Public Management
A.Y. 2025/2026
Learning objectives
The course aims to provide the necessary tools to understand the economic and business dimension of public administrations, which plays a central role in the governance and management of companies and public administrations. The administration activities of public organizations will be analysed, focusing on issues of management, organization, and detection. The elements that characterize the functioning of public institutions and the most relevant managerial tools (budget, planning and control system, operating mechanisms) will be examined in depth. The reform interventions that have affected the Italian public administration since the 1990s will be examined as well, with particular attention to the specific realities of different public administrations. The economic and business functioning of specific types of administrations will also be illustrated through in-depth analyses and testimonials.
Expected learning outcomes
Upon completion of the course, the student will be able to understand the evolution of the economic-business dimension of public administrations and learn the main operations of public accounting detection (in particular: public budget drawn up in financial accounting and introduction to economic-financial accounting), the organizational structures, the primary operating systems in public companies and the operating methods of the main types of public companies. The student will also be able to analyze, interpret and solve the various management problems typical of public companies, identifying constraints and opportunities to ensure continuity and business functionality, also in connection with non-business aspects (institutional and political dimension) of public institutions; furthermore, the student will be able to grasp business dynamics through the logical categories of business economics, regarding the operations of management, detection, and organization.
Lesson period: Third trimester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
Third trimester
Course syllabus
The course aims to provide the fundamental tools to understand the functioning of public administrations from an economic-business perspective, referring to the need for public institutions to pursue their aims even when resources are barely sufficient to meet their needs.
The main topics are:
- Structure and articulation of public administrations in Italy and in the European Union
- Types of interventions by public administrations and the basic characteristics of public administration
- Institutional reforms, privatizations, and organizational-managerial improvements
- New Public Management (NPM)
- New Public Governance (NPG)
- The functioning of public administrations
- The organization of public administrations
- Informative-accounting tools
- Planning systems
- Control systems
- Management activities
- Personnel management and related operating systems
- Public management
- Organization in public administrations
- Significance of Information Systems and Digital Infrastructure
- The economic-business aspects of various types of public administrations (Ministries, Regions, Municipalities, Universities, etc.)
The main topics are:
- Structure and articulation of public administrations in Italy and in the European Union
- Types of interventions by public administrations and the basic characteristics of public administration
- Institutional reforms, privatizations, and organizational-managerial improvements
- New Public Management (NPM)
- New Public Governance (NPG)
- The functioning of public administrations
- The organization of public administrations
- Informative-accounting tools
- Planning systems
- Control systems
- Management activities
- Personnel management and related operating systems
- Public management
- Organization in public administrations
- Significance of Information Systems and Digital Infrastructure
- The economic-business aspects of various types of public administrations (Ministries, Regions, Municipalities, Universities, etc.)
Prerequisites for admission
A solid knowledge in business administration is required to take this course.
Teaching methods
In order to make the examined concepts understandable and immediately verifiable, the course will include:
- In-person lectures;
- Case studies and examples;
- Testimonials from professionals involved in the management of companies and public administrations;
- Examination of original documents (e.g., financial statements);
- For attending students, a formative assessment (mock exam without grade) during the course to increase awareness of their preparation level.
The course is delivered in a blended learning format, which includes:
- 30 hours of in-person lectures;
- 20 hours of synchronous online lessons via MS Teams;
- 10 hours of asynchronous online lessons via myAriel.
Enrolment in the exam requires attendance of at least 60% of the hours.
- In-person lectures;
- Case studies and examples;
- Testimonials from professionals involved in the management of companies and public administrations;
- Examination of original documents (e.g., financial statements);
- For attending students, a formative assessment (mock exam without grade) during the course to increase awareness of their preparation level.
The course is delivered in a blended learning format, which includes:
- 30 hours of in-person lectures;
- 20 hours of synchronous online lessons via MS Teams;
- 10 hours of asynchronous online lessons via myAriel.
Enrolment in the exam requires attendance of at least 60% of the hours.
Teaching Resources
- Ruffini, R. (2010). Fondamenti di economia delle aziende e amministrazioni pubbliche. Milano: Franco Angeli.
- Anzalone, M., Anessi Pessina, E., Carini, C., Manes Rossi, F., Mori, E., Mussari, R., Sicilia, M., Siragusa, S. e Teodori C. (2023). Contabilità e finanza pubblica. Profilo nazionale e profilo internazionale. Bologna: Zanichelli Editore.
- Anzalone, M., Anessi Pessina, E., Carini, C., Manes Rossi, F., Mori, E., Mussari, R., Sicilia, M., Siragusa, S. e Teodori C. (2023). Contabilità e finanza pubblica. Profilo nazionale e profilo internazionale. Bologna: Zanichelli Editore.
Assessment methods and Criteria
Examination procedure for attending students
The exam can only be taken as an attending student at the end of the course (June and July 2026). The oral test will focus on the subjects dealt with in class and will be preceded by a preliminary written test aimed at ascertaining the minimum achievement of the objectives of knowledge and understanding, particularly in relation to financial statements. The oral exam will aim to:
- Ascertain the achievement of the objectives in terms of knowledge and understanding;
- Ascertain the ability to apply knowledge and understanding skills through the discussion of specific cases regarding specific companies and public administrations;
- Verify the student's autonomy of judgment also through the analysis of business cases discussed during the course;
- Ascertain the mastery of the specific terminology concerning the economic functioning of companies and public administrations and the ability to present topics in a clear and orderly manner.
Examination procedure for non-attending students
The exam is in written form and organised as follows:
- Up to four open questions will be administered to ascertain the achievement of the objectives in terms of knowledge and understanding of the syllabus;
- One or more questions will evaluate applied knowledge and comprehension skills (e.g., reading a financial statement or analysing a management situation); this also allows students to verify their ability to make autonomous judgments.
The exam also aims to understand written communication skills, especially in relation to the use of specific terminology related to the economic functioning of companies and public administrations.
After the first two exam sessions (June-July 2026), the examination procedure will exclusively be held in written form.
Regarding the grading scale (how grades will be assigned), regardless of attending or non-attending mode:
A. Scores in the range of 18-22 will be assigned with the following requisites:
- Basic knowledge and applied understanding in reference to the curriculum.
- Limited ability to collect and/or interpret data and formulate independent judgments.
- Sufficient communication skills, especially regarding the use of specific language related to the economic functioning of public services.
B. Scores in the range of 23-26 will be assigned with the following requisites:
- Fair knowledge and applied understanding in reference to the curriculum.
- Fair ability to collect and/or interpret data and formulate independent judgments.
- Adequate communication skills, especially regarding the use of specific language related to the economic functioning of public services.
C. Scores in the range of 27-30 will be assigned with the following requisites:
- Good or excellent knowledge and applied understanding in reference to the curriculum.
- Good or excellent ability to collect and/or interpret data and formulate independent judgments.
- Fully appropriate communication skills, especially regarding the use of specific language related to the economic functioning of public services.
D. Honors will be granted when there is outstanding knowledge and applied understanding in reference to the curriculum, exceptional judgment, and communication skills.
The exam can only be taken as an attending student at the end of the course (June and July 2026). The oral test will focus on the subjects dealt with in class and will be preceded by a preliminary written test aimed at ascertaining the minimum achievement of the objectives of knowledge and understanding, particularly in relation to financial statements. The oral exam will aim to:
- Ascertain the achievement of the objectives in terms of knowledge and understanding;
- Ascertain the ability to apply knowledge and understanding skills through the discussion of specific cases regarding specific companies and public administrations;
- Verify the student's autonomy of judgment also through the analysis of business cases discussed during the course;
- Ascertain the mastery of the specific terminology concerning the economic functioning of companies and public administrations and the ability to present topics in a clear and orderly manner.
Examination procedure for non-attending students
The exam is in written form and organised as follows:
- Up to four open questions will be administered to ascertain the achievement of the objectives in terms of knowledge and understanding of the syllabus;
- One or more questions will evaluate applied knowledge and comprehension skills (e.g., reading a financial statement or analysing a management situation); this also allows students to verify their ability to make autonomous judgments.
The exam also aims to understand written communication skills, especially in relation to the use of specific terminology related to the economic functioning of companies and public administrations.
After the first two exam sessions (June-July 2026), the examination procedure will exclusively be held in written form.
Regarding the grading scale (how grades will be assigned), regardless of attending or non-attending mode:
A. Scores in the range of 18-22 will be assigned with the following requisites:
- Basic knowledge and applied understanding in reference to the curriculum.
- Limited ability to collect and/or interpret data and formulate independent judgments.
- Sufficient communication skills, especially regarding the use of specific language related to the economic functioning of public services.
B. Scores in the range of 23-26 will be assigned with the following requisites:
- Fair knowledge and applied understanding in reference to the curriculum.
- Fair ability to collect and/or interpret data and formulate independent judgments.
- Adequate communication skills, especially regarding the use of specific language related to the economic functioning of public services.
C. Scores in the range of 27-30 will be assigned with the following requisites:
- Good or excellent knowledge and applied understanding in reference to the curriculum.
- Good or excellent ability to collect and/or interpret data and formulate independent judgments.
- Fully appropriate communication skills, especially regarding the use of specific language related to the economic functioning of public services.
D. Honors will be granted when there is outstanding knowledge and applied understanding in reference to the curriculum, exceptional judgment, and communication skills.
SECS-P/07 - BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION AND ACCOUNTING STUDIES - University credits: 9
: 10 hours
: 20 hours
Lessons: 30 hours
: 20 hours
Lessons: 30 hours
Professor:
Turri Matteo
Professor(s)