| Unit name | Public policy and socio-digital futures |
|---|---|
| Unit code | SPOLM0092 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | M/7 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24) |
| Unit director | Professor. Alex Marsh |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
None |
| School/department | School for Policy Studies |
| Faculty | Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
Why is this unit important?
Policymaking occurs in a context of increased uncertainty and complexity. Digital technologies are a key disruptor: innovation is associated with diverse and pervasive economic, political and social effects. Yet, the effects of digital innovation are not always easy to foresee, and some may be entirely unanticipated or undesirable. There are concerns that established modes of policymaking, even if serviceable in the past, are no longer fit for purpose. Policy needs to be more long-term, anticipatory and holistic, but political systems – particularly in some electoral democracies – are characterised by short-termism, reactiveness, and fragmentation. This unit engages with questions of robust systems of governance and policy and explores the issues primarily with reference to digital innovation. The focus is upon futures thinking, anticipatory governance and the challenges of regulating technological innovation. The unit reflects on what these ideas mean for the practice, governance and institutions of policymaking.
How does this unit fit into your programme of study?
This unit is one of several optional units you can choose to take in the second teaching block. This unit provides an opportunity for you to engage in more detail with issues around the nature of the policy process, many of which are introduced in the first teaching block, alongside consideration of the nature of the social systems which policymakers seek to influence and influences on the way such systems change.
An overview of content
The unit covers four main topics. The discussion of each topic is explored with reference to digital innovation. The unit starts by considering the nature of social systems, key ideas from the field of systems thinking, and how these ideas are relevant to policy. The second topic the unit examines is futures thinking. This part starts by considering how we conceptualise the future and what we can know about the future. It then introduces a selection of practical tools that are used in futures thinking. The third topic it considers is policy toward, and regulation of, technological innovation. What are the challenges of regulating technological innovation? How can policy keep up with the pace of change? Finally, the unit reflects on the challenges of integrating futures thinking into policymaking and examines possible governance architectures for more future-orientated policy.
How will students, personally be different as a result of the unit:
You will have a better understanding of different ways we can think about social systems and the link between how social systems are conceptualised and what we can expect policy to achieve. You will have an appreciation of the value of engaging in futures thinking as an input into current decision making, but also of the challenges associated with integrating future concerns into today’s decisions. You will be able to reflect on the particular challenges that technological innovation presents to policy making. You will have had the experience of using several practical tools to assist futures thinking and experience of thinking about the policy relevance of futures thinking. You should be able to advocate thoughtfully for the use of futures tools, where appropriate, and to implement and use selected tools, if necessary.
Learning outcomes:
On successful completion of the unit, you will be able to:
Teaching will be delivered through lectures and seminars. Seminars will typically be oriented towards a specific task involving groupwork and linked to the topic of the learning materials. Your learning is supported via the online learning platform, where lecture materials and tasks are listed. The tasks include self-directed study and reading.
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks:
You will be supported in your summative assessment by a formative element consisting of a Report (1000 word, max). The report will ask you to apply systems thinking ideas to a policy problem related to digital innovation. It will help you to think about the relationship between social systems and their representation and analysis, and to consider the type of policy implications that can be drawn from the application of a practical tool.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark:
You will be offered a choice of assessment, between either a) Essay; or b) Case Study/Practice Analysis (2750 words max, 100%)
Both assessments cover all of the unit learning outcomes.
When assessment does not go to plan:
Subject to the university regulations for taught programmes, you may be offered an opportunity for reassessment. If you are eligible to resubmit and where appropriate, you may submit a revised version of your previous assignment, or complete an alternative assessment in the same format as the original assessment.
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. SPOLM0092).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The assessment methods listed in this unit specification are designed to enable students to demonstrate the named learning outcomes (LOs). Where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, schools will make reasonable adjustments to support a student to demonstrate the LO by an alternative method or with additional resources.
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
