LahoreUniversityofManagementSciences

MGMT263ContemporarySocialPolicyIssuesinPakistan
FallSemester2015

Instructor
RoomNo.
OfficeHours
Email
Telephone
TA
TAOfficeHours
CourseURL(ifany)

MuhammadAhsanRana
329,SDSBBuilding
TBA
ahsan.rana@lums.edu.pk
35608432
TBA
TBA
Suraj.lums.edu.pk

COURSEBASICS
CreditHours
Lecture(s)
Recitation/Lab(perweek)
Tutorial(perweek)

3
NbrofLec(s)PerWeek
NbrofLec(s)PerWeek
NbrofLec(s)PerWeek

Duration
Duration
Duration

75minutes

COURSEDISTRIBUTION
Core
Elective
OpenforStudentCategory
CloseforStudentCategory

Yes
Sophomores,JuniorsandSeniors
Freshmen

COURSEDESCRIPTION

ThiscourseintroducesundergraduatestudentstokeysocialpolicyissuesinPakistan.Itsatisfiestheinformationandanalysisneeds
offuturemanagersandpractitionersinthepublicanddevelopmentsectors.Itcoversawiderangeoftopics,includingpoverty,
socialexclusion,socialsafetynets,education,health,foodsecurity,demographyandhousing.Studentsuserecentdatatocritically
analyzepolicygoals,deliverymechanismsandavailablepolicychoicesoneachofthesetopics.

FurtherDetails:Thiscourserespondstoamarketdemandforgraduateswhocaneffectivelyapplytheirunderstandingofcorporate
strategiestopolicyandmanagementchallengesinpublicandnonprofitsectors.Suchgrowingdemandhasitsrootsinfourrecent
developments.First,governmentsatfederal,provincialandlocallevelshavewarmeduptotheideaofattractingtalentfromthe
private sector to improve delivery of social services, instead of relying exclusively on the traditional civil service. Thus, we see
various governments advertising positions at entry and middle/senior management levels in stateownedcorporations,
autonomous organizations, publicly funded nonprofits and attached departments. Second, the number of government
organizationsworkingunderacorporategovernancestructurehasincreasedsubstantiallyoverthepasttwodecades(e.g.National
DatabaseandRegistrationAuthority(NADRA),EarthquakeReliefandRehabilitationAuthority).Third,theprivatesectornowplays
anincreasinglylargeroleinprovisionofseveralsocialservices,includingeducationandhealth,leadingtotheemergenceoflarge
schoolchains and hospitals. Fourth, local and foreign NGOs and international aid agencies now play an important role in policy
formulationandindeliveryofsocialservices.Thecombinedeffectofthesedevelopmentsistocreateemploymentopportunities
forprofessionalmanagersinthesocialsector.TheseareattractivecareerpositionsforLUMSgraduates.

This course will help LUMS students in pursuing a future career in public and nonprofit sectors. By introducing students to
contemporaryissuesandchallengesinsocialpolicy,itwillexposethemtotheworkingofthegovernment,localandforeignNGOs,
internationalaidagenciesandprivateprovidersofsocialservices.Allofthemareprospectiveemployers.Abroadoverviewoftheir
governancestructures,mandate,operationalstrategiesandchallengeswillhelpstudentsinjobinterviews.Thecoursewillactasa
foundationcourseforstudentswhointendtocontinueeducationinthefieldsofpublicmanagementandpublicpolicy.

LahoreUniversityofManagementSciences

TopicsincludedinthecoursehavebeencarefullyselectedbasedontheirrelevanceforfuturecareerpursuitsofLUMSstudents.
Thesecorrespondto:1)areasinwhichagovernmentorganizationhasrecentlyadvertisedentrylevelormidcareerpositions;or2)
important program activities of the nonprofit sector and private providers of social services. Examples of the former are: Prime
Ministers Program Delivery Unit; Power Generation and Distribution Companies; NADRA; District Education and Health
Authorities.Examplesofthelatterare:schoolchains;variousprojectsoftheUSAID,CIDA,theWorldBankandotherdonors.

As a survey course, there is a natural tension between breadth and depth between the number of topics addressed and the
amount of attention given to each topic. In this course, the emphasis is on breadth and the overarching goal is to convey to
studentspolicydilemmasfacedbypublicmanagersinPakistan.

Thecoursewillcompriseaseriesof75minuteinteractivelecturesontopicsidentifiedbelow.Theselectureswillprovidestudents
an opportunity to critically analyze policy and implementation challenges in areas important for their professional careers.
Studentswillberequiredtoreadprescribedtextsbeforecomingtotheclass.Onaverage,thiswillcomprise2025pagesofreading
persession.Duringtheclass,theywillbeprovidedastructuredoverviewoftheissue/challenge.Thestructuredoverview(usuallya
presentation by the instructor) will be grounded in theory but will present a practitioners perspective in each case. Specific
examples from real life will be used to illustrate the policy challenge under discussion. Students will be expected to critically
analyzepolicyquestionsduringclassdiscussions.

COURSEPREREQUISITE(S)

None

COURSEOBJECTIVES

This course is designed for students who intend to pursue a career in public and nonprofit sectors or to pursue
postgraduateeducationinDevelopmentStudiesorPublic/SocialPolicy.Itsobjectiveistoprovideabroadoverview
of policy and management challenges faced by government organizations, NGOs, international aid agencies and
private providers of social services. It will help students understand the unique nature of organizations in these
sectors,preparingthemforjobsthatawaitthemintheseorganizations.

UNDERGRADUATEPROGRAMLEARNINGGOALS&OBJECTIVES

GeneralLearningGoals&Objectives
Goal1EffectiveWrittenandOralCommunication
Objective:Studentswilldemonstrateeffectivewritingandoralcommunicationskills
Goal2EthicalUnderstandingandReasoning
Objective:Studentswilldemonstratethattheyareabletoidentifyandaddressethicalissuesinanorganizationalcontext.
Goal3AnalyticalThinkingandProblemSolvingSkills
Objective:Studentswilldemonstratethattheyareabletoidentifykeyproblemsandgenerateviablesolutions.
Goal4ApplicationofInformationTechnology
Objective:Studentswilldemonstratethattheyareabletousecurrenttechnologiesinbusinessandmanagementcontext.
Goal5TeamworkinDiverseandMulticulturalEnvironments
Objective:Studentswilldemonstratethattheyareabletoworkeffectivelyindiverseenvironments.
Goal6UnderstandingOrganizationalEcosystems
Objective:StudentswilldemonstratethattheyhaveanunderstandingofEconomic,Political,Regulatory,Legal,Technological,
andSocialenvironmentoforganizations.

LahoreUniversityofManagementSciences
MajorSpecificLearningGoals&Objectives
Goal7(a)ProgramSpecificKnowledgeandUnderstanding
Objective:Studentswilldemonstrateknowledgeofkeybusinessdisciplinesandhowtheyinteractincludingapplicationtoreal
worldsituations.
Goal7(b)Understandingthesciencebehindthedecisionmakingprocess(forMGSMajors)
Objective:Studentswilldemonstrateabilitytoanalyzeabusinessproblem,designandapplyappropriatedecisionsupporttools,
interpretresultsandmakemeaningfulrecommendationstosupportthedecisionmaker

Indicatebelowhowthecourselearningobjectivesspecificallyrelatetoanyprogramlearninggoalsandobjectives.

PROGRAMLEARNINGGOALSAND
OBJECTIVES

COURSELEARNINGOBJECTIVES

COURSEASSESSMENTITEM

Goal1EffectiveWrittenandOral
Communication

Criticallyanalyzingsocialpolicyissueswill
enhancestudentswrittenandoral
communicationskills.
Mostsessionsinvolveanexaminationof
specificcircumstancesofmarginalized
andsociallyexcludedgroups.
Studentswillidentifyandanalyzekey
policyissues,andwillproposesolutions.

Twodescriptiveassignments,group
presentationsandfinalexam.

Goal2EthicalUnderstandingand
Reasoning
Goal3AnalyticalThinkingandProblem
SolvingSkills
Goal4ApplicationofInformation
Technology
Goal5TeamworkinDiverseand
MulticulturalEnvironments
Goal6UnderstandingOrganizational
Ecosystems

Goal7(a)DisciplineSpecificKnowledge
andUnderstanding

Goal7(b)Understandingthescience
behindthedecisionmakingprocess

Asabove.

Asabove.
ExtensiveuseofMSofficeinpreparing
assignmentsandgrouppresentations.
Presentationsofgroupwork.

Studentswillunderstandhow

governments,NGOsanddonorswork.
Theywillexaminesubstantialamountsof
currentdataonvariousaspectsofhuman
wellbeing.
Bycoveringkeythemesinsocialpolicy,
Asabove.
thecoursewillhelpstudentsdevelop
criticalinsightsinthedisciplinesofSocial
PolicyandDevelopmentStudies.The
contentiscomparabletostandard
undergraduatecoursesofferedinforeign
universities.
Studentswillcriticallyanalyzesocialissues Asabove.
anddebatevariouspolicyresponses.

LEARNINGOUTCOMES

Bytheendofthiscourse,studentswillbeabletodemonstratethefollowing:
1. Improvedunderstandingoftheworkingofgovernmentsatfederal,provincialandlocallevels,NGOs,
internationalaidagenciesandprivateprovidersofsocialservices
2. Enhancedappreciationofthecomplexityofpolicyandmanagementchallengesfacedbytheseorganizationsin
coreareasoftheiroperations
3. Increasedabilitytomakeinformedpolicychoicesinsocialsectors

LahoreUniversityofManagementSciences
GRADINGBREAKUPANDPOLICY
Quizzes:25%
Inalltherewillbe6Quizzes;top5quizzeswillbecountedtowardsthefinalgrade.EachQuizwillbeworth5%marks.
Quizzeswillbeheldattheendofeachmoduleandwillcoverreadingsintheentiremodule.

GroupPresentation:15%
Ingroupsof4each,youwillidentifyapolicyquestion(differentthantheonesdiscussedinclass),criticallyanalyzeitand
shareyouranalysisthrougha10minutePPTpresentation.10minuteQ&Awillfollowthegrouppresentation.
5%markswillbeawardedforindividualcontributiontotheproject,and10%markswillbeawardedtotheentiregroup.

MidtermExamination:30%
15%keyconcepts;15%analyticalquestions

FinalExamination:30%
15%keyconcepts;15%analyticalquestions

EXAMINATIONDETAIL
Yes/No:Yes
CombineSeparate:
Duration:1.25hours
PreferredDate:
ExamSpecifications:
Willcomprisetwoparts:shortanswersonkeyconcepts15%;essayquestions15%
Yes/No:Yes
CombineSeparate:
Duration:2hours
ExamSpecifications:
Willcomprisetwoparts:shortanswersonkeyconcepts15%;essayquestions15%

Midterm
Exam

FinalExam

NoteonRequiredReadings:Thisisareadingintensivecourseandstudentsarerequiredtoreadtheprescribedtextsbeforeeach
session.Theaveragevolumewillbe2025pagespersession.Prescribedreadingscompriseacademicpapers,reportsandtables
fromgovernmentsurveys.Reviewquestionswillbeprovidedbeforeeachsession.

COURSEOVERVIEW
SESSION

REQUIRED
READINGS

TOPICS

OBJECTIVES/
APPLICATION

Module1:Introduction

1.

2.

Introductionandoverviewofthe
course

IntroductiontoSocialPolicy
(Shortclipsonhowwellknown

academicsdescribesocialpolicy)
(Video:BeggarsofLahore)

Dean,H.(2006).Ch1Whatis
SocialPolicy?SocialPolicy:A
ShortIntroduction.Cambridge,
ThePolityPress.
Titmuss,R.(1974).Ch2Whatis
SocialPolicy?SocialPolicy:An
Introduction.London,Taylorand
Francis.

Introductiontothecourse.
Overviewoftopicscovered.
Clarifyingobjectivesofsocialpolicy;
historicaldevelopment;different
perspectivesonsocialpolicy;
identifyingareascoveredbysocial
policy

LahoreUniversityofManagementSciences

KeyInstitutionsofSocialPolicy
3.

4.

TheoreticalFrameworks1

5.

TheoreticalFrameworks2

IntroductiontoHumanNeeds

(Quiz1)

Hall,A.andJamesMidgley(2004).
Ch1SocialPolicyfor
Development:Local,Nationaland
GlobalDimensions.SocialPolicy
forDevelopment.London,Sage.
(page1124)
Rana,M.A.(2015).Perfect
Strangers:StateandNGOsin
Pakistan.
Alcocketal.(2012).Ch8,10and
11ofStudentsCompanionto
SocialPolicy.
Alcocketal.(2012).Ch12and13
ofStudentsCompaniontoSocial
Policy.
Gough,I.(1998).Ch3Whatare
humanneeds?SocialPolicyand
SocialJustice(ed.J.Franklin).
Cambridge,PolityPress.

Exploringroleofkeyinstitutionsfor
socialpolicy(state,business,civil
society,internationaldevelopment
agencies)

Understandingneoliberal,social
democraticandsocialist
perspectivesonsocialpolicy
Understandingfeministandgreen
perspectivesonsocialpolicy

Understandingtheimportanceof
defininghumanneeds;whysome
needsareconsideredbasic;who
definesneeds

Module2:PovertyandSocialExclusion

6.

7.

8.

9.

PovertyandSocialExclusion1

PovertyandSocialExclusion2
(Guestlecture:rehabilitationof

KhawajaSirasandpsychoticsin
FountainHouseLahore)

PovertyandInequality1
(Video:Theshameofpoverty)

PovertyandInequality2
(TEDtalk:RichardWilkinsonon

inequality)

(Quiz2)

Sen,A.(1982).Ch2Conceptsof
Poverty,inPovertyandFamines

Understandingthenexusofpoverty
andsocialexclusion;examplesof
socialexclusionandmarginalization
Giddens,A.(2009).Ch12Poverty, Studyofpsychoticpatientsand
khawjasirasasexamplesofsocial
SocialExclusionandWelfare.
exclusion
Sociology.Madison,ThePolity
Press(pages480506)
Understandinghowtodefine
TodaroandSmith(2012).Ch5
povertyandsocialprocessesthat
Poverty,Inequalityand
produceandperpetuatepoverty;
Development,inEconomic
povertymeasurement;profileof
Development.NY,Addison
poorhouseholdsinPakistan;
Wesley.(pages204212)
measuringinequality;strategiesof
Gazdar,H.(1999).Reviewof
povertyalleviation
PakistanPovertyData.SDPI.

Asabove
Gazdar,H.(1999).Reviewof
PakistanPovertyData.SDPI.
StatisticalAppendixofPakistan
EconomicSurvey201213(Table
12.14);HIES201011(Table2.5A,
2.5B,2.7,2.8B)
Module3:SocialSafetyNets

SocialSafetyNetsconceptand
10. designchallenges

Hudson,J.,StefanKuhnerand
StuartLowe(2008).Ch2Social
Security.TheShortGuideto
SocialPolicy.Bristol,ThePolicy
Press.

Understandingkeychallengesin
designingeffectivesocialsafety
nets

LahoreUniversityofManagementSciences

11.

SocialSafetyNetsinPakistan

TargetingSubsidiesHousehold
consumptionitemsinUtilityStores;
12. wheatFlour;andElectricity

Housing

13.

ReviewofModules1and2
14.
(Quiz3)
Midtermexam
15.

Khatak,S.G.(2013).Ch8Social
Protection:ExtendingExclusionor
EndingExclusion,inDevelopment
ChallengesConfrontingPakistan
(ed.)AnitaM.WeissandSabaGul
Khattak.Boulder.KumarianPress.
(pages123140)
PakistanEconomicSurvey201314
(Table15.3,15.4,15.6andFigure
1,2)
Trimble,C.,NobuoYoshidaand
MohammadSaqib(2011).
RethinkingElectricityTariffsand
SubsidiesinPakistan.Islamabad,
theWorldBank(pages321)
Hudson,J.,StefanKuhnerand
StuartLowe(2008).Ch6
Housing.TheShortGuideto
SocialPolicy.Bristol,ThePolicy
Press.

Understandingrationaleof
providingsubsidies;sizeof
subsidies;structureanddelivery
mechanisms;policychoicesand
challengesineffectivetargeting
Understandingpoorshousing
needsandthechallengeof
providingaffordablehousing;
criticalreviewofgovt.schemesto
providehousing;understanding
livingconditionsinslumsandKatchi
Abadis.

Module4:EducationandHealth

Rana,M.A.(2013).Primaryand

SecondaryEducationinPakistan:

KeyIssuesandChallenges.Lahore,

ASPLUMS.1629320131
StateofSchoolEducationinPakistan PakistanEconomicSurvey201314
16.

(Table10.1,10.2,10.3,10.4and

Box4);StatisticalAppendixof

PakistanEconomicSurvey201213

(Table10.1,10.2,10.3)

Rana,M.A.(2014).Education
SchoolEducationinPakistan
ReforminPunjab:ADecentralized
ImprovingGovernance
GovernanceFrameworkfor
17.
GovernmentSchools.Lahore

JournalofPolicyStudies5(1).

SchoolEducationinPakistan
Curriculum,Assessmentand
18.
MediumofEducation(TEDvideo:Sir
KenRobinsononcreativity)

Examiningstructure,organization
anddeliveryofmajorsocialsafety
netsinPakistan(Zakat,BaitulMal,
BISP)andsocialsecurity
arrangements(EOBI,WWF,
Pensions)

Noll,W.J.(2013).Shouldthe
Curriculumbestandardizedfor
All?inTakingSides:Clashing
ViewsonEducationalIssues.

Understandingthedelivery
mechanismsforschooleducation;
identifyingenrolmentdeficitand
gendergapatvariouslevels.

Understandingthecurrent
governanceframeworkforthe
(school)educationsectorin
Pakistan;introductiontothe
proposedDistrictEducation
AuthoritiesinPunjab.

Understandingpolicycomplexityof
choosingappropriatemedium(s)of
instruction,curriculumand
assessmentsystems

LahoreUniversityofManagementSciences

ProvidingAffordableHealthcare
PolicyandDeliveryChallenges

(Quiz4)
19.

20.

21.

22.

23.

24.

Hudson,J.,StefanKuhnerand
StuartLowe(2008).Ch5Health.
TheShortGuidetoSocialPolicy.
Bristol,ThePolicyPress.
Khan,A.(2011).LadyHealth
WorkersandSocialChange.
EconomicandPoliticalWeekly.
Volumexlvi,issue30(pages2831)
PakistanEconomicSurvey201314
(Table11.1,11.2,11.3,11.5);
StatisticalAppendixofPakistan
EconomicSurvey201213(Table
11.1,11.2)

Module5:FoodSecurity

Rana,M.A.(2014).Increasing

AgriculturalProductivityin

Pakistan:UseofImprovedSeeds.
AgriculturalDevelopmentinPakistan
Lahore,ASPLUMS.1310220142
StatisticalAppendixofPakistan
EconomicSurvey201213(Table
2.1B,2.4,2.5,2.6,2.8,2.11,2.14,
2.15)

Sen,A.(1999).Ch2Food,

EconomicsandEntitlements.in
FoodSecurityconceptual
ThePoliticalEconomyofHunger
framework
(ed.)JeanDreze,AmartyaSenand
AtharHussain.NewDelhi.Oxford
UniversityPress.(pages5066)

MahbubulHaqDevelopment

Centre(2010).Ch3FoodSecurity

inPakistan:IssuesandChoices,in
FoodSecurityinPakistan
HumanDevelopmentinSouthAsia
201011.Lahore,MahbubulHaq
DevelopmentCentre.(Pages55
77)

Scoones,I.(2004).Agricultural
GeneticallyModified(GM)Crops
BiotechnologyandFoodSecurity:
PromisesandPolicyChallenges
ExploringtheDebate.IDSWorking
PaperNo.145.TheUniversityof
Sussex.

Hussain,A(2013).Ch6Meeting

theChallengeofDemographic

ChangethroughEquitable

Development.Capturingthe

Understandingkeypolicy
challengesanddelivery
mechanismsinthehealthsector.
Overviewofhealthprovisionin
Pakistan;understandingsizeand
structureofpublicsectornetwork
ofhealthfacilities;understanding
servicedeliverychallenges;
introductiontoproposedDistrict
HealthAuthorities.

OverviewofPakistaniagriculture;
landdistribution,landtenure
system,agriculturaltaxation,
agriculturalresearch,seed
provisionsystems

Understandingdimensionsoffood
insecurity;differencebetweenfood
availabilityandaccess;introduction
toSensentitlementapproach

Exploringfoodsecurityissuesin
Pakistan.

UnderstandingwhatGMcropsare
andhowtheyhavebeen
commercializedduringthelasttwo
decades;criticallyexaminetheir
roleinimprovingfoodsecurity
Theoryofdemographictransition;
UnderstandingMalthusian
pessimismandoptimism;
populationpyramidinPakistan;

LahoreUniversityofManagementSciences

DemographyandPopulationGrowth

(Quiz5)

DemographicDividendinPakistan.
Islamabad.NIPS.(pages6979)
PakistanEconomicSurvey201314
(Table12.1,12.2,12.3,12.4and
Figure12.1,12.2);Statistical
AppendixofPakistan(Table12.1,
12.2,12.3,12.5,12.7)

populationgrowthandservice
deliverychallenges

Module6:PresentationsofGroupWork

25. GroupPresentation
26. GroupPresentation
27. GroupPresentation
GroupPresentation
28.
(Quiz6)

TEXTBOOK(S)/SUPPLEMENTARYREADINGS
Thefollowingtextbookwillbeusedtointroducebasicconceptsinsocialpolicythroughoutthecourse:

Hudson,J.,StefanKuhnerandStuartLowe(2008).TheShortGuidetoSocialPolicy.Bristol,ThePolicyPress.

Inaddition,studentswillberequiredtoreadtheprescribedreadingsforeachsessionbeforecomingtotheclass.Reviewquestions
will be provided before each session for students to focus on while doing the prescribed reading. I may recommend additional
readings/resourcesonneedbasis.

Furtherreading:
Dean,H.(2006).SocialPolicy:AShortIntroduction.Cambridge,ThePolityPress.
Hall,A.andJamesMidgley(2004).SocialPolicyforDevelopment.London,SagePublications.
Alcok,P.MargaretMayandSharonWright(2012).TheStudentsCompaniontoSocialPolicy.WestSussex,WileyBlackwell
Midgely,J.andMechelleLivermore(ed.)(2009).TheHandbookofSocialPolicy.California,SagePublications.