Faculty & Research

Public Systems Group

About Public Systems Group (PSG) Area

Set up in October 1975, the Public Systems Group (PSG) at IIMA is an interdisciplinary group with a focus on the generation and dissemination of knowledge concerning the public sphere, the performance and management of public systems, the formulation and implementation of public policies, their societal determinants as well as consequences.

The group has its origins in specific sector oriented units like Population Studies Unit and Education Systems Unit that were later incorporated in PSG. Today the broad objectives of the PSG can be described as:

-Helping the institute play a responsive and anticipatory role in the areas of public systems and public policy;
-Promoting research that will further our understanding of effective management of public systems and democratic policy making; and
-Providing opportunities to managers and administrators for developing managerial skills and attitudes for effective management of public systems.

Faculty members of the PSG are drawn from a variety of backgrounds and interests. The diversity of the group and its research interests are reflected in the courses that the group has offered across the range of programs offered by the institute. The courses include: Public Management, Public Finance, Public Policy, Infrastructure Development and Financing, Carbon Finance, Hospital Management, Social Entrepreneurship, Environment Management, Managing Telecom Enterprises, Legal and Regulatory Issues in Infrastructure, Urban Economy and Business Environment, Investigating Corporate Social Irresponsibility, Theatre and Development, Infrastructure Developments and Public-Private Partnerships, Agri Carbon Finance, Innovations in Managing Urban Transport, Intelligent Transport Systems, Experimental Methods, Rethinking Good Governance, etc.

Current research interests of the faculty include energy and climate change, environmental studies, corporate sustainability, social policy, urban planning and management, public finance, education policy, transportation planning and policy, ICT in transport systems and infrastructure, smart cities, community development, marketing of public services, impact assessments, hospital and health systems, telecommunications policy, public management, and democratic governance.

In the field of Energy and Environment, policy research is carried out in close interaction with various ministries of the Government of India, industry associations and international organizations. Some prominent areas of research include long-term energy and emissions scenarios and modeling, global environmental negotiations, technology strategy, environmental risk assessment, implications of economic reforms on environment, environmental management strategies for cities. PSG has an ongoing collaborative research projects with The Center for Environmental Science and Policy, Stanford University and the Max Planck Institute, Munich, Germany. International funding agencies that support our activities include UNEP, Asia Pacific Network and UNDP.

In the area of Healthcare Management, PSG started its activities in the late 70s, with a research focus on the management of Primary Healthcare Services. The research activities then expanded to include the management of Secondary Healthcare Services in the 80s and to Hospital Management in the 90s. Today, its involvement in this sector covers the entire spectrum of primary, secondary and tertiary healthcare services, as well as in related areas such as healthcare insurance, healthcare informatics, etc. PSG has an ongoing collaborative research project with the Nuffield Institute for Health, University of Leeds, England. International funding agencies that support the activities include The British Council, DfID, Royal Netherlands Embassy, DANIDA, World Bank, European Commission, Macarthur Foundation, Johnson & Johnson. PSG's research focus in healthcare management has also extended to issues of neonatal and maternal health and mortality. The availability, accessibility and effectiveness of the existing Emergency Obstetric Care for rural women in Gujarat has been researched and its impact analysed with the aim of replicating it in other districts. The role of Public Private Partnership for Emergency Obstetric Care under Janani Suraksha Yojana has also been studied. Managerial challenges to prevent neonatal deaths in India have been researched.

Faculty in the PSG has made significant contributions in the area of Public Finance with research on topics in social cost-benefit analysis, factors behind economic and productivity growth, as well as its distribution regionally, the fiscal health of states and cities. In addition, faculty members have done important work on the economic development of cities, urban quality of life and performance management systems for Urban Local Governments

With support from the Ford Foundation, new directions in urban governance research have been charted that specifically focus on the interplay between local and global processes of public policy in an era of non-state institutions gaining greater legitimacy. Collaborations with scholars, local governments and non-state institutions and actors have been undertaken to grapple with this relatively newer public management paradigm. Through this route, research, teaching and public dissemination activities centering on the social impacts of developmental projects, social inclusion and pro-poor governance are undertaken. The manner in which social enterprises are governed and their consequences for society is another area through which the PSG has tried to grapple with the changing nature of the public sphere.

The PSG faculty is also working at the policy and firm level with various infrastructure sectors and organizations such as Electricity Boards, Power Corporations, Ports, Railways, Airports, Telecom operators, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, World Bank Institute, etc. Apart from doing research projects, a sustained activity of the 3iNetwork is bringing out an annual India Infrastructure Report. PSG has also undertaken research studies on current issues in logistics and transport, including the railways and food supply chains, with an emphasis on the management of growth of infrastructure and new forms of governance such as public private partnerships.

In addition to disseminating knowledge through publications via media such as research papers, conference participations and films, PSG members serve on boards of international journals, companies and not-for-profit Institutions – being both at the cutting edge of research and bringing research to practice.

Ph.D. Dissertations

S.No.  Name of the Student Thesis Title Year of Graduation
56 Vanita  Singh Implications of Delivering Healthcare through Strategic Partnerships under Publicly Funded Health Insurance Schemes: Analysis of Equity in Access, Demand for Health Services and Quality of Care in Indian Context 2021
55 Arpit Shah   Urban Land Use and the Heat Island Effect 2020
54 Dipti Gupta Aligning Decarbonization of Energy Systems and Sustainable Development in India: Synergies and Tradeoffs 2020
53 Harsh Mittal   Spatial Topology of Urban Policy Assemblage: A Post-Structuralist Analysis of making of India's Smart Cities 2020
52 Samudra Sen Higher Education in India: Efficiency, Quality and Sustainability Aspects 2019
51 Vidhee Avashia Development, Climate Change and Indian Cities: Framing and Implementing Policies 2019
50 Akshay Milap Why are “Free” Policy Benefits Left on the Table? Examining the Role & Cost-Effectiveness of Informational Assistance Strategies on Policy Non-Take-Up in India 2018
49 Debdatta Mukherjee Essays on Corporate Social Performance (CSP) & Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR): A Global to Firm Level Analysis 2018
48 Deepika Saluja A Process Evaluation of Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY) Enrolment Process:  Lens of Accountability 2018
47 G V Radhakrishnan Private Sector Participation and Container Terminal Efficiency Issues and Evidence from India 2018
46 Saritha Sudharmma Vishwanathan Integrating Water and Energy Systems for India 2018
45 Shuchi Srinivasan Essays on Frontline Workers’ Motivation and Performance under Public Programs: A Multi-Method Study 2018
44 Rajiv Ranjan Self-Initiated Teacher Innovations in Government Rural Elementary Schools: Evolution, Impact, and Sustainability 2017
43 Rishabh Dara A Framework to Analyse the Telecommunications Policy Process in India 2017
42 Kalyan Bhasker Solar and Bioenergy Scenarios for India: Modeling & Policy Assessment 2015
41 Poojan Paresh Chokshi Sustainable Low Carbon Urban Mobility: An Assessment of Future Scenarios and Policies for India 2015
40 T S Ramakrishnan  Modal Shift Estimation and Financial Viability of High Speed Rail in India: The Case Study of Ahmedabad-Mumbai Corridor 2015
39 Hem Himanshu Dholakia Climate Change, Air Pollution and Public Health in India: Impact Assessment and Adaptation Strategies 2014
38 Prakriti Naswa Uncertainty and Risk Management of Climate Change Impacts on Infrastructure Assets 2014
37 Shivika Mittal Sustainable Low Carbon  Transport: An Integrated Policy Framework and Assessment for India 2014
36 Deepak Sethia Savings and Investment in Indian States: Implications for Growth and Public Finances 2013
35 Kinshuk Saurabh Essays in Mergers & Acquisitions, Governance Structures and  Valuation 2013
34 Naval Bharti Verma Measurement of Systemic Risk and its Drivers 2013
33 Amir Bashir Bazaz Managing the Water-Energy-Climate Change Nexus: An Integrated Policy Road Map for India 2011
32 Astha Agarwalla Infrastructure Investments, Urbanization and Regional Growth in India 2011
31 Prasoon Agarwal Infrastructure for a Low-Carbon Economy: Future Scenarios & Policies for India 2011
30 Prabal V Singh Managing Maternal Health Care Services Through Public Private Partnerships: Policy Issues and Implications : “A Study of the Chiranjeevi Scheme in Panchmahals District of Gujarat, India” 2010
29 Pramod Kumar Yadav Managing Investment and Risks in Indian Electricity Generation Markets 2010
28 Diptiranjan Mahapatra Life Cycle Costs and Energy Market  Equilibrium: A Policy Assessment for India 2009
27 Salman Shakir Khan Managing Climate Change Risks in Cities:  A Study of Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies 2009
26 Satyam Shivam Sundaram Formation Process of Public Private Partnership in Transport Infrastructure in India 2009
25 Subash Dhar Natural Gas Market in India: Evolution and Future Scenarios 2008
24 Kamal Kishore Sharma Future Energy Transitions in India: An Assessment of New and Renewable Energy Technologies 2006
23 Debashish Biswas Power Sector Reform: Emergency Generation Markets and Externalities 2005
22 S Balasubramaniam An Assessment of Electricity Reforms: Restructuring, Improving Access and Policies for the Future 2005
21 Tirthankar Nag Implications of Electricity Reforms on Technology and Environment 2005
20 Deepa Menon Managing Urban Air Quality in India: Models, Policy Instruments and Institutions 2004
19 Manmohan Kapshe Integrated Assessment of Energy and Environment Future: Linking Policy to Implementation 2003
18 Rajesh Nair Energy Security in South Asia: Integrating the Primary Energy and Electricity Markets 2003
17 Pratima S Dynamics of Energy and Electricity Markets: Policy Analysis for India 2002
16 Amit Kumar Garg Technologies, Policies and Measures for energy  and Environment Future 2001
15 Debyani Ghosh Long Term Technology Strategies and Policies for  Indian Power Sector 2001
14 Ravi Babu Manchala A Disaggregate Study Mode Choice for Inland of  Export Cargo Containerized on Sea 2001
13 Krishan Kumar Sharma Occupational Withdrawal: A Study of Indian MNOs in the International Shipping Industry 1998
12 Yogesh Kumar Bhatt Decision Support System for Urban Bus Route Network Design 1998
11 Suranjan Das  Firm Level Technological Learning and Performance : An Empirical Study in the Indian Drugs and Pharmaceutical Industry 1997
10 Astad R Pastakia  Grassroots Innovations for Sustainable Development : The Case of Agricultural Pest Management 1996
9 Rishikesha T Krishnan  Response of National R&D Laboratories to Environmental Change : A Study of Five Indian Industrial R&D Laboratories 1996
8 Vijaykumar Aruldas Understanding Hospital Organizational Performance : An Empirical Study 1994
7 Indranil Chakrabarti  An Organisational Enquiry Into Social Movements 1993
6 K R Maitreyi Ecological Movements – Strategies for Managing Conflicts Around Natural Resources - A Case of Forests 1992
5 Debiprasad Mishra  Communication for Development Programmes : An Information Integration Analytic Study of Communicator Effectiveness 1991
4 Oscar Jose Barros  Government Policy, Technology Development, Industry Structure and Performance of Industry - An Analysis of Three Industries 1990
3 Charu Sheela Naik  Industrial Energy Use and Environment Quality : A Case Study of Ahmedabad 1989
2 Dipti Sethi  Interorganizational Coordination in Development Programmes : A Case on Integrated Child Development Services 1989
1  S J Phansalkar Risk in Agriculture and Agricultural Development : The Role of Public Policy 1989

List OF Courses

Ph.D.

 

Public Policy

This course provides an advanced level introduction to different theories of policy sciences, as well as training in the methodological tools and research processes enabling application to concrete policy issues. Reinforcing the interdisciplinary character of public policy research, the course draws on a vast international and Indian social science, humanities and philosophy literature to aid critical policy analysis.

Public Finance

This course aims to provide a comprehensive introduction to the principles and concepts of public finance. It examines the economic rationale for government activity and fiscal policies of different levels of government, and some major policy issues arising out of the process of macroeconomic reforms.

Public Management

This course presents a broad overview of the problem of organizing governmental processes and institutions to adopt and implement public policy. It will discuss specific management practices for directing large public systems.

Methods for Policy Analysis and Research

This course uses a seminar format, training students to develop effective research designs for public policy analysis and formulation. The course moves from an overview of philosophical worldviews such as positivism and social constructivism to procedures of inquiry such as ethnography and experiments, and finally to methods of data collection, analysis, and interpretation. Students also learn about critical elements of research such as hypotheses and research questions, literature reviews, writing styles, and ethical principles. In addition to analysis of published work across a broad range of social science disciplines, the course relies heavily on presentations by academics about their ongoing research and conversations with policy-makers about translating research into practice.

 

FPM - Electives Courses

Energy and Environment Policy

The objective of the course is to provide theoretical understanding of policy issues concerning energy and the environment, and the learning of analytical tools such as energy environment policy models and their applications

Health Policy and Planning

The course addresses two broad characteristics of health policies: use of evidence and integrated approaches. The course also emphasizes strategic and operational planning for implementing health policies.

Interpretive Research Methods

This is an advanced seminar on interpretive research methods. These methods are explicitly concerned with meaning making in social science research. Interpretive methods draw instead on the philosophical orientations of hermeneutics and phenomenology. They are widely practiced in and relevant to the areas of public policy, organizational studies and management, political science, sociology and other inter-disciplinary fields.

OR Applications in Public Systems

Social impact of any decision is huge in managing public systems. Therefore uncertainties due to random incidents are difficult to handle leading to failures. This course deals with Operations Research as a tool for modelling and analysis of issues and challenges in managing public systems.

Public Policy instruments for Environmental Management

This course is a survey of the policy instruments used in environmental management across the world with special emphasis on India. The course draws primarily on the environmental economics literature while bringing perspectives from other disciplines wherever possible.

Quantitative Methods for Causal Inference in Social Policy

The search for causality in relationship between variables is as frustrating as it is necessary. As elusive as they might be, claims about causality form the basis of much policy advice and advance our understanding of factors influencing human development.  Relatively recent advances in the development and application of quantitative methods in identifying and estimating causal relationships also make this an exciting and productive line of research.

Telecom/ICT Policy and Regulation

The course provides an overview of research issues and frameworks for analysis involved in policy design, implementation and evaluation for the telecom sector. Convergence and Internet are developments that have given rise to or created the need for new instruments and institutions. Spectrum management and broadband growth are two areas where developments in policy and regulation are important for national competitiveness. The role of national institutions in standards is gaining importance. The course will examine research issues related to the above.

Public Policy and Economics of the Transport Sector

This is an advanced course in transportation economics, policy and planning. The course begins by introducing theories and fundamental concepts of transportation economics across multiple modes. Topics include demand analysis, cost assessment, regulation, pricing, quality of service, subsidies, competition, and project appraisal. Principles of applying economic tools to improve transportation system performance are covered. We also discuss about the urban transportation policy development process, focusing on strategies to fight congestion and air pollution, design efficient mass transportation systems, and increase the safety of travel. Students get to develop a research agenda around the sector.

MBA

MBA Core Courses

  • The Socio Cultural Environment of Business
  • Government Systems and Processes
  • Business, Environment and Sustainability

 

MBA Elective Courses

  • Carbon Finance
  • Good Governance & People Living in Poverty
  • Hospital Management
  • Infrastructural Development and Financing
  • Innovation in Managing Urban Transport
  • Intelligent Transportation Systems
  • Investigating Corporate Social Irresponsibility
  • Managing Energy Business
  • Managing Telecom Enterprises
  • Manipulation, Myth-Making and Marketing
  • Participatory Theatre for Development
  • Power and Politics in Organizations
  • Public Policy
  • Qualitative Research Methods for Understanding Business and Human Development in a Network Society
  • Rail Transport Planning and Management
  • Social Entrepreneurship: Innovating Social Change
  • Transformational Social Movements
  • Urban Economics and Business Environment
  • Experiments for Business and Policy Decision-making

MBA-FABM

MBA – FABM Elective Courses

  • Managing Sustainability

PGPX

  • Infrastructure Development and Public Private Partnerships
  • Social Entrepreneurship: Innovating Social Change
  • Power and Politics  and Public Policy

ePGP Elective

  • Corporate Sustainability
  • Managing Transportation: Business Models and Policy Instruments
  • Experiments for Business and Policy Decision-making

Executive Education

  • Programme in General Management for Shipping
  • Intelligent Transportation Systems
  • Urban Transportation
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Message from the Area Chairperson

Set up in October 1975, the Public Systems Group (PSG) at IIMA is an interdisciplinary group with a focus on the generation and dissemination of knowledge concerning the public sphere, the performance, and management of public systems, the formulation and implementation of public policies, their societal determinants as well as consequences.

Sandip Chakrabarti
Associate Professor

Doctoral Students

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Ph.D. at IIMA

The Ph.D. Programme in Management seeks candidates with outstanding academic credentials, intellectual curiosity and discipline needed to make scholarly contribution to society. It provides a diverse set of opportunities for interdisciplinary learning and research The student becomes part of one of the eleven functional/sectoral areas and acquires the super specialized theoretical knowledge and practical aspects of the area.

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