Leading Public Sector Change

This course is available for in-person and remote (online) learning. This course is only available to students enrolled in the Executive Master of Public Administration. Public sector managers now operate in an environment where citizens are better informed and demand more responsive services, commonly delivered once-removed from direct government control. Public servants are expected to develop complex, multi-faceted policy in increasingly contested environments, and they are expected to deliver ambitious outcomes against a constant demand to achieve more with less. Balancing and adjusting the often conflicting and contradictory pressures within a rapidly changing environment is the daily challenge facing public sector leaders working to deliver the government's agenda. This subject will combine examination of the theoretical underpinnings of leadership with practical personal development tools, in the context of the social context of government and the key drivers of public sector change. Students will develop an applied knowledge of leadership, people management, change management and communication methods, and will be given the opportunity to reflect on the strengths and weaknesses of their own leadership and communication skills, and those of their managers and colleagues.