Example assessment & marking criteria
Assessment type:
Case analysis
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:
3. Case analysis: Leadership and management of change
45%, 2000 words
There are three parts to this assignment:
a) Case development: Briefly describe a scenario from your current or previous health service organisation
involving a change in process/ activity. Include in your description of the case how it was led and managed
(500 words). Your case is a description of what occurred from your perspective.
b) Critical analysis: using an essay format, and with close reference to the literature, critically analyse the case
in terms of how the change was led and managed. Refer to the following in your analysis as relevant to your
case (select at least three): individual perception, attitudes, motivation, the nature of work groups and
teams, collaboration, communication. (1200 words)
c) Recommendations: How could your organisation or department better lead or manage change in the future?
Which aspects of your scenario represent effective leadership management practice? List your
recommendations and good practice points in no more than one page following your conclusion. Point form
is acceptable for this part of the task. (Not included in word limit)
Notes:
Your critical analysis must draw on relevant leadership and management concepts studied within this subject. In so
doing, it must reflect a synthesis of the prescribed reading (i.e. both Modules 1 and 2) as well as knowledge gained
from independent research.
Rationale:
Your essay must include an introduction and a conclusion (total 300 words), which, together with the case
study and the critical analysis, make up the total word count. A formal essay structure is required.
This assessment task enables you to demonstrate your capacity to think critically about a real-world organisational
scenario using some of the key theoretical frameworks that inform the discipline of organisational behaviour. This
assignment also provides you with the opportunity to think ahead and develop recommendations for future practice.
Marking criteria & standards of performance
Developed by Margaret Yen
Criteria
Briefly describe a scenario from
your current or previous
workplace involving a change.
Include in your description how it
was led and managed. 15%
HD
DI
A relevant scenario that involves the management of change has
been succinctly described. The parameters of the scenario are
clearly defined and the description is complete and focused.
CR
A relevant scenario that involves
the management of change has
been clearly described. The
parameters of the scenario are
clearly defined and the description
is complete and focused.
P
A relevant scenario that involves
the management of change has
been described. The parameters
of the scenario are unclear and
the description extends into the
discussion.
Critically analyse the case in
terms of how the change was led
and managed. 50%
The focus of the analysis has
The focus of the analysis has
been clearly explained. A
been clearly explained. A
synthesis of relevant literature
synthesis of relevant literature
and theoretical frameworks has
and theoretical frameworks has
been used to critically analyse
been used to critically analyse
the case, in relation to
the case in relation to
management and leadership,
management and leadership,
and to deliberate on conflicting
Conflicting arguments have
outcomes.
been identified.
Analysis is informed by synthesis and evaluation of literature on
leadership and management as well as at least three topics from the
modules.
The focus of the analysis has been
inferred. Relevant literature and
theoretical frameworks have been
referred to in interpreting the case.
The case has been described
and the literature has been used
to support a generalised
interpretation.
Analysis is informed by reference to literature on leadership and
management as well as at least three topics from the modules.
Analysis in most areas is
unsupported by the relevant
literature.
The list of recommendations emerges logically from the discussion.
The list of recommendations emerges logically from the discussion but
is incomplete and/or includes some unrelated recommendations.
The recommendations are
unrelated to the analysis.
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.
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 have 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 have 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.
Support your analysis with
reference to the literature on
leadership and management as
well as at least three of topics
from the modules. 20%
List recommendations for
improvement or best practice
points that have emerged from
your analysis. 15%
Structure, grammar and spelling
(see note* below)
Research and referencing
*No marks will be awarded but up
to 10% will be deducted for poor
structure, grammar spelling or
referencing.
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.
FL
A scenario that does not clearly
involve the management and
leadership of change has been
described. The parameters of
the scenario are unclear and
the description extends into the
discussion.
The case has not been
analysed in relation to the
management of change and
there is minimal or no use of
relevant literature.
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 non- existent.