This Course Guide has been taken from the most recent presentation of the course. It would be useful for reference purposes but please note that there may be updates for the following presentation.
PUAD A303
Current Issues in Public Sector anagement
Welcome to PUAD A303 Current Issues in Public Sector Management.
PUAD A303 Current Issues in Public Sector Management is a one-year, 10-credit, higher-level course. It is one of the required courses of the Bachelor of Social Sciences with Honours in Public Administration Programme.
The study units, readings and activities will help you master the topics over a period of around 36 weeks.
Purpose of this Course Guide
If you have taken other courses through HKMU, you should now be well aware of both the study skills required for distance learning and how HKMU courses are organized. It is still recommended, though, that you read this Course Guide thoroughly before looking at the study units. If this is your first HKMU course, then please read this Course Guide very carefully.
The Course Guide tells you briefly what the course is about and how you can work your way through the material. It suggests the amount of time you likely need to spend in order to complete the course and gives you a general idea of when your assignments are due. For detailed information on assignments, however, please refer to the Assignment File. For information on due dates and cut-off times for work to be submitted, please refer to the Presentation Schedule.
In distance learning as practised by Hong Kong Metropolitan University, the study units are coordinated and prepared in the distance mode of education by your university professor. You do not need to attend lectures face-to-face with the lecturer or professor. This is one of the great advantages of distance learning: you can read and work through specially designed study material at your own pace at times and places that suit you best.
Think of it as reading the lecture instead of hearing it from a lecturer. In the same way that a lecturer might set you some reading to do, the study unit tells you when to read the assigned readings. In the same way that a lecturer might give you an in-class exercise, your study units have exercises (called by various names) for you to do at appropriate points. You are also likely to find review questions at the end of each unit. Do them all, as these exercises and questions give you the practice necessary to achieve the learning outcomes of the course and to pass the examination. Even when you 'make notes' in a direct face-to-face lecture, you are advised to study those notes and to read and think about them in relation to your textbook or readings. In the distance mode of education, the course materials replace the live lecture notes and interactions.
Course aims
The principal aim of PUAD A303 is to enable you to comprehend the background, nature and trends of development of the issues pertinent to public sector management both in Hong Kong and overseas. In order to achieve this overarching aim, this course also provides you with theoretical underpinnings of various theories of public sector management, research skills and tools in analysing public sector management, and an analysis of major issues of public sector management in advanced democratic societies.
Course learning outcomes
Upon completion of this course, you should be able to:
An outline version of the course structure is shown below:
| Unit | Title | Weeks | Assessment activity (end of unit) |
| 1 | Public sector management: theoretical perspectives and research methodology | 4 | |
| 2 | Strategic planning and management in the public sector | 5 | Assignment 1 |
| 3 | Reinventing government: governance in the new millennium | 4 | |
| 4 | Globalization and public sector management | 4 | Assignment 2 |
| 5 | Leadership and crisis management | 4 | |
| 6 | Values, ethics, accountability and trust in public sector management | 4 | Assignment 3 |
| 7 | New forms of governance I: public-private partnership | 4 | Assignment 4 |
| 8 | New forms of governance II: Intra- and inter- governmental components of public sector management | 4 | |
| Revision | 3 | Assignment 5 | |
| Total | 36 |
The study units summarize key issues, explain the relevant concepts and examples, and comment on related readings. Each unit contains activities to reinforce your learning of the issues under discussion. Moreover, the assignments provide you with further feedback and help you achieve the learning outcomes of the course.
The course is structured so that each unit builds on previous units. Each unit contains a variety of techniques to help you study. The following points will help you to get the most out of the information presented:
Each unit has specific subject matter, activities and a summary of the materials covered.
Unit 1 Public sector management: theoretical perspectives and research methodology
This unit looks at major theories (both classical and contemporary) in public sector management. It examines the philosophical underpinnings of various theories of public sector management. This unit serves as the foundation of this course — it equips you with the necessary knowledge of public sector management to study issues pertinent to today's public sector management. Furthermore, to enable you to understand and research issues in public sector management on your own, this unit also introduces you to research methods in public administration.
Unit 2 Strategic planning and management in the public sector
Unit 2 starts with a comprehensive examination of the environmental forces that prompt public organizations to use strategic planning to manage the public sector. Next, the unit discusses what strategic planning and management in the public sector mean and how they are different from that in the private sector. Towards the end of this unit, a critical examination of the strategic planning approach to the management of the public sector is provided in the context of Hong Kong, focusing on how strategic planning and management can serve to improve the public sector's performance and whether public sector strategic planning and management has any staying power or is simply a management fad imported from the private sector.
Unit 3 Reinventing government: governance in the new millennium
This unit examines how public managers in advanced Western democracies, mainly the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand, are reinventing their governments. The unit first examines the concept of governance and governance problems in the new millennium. Following that is an investigation into different forms of reinventing government — reinventing, deregulating, reengineering, privatizing, and electronic government. Afterwards, the unit assesses if reinventing government is an answer to the governance problems in the new millennium. The unit concludes with an evaluation of the relevance of the overseas reinventing government experience to the operation of the Hong Kong public sector.
Unit 4 Globalization and public sector management
Unit 4 starts with a clarification of the meaning of the term 'globalization', a commonly known but not very well understood term. The unit then goes on to examine factors that contribute to the rise of globalization, and the probable merits and demerits of globalization. It is difficult for any nation-state to be immunized from the effects of globalization. How states are affected by globalization, and how they respond to the trend in globalization, are examined thoroughly in this unit. The unit concludes by examining the effects of globalization on Hong Kong's public sector management. You also study the roles that China plays in helping Hong Kong meet the challenges of globalization. References are made to the Closer Economic Partnership Agreements and the Hong Kong-Pearl River Delta relationship.
Unit 5 Leadership and crisis management
This unit discusses the role of leadership in public sector management, especially during crises. This unit investigates the role and importance of leaders in public organizations. It also reviews the various approaches to studying leadership. Leadership styles must be changed in different situations in order to fit the circumstances and resources available. The role of leaders is also crucial in crisis management. The second half of this unit therefore looks at the different leadership styles in different circumstances, especially during crises.
Unit 6 Values, ethics, accountability and trust in public sector management
Effective governance depends on the trust that citizens place in their government. At the same time, citizens expect public officials to behave ethically and to be accountable for their actions. Ethics and accountability of public officials in turn depends on the core values that they hold. This demonstrates the interrelationship among trust, ethics, accountability and values. This unit aims to introduce you to the concepts and theories of values, ethics, accountability and trust in the public sector. Specific issues to be addressed include: Why should ethics be studied in public sector management? What is social justice/equity? Are there any inherent conflicts between efficiency and social equity? If so, how can they be redressed? What is trust in government? How can it be enhanced? What are the implications of values, ethics, accountability, and trust for public sector management?
Unit 7 New forms of governance I: public-private partnership
Unit 7 first introduces you to the various tools of government. Next, it focuses on 'partnership' — a tool of government that has emerged in the past few decades and has been adopted in Hong Kong in recent years. Following that is a discussion of the possible modes of partnership among the government, the non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and the private sector. Advantages and problems of partnership, and ways to facilitate the formation and the continuance of public-private partnership are also examined in great detail. Case studies of Hong Kong's health services and social welfare are presented to enhance your understanding of this particular tool of government.
Unit 8 New forms of governance II: Intra- and inter-governmental components of public sector management
Intra-governmental relationships are horizontal relationships between departments of a government or vertical relationships between the hierarchies of a government, and may even extend to the relationships among the executive, legislative and judicial branches of a government. Inter-governmental relationships are between different governments within a state, e.g. between local governments or between the local government and central government. This unit looks at the concept of decentralization, devolution and delegation as tools of inter- and intra-governmental governance in the context of public sector management. It reviews the experiences drawn from overseas countries and discusses a local application: the possible effects of growing intergovernmental activities between the HKSAR and mainland China on the autonomy of the former and on local public sector management.
In addition to this Course Guide, please ensure that you have the following important course components from HKMU:
Printed materials
Set textbook
There is no required textbook for this course. Instead, a set of readings produced by HKMU accompanies each unit.
Supplementary readings
A number of supplementary readings are associated with each unit. These readings are very important as they provide other insights into the complex organizational and societal issues addressed in this course.
Readings
You may be instructed in the study units to read articles or other supplementary materials. These will be available online or provided as hard copies.
E-Library E-Reserve readings
You may be instructed to read articles in the E-Library E-Reserve. To read these items, go to the HKMU E-Library and click on 'E-Reserve'. Log in, click 'Accept/Agree' on the Copyright Restrictions page, fill in the 'Course Code' box, and click 'Search'.
Online Learning Environment
This course is supported by the Online Learning Environment (OLE). You can find course materials and the latest course information from the OLE. Through the OLE, you can also communicate with your tutor, the Course Coordinator and other students. For details about the OLE and how to access it, please refer to the Online Learning Environment User Guide.
The course assessment is designed to help you progress easily from the required readings in the study units through to the assignments and examination. You are required to apply the information and techniques learned during the course when doing the assignments. The assignments must be submitted to your tutor for formal assessment in accordance with the deadlines stated in the Assignment File. The non-assessed unit activities are not part of your formal assessment, but these should be done before progressing to the assignments.
Assignment file
Assignment details for this course are contained in your Assignment File. The nature of these assignments is described in the 'Assignments' section below. You are required to complete your assignments and upload them to the OLE in accordance with the due dates printed on the assignments.
Presentation schedule
The Presentation Schedule is available on the OLE. In this schedule, you will see the time for your tutor to receive your assignments. Please note that you must submit all your assignments in time to reach your tutor by the dates shown in the Assignment File.
Assignments
There are five (5) assignments. You are advised to study the unit(s), including the activities (and their answers), before attempting to solve the problems or answer the questions in the assignments. More specific instructions are found in the Assignment File.
You are required to finish all five assignments for your tutor to grade. Only the best four (4) grades obtained on your assignments count for the continuous assessment portion of the course. Fifty per cent (50%) of your final grade depends on your assignments.
How to do your assignments
For each assignment, please read through the questions and the instructions accompanying the questions in the Assignment File. Please read each question carefully and make sure you understand what is required before attempting it.
Once you have completed each assignment, you must submit it to your tutor via the OLE. Please make sure that each assignment reaches your tutor on or before the deadline. However, if you cannot finish your assignment on time, you must contact your tutor before the deadline to discuss the possibility of an extension. Your tutor may grant you an extension of up to seven days. If more time is needed, you must obtain approval from the Course Coordinator or the Dean of the School of Arts and Social Sciences. No marks will be awarded for any late assignments without prior approval being obtained (i.e. unless the Course Coordinator or the Dean so approves).
You must be careful when you are using other references in the research for your assignments. Plagiarism is copying someone else's work or ideas without indicating the original source of the material. HKMU takes a very serious view of plagiarism, and any student who commits plagiarism will be penalized. This applies just as much to using work of other students as it does to authors of books. However, you may include parenthetical references to the works you cite, e.g. (Hughes 1998, 88). You should include a section at the end of your assignment called 'References' where the full name, title, date and place of the publication appear. A way to cite a reference is:
Hughes, O E (1998) Public Management and Administration: An Introduction, South Yarra: Macmillan.
This citation technique is a normal and necessary part of social sciences. It is good training to learn to acknowledge your sources of information as you do your assignments. This citation system is part of intellectual honesty and is most important in academic literature. And, if you look at it another way, the fact that you write something and someone else supports what you wrote (the work or person you have cited) adds power to what you have said.
Assignment schedule
| Assignment focus | Time | |
| 1 | a. Public sector management: theoretical perspectives and research methodology b. Strategic planning and management in the public sector | At the end of Unit 2 |
| 2 | a. Globalization and public sector management b. Reinventing government: governance in the new millennium | At the end of Unit 4 |
| 3 | a. Leadership and crisis management b. Values, ethics, accountability and trust in public sector management | At the end of Unit 6 |
| 4 | New forms of governance I: public-private partnership | At the end of Unit 7 |
| 5 | New forms of governance II: inter- and intra-governmental components of public sector management | At the end of Unit 8 |
Marking scheme
Final examination and grading
The final examination for this course is three hours long and counts for 50% of the total course grade. You should use the time between finishing the last unit and the examination to review the entire course. But, at the university level, it is wise to study in a planned, periodic way well before the final exam. Mature and hard-working students in the distance mode of education may need to be flexible in both study habits and time. You might find it useful to review your assignments and your tutor's comments on them before sitting for the examination. You will be advised of examination arrangements after you send in your examination registration card.
The final examination covers information from all parts of the course and will be in a form you have already experienced in assignments. Do not worry that the examination will contain tricky questions. That would not be consistent with the clear, open approach HKMU takes in helping its learners succeed in their studies.
The following table shows you once again how marks are allocated to the assessment items (assignments) and to your final examination. In order to pass this course, you must pass both the assignments component and the examination.
| Assessment type | Marks |
| Five assignments — the best four count The five required assignments will include case studies and essay writing. | 12.5% each × 4 = 50% |
| Examination The three-hour examination will comprise essay-type questions. | 50% |
| Total | 100% |
| You must obtain a score of 40% in the continuous assessment component and a score of 40% on the final examination to pass the course. That is, you must pass both assessment components. The overall passing mark is 40% or greater. | |
Tutors and tutorials
Hong Kong Metropolitan University prides itself on the support given to its distance learners. That means to you! Although you may think you are studying on your own, it doesn't need to be that way. You can be in regular contact with your tutor and, once you've met them in the first tutorial, you can be in contact with other students. Make a point, when you meet another student, to exchange phone numbers or email addresses. Then you are well on the way to developing a learning network of your own.
Your assignments will be marked and commented on by your tutor, who will keep an eye on your progress and help you if you encounter problems during the course. Marked assignments will be returned to you as soon as possible.
It is good practice to keep a copy of each assignment submitted for marking, so that you can always refer the queries to the tutor during telephone conversations. Please contact your tutor should the following situations arise:
In addition to self-study, tutorials will be organized to assist you in your learning process. It is strongly recommended that you attend all tutorials, which will provide considerable assistance in your study of this course. Moreover, you will have the chance to meet other students and distance learners who are studying at HKMU.
Tutorials and supplementary lectures
Twelve two-hour tutorials and two two-hour supplementary lectures will be provided in support of PUAD A303 Current Issues in Public Sector Management. You will be notified of the dates, times and locations, together with the name, phone number and telephone tutoring hours of your tutor, as soon as you are assigned a tutorial group.
Tutorials are not lectures. They are designed to encourage group discussion and interaction. They provide you with opportunities to discuss with your tutor and other students any problem you encounter in the study units. So, you should arrive at each tutorial 'armed' with knowledge and questions — knowledge is important so that you can contribute meaningfully to the discussions.
Online support
The HKMU School of Arts and Social Sciences will maintain a simple web page for the course, which will provide links to the main government sites relevant to this course. Email tutoring support can also be provided where appropriate.
In order to understand the content of this course, you must analyse the course materials and apply the concepts learned. Good luck with the course. We think you will find it an interesting one that gives you a greater understanding of an important aspect of the society in which you live.
A note about the developers of this course
Units 1 and 3 were developed by Dr Percy Lui, Assistant Professor in the School of Arts and Social Sciences at Hong Kong Metropolitan University. Dr Lui has a PhD in public administration from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, in the United States and is the Course Coordinator of this course.
The second unit was developed by Dr Dennis Woodward, Senior Lecturer and Head of the Department of Politics in the School of Political and Social Inquiry at Monash University, Melbourne, Australia. He is also one of the course developers for PUAD A201 Introduction to Public Policy and Administration and PUAD A301 Public Sector Management in Hong Kong (the first two units).
Units 4 to 8 were developed by a team of four course developers led by Mr Leung Man-kit in Hong Kong. Three of them are civil servants in the Hong Kong SAR Government and hold degrees of Master of Public Administration from the University of Hong Kong. The other developer works at a private company and is finishing her doctorate degree.
