COURSE DESCRIPTION

The purpose of this capstone course is to provide students with an integrated strategic perspective on the management and leadership of public sector organizations. In the course, we adopt the viewpoint of an upper level manager – an individual charged with diagnosing complex situations and resolving them in ways that enhance organizational performance. We will focus on how public managers can position their organizations to achieve desired program outcomes through fundamental strategic management techniques. We will begin the course by discussing the role of managers in setting the strategic direction of public sector organizations and assess whether they can influence program outcomes. In other words, does management make a difference? We will then examine strategic management techniques that align strategy with organizational performance. Students will apply some of these techniques to a public or nonprofit sector organization of their choosing. We will close the course by revisiting the importance of strategic leadership and other organizational/environmental dynamics influencing organizational change. We will explore strategic management through theory, concepts, and application. We will also utilize multiple learning methods including lectures, case studies, group exercises, and out-of