Example assessment & marking criteria
Assessment type:
Essay
Subject:
HSM404 - Management and Leadership of Health and Aged Care Services
This subject examines the nature of management and leadership in health service organisations. It emphasises
foundations of organisation and management theory as a basis for understanding aspects of organisational
behaviour including culture, power and politics, control, decision making, communication, groups and teams,
conflict, leadership and change management.
 be able to discuss the nature of health service organisations;
 be able to analyse own organisational context in relation to contextual and structural dimensions;
 be able to formulate an explanation of management in relation to evolutionary, historical and theoretical
perspectives and relate to own practice;
 be able to explain the relationship between management/leadership and organisational performance with
reference to culture, power and politics, control, decision making, communication, groups and teams,
conflict and change management;
 be able to analyse the management of change and conflict in own workplace and justify recommendations
for improvement.
Subject learning
outcomes:
Assessment task:
Value & length:
Task description:
Rationale:
2. Essay: Organisational behaviour and performance
35%, 1500 words
Describe an objective that guides planning and activity in your workplace. This may be a formal long term objective,
as represented in a strategic or operational plan, or may be a less formal short term objective that has emerged in
response to a local or recent issue. Briefly explain the rationale for your choice (200 words). Discuss how managers
can or have influenced the achievement of this objective in relation to two of the following concepts in organisational
behaviour: culture, control, power, and politics. Refer to one example of each from your current or past experience
to support your argument (1000 words). (Allow 300 words for your introduction and conclusion.)
This assessment task provides students with an opportunity to consider the relationship between organisational
behaviour and organisational outcomes, and of the role of managers in influencing this relationship. It also enables
students to apply feedback from assignment one, and to strengthen their academic writing skills in preparation for
the final assignment.
Marking criteria & standards of performance
Developed by Margaret Yen
Criteria
A relevant workplace objective has been
described. 10%
HD
D
CR
There is a clear and succinct description of a relevant workplace objective. The rationale clearly
contextualises the student’s choice
Two concepts from organisational
behaviour have been identified and
explained. 25%
The concepts have been explained succinctly, underpinned by
synthesis of relevant literature.
The concepts have been
explained with reference to the
literature.
The use of these concepts, from a managerial
perspective, in influencing the achievement of
the objective has been discussed. 50%
Theory has been used critically and reflectively to discuss
managers’ use of organisational behaviour in enhancing
performance/ achievement of the nominated organisational
objective.
Justification of key arguments is based on an integrated,
succinct and extensive use of subject and other relevant
sources.
Theory has been used to
describe organisational
behaviour, performance/
achievement of organisational
objectives and management
roles. There is no clear line of
argument and the work is
largely descriptive.
Examples are clearly described and their
relationship to the argument explained. 15%
Examples are relevant, and
their meaning succinctly and
critically integrated within the
argument.
Examples are relevant and
their meaning integrated
within the argument.
Theory has been used to relate
organisational behaviour to the
enhancement of performance/
achievement of organisational
objectives, within the
management role. A line of
argument has been included in
the essay, although does not
underpin all of the content.
Examples are relevant and their
meaning related to the
argument.
Examples are relevant. Their
meaning in relation to the
argument has not been
established.
Examples are not relevant or
description of them is unclear.
Their relationship to the
argument unclear.
Structure, grammar and spelling
(see note below)
The content has been logically
and succinctly structured to
create a cohesive and coherent
analytical piece of work
Formal academic language and
precise and correct discipline
and professional terminology
has been used to clearly
communicate meaning
There is consistent adherence
to grammatical conventions
The content has been
logically structured to create a
cohesive and coherent
analytical piece of work
Formal academic language
and precise and correct
discipline and professional
terminology has been used to
clearly communicate meaning
There is consistent adherence
to grammatical conventions
The content has been logically
structured to create a cohesive
and coherent piece of work
Formal academic language has
been used to clearly
communicate meaning;
There is mostly consistent
adherence to grammatical
conventions, although some
errors remain.
The content has been partially
structured to create a
comprehensible descriptive
piece of work consisting of
loosely linked rudimentary
paragraphs
Formal and informal language
has been used to communicate
meaning and in many areas
meaning is unclear.
The work includes multiple
grammatical errors.
Research and referencing
An extensive range of relevant
literature from scholarly
sources has been evaluated
and synthesised, substantially
supporting the arguments.
APA referencing conventions in
both in-text referencing and
reference list has been
accurately and consistently.
An extensive range of
relevant literature from
scholarly sources has been
synthesised in supporting the
arguments.
APA referencing conventions
in both in-text referencing and
the reference list has been
used almost always
accurately and consistently.
Literature from scholarly
sources has been summarised
and incorporated, supporting
key points.
APA referencing conventions in
both in- text referencing and the
reference list are in evidence
but there are inconsistencies.
The content has been partially
structured to create a
comprehensible descriptive
piece of work consisting of
loosely linked rudimentary
paragraphs
Formal academic language has
been used to communicate
meaning
Grammatical conventions have
been adhered to in some areas
although there are multiple
errors.
Literature from a range of
sources, some of which are not
credible or relevant, have been
referred to in the essay.
Attempt made to adhere to
APA referencing conventions in
both in- text referencing and
the reference list, but with
multiple errors and
inconsistencies.
(No marks will be awarded but up to 10% will
be deducted for poor presentation or
referencing)
P
There is a brief description of a
relevant workplace objective.
The rationale is unclear.
The concepts have been
defined with reference to the
literature.
FL
The workplace objective and
the justification for it cannot be
determined.
The concepts have been
defined but there is a lack of
clarity and the meaning is
unclear.
Management influences on
performance using concepts
from organisational behaviour
have not been explained.
Literature from sources, most
of which are not credible or
relevant, and are tenuously
related to your topic.
Adhered to APA referencing
conventions in both in-text
referencing and the reference
list is minimal or nonexistent.