Urban governance
Summary
This course equips students with the tools for 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
Throughout the course organised around key questions and issues, the following approaches and theme will be studies :
Urban Governance: 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 theoretical approaches and case studies, strategies and solutions susceptible to enhance the chance of positive impact will be presented, discussed and designed.
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, role playing games
Expected student activities
Attendance at lectures, reading written material (articles, book chapters), participation in role playing games and discussions.
Assessment methods
Group project consisting in critcally evaluating an urban project. Project proposal (30%); Final project (70%).
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 discussed in class.
Moodle Link
Dans les plans d'études
- Semestre: Automne
- Forme de l'examen: Pendant le semestre (session d'hiver)
- Matière examinée: Urban governance
- Cours: 2 Heure(s) hebdo x 14 semaines
- Exercices: 2 Heure(s) hebdo x 14 semaines
- Type: obligatoire
- Semestre: Automne
- Forme de l'examen: Pendant le semestre (session d'hiver)
- Matière examinée: Urban governance
- Cours: 2 Heure(s) hebdo x 14 semaines
- Exercices: 2 Heure(s) hebdo x 14 semaines
- Type: obligatoire
- Semestre: Automne
- Forme de l'examen: Pendant le semestre (session d'hiver)
- Matière examinée: Urban governance
- Cours: 2 Heure(s) hebdo x 14 semaines
- Exercices: 2 Heure(s) hebdo x 14 semaines
- Type: optionnel
- Semestre: Automne
- Forme de l'examen: Pendant le semestre (session d'hiver)
- Matière examinée: Urban governance
- Cours: 2 Heure(s) hebdo x 14 semaines
- Exercices: 2 Heure(s) hebdo x 14 semaines
- Type: optionnel
- Semestre: Automne
- Forme de l'examen: Pendant le semestre (session d'hiver)
- Matière examinée: Urban governance
- Cours: 2 Heure(s) hebdo x 14 semaines
- Exercices: 2 Heure(s) hebdo x 14 semaines
- Type: optionnel
- Semestre: Automne
- Forme de l'examen: Pendant le semestre (session d'hiver)
- Matière examinée: Urban governance
- Cours: 2 Heure(s) hebdo x 14 semaines
- Exercices: 2 Heure(s) hebdo x 14 semaines
- Type: optionnel