DIPLOMA IN THE MANAGEMENT OF MODERN PUBLIC SERVICE DELIVERY

15-16 October 2008

Introductory Session

• Course Background• Aim• Timetable and Practicalities• Course Schedule• Contacts• Webct/Wiki• Fieldtrips• Exams and Assignments• Study Materials

Aim

To equip managers and potential managers of services with the skills and knowledge required to lead and implement service delivery change and innovation in public sector organisations.

Timetable and Practicalities

• 9.30 -4.30pm• Lunch (Ariel Hse/Gasworks)

• Coffee Breaks Morning/Afternoon

• Toilets• Emergency Exits• Temperature• Mobile Phones

Course Schedule Year 1Year 1 Seminar Date Assignment Due

Innovation and Modernisation in the Public Sector

15-16 Oct 08

Understanding the Public Sector

27-28 Nov 08 Assignment 1

Managing Service Delivery Change

21-22 Jan 09 Assignment 2

Managing Service Delivery Projects

3-4 Mar 09 Assignment 3

Field Trip 5 Mar (prov)

Final Assignment Due

7 April 08 Assignment 4

Exams 30 April (prov)

Contacts

AdministrativeChristine Kellyckelly@ipa.ie Tel 01-240 3675

Academic or Study relatedKieran Lenihanklenihan@ipa.ie Tel 01-240 3673

MAKE SURE WE HAVE YOUR CORRECT CONTACT DETAILS

Online Learning

Access to ipasd.pbwiki.com

Username: Firstnamesecondname

Eg kieranlenihan

Password: ipa

Online Learning Resource

Seminar slides, related documentation, student area etc.

Field Trips

• One each year• To see at first hand

a working example of good practice

• 5 March 2008

Exams

• 2 Exams X 2 hours• Sample Paper and

past paper available on Webct

• 60% of overall mark• Take place end 30

April in IPA (provisional date)

Assignments

• 4 Assignments x10%• 1 Per Module• 10 Pages (3000 words

max)• Respect the deadlines• Typed• 2 copies required• 1 returned• Cover to Include Title,

Name and Address

Assignments (cont’d)

• Must be your own work

• Avoid excessive paraphrasing or quotation

• Cooperate but avoid temptation to copy

• Plan before writing

• Read the assignment carefully– Evaluate ≠ Describe– Analyse ≠Outline

Assignments (cont’d)

• Introduction, body of text and conclusion

• Reflection on material required• Examine relevance to work environment• If more than one part to assignment,

make sure you address all• Use active verbs rather than passive

– “This document attempts” not “It is attempted in this document”

Assignments (cont’d)

• Use spelling checker

• Use mindmaps to group ideas

• Clear, simple and precise language

• Signposting- use headings and new paragraphs

Assignments (cont’d)

• Referencing• C. H. Murray (2001) argues that it …• It has been well known for many years

(Commission on Taxation 2003) that poor systems contributed to wholescale tax evasion

• At end of Assignment, a reference section– Murray, C.H., Irish Government Observed,

Administration, Vol 31 No 3, 1999, pp 245-261– Brown, N, Against the Tide, Dublin: Gill and

Macmillan, 1986, p 273– Commission on Taxation, Direct Taxation, Dublin:

Stationery Office, 2003.

Further Information about Writing

• Fowler, HW Modern English Usage (Oxford University Press)

• Growers, E The Complete Plain Words (Penguin)

• Strunk, W & White, EB The Elements of Style (Macmillan)

And Good Luck with the Challenge!