Class:

Course:

MSSS-2 (A)
SS 5214 Public Policy & Management

Course Description

This course is designed to make students understand not only about the decisions that government
make for the nation or state they manage but also who makes them, how they are made, the quality of
decisions and how they are carried out practically. The students will be able to learn process and
nature of policy development and several socio-cultural & political aspects that directly affects the
policy making and its implementation in the state to achieve desired objectives or will understand
Public Policy in depth, how it is defined and emerged from different context and role of institutions,
group and individuals influencing policy making and its implementation. Policy can be conceptualized
as a cyclical process
An introduction to Public System management will also be given, focusing on its definition, nature,
scope and features of New Public Management & comparing it with traditional Public System
Management in the light of case studies
The course will be more practical, interactive focusing on theoretical aspects. It will concentrate on
variety of issues and problems and will give some practical solutions in governmental administration
and policy evaluation.

Course Objective

To make students well equipped in understanding of Public Policy as a cyclical process, how such
policies are developed/ implemented, role of different stakeholders and understanding of new and
traditional public system management

Learning Outcomes

The course will bring into light some practical scenarios in the public sector which will be discussed and
resolved through class discussions and case studies. The course will help students to understand
appropriate policy to address specific or need base public issues and to conduct appropriate evaluation
for improvement of the designed policy. By the end of the course the students will be expected to
understand the complexity in public policy making and ways and means to implement an effective
policy to achieve desired outcome.

Teaching and Learning Methodology

Interactive learning system, lectures, discussions, group presentation, Question & Answer session. The
students will also be provided some hands on activities/assignments to respond to certain public policy
and political scenarios in Pakistan while analyzing the situation and proposing policy alternates or
solutions.

Materials and Supplies

Handouts, supplementary articles, exercises and reports will be provided during the course of study for
hands on discussions, argument framing and policy analysis.

Selected Book/s: References at the end of chapters

Expected Class Conduct

As Per SZABIST Policy

Course Plan
Week

Chapters

Session Topic

Assesments

Class introduction, course details and assignment discussion.

Methodology: Lecture, Discussion, Question & Answer session
Topic for the Lecture: Understanding Public Policy1

Session 1

Meaning of Public Policy and their differencesN/A

Defining Policy in terms that shows its specific public nature
Ways in which Public Policy is studied
Diverse areas where govt make policies & why they do so.
Ways in which policy is studied

Methodology: Lecture, Discussion, Question & Answer session

Topic for the Lecture: Understanding Public Policy2

Session 2

Outputs of govt activities, called Policy

Stages of Public Policy.
Why Good Policy is important
Managing Policy

N/A

Methodology: Lecture, Discussion, Question & Answer session

Topic for the Lecture: Policy Making- Contextual settings-

Session 3

Session 4

Types of Policies
Public Policy Making Models
Uses of Model
Main features of Westminister Model of Govt
Formal ways in which legislation is developed in
Westminister Model
ways in which policy might be developed in Westminister
system

Methodology: Lecture, Discussion, Question & Answer session

N/A

N/A

Topic for the Lecture: Policy Making- Contextual settings

Features of New Zealand Model

Advantages/disadvantages of New Zealand Model
Ways in which other nations make policy
Main features of Pakistans system and distinguishing
feature (Discussion)
Presidential System-US
Presentation/discussion of all topics covered so far

Methodology: Lecture, Discussion, Question & Answer session

Topic for the Lecture: Policy Making Process5

Session 5

Roles, power, values as input to policy making process

Roles & limitation of political executives in policy making
Roles & limitation of permanent executives in policy making

N/A

Methodology: Lecture, Discussion, Question & Answer session

Topic for the Lecture: Policy Making Process-

Session 6

Roles & limitation of legislature in policy making

Ways in which the judiciary & inter governmental relations N/A
(within or beyond national borders) might impact upon
public policy
Advantages and disadvantages of the role of all these
stakeholders in policy making process

Methodology: Lecture, Discussion, Question & Answer session

Topic for the Lecture: Policy Making Network & Influence.
7

Session 7

Impact of various groups on policy

Theories that explain the level of impact from societys
most influential groups
Impact of Political parties on policy

N/A

Methodology: Lecture, Discussion, Question & Answer session

Topic for the Lecture: Policy Making Network & Influence.

Session 9

Role of mass media in influencing policy

Influence that protest movements might have on the
making of policy
International agencies might have an impact on national
policies & reasons for their influence
Policy communities & policy systems

Session 8 Mid Term Exam

N/A

N/A

Methodology: Lecture, Discussion, Question & Answer session

Topic for the Lecture: Optimal Policy Making.
10

Session 10

N/A
Purpose of decision making models
National policy making model, its strength and weaknesses
Incremental model- strength & weaknesses
Normative-optimum model- strength & weaknesses

Methodology: Lecture, Discussion, Question & Answer session

Topic for the Lecture: Optimal Policy Making.

11

Session 11

Other models- strength & weaknesses,

N/A
Other approaches to understand policy making- strength &
weaknesses
Comparison of various policy making models
Relationship between these models, cyclical approach to
policy making

Methodology: Lecture, Discussion, Question & Answer session

Topic for the Lecture: Policy Making- Contemporary Issues.
12

Session 12

Ethical consideration in policy making process

Importance of accountability in govt activities,
strategies/methods to ensure accountability
How policy is implemented/evaluated-how this lead to
accountability

N/A

Methodology: Lecture, Discussion, Question & Answer session

Topic for the Lecture: Policy Making- Contemporary Issues.
13

Session 13

14

Session 14

15

Session 15

Importance of transparency in public policy, ways to

achieve
Important contemporary issues in policy making

Group
Presentation

N/A
Final Exams

Final Paper

Text Book

Public Policy, Course Developer: Michele Fromholtz, Lecturer in Public Policy & Management, School of
Management, Charles Sturt University, New South Wales, Australia. Course Editor: Mary Ev Anderson,
Vancouver, Canada, Common Wealth of Learning

Public System Management, Course Developer: Basil Perera, PhD. Course Consultant: David Barrows,
Professor Schulich School of Business, York University, Canada,
Vancouver, Canada, Common Wealth of Learning

Refrence Books
1 All references at the end of chapters. Hard copies of the chapters will be given to the students

Sabina