Urban governance

URB-402 / 4 credits

Teacher: Genoud Christophe Emmanuel

Language: English

Summary

This course equips students with the tools for action and influence within institutional systems, drawing on the fields of sociology, political science, and social psychology. It explores how to better convince decision-makers, shift behaviors, and design more effective and impactful public policies

Content

Introduction :  Presentation and discussion of key concepts and approaches of urban governance (ex. governance, decision, innovation, institution, decision making, technology etc.)

 

Political systems analysis and policy making : presentation and discussion of approaches and theories from political science and sociology useful to develop a deeper understanding of how policies are designed and influenced by political systems and institutions.

 

Decision making :  presentation and discussion approaches and evidence from decision sciences explaining how individuals, groups and governing bodies make (good or bad) decisions and why.

 

The science of influencing behaviors : presentation and discussion around the questions "what is a rational decision?" and "are we rational in our decisions?" with contribution from behavioral, psychology, social psychology and sociology. Ultimately, the question will be : "how can we influence a decision?"

 

Solution designs and impact strategies: by capitalizing on the previous sections, strategies and solution susceptible to enhance the chance of positive impact will be presented, discussed and designed.

 

Each approach and theme will be illustrated with cases studies.

Keywords

urban, governance, institution, systems, social science, impact, decision, policy

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, the student must be able to:

  • Design and defend technical solutions for urban governing bodies
  • Advise decision makers on optimal way to act
  • Negotiate pragmatic solutions with decision makers
  • Transpose technical solutions in existing public policies
  • Anticipate decision makers constraints, objectives and mindsets
  • Explore strategies to convince decision makers
  • Solve decision deadlock and dead ends
  • Translate technical solutions into decision makers language
  • Discuss with decision makers and stakeholders
  • Restate solutions and problems to decision makers
  • Select appropriately appropriate wording and presenting of technical solution

Transversal skills

  • Set objectives and design an action plan to reach those objectives.
  • Communicate effectively with professionals from other disciplines.
  • Negotiate effectively within the group.
  • Communicate effectively, being understood, including across different languages and cultures.
  • Make an oral presentation.
  • Respect relevant legal guidelines and ethical codes for the profession.
  • Respect the rules of the institution in which you are working.
  • Take responsibility for environmental impacts of her/ his actions and decisions.

Teaching methods

lectures, text reading, case studies,

Expected student activities

Attendance at lectures, reading written material, designing a project, presenting and critically asses written materials (articles, book chapters).

 

Assessment methods

60% Group project

40% Individual text presentation

 

Resources

Notes/Handbook

Texts (scientific articles, book chapters and articles) related to the session will be provided on a weekly basis for students to read. Some of these texts will be presented by the students themselves and be the object of an individual assessment.

 

Moodle Link

In the programs

  • Semester: Spring
  • Exam form: Written (summer session)
  • Subject examined: Urban governance
  • Courses: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
  • Exercises: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
  • Type: mandatory
  • Semester: Spring
  • Exam form: Written (summer session)
  • Subject examined: Urban governance
  • Courses: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
  • Exercises: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
  • Type: optional
  • Semester: Spring
  • Exam form: Written (summer session)
  • Subject examined: Urban governance
  • Courses: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
  • Exercises: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
  • Type: optional

Reference week

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