8/19/2019 ppm-course-descriptions-1.pdf

1/2  Revised July 2015

Alberta MBA Program Information 

Public Policy and Management Specialization (60 credits)

BUS 900 – Project in Public Management In this capstone course, prior learning is applied to a current issue in public policy or publicmanagement. Under the guidance of faculty, students will work with a public sector organizationto understand, analyze and influence the resolution of a current issue. Both the faculty leaderand the host public (or non-profit) organization must approve the student’s project. Students willbe expected to think critically and to demonstrate effective writing and presentation skills.Prerequisites: SMO 643 - Strategic Management in the Public Sector plus two others from thespecialization of public administration electives. 

BUEC 678  – Managing Business-Government Relations in CanadaThe role of business in the public policy process: How business organizations influence publicpolicy and its administration, and how public policies affect business. Processes of change areof particular interest. Attention is placed on the motivation, behavior patterns, and the dynamicsof the interaction of different stakeholder groups, policy makers, and managers responsible forthe implementation of public policies. Develops a framework for analysis of the effectivenessand efficiency of different fiscal, regulatory, and promotional policies; consideration is given tothe impact of technological, economic, and social change on policy choice in the long run.Prerequisites: BUEC 502 or 503.

INT D 690  – Topics in Knowledge UtilizationThis course examines the scientific, theoretical, and historical underpinnings of the distinct butrelated fields of knowledge utilization, knowledge translation and innovation diffusion. Attentionis given to contemporary manifestations in Canadian society such as evidence-based/evidence-informed decision-making, and in health care such as evidence-based medicine, and evidence-based practice. Particular attention will be given to the challenges of knowledge use in complexorganizations and in the use of strategies to increase the use of knowledge, primarily althoughnot exclusively the use of scientific knowledge. The course will focus on the central conceptualand methodological challenges in the field.

SMO 633  – Managing Organizational ChangeThis course examines organization change, e.g. how organizations make transitions from onestate to another. There is also a focus on understanding how management goes about changingcorporate culture, organization structure and management systems.

SMO 637  – Managing Not-For-Profit OrganizationsMany management ideas and practices are derived from large, private, for-profit corporations.This course examines some of the issues confronting management in the not-for-profit sector,

for example, health, education, charities, social/human services, and the arts. It addresses theissues of to what extent and how management in these types of organizations is different fromthe dominant private sector view of management, and how these practices are applied in the notfor profit sector. Specific issues such as the management of volunteers, boards, and resourcedevelopment programs are considered.

8/19/2019 ppm-course-descriptions-1.pdf

2/2

  Revised July 2015

SMO 639  – The Process of Making Public PolicyEmphasizes a systematic and comprehensive approach to the study of developing andimplementing public policy within the context of Canadian society. This course explores both thedecision-making process, and such factors as the separation of powers between levels ofgovernment, electoral politics, interest groups, media and government bureaucracy as theyinfluence the making of public policy.

SMO 640  – Implementing Public PolicyExamines how public policy is implemented in organizations. Topic areas will include: using new

knowledge to develop policy; influencing policy; and the role of managers in effectivelyimplementing policy. There will be a strong focus on how public sector managers can effectivelydesign and implement change strategies that take into consideration the organizationalstructure, systems, leadership, culture and politics. Combines classroom discussion oftheoretical concepts with practical application in organizational settings.

SMO 643  – Strategic Management in the Public SectorStrategic management in the public sector comprises defining public value, building consensusand support, making decisions, deploying organizational capacity to implement, and managingperformance to achieve the desired mission and goals. Addresses the unique complexities,ambiguities and messiness of strategic management in the public sector.

SMO 644  – Public Sector LeadershipNearly all research on leadership has focused on the private sector. This course will concentrateon the unique features of leadership in the public and non-profit sectors. The course willexamine the senior management structures in the different orders of government but the focuswill be transformative leadership in areas of current policy interest including examples fromenvironment, health, education, and social services. Prerequisite: SMO 652.

SPH 582  – Human Resources in Public HealthDevelops a basic understanding of human resource trends and issues in public healthorganizations. Examines topics such as strategic health human resources; organizationaleffectiveness; healthy work environments; workplace culture; legal and policy frameworks;human resources planning and recruitment; selection, orientation, training, mentoring and

career development; performance management and discipline; compensation and benefits;labour relations and collective bargaining; regulated health professionals; and other healthhuman resources policy issues and challenges. Prerequisite: SPH 580 or consent of Instructor.Note: Credit may not be obtained for both PHS 582 and SPH 582.

SPH  – Comparative Health SystemsThis course will engage students using a blended learning approach (seminars, on line) withdirect involvement of international resource persons in a comparative analysis of the policyframework and health delivery systems in several developed countries. Topics covered include:Organization, Governance and Financing; Economics, Public/Private Models and SystemPerformance; Health Human Resources and Demand/Utilization Management; Primary HealthCare; Pharmaceutical Policy; and Public Health Strategies. The course will be of interest to

graduate students in public health sciences, business, social sciences and the various healthscience programs and to policy analysts and managers in the health system. Enrolment is opento students from several Canadian universities. Note: Credit may not be obtained for both PHS601 and SPH 601.