UW: Management in humanitarian action

This module aims at providing participants with general knowledge about management of organisations and processes with special focus on managerial techniques and methods applicable to humanitarian action. It also offers insight to main differences in managing various types of organisations, including public sector, private sector and charities. Another important aspect of this course is focus on managerial innovations that might be particularly useful in day-to-day activities of humanitarian aid organisations. This module is based on open formula, including direct involvement of participants and adjusting detailed scope of the course to their needs.

• Public/Private/Charity Sector Management: Similarities and Differences. Management paradigms
• Introduction to managing humanitarian actions. Humanitarian system, actions, principles
• Managing humanitarian projects
• Strategic management in humanitarian action
• Financial management
• Human resources management
• Security management
• Management ethics

In conformity with the learning outcomes set out by the NOHA network, students should achieve the following learning outcomes by the end of this module:

• knowledge about key management paradigms applicable also to managing humanitarian action
• general knowledge on crucial aspects of managing organisations with special focus on institutions conducting humanitarian action
• understanding of major managerial challenges in humanitarian action
• an ability to identify and respond to the major ethical challenges in humanitarian action work 


Lectures
Guest lectures
Seminars with group presentations
Individual writing assignment

The final grade will be calculated as follows:

1. Final exam (60%) 

2. Individual presentation at seminar (40%)

• Maximum 20 minutes
• Presentation needs to be distributed shortly after class among other participants 
in PDF format
• Topic to be agreed individually between lecturer and participant until the 3rd week of classes. 


For grading of presentations the following criteria will be applied:

• Relevance and clarity of information presented
• Quality of literature review
• Involvement of other participants
• Time discipline