MSLV4400 Strategy in the Public Sector Course description

Comprehensive thinking, collaboration and implementation ability are important in the public sector. For several decades, the public sector has attempted to become more 'strategic' than before and the strategy concept is currently used by many public institutions in different contexts. This course studies what strategy is and how strategic thinking, management and leadership can be used in the public sector.

The course examines different definitions of strategy and various related traditions and tools, and studies how this can elucidate strategic management and leadership in the public sector. The course also examines how policy and the public sphere influence strategic management and leadership. Great emphasis is placed on using the international and Norwegian research literature on strategy in the public sector, and on studying how strategy is used and works in the public sector.

Through studies of basic problems relating to strategy and the characteristics of the public sector, as well as practical skills training in the use of strategy tools such as internal and external analysis, competitive analysis, value chain analysis and stakeholder analysis, the course defines grounds for using strategic management and leadership in planning, cooperation, reorganisation and renewal in the public sector.

The lectures may be given in English if there are participants who do not master the Scandinavian languages (Danish, Norwegian, Swedish).

The course is a typical integration course that seeks to see previous courses and subjects in a theoretical and practical context. The course does not require any special prior knowledge, but is based on the students having a certain social science background in previous studies in methodology, economics, organization and management.

None

After completing the course, the student should have the following overall learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge

The student

• has advanced knowledge of strategic management and leadership and specialised insight into strategic management and leadership in the public sector

• is capable of using knowledge of strategic management and leadership in new areas of the public sector

• is capable of analysing relevant issues on the basis of strategic management¿s history, traditions, distinctive nature and place in society

Skills

The student is capable of

• analysing existing theories, methods and interpretations relating to strategy and working independently on practical and theoretical problems of relevance to the public sector

• analysing and taking a critical approach to different sources of information and using them to structure and formulate arguments in the field of strategic management in the public sector

General competence

The student is capable of

• carrying out an independent, limited research or development project under supervision and in accordance with applicable research ethical standards

The teaching is session-based in the form of lectures, student presentations, discussions, group work, seminars and excursion(s). Students will write assignments between the sessions. A high degree of independent activity is expected. The teaching will be problem-based using examples and cases from the students' practical experiences.

No coursework requirements

The exam in the course is a course paper. The paper must have a scope of 15-20 pages. Front page, list of content, and reference list are excluded from the page/word count. Font and font size: Arial/Calibri 12 points. Line spacing: 1,5. 

The paper can be written by groups of two-three students. The students will be able to submit a draft paper for comments within a given date.

All aids are permitted, as long as the rules for source referencing are complied with.

Grade scale A-F

The exam papers are assessed by one internal and one external examiner. 

At least 25% of the exam papers will be assessed by two examiners. The grades awarded for the papers assessed by two examiners form the basis for determining the level for all the exam papers.

Åge Johnsen