What you will study
Policies deeply affect organisations, communities and individuals. With the world in the middle of the worst pandemic in living memory, the role of public policies and the importance of public services in our lives have become clearer than ever.
Organisational strategies are deeply affected by government policies and societal challenges. Governments can change the rules and frameworks in which organisations operate while, as we have seen in the last years, societal challenges are exacerbating and changing. Organisations then need to be flexible enough to respond with their strategies to these changes. Being able to understand the contexts in which organisations are placed is fundamental to their effectiveness. Artificial intelligence, and in particular machine learning, can be used as a tool to do so.
The course comprises eight units:
Unit 1: Policies and organisations
The course begins by looking at the definition of policies and how policies can affect organisations’ strategies.
Unit 2: Issues in our society
This unit reflects upon some potential challenges in the post-COVID-19 era and explores in more depth how future challenges can potentially affect organisations.
Unit 3: Policies and the role of evidence
You'll explore the role of evidence and science in informing public policies. It also reflects on how evidence and science can affect organisations.
Unit 4: How to collect evidence
An evidence-based manager uses scientific literature as a means of answering questions, inspiring strategy decisions and forming long-term plans. This unit explores how to be a good evidence-based manager.
Unit 5: Evidence for artificial intelligence and machine learning
This unit reflects on the role of machine learning in providing evidence and provides the opportunity to use a machine learning open software to search and collect evidence.
Unit 6: Artificial intelligence and public policies
You'll explore how artificial intelligence can be used by public sector organisations and governments to address societal issues. In this unit you'll also reflect on the potential risks of misusing artificial intelligence.
Unit 7: Macroenvironment and your organisation
This unit explores the tools and models that can be used to analyse how macroenvironment factors can affect organisations.
Unit 8: Reflecting on your journey
The final unit combines all the information learnt during the course and reflects on your learning journey.
You will learn
By studying this course, you'll be able to:
- define public policies and investigate their importance
- critically think about how public policies can affect your organisation
- identify societal challenges and policies in a post-COVID-19 era
- critically reflect on the effects of these challenges upon your organisation and/or professional life
- identify, collect and assess evidence useful for your organisation
- critically think about the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning.
- determine the benefits and risks of using artificial intelligence in your organisation.
Learner support
Expert, confidential learner support is available when you need it from a learning adviser, who will respond to you directly. Other support is available via the course forum, dedicated website and computing helpdesk.
Practice-based assignment
There is a practice-based assignment (PBA) which you complete at the end of the course to demonstrate how you have applied, or are intending to apply, the theories and models you have learnt. Once completed and successfully passed you will receive a digital badge and a course completion certificate which you can download as a record of your learning.