods of time scheduling, project cost, analysis of the cost-duration relationship, resources programming and normalization, as well as techniques for the monitoring of projects and programs. The module also includes case studies, as well as the use of project management software.

Entrepreneurship and Innovation in the Public Sector – I. Spanos, I. Voudouri

This module is an introduction to the concept and practice of entrepreneurship in the public and social sector. It focuses on the formulation of new proposals for the creation of public and social value, the strategy for implementation of initiatives and how these are organized and developed. It begins with the creation of the idea and continues to the initiation of the new venture, the involvement of people and the building of a support coalition, the assurance of financial and human resources, the design and the management of development. It introduces tools for integrated design and monitoring of progress. It aims at developing knowledge and skills of the executives for autonomously assuming initiatives and self-acting.

Relations with Citizen, Communication – F. Kokkinaki

The aim of this module is to highlight the relationship between the satisfaction of the citizens’ needs and the improvement of the public sector’s performance and image. The module focuses on how main principles and techniques of communication and marketing can contribute to the selection of organizations’ goals, to the harmonization of their actions with the needs of citizens, and the design and implementation of programs which improve their efficacy along with public interest management, enhancing citizens’ satisfaction.

Electives Courses (2,5 credits)

Corruption and Ethics in Public Sector – P. Fleming

Corruption, as in the abuse of a public position of trust for private benefit, is a phenomenon that has been with us for centuries. However, when this phenomenon becomes spread in business or public organizations, given their power, the damage to society can be very extensive.

There are at least two kinds of benefits for participants. First, participants would be able to understand the underlying social and psychological factors that make corruption possible and be vigilant so that they do not get ‘carried away’ into corrupt practices. Second, participants will be introduced tosome tools and ways to improve and/or build effective compliance systems within their organizations.

Given then that participants will understand the human (social and psychological), they will be able to better implement and/or design compliance systems for their companies. Participants, in other words, should be able to more effectively prevent corruption from taking hold in their organization or minimizing its impact if it already exists.

Leadership and Accountability – Ι. Νικολάου

In this module, we will look at the importance of leadership for management and administration. We will explore leadership in terms of leader traits and behaviours, but also in terms of perceptions of followers. One goal of the module will be to show participants why leadership matters a great deal for organizational effectiveness and what it is that makes leaders effective but also ethical. We will discuss theories of leadership and motivation and how leaders get followers to commit to a vision. We will also breakdown the influencing tactics of charismatic and visionary leadership into tangible indicators that can be measured and taught. Thus, the module will provide the tools for participants to become more effective leaders. Specific topics that I will focus include: (a) Folk theories of ideal leadership, (b) The ascription-actuality theory of leadership (c) Why are followers engaged behind a leader? (d) Does leadership matter? (e) Can leadership be taught? (f) Introduction to the transformational, transactional, and instrumental leadership model (g) Visionary and charismatic leadership, and (h) Communication strategies of effective leaders.

Real-estate Development – P. Vlamis

The aim of the module is to introduce and present the basic areas of the constantly upcoming –in Greece as well– field of economics, relating to real estate and particularly to its development. In order to achieve this aim, the module will focus on four subjects:

The nature of real estate markets: analysis of the different types of investments in real estate (retail/business real estate, purchase of office real estate, residential, industrial real estate). The significance of real estate markets for the Greek economy.
Development of the Greek state’s real estate – problems
Development of the Greek state’s real estate – prospects
Methods for the financial development of the Greek state’s real estate

All the concepts, rules, axioms and tools presented in this module, are accompanied by appropriate graphs, numerical examples, case studies’ analysis, and calculation models to achieve the fullest possible understanding of the issues to be examined.

Audit in the Public Sector – K. Karamanis

This module describes the existing system for controlling state expenditure in Greece and analyzes its chronic structural weaknesses. Then, it presents the basic principles of International Auditing Standards for the public sector, issued by the International Federation of Accountants, and outlines proposals for changes that should be introduced.

Institutions and European Union Law – A. Pliakos

Brief presentation of the following: History, aim, values, competencies and sources of European Union law. The institutional bodies of the Union, the processes of creating rules, judicial protection, relationships between the Union and member states. Internal market, competition policy, common commercial policy, economic and monetary union.

Law and Public Management – A. Pliakos

The aim of the module is to understand the rules governing the management of public organizations. Concepts relating to the following are analyzed:

Creation and implementation of rules and decisions
Sources of binding rules and their hierarchy
Concept and content of the democratic regime
Sources of rules of law and their hierarchy
International law
Separation of powers
Acts of regulatory content, in the executive function.

Privatizations – S. Lioukas

The module focuses both on the international trends regarding the transfer of property and rights of the state to individuals, and the forms it may take, as well as on the Greek experience. More specifically, it examines recent trends and concerns in various countries regarding the practice, the expectations, and the results of privatizations. Cases and the conditions under which privatization may contribute to the goals set by the political process, as well as alternative options that may be more widely accepted, are discussed. Controversial areas for social goods are identified. The institutional framework in Greece and internationally, the regulatory frameworks which are necessary in the sector of public utilities and monopolies are also examined. Case studies from the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund for real estate and sale of public companies are used as examples.