There is little doubt that we live in fast-moving and turbulent times: rapid economic change, unexpected political events, and social and technological transformations all make any stable parametric assumption for policymaking hazardous. What does this imply for government? Must we simply respond to events as they unfold around us?  Or can we chart a more deliberate course in the midst of constant change?  In this course, participants will practice the art of thinking and acting strategically to develop best practice public policy. At its best, strategy can help advance an organisation's agenda, manage complexity, and stimulate innovation. In other cases, strategy may have little impact or lead an organisation astray.  Through class sessions that combine theoretical tools with practical case studies, participants will grapple with the challenges of looking forward, choosing courses of action, and implementing strategy, while remaining open to change.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

1. Demonstrate an understanding of the difference between “business as usual” and strategic policymaking;
2. Conduct strategic assessments of a particular organisation and the environment it faces;
3. Develop and analyse alternative courses of strategic action, based strategic assessments and the identification of critical strategic issues;
4. Recommend how particular courses of strategic action may be implemented to maximize impact.

Staff Feedback

Students will be given feedback in the following forms in this course:

• Verbal comments in response to ideas presented in class or in meetings
• Written comments in response to emailed ideas
• Written comments on submitted assessment tasks
• Feedback to the whole class following the release of the strategic assessment memo marks

Student Feedback

ANU is committed to the demonstration of educational excellence and regularly seeks feedback from students. Students are encouraged to offer feedback directly to their Course Convener or through their College and Course representatives (if applicable). The feedback given in these surveys is anonymous and provides the Colleges, University Education Committee and Academic Board with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement. The Surveys and Evaluation website provides more information on student surveys at ANU and reports on the feedback provided on ANU courses.

Class Schedule

Week/Session	Summary of Activities	Assessment
1	Introduction to Strategic Policymaking
2	Stakeholders and Mission
3	Strategic Assessment	Strategic Assessment Memo due September 5
4	Strategy Development
5	Implementation
6	Feedback and Learning	Strategy Pitch due October 14 in Class

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Due Date	Return of assessment	Learning Outcomes
Strategic Assessment Memo	25 %	05/09/2022	19/09/2022	1,2
Strategy Pitch	15 %	14/10/2022	28/10/2022	1-3
Strategy Memo	60 %	07/11/2022	01/12/2022	1-4

* If the Due Date and Return of Assessment date are blank, see the Assessment Tab for specific Assessment Task details

Policies

ANU has educational policies, procedures and guidelines, which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University’s academic standards, and implement them. Students are expected to have read the Academic Misconduct Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:

• Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure
• Special Assessment Consideration Policy and General Information
• Student Surveys and Evaluations
• Deferred Examinations
• Student Complaint Resolution Policy and Procedure

Assessment Requirements

The ANU is using Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website Students may choose not to submit assessment items through Turnitin. In this instance you will be required to submit, alongside the assessment item itself, hard copies of all references included in the assessment item.

Moderation of Assessment

Marks that are allocated during Semester are to be considered provisional until formalised by the College examiners meeting at the end of each Semester. If appropriate, some moderation of marks might be applied prior to final results being released.

Assessment Task 1

Strategic Assessment Memo

Students are asked to write a 2000-word memo assessing the strategic situation of a specific public sector organisation. The assessment should answer a series of questions about the organization and its stakeholders:

• Identify the organisation’s stakeholders and their related power 
• How can these stakeholders be better served by the organization? How can they be engaged with for the strategic policymaking process?
• What is the organization’s mission? How well does this mission serve the organization and stakeholders?
• how does the organization do “business as usual” and why does it need to act more strategically?
• what are the organization's strengths and weaknesses?
• what opportunities and challenges does the organization face?

Marking: Papers will be marked based on their success with respect to each of the above tasks, as well as clarity of expression, quality of argument, and original research. Students should be sure to draw on the concepts presented in the second and third class sessions in particular. Additional guidance will be given in class.

Assessment Task 2

Strategy Pitch

Students are asked to imagine they have been given an opportunity to present their strategic ideas to a supervisor in 15 minutes. The presentation should sum up their strategic assessment memo (see above) and then outline a strategic approach for the organization. A one-page outline of the presentation should be submitted directly to the course convenor prior to delivery of the presentation in class.

Marking: Presentations will be marked based on their success with respect to each of the above tasks, as well as clarity of expression, quality of argument, and original research. Students should be sure to draw on the concepts presented in the fourth class session on strategy development in particular. Additional guidance will

be given in class.

Assessment Task 3

Strategy Memo

Students are asked to write a 4000-word strategy memo for a specific organization, building on and drawing on feedback from the strategic assessment memo and the strategy pitch. The memo should cover all of the points covered in the strategic assessment memo while also making recommendations regarding the strategic approach to be adopted and how that approach should be implemented.

Marking: Papers will be marked based on their success with respect to each of the above tasks, as well as clarity of expression, quality of argument, and original research. Additional guidance will be given in class.

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a core part of our culture as a community of scholars. At its heart, academic integrity is about behaving ethically. This means that all members of the community commit to honest and responsible scholarly practice and to upholding these values with respect and fairness. The Australian National University commits to embedding the values of academic integrity in our teaching and learning. We ensure that all members of our community understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. The ANU expects staff and students to uphold high standards of academic integrity and act ethically and honestly, to ensure the quality and value of the qualification that you will graduate with. The University has policies and procedures in place to promote academic integrity and manage academic misconduct. Visit the following Academic honesty & plagiarism website for more information about academic integrity and what the ANU considers academic misconduct. The ANU offers a number of services to assist students with their assignments, examinations, and other learning activities. The Academic Skills and Learning Centre offers a number of workshops and seminars that you may find useful for your studies.

Online Submission

The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.

Hardcopy Submission

For some forms of assessment (hand written assignments, art works, laboratory notes, etc.) hard copy submission is appropriate when approved by the Associate Dean (Education). Hard copy submissions must utilise the Assignment Cover Sheet. Please keep a copy of tasks completed for your records.

Late Submission

Late submission of assessment tasks without an extension are penalised at the rate of 5% of the possible marks available per working day or part thereof. Late submission of assessment tasks is not accepted after 10 working days after the due date, or on or after the date specified in the course outline for the return of the assessment item. Late submission is not accepted for take-home examinations.

Referencing Requirements

Accepted academic practice for referencing sources that you use in presentations can be found via the links on the Wattle site, under the file named “ANU and College Policies, Program Information, Student Support Services and Assessment”. Alternatively, you can seek help through the Students Learning Development website.

Extensions and Penalties

Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are covered by the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure The Course Convener may grant extensions for assessment pieces that are not examinations or take-home examinations. If you need an extension, you must request an extension in writing on or before the due date. If you have documented and appropriate medical evidence that demonstrates you were not able to request an extension on or before the due date, you may be able to request it after the due date.

Privacy Notice

The ANU has made a number of third party, online, databases available for students to use. Use of each online database is conditional on student end users first agreeing to the database licensor’s terms of service and/or privacy policy. Students should read these carefully. In some cases student end users will be required to register an account with the database licensor and submit personal information, including their: first name; last name; ANU email address; and other information. In cases where student end users are asked to submit ‘content’ to a database, such as an assignment or short answers, the database licensor may only use the student’s ‘content’ in accordance with the terms of service — including any (copyright) licence the student grants to the database licensor. Any personal information or content a student submits may be stored by the licensor, potentially offshore, and will be used to process the database service in accordance with the licensors terms of service and/or privacy policy. If any student chooses not to agree to the database licensor’s terms of service or privacy policy, the student will not be able to access and use the database. In these circumstances students should contact their lecturer to enquire about alternative arrangements that are available.

Distribution of grades policy

Academic Quality Assurance Committee monitors the performance of students, including attrition, further study and employment rates and grade distribution, and College reports on quality assurance processes for assessment activities, including alignment with national and international disciplinary and interdisciplinary standards, as well as qualification type learning outcomes. Since first semester 1994, ANU uses a grading scale for all courses. This grading scale is used by all academic areas of the University.

Support for students

The University offers students support through several different services. You may contact the services listed below directly or seek advice from your Course Convener, Student Administrators, or your College and Course representatives (if applicable).

• ANU Health, safety & wellbeing for medical services, counselling, mental health and spiritual support
• ANU Diversity and inclusion for students with a disability or ongoing or chronic illness
• ANU Dean of Students for confidential, impartial advice and help to resolve problems between students and the academic or administrative areas of the University
• ANU Academic Skills and Learning Centre supports you make your own decisions about how you learn and manage your workload.
• ANU Counselling Centre promotes, supports and enhances mental health and wellbeing within the University student community.
• ANUSA supports and represents undergraduate and ANU College students
• PARSA supports and represents postgraduate and research students