ACADEMIC PLAN

APRIL 2023/2024 (JA231)

GMGA3073
STRATEGIC PUBLIC MANAGEMENT

DISTANCE LEARNING UNIT

PROFESSIONAL AND CONTINUING EDUCATION CENTRE (PACE)
UNIVERSITI UTARA MALAYSIA
NO. COURSE DETAILS

1. Course Name: STRATEGIC PUBLIC MANAGEMENT

2. Course Code: GMGA3073

3. Rationale of the course inclusion in the programme:

This is a BPM programme core course (programme complementary component course). It
discusses the need for strategic management in the public sector.
4. Credit Hours: 3

5. Pre-requisite: GMGA1013 Introduction to Public Administration

6. Objective(s):
After completing this course, students should be able to:
1. Understand the role of strategic management in the organisation.
2. Relate the characteristics of strategic management in the private sector into the
public sector.
3. Explain the importance of strategic management in the public sector, formulate
challenges in implementing strategic management in the public sector.
4. Evaluate the achievement of strategic management in the public sector.

7. Course Learning Outcomes:

Upon completion of the course, students are expected to:
1. Understand theories and models of strategic management used in the organisations.
2. Compare the characteristics of strategic management in the private sector with the
public sector.
3. Formulate organisational strategies.
4. Conclude on the need for strategic management to organisation achievement,
especially in the public sector.
5. Analyse problems and challenges in implementing strategic management effectively
in the public sector.

8. Transferable Skills:
1. Working in Group (Teamwork)
2. Critical/Analytical thinking
3. Communication skills

9. Teaching-Learning and Assessment Strategy:

Mixed method between teacher-centred and student-centred.

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10. Synopsis:
This course highlights the importance of strategic management in the organisation,
emphasising the public sector. Strategic management is now viewed as a requirement for any
organisation to encounter a challenging environment and competition, especially in the
globalisation era.

Strategic management is the management of an organisation's resources to achieve its goals

and objectives. It consists of the continuous process of formulating, implementing and
evaluating strategies to keep the organisation aligned with its external environment. It aims to
capitalise on organisational strengths and environmental opportunities while minimising or
avoiding organisational weaknesses and environmental threats.

Strategic management is indispensable to the Malaysian public sector, considering it is a way

to strengthen the nation's public sector, especially in preparing the best strategic plan.

11. Delivery Mode:

1. Discussion
2. Group Presentation
3. Group Project

12. Assessment Methods / Types:

Individual Term Paper : 20%
Group Project : 30%
Group Presentation : 10%
Final Examination : 40%

13. Course Coordinator/Instructor:

DR ZULIANA AZWA BINTI ZULKIFLI
Department of Public Management
School of Government
Universiti Utara Malaysia
Tel: 0132299825
Email: zuliana@uum.edu.my

2
Main References:
Bryson, J. M. (2018). Strategic planning for public and non-profit organizations: A guide to
strengthening and sustaining organizational achievement. John Wiley & Sons.

David, F. R. & David, F.R. (2017). Strategic Management: A Competitive Advantage Approach,
Concepts and Cases (16th ed.). New York: Pearson.

Ferlie, E., & Ongaro, E. (2015). Strategic Management in Public Services Organizations: Concepts,
Schools and Contemporary Issues (1st ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203736432

Joyce, Paul. (2015). Strategic Management in the Public Sector. New York: Routledge.

Wheelen, T., Hunger, J., Hoffman, A. & Bamford, C. (2018). Strategic Management and Business
Policy: Globalisation, Innovation and Sustainability (15th ed.). New York: Pearson.

Zainal Abidin Mohamed, Ho Jo Ann & Wong Foong Yee. (2014). Strategic Management (2nd ed.).
Kuala Lumpur: Oxford University Press.

(ANY UNLISTED REFERENCES, WHICH ARE RELATED TO THE COURSE COULD ALSO BE USED
FOR THE PURPOSE OF ADDITIONAL READING/KNOWLEDGE)

3
 SCHEDULE

Meeting Topic Duration Date

• Introduction to Strategic Management 14/4 or 15/4/2023 for UUM (A),

4 hours:
KB (E), JB (G), Langkawi
• Strategic Management: Models Webex
1 • New Public Management Online
15/4-16/4/2023 for Group Kuala
• Strategic Management in the Public Sector activities
Lumpur (C), Melaka (AA), Ipoh,
• Discussion And Exercise Kuching, Kota Kinabalu (K),
Sibu, Miri, Kuantan

• Strategy Formulation: Fundamentals 19/5 or 20/5 /2023 for UUM (A),

• Strategy Formulation: External KB (E), JB (G), Langkawi
4 hours:
Environment Analysis
Face-to 20/5 or 21/5/2023 for Group
2 • Strategy Formulation: Internal Environment
Face Kuala Lumpur (C), Melaka (AA),
Analysis
• Strategy Formulation: Methods Ipoh, Kuching, Kota Kinabalu (K),
• Discussion And Exercise Sibu, Miri, Kuantan

9/6 or 10/6/2023 for UUM (A),

• Strategy Implementation: Fundamentals KB (E), JB (G), Langkawi
• Evaluation and Control
10/6 or 11/6/2023 for Group
• Strategic Management Approaches in the
4 hours: Kuala Lumpur (C), Melaka (AA),
3 Public Sector
Face-to- Ipoh, Kuching, Kota Kinabalu (K),
• Strategies to Strengthen Public Service face Sibu, Miri, Kuantan
Capabilities
• Discussion and Exercise Submission for Individual
Term Paper (20%)
14/7 or 15/7/2023 for UUM (A),
KB (E), JB (G), Langkawi

15/7 or 16/7/2023 for Group

• Future of Strategic Management in the 4 hours:
Kuala Lumpur (C), Melaka (AA),
4 Public Sector Face-to-
Ipoh, Kuching, Kota Kinabalu (K),
• Group Presentation (10%) Face
Sibu, Miri, Kuantan

Submission for Group Project

(30%)
Face-to-
5 • Final Examination (40%) 15/8-22/8/2023
Face

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 INDIVIDUAL TERM PAPER GUIDELINES (20%, Due: 3rd Meeting, 11.59PM)

INSTRUCTION

• Choose ONE (1) of the following topics and discuss its concept:

TOPIC
TITLE
NUMBER
1 Enforcement and Strategy Implementation
2 Ethics and Strategic Management
3 Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Strategic Management
4 Human Resource Factors in Strategic Management
5 Integrity and Strategic Decision Making
6 Leadership and Strategic Management
7 Strategic Management in the Local Government
8 Political Factors and Strategic Management
9 Public Policy and Strategic Management
10 Strategic Management in Government-Linked Companies

Note:
Plagiarism: No marks will be given if the students were found copying/plagiarising others' work without
proper acknowledgement.

• Discuss the topic.

• Typically, the term paper involves the following sections:

1. Introduction
2. Bodies of Term Paper
3. Discussion
4. Conclusion
(Please refer to Appendix B for sample individual term paper outline)

5
TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS
Please follow the requirements:

Full name (first row) and Matric Number (second row) on

Top Right Header
Margin (Top, Bottom, Left, Right)
Spacing
Font
Minimum number of pages
Maximum number of pages
Page number position
Minimum number of references
Appropriate types of references
(examples)
References/Citations Format
every page, in font Times New Roman 9pt, Bold, Italic
(Please refer to Appendix A)
“Normal” settings @ 1” (2.54cm) on all aspects
2.0 (Double Spacing)
Times New Roman 12pt
5 pages (excluding cover page and references)
10 pages (excluding cover page and references)
Bottom Centre in Times New Roman 12pt
(Refer to the Appendix A)
5
a) articles from journals; (b) books; (c) annual reports;
and (d) research reports.
APA 7th Edition

SUBMISSION
• All submissions of individual assignments will undergo Turnitin plagiarism checking, and the
result must be equal to or less than 20 per cent. Any submission with more than 20 per cent
Turnitin plagiarism checking result will affect the total marks for your individual
assignment.

• The submission of individual assignments must be in SOFTCOPY form in PDF file format
and the file name format is as below:
ITP_DISTANCE LEARNING CENTRE CODE_TOPIC NUMBER_MATRIC
NUMBER_NAME.pdf
Example:
ITP_E_6_200200_FULAN IBNI FULAN.pdf

• All submissions must be performed through the link provided in the Learning PACE.

• DATE OF SUBMISSION: 3rd Meeting, by 11:59 PM

• PENALTY in terms of MARKS DEDUCTION OF 10% FROM TOTAL INDIVIDUAL

ASSIGNMENT MARKS will be imposed for those who are not following all submission
requirements, as it will cause inconvenience to the course instructor in organising the
submissions.

PLEASE REFER TO THE COURSE INSTRUCTOR FOR FURTHER ENQUIRIES

6
 INDIVIDUAL TERM PAPER RUBRIC (20%, Due: 3rd Meeting, 11.59PM)

Matric No. :

Name :

Course Code :

Topic :

Criteria 1 = Poor 2 = Fair 3 = Moderate 4 = Good 5 = Excellent Marks

Not organised, Some Organised, Good Excellent
ORGANISATION discussion organisation, discussions are organisation and organisation and
makes no sense discussions jump somewhat jumpy. discussions are discussions are
around, start and logically ordered. logically ordered.
end are unclear.
The content is Content is rather Content is Content is easy Content is very
not interesting. difficult to read moderately and interesting to interesting to
and fairly interesting to read. read.
interesting read.

Provide little or Insufficient Gives general Discusses Discusses

no information information on information about pertinent pertinent
on background background and the topic, but background background
and significance. significance. some relevant information. information.
information may
Information is Some information be missing, or Explains Clearly explains
inaccurate or is accurate, but significance is not significance of significance of
with many enough errors are clearly explained. topic but some topic. Information
errors. Reader made to be No significant information is is consistently
CONTENT learns little. distracting. errors made accurate. accurate

Unable to Able to develop Able to develop Able to explore Able to illustrate

develop any simple ideas in and explore ideas ideas within the mastery of the
ideas in all parts some parts of the through most of context of the subject,
of the task. task. task. discipline and conveying the
shape the whole writer’s
task. understanding,
and shaping the
whole task.
Turnitin Score: Turnitin Score: Turnitin Score: Turnitin Score: Turnitin Score:
more than 50%. 41% to 50%. 31% to 40%. 21% to 30%. less or equal
20%.

7
 Criteria 1 = Poor 2 = Fair 3 = Moderate 4 = Good 5 = Excellent Marks
Errors are Enough errors in Displays Writing is Writing is free of
frequent and style or grammar moderate errors generally error errors in
distracting; occur that they in writing. free, but some grammar,
therefore, it is become errors in punctuation,
MECHANICS
hard to distracting. language or sentence
determine grammar may structure,
meaning. occur. capitalisation and
spelling.
Unacceptable Appearance is Appearance is Appearance is Excellent
appearance. acceptable but a moderately generally good; formatting and
Does not use lot could be adequate but only a few appearance. Use
AESTHETICS appropriate font, improved. some elements elements need to appropriate font,
font size, line could be be improved. font size, line
spacing and improved. spacing and
border areas. border areas.
References are Few references Some references Most references Complete
not cited in text, are cited in text are cited in text, are cited in text references in text
and no and incomplete but not and appropriately and references
references list is reference list. appropriately provided in list.
provided. provided in references list.
REFERENCES references list.

Style/format is Many references Few references Most references References are in

incorrect. use incorrect use correct use correct the correct
style/format. style/format. style/format. style/format.
Report handed Up to 5 days late. Up to 3 days late. A day late. Report handed
in more than 5 on time.
TIMELINESS
days late.

Scoring Key

Undergraduate Master PhD/DBA

Poor 0 – 10 0 – 20 0 – 30
Fair 11 – 20 21 – 30 31 – 40
Average 21 – 30 31 – 40 41 – 44
Good 31 – 40 41 – 44 45 – 47
Excellent 41 – 50 45 – 50 48 – 50

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GROUP PRESENTATION (10%, Due: 4rd Meeting, 11.59PM)

1.It is mandatory for each member of the group to deliver a presentation.

2. Failure to present will result in zero marks being awarded for the presentation. If any or all members
of the group are unable to present during the fourth scheduled meeting, they are required to inform the
lecturer and request a rescheduling of the presentation to the third meeting.

NOTE: It is important to remind LECTURERS & STUDENTS that this assignment must be uploaded
through the Turnitin Assignment platform.

This platform allows all assignments to be evaluated in terms of the similarity index. The similarity index
accepted by UUM is NOT TO EXCEED 20%. Assignments with a similarity index exceeding 20% will be
considered as plagiarized assignments and will result in a deduction of marks.

Any assignments found to have identical answers will automatically be given a score of ZERO to all
students involved. No notification is required from the lecturer to the students.

Students who fail to complete any assignments or final assessments on the designated submission date
will also receive a score of ZERO automatically.

9
 PRESENTATION RUBRIC (10%, Due: 4th Meeting, 1159PM)

Matric No. :

Name :

Course Code :

Topic :

Criteria 1=Poor 2=Fair 3=Moderate 4=Good 5= Excellent Marks

1. Presentation The slide is The slide is The slide The slide goes The slide is not
Slide confusing or generally effectively above and only visually
poorly designed, understandable but communicates the beyond in terms appealing and
making it difficult could use some information in a of design and clear, but also
to understand the improvement in clear and visually clarity, and adds significant
information terms of design or appealing way. effectively value to the
presented. clarity of enhances the presentation,
information. presentation. providing a
deeper level of
understanding
or insight.
2. Time The presenter The presenter The presenter The presenter The presenter
Punctuality consistently starts occasionally starts generally starts consistently consistently
the presentation the presentation the presentation starts the starts the
significantly late late or goes over on time, but may presentation on presentation on
or goes over the the allotted time occasionally start time or with only time or even a
allotted time without any valid a few minutes late minor delay, little early,
without any valid reason or apology. or go slightly over and finishes finishes within
reason or the allotted time within the the allotted
apology. without any valid allotted time, or time, and uses
reason or provides an the time
apology. acceptable effectively,
explanation and leaving time for
apology if going questions and
slightly over. engagement
with the
audience.
3. Ability to The presenter is The presenter The presenter is The presenter is The presenter is
answer unable to answer struggles to able to answer able to answer able to answer
questions questions answer questions questions questions questions with
effectively, effectively, effectively, with effectively and exceptional
provides provides some degree of with confidence, clarity,
incomplete or incomplete or confidence, and provides confidence, and
inaccurate inaccurate provides mostly accurate and depth of
information, and information at accurate detailed knowledge, and
lacks confidence. times, and may information. information, and is able to
lack confidence. is able to handle complex
handle difficult or technical
or unexpected questions with
questions. ease.

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 4. Clarity of idea Not able to deliver To deliver diea and Able to deliver the Able to deliver Able to deliver
idea and need need further idea with little the idea. and clearly
lots of improvement. improvement. explain the idea
improvement

5. Ability to The presenter is The presenter The presenter is The presenter is The presenter
present unable to struggles to able to able to communicates
communicate communicate their communicate communicate their ideas with
their ideas ideas effectively, their ideas their ideas exceptional
effectively, lacks lacks confidence at effectively, with effectively and clarity,
confidence, and times, and may some degree of with confidence, confidence, and
fails to engage have difficulty confidence, and engages the enthusiasm,
the audience. engaging the engages the audience well, engages the
audience. audience to some and is able to audience
extent handle effectively, and
questions and is able to
feedback. handle
questions and
feedback with
ease.
TOTAL

/25

/10

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 GROUP PROJECT GUIDELINES (30%, Due: 4th Meeting, 1159PM)

INSTRUCTION

• Each group will be required to perform ONE (1) of the following:

a) Propose/establish a public organisation and discuss/analyse on strategic management
aspects to the organisation, OR;
b) Discuss/analyse the aspects of strategic management for your chosen public organisation.
The assignment group will be free to choose any public organisation, with the approval of the
course instructor (fieldwork may be required for this assignment).
Note:
Public Organisations: Federal or State Agencies; Local Government; Federal or State Government-Linked
Companies (GLCs).

• Typically, strategic management involves the following sections:

1. Identification of organisational issues/problems.
2. Summary of analysis (Highlight your methods used in generating strategies/ alternatives
for the organisation).
3. Recommendations.

(Please refer to Appendix C for sample group project outline)

Note:
Plagiarism: No marks will be given if the students were found copying/plagiarising others' work without
proper acknowledgement.

TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS
Please follow the requirements:

Full name (first row) and Matric Number (second row) on

Top Right Header
Margin (Top, Bottom, Left, Right)
Spacing
Font
Minimum number of pages
Maximum number of pages
Page number position
Minimum number of references
Appropriate types of references
(examples)
References/Citations Format
every page, in font Times New Roman 9pt, Bold, Italic
(Please refer to Appendix A)
“Normal” settings @ 1” (2.54cm) on all aspects
2.0 (Double Spacing)
Times New Roman 12pt
10 pages (excluding cover page and references)
25 pages (excluding cover page and references)
Bottom Centre in Times New Roman 12pt
(Refer to the Appendix A)
5
a) articles from journals; (b) books; (c) annual reports;
and (d) research reports.
APA 7th Edition

12
SUBMISSION
• All submissions of group assignment will undergo Turnitin plagiarism checking, and the result
must be equal or less than 20 per cent. Any submission with more than 20 per cent Turnitin
plagiarism checking result will affect the total marks for your group assignment.
• The submission of group assignment must be in SOFTCOPY form in PDF file format, and
the file name format is as below:
GP_DISTANCE LEARNING CENTRE CODE_GROUP LEADER'S MATRIC NUMBER_
GROUP LEADER'S NAME.pdf
Example:
GP_ E_200200_FULAN IBNI FULAN.pdf

• SUBMISSION must be performed by the GROUP LEADER through the link provided in the
Learning PACE.
• The GROUP LEADER must perform SUBMISSION through the Turnitin Assignment in the
UUM Online Learning.

• Only ONE SUBMISSION PER GROUP (same person/submitter), or else, it will cause
duplication, which leads to a high Turnitin score!!!!
• DATE OF SUBMISSION: 4th Meeting, by 11:59 PM
• PENALTY in terms of MARKS DEDUCTION OF 10% FROM TOTAL INDIVIDUAL
ASSIGNMENT MARKS will be imposed for those who are not following all submission
requirements, as it will cause inconvenience to the course instructor in organising the
submissions.

PLEASE REFER TO THE COURSE INSTRUCTOR FOR FURTHER ENQUIRIES

13
 GROUP PROJECT RUBRIC (30%, Due: 4th Meeting, 1159PM)

Matric No. :

Name :

Course Code :

Topic :

Criteria 1 = Poor 2 = Fair 3 = Moderate 4 = Good 5 = Excellent Marks

INTRODUCTION: No brief Fair introduction Moderate Good introduction Well-documented
ORGANISATIONB introduction on on organisation introduction on on organisation and complete
ACKGROUND organisation background organisation background introduction on
background background organisation
background
IDENTIFICATION Identifies and Identifies and Identifies and Identifies and Identifies and
OF THE MAIN understand understand few understand most understand most understand all the
ISSUES/ issues issues with the of the issues but of the issues. issues clearly and
PROBLEMS incorrectly with limited limited Explanation has outline necessary
no information explanation given explanation given some ambiguity objectives to
given or key with some solve the
information important problems.
missing. information
missing.
EXTERNAL Poor analysis of Incomplete Adequate Thorough Insightful and
ENVIRONMENT the external analysis of the analysis of the analysis of the thorough analysis
ANALYSIS environment external external external of the external
environment environment environment environment
INTERNAL Poor analysis of Incomplete Adequate Thorough Insightful and
ENVIRONMENT the external analysis of the analysis of the analysis of the thorough analysis
ANALYSIS environment internal internal internal of the internal
environment environment environment environment
USE OF Wrongly Identifies the Identifies the Identifies the Identifies the
TECHNIQUES identifies the technique/tools/a technique/tools/a correct correct
/TOOLS / technique/tools/ pproaches for pproaches for technique/tools/a technique/tools/a
APPROACH approaches for solving the solving the pproaches for pproaches for
(e.g. SWOT solving the problem but is not problem but is solving the solving the
Analysis, TOWS problem or does relevant to the just minimum to problem problem that is
Matrix, etc.) not provide any specific context of the specific applicable within applicable within
technique/tools/ the task assign. context of the a specific context a specific context
approaches to task assign. of the task the task assigned
the specific assigned but and provide
context of the insufficient sufficient
task assign. information. information

14
 Criteria 1 = Poor 2 = Fair 3 = Moderate 4 = Good 5 = Excellent Marks
SOLUTIONS/ No action Little action Action suggested Appropriate, well Well
STRATEGIES suggested suggested, but not thought out documented,
and/or and/or appropriate to solutions, or reasoned and
inappropriate inappropriate most of the proposals for pedagogically
solutions to all solutions to a few issues solutions, to most appropriate
the issues issues of the issues solutions, or
proposals for
solutions, to all
issues
LINKS TO Irrelevant Incomplete Moderate Good research Excellent
COURSE research and research and research and and documented research into the
READINGS AND links to any links to any links to any links to class issues with
ADDITIONAL readings readings readings (and/or outside) clearly
RESEARCH readings documented links
to class (and/or
outside) readings
MECHANICS Errors are Enough errors in Displays Writing is Writing is free of
frequent and style or grammar moderate errors generally error errors in
distracting; occur that they in writing. free, but some grammar,
therefore, it is become errors in punctuation,
hard to distracting. language or sentence
determine grammar may structure,
meaning. occur. capitalisation and
spelling.
AESTHETICS Unacceptable Appearance is Appearance is Appearance is Excellent
appearance. acceptable but a moderate and generally good; formatting and
Does not use lot could be some elements only a few appearance. Use
appropriate font, improved. could be elements need to appropriate font,
font size, line improved. be improved. font size, line
spacing and spacing and
border areas. border areas.
ORIGINALITY Turnitin Score: Turnitin Score: Turnitin Score: Turnitin Score: Turnitin Score:
(after excluding more than 50% 41% to 50% 31% to 40% 21% to 30% less or equal 20%
references
list/citations)

Scoring Key

Undergraduate Master PhD/DBA

Poor 0 – 10 0 – 20 0 – 30
Fair 11 – 20 21 – 30 31 – 40
Average 21 – 30 31 – 40 41 – 44
Good 31 – 40 41 – 44 45 – 47
Excellent 41 – 50 45 – 50 48 – 50

15
 Appendix A

Example: Top Right Header

Tantari Damhuri
200200

Example: Page Number

16
 Appendix B

INDIVIDUAL TERM PAPER

SAMPLE OUTLINE

1.0 INTRODUCTION
- Background of the topic
- The development of the topic in strategic management perspectives

2.0 BODY (Must be referred to the topic, e.g., Technological issues in Strategic Management)
- Divided into several sub-sections, according to the topic

3.0 DISCUSSION
- Arguments/Opinions/Suggestions related to the topic (divided into several sub-sections, if
possible)

4.0 CONCLUSION
- Summary of the term paper

17
 Appendix C

GROUP PROJECT
SAMPLE OUTLINE

1.0 INTRODUCTION: ORGANISATIONAL BACKGROUND

- Organisation’s historical and current information
- Date of establishment
- Organisational direction: vision, mission, etc.
- Organisation’s functions

2.0 STRATEGIC ISSUES/PROBLEMS

- Long-term issues/problems faced by the organisation

3.0 ENVIRONMENT ANALYSIS

3.1 External Environment Analysis
- PEST, Porter’s Five Forces
- Opportunities and Threats
3.2 Internal Environment Analysis
- Functional aspects (Management, Human Resource Management, Finance, Operations,
Marketing, etc.)
- Core competencies/Competitive Advantage

4.0 STRATEGY FORMULATION

- Method(s) in formulating/generating/crafting choices of strategies (typically SWOT
analysis/TOWS Matrix or both)
- Preparing choices of strategies

5.0 RECOMMENDATIONS
- Recommend suitable strategies to the organisation
- Focused on the issues/problems faced by the organisation

18