Course Schedule
GETTING STARTED
This module gives an overview of how the course is structured and what you can expect to learn.
COURSE INTRODUCTION
Readings
Case Study 1: "Remaking a Neglected Megacity: A Civic Transformation in Lagos State 1999-2012"
Watch
Reformers on Building Institutions
Introduction
Lagos
Two More Stories About Leading Reform
How to Read a Case Study
Assignments
Gallery Assignment: Appalachian Mountain
TOPIC 1: BIG RESULTS FAST
Readings
Case Study 1: "Empowering Operational Staff: Land Registration in Sarawak, Malaysia, 2006-2009"
Case Study 2: "A Second life for One-Stop Shops in Brazil," or "Creating a Citizen Friendly Department in Jordan," or "Reforming Without Hiring or Firing South Africa"
Watch
Introduction
Creating Big Results Fast
Sarawak Story
A Principal Agent Problem
Formula For Success: Part 1 - Process and Part 2 - Strategy Meets Context
Cautions: Part 1 - Transparency and Competition and Part 2 - Are Transparency and Competition Always Good?
Conversation with Pravin Gordhan and Judy Parfitt, South Africa
Assignments
Quiz Option 1: A Second Life for One-Stop Shops (Brazil)
Quiz Option 2: Creating a Citizen Friendly Department (Jordan)
Quiz Option 3: Reforming without Hiring or Firing (South Africa)
Practicum Option One: Streamlining a Process *Suggested
TOPIC 2: SHORT-ROUTE ACCOUNTABILITY, PART 1
Readings
Case Study 1: "Power at the Grass Roots: Monitoring Public Works in Abra, Philippines, 1986–1990"
Case Study 2: "Promoting Accountability, Monitoring Services: Textbook Procurement and Delivery, Philippines, 2002–2005"
Watch
Introduction
Short-Route Accountability
Abra
What Could Go Wrong: The Collective Action Problem
The Textbook Story
Continuing Challenges
Rwanda's Imihigo System (optional)
Conversation with Juan Miguel Luz, Philippines, on Textbook Count
Assignments
Quiz: Citizen Monitoring
Gallery Assignment: Advice to Reform Team
TOPIC 3: SHORT-ROUTE ACCOUNTABILITY, PART 2
Readings
Case Study 1: "Services for the People, By the People: Indonesia's Program for Community Empowerment, 1998–2006"
Case Study 2: "Building Trust in Government: Afghanistan's National Solidarity Program, 2002–2013"
Watch
Introduction
Citizens as Managers
Diagnosis: Five Foreseeable Problems
The Kecamatan Development Program: Part 1 - Introduction and Part 2 - Design and Part 3 - Results
What Could Go Wrong? Part 1: Challenges and Adaptations and Part 2: Program Evaluation Challenges
Conversation with Ashraf Ghani and Ghulam Rasoul Rasouli
Assignments
Quiz: Short Route Accountability
Gallery Assignment: The Pros and Cons of Block Grants
TOPIC 4: INSTITUTIONAL TRAPS
Readings
Case Study 1: "Inviting a Tiger into Your Home": Indonesia Creates an Anti-Corruption Commission with Teeth, 2002–2007"
Case Study 2: "Saving a Sinking Agency: The National Port Authority of Liberia, 2006–2011" or "Ingraining Honesty, Changing Norms: Government Ethics in Brazil, 1995–2004"
Watch
Introduction
Traps
Inviting a Tiger Into Your Home: Part 1
Self-dealing vs. Legitimate Opposition
Inviting a Tiger Into Your Home: Part 2
Escaping Institutional Traps: Toolkit 1 — 4
Repairing Liberia's National Port: Part 1 and Part 2
Assignments
Quiz Option 1: Integrating Honesty, Changing Norms (Brazil)
Quiz Option 2: Saving a Sinking Ship Agency (Liberia)
Gallery Assignment: Partnership with the Public
TOPIC 5: SOCIAL EXPECTATIONS AND INSTITUTIONAL REFORM
Readings
Case Study 1: "Conjuring and Consolidating a Turnaround: Governance in Bogota, 1992–2003"
Case Study 2: "Streamlined Tax Administration in Rio de Janeiro: Implementing Nota Carioca, 2009–2014"
Watch
Introduction
Expectations
Norm Coordination Traps
Is There a Toolkit for Addressing Norm Coordination Problems? Part 1 — Part 4
Conversation with Sergio Fajardo
Assignments
Quiz: Psychology and Norm Coordination Traps
Gallery Assignment: Norm Coordination Traps
TOPIC 6: CAPABILITY TRAPS
Readings
Case Study 1: "Energizing the Civil Service: Managing at the Top 2, Bangladesh, 2006–2011"
Case Study 2: "Building Capacity, Changing Norms: Rapid Results in Madagascar, 2005-2009"
Watch
Introduction
Capacity Traps
A Partnership Model
How Capacity Traps Arise: Part 1 and Part 2
The Toolkit: Part 1 — Part 3
Two Case Studies
Rapid Results as an Alternative
Reflections on Rapid Results
Conversation with Nadim Matta
Assignments
Gallery Assignment: Capacity Problems
Practicum Option Two: Project Management Basics *Suggested
TOPIC 7: COORDINATING ACROSS GOVERNMENT
Readings
Case Study 1: "Improving the Policy Process: Ghana Tries to Build Support for Cabinet Decision Making, 2003–2008"
Case Study 2: "Translating Vision into Action: Indonesia's Delivery Unit, 2009–2012," or "Shifting the Cabinet into High Gear: Agile Policymaking in Rwanda, 2008–2012," or "Moving Beyond Central Planning: Crafting a Modern Policy Management System, Latvia, 2000–2006"
Watch
Introduction
Coordination Capacity and Coordinating Capacity
Principle Agent Problem Revisited
Story: Ghana's John Kufuor Tries to Improve the Cabinet Office
Delivery Units
Rwanda Reconfigures the Cabinet Office
Indonesia and Broader Comparisons
Problems and Remedies
Death of Parliamentary Government? Not Necessarily
Transitions (optional)
Interview with Andy Ratcliffe
Assignments
Quiz Option 1: Translating Vision into Action (Indonesia)
Quiz Option 2: Shifting the Cabinet into High Gear (Rwanda)
Quiz Option 3: Moving Beyond Central Planning (Latvia)
Gallery Assignments: Delivery Unit
Practicum Option Three: Communications *Suggested
TOPIC 8: INSTITUTIONAL TRANSFORMATION
Readings
Case Study 1: "Mapping a Transformation Journey: A Strategy for Malaysia's Future, 2009–2010"
Watch
Introduction
Institutional Transformation
Singapore as Fragile States
Singapore First Steps
Singapore Strategy
Singapore Institutional Capacity
Moving Beyond Singapore
Leverage Points: Political Will
Leverage Points: Timing
Assignments
Quiz: Institutional Transformation
Gallery Assignment: Extending Reform
Practicum Option Four: Strategy Development *Suggested
COURSE SUMMARY
This module wraps up the course