HLTHMGT 729 : Strategic Health Management

Medical and Health Sciences

2023 Semester One (1233) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

The importance and contribution of strategic management to the health sector is established through the application of strategic management thinking and theory to complex systems. Skills in strategy formulation are developed through application of the logic and processes of strategy.

Course Overview

  • This course, HLTHMGT729, aims to heighten awareness of the importance and contribution of strategic management to the health sector.
  • Furthermore, to develop skills in strategic management to enable those who complete the course to manage strategically in the health sector.
  • The course comprises six modules covering topics: strategy & data, strategic thinking, strategic planning, strategic motivation - The Politics of Action, Leadership & Change Management, Health Innovation, and building networks.
  • Project Management and leadership topics are discussed from the perspective of contemporary health organisations, and particular attention is paid to management skills, SWOT analysis and techniques such as PESTELE Analysis.
  • Through this course, students will understand the process of developing an effective strategy that can work in healthcare.
  • A specific focus is placed on developing skills in systems thinking methods to help analyse the context in which the strategy is to be applied.
  • The course also looks deeply at the political nature of the healthcare system. It identifies how to influence strategies that can be used to develop and successfully apply strategies that effects change.
  • The course is taught in a blended model. Half of the course is in a face to face workshops. These workshops use case studies, simulations, and debates to apply the principles. The other half of the course is delivered through self-paced e-learning modules.
  • The students are expected to complete the assignments such as one essay, two reports including a strategic implementation plan (SIP) preparation, two reflections on learning (ROL) and the final group oral presentation to assess the learning outcome.
  • There will be NO final exam in this course, No mathematical calculation and purely 100% coursework assessment (both individual and group work based).

Course Requirements

Restriction: POPLHLTH 729

Course Contacts

Course Director
Dr M.M.Maran PhD
Senior Lecturer, Health Management
Email: mmut146@aucklanduni.ac.nz

Course administrator
Upendra Wickramarachchi
School of Population Health
Email: u.wicks@auckland.ac.nz

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice
Capability 2: Critical Thinking
Capability 3: Solution Seeking
Capability 4: Communication and Engagement
Capability 5: Independence and Integrity
Capability 6: Social and Environmental Responsibilities

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Explain theories of strategy as they relate to the public healthcare context (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 2.2, 3.2, 5.1 and 6.2)
  2. Analyse environmental factors that are of greater and less importance to a health organisation's startegy (Capability 3.2, 4.1, 5.1 and 6.2)
  3. Explain the social, political, and technical factors that impact on strategy (Capability 2.1, 3.2, 5.1, 5.3, 6.1 and 6.2)
  4. Demonstrate how to develop a draft strategic plan for a health organisation (Capability 1.2, 3.1, 4.2 and 6.1)
  5. Develop and demonstrate skills in leadership, essay writing, report writing, teamwork and produce group work assignments in the form of a final report writing and final oral presentation (Capability 1.2, 2.1, 3.1, 3.2, 4.2, 5.2, 5.3, 6.1 and 6.2)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Essay 25% Individual Coursework
Report-1 & Reflection on Learning1(ROL1) 25% Individual Coursework
Final Report-2 (Strategic Implementation Plan) & ROL2 35% Group & Individual Coursework
Final Oral Presentation 15% Group & Individual Coursework
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4 5
Essay
Report-1 & Reflection on Learning1(ROL1)
Final Report-2 (Strategic Implementation Plan) & ROL2
Final Oral Presentation

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.

For this course, you can expect 12 hours of lectures, 12 hours on on-line self paced modules hour tutorial,  50 hours of reading and thinking about the content and 75 hours of work on assignments and/or test preparation.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

  • Attendance is required at scheduled activities including workshops to complete the components of this course including in-class exercises.
  • Lectures will be available as recordings. Other learning activities including seminars will be available as recordings or slides.
  • Attendance on campus is required for the final oral presentation.
  • The activities for the course are scheduled as a block delivery.

Learning Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Guides on system dynamic modeling
Students requested some easy-to-access resources to guide the development of causal loop diagrams. This has been provided in the relevant module.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against online source material using computerised detection mechanisms.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.

The delivery mode may change depending on COVID restrictions. Any changes will be communicated through Canvas.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course students may be asked to submit coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.