Example assessment & marking criteria
Assessment type:
Organisational profile
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:
1. Organisational profile
20%, 1100-1300 words
With reference to the readings from Topics 1.1 and 1.2, and relevant industry or workplace documents:
a) Briefly describe your organisation in relation to purpose, location, size and target population. (250 words).
b) Explain the meaning of the term environment in relation to health service organisations. Demonstrate your
understanding by referring to two examples from the external environment of your organisation that impact
on the performance of your work area. (400 words)
c) Analyse the structure of your organisation with reference to the structural dimensions of formalisation,
complexity and centralisation. How do these structural features impact on the ability of your organisation
and/ or department to achieve its objectives? (600-800 words)
You may use maps, charts or diagrams to illustrate your work if you choose (not included in the word count) and
these can be included in an Appendix. A formal essay structure is not necessary for this assessment task, although
Rationale:
paragraphs and sentences must be correctly formed and all work must be supported by references. You may use
the questions as the basis of your structure, being sure to include a reference list, and an appendix if required.
This early assessment task enables you to apply some of the fundamental concepts from organisational theory to
your own work context, forming a basis for subsequent learning and assessment. It also provides you with the
opportunity to receive early feedback on your academic writing.
Marking criteria & standards of performance
By Margaret Yen
Criteria
Describe the organisation in relation to
purpose, location, size and target
population 15%
HD
D
Presents an integrated and succinct description of the
organisation in relation to purpose, location, size and
target population. The nature of the organisation is clearly
communicated to the reader.
Explain the meaning of the term
“environment” in relation to health
service organisations.
15%
Presents a succinct
Presents a succinct
explanation of
explanation of
“environment” in relation to
“environment” in relation to
health services,
health services, integrating
synthesising theory
theory presented in subject
presented in subject
readings.
readings.
Contextualises and elaborates on meaning of environment
through integration of relevant examples of environmental
factors affecting organisational/ work area performance.
Demonstrate your understanding by
referring to two examples from the
external environment of your
organisation that impact on the
performance of your work area. 10%
Analyse the structure of your
organisation with reference to the
structural dimensions of formalisation,
complexity and centralisation. How do
these structural features impact on the
ability of your organisation and/ or
department to achieve its objectives?
40%
Presents a critical and
succinct analysis of the
organisation in relation to
dimensions of structure,
drawing on theory
presented in subject
readings and integrating
key concepts.
Evaluates impact of
structural features on
workplace performance.
Presents a succinct
analysis of the organisation
in relation to dimensions of
structure, drawing on theory
presented in subject
readings and integrating
key concepts.
Explains impact of
structural features on
workplace performance.
CR
Describes the main features
of the organisation in
relation to purpose,
location, size and target
population. The nature of
the organisation is clearly
communicated to the
reader.
Presents an explanation of
“environment” in relation to
health services, referring to
theory presented in subject
readings.
P
Describes the main features
of the organisation in
relation to purpose,
location, size and target
population. In one or two
areas the description is
incomplete or unclear.
FL
An attempt has been made
to describe the organisation
according to purpose,
location, size and target
population. There is a lack of
clarity and the nature of the
organisation is unclear.
Presents a description of
“environment” in relation to
health services, referring to
theory presented in subject
readings.
The description/definition of
environment is incorrect,
does not reflect knowledge
of the underlying theory.
Contextualises and elaborates on meaning of environment
by describing relevant examples of environmental factors
affecting organisational performance.
Examples chosen do not
demonstrate understanding
and their relationship to the
concept of environment
unclear.
Describes the organisation
in relation to dimensions of
structure, drawing on theory
presented in subject
readings and integrating
key concepts.
Explains structural features
that may impact on
workplace performance.
Some understanding of the
concepts of organisational
structure has been included,
however there are areas
where meaning is unclear
and the relationship to
organisational performance
has not been
communicated.
Describes the organisation
in relation to dimensions of
structure, drawing on theory
presented in subject
readings and integrating
key concepts.
Describes structural
features that may impact on
workplace performance.
Structure, grammar and spelling 10%
Research and referencing 10%
(No marks will be awarded but up to
10% will be deducted for poor
presentation or referencing)
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
Relevant literature from
subject and industry
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.
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
Relevant literature from
subject and industry
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.
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 academic language
has been used to
communicate meaning
Grammatical conventions
have been adhered to in
some areas although there
are multiple errors.
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 areasmeaning is
unclear.
The work includes multiple
grammatical errors.
Relevant literature from
subject and industry
sources has been
summarised and
incorporated, the
arguments.
APA referencing
conventions in both in- text
referencing and the
reference list are in
evidence but there are
inconsistencies.
Literature from subject and
industry sources has been
referred to in the essay, but
does not clearly support the
argument. Some key
sources have not been
used.
Attempt made to adhere to
APA referencing
conventions in both in- text
referencing and the
reference list, but with
multiple errors and
inconsistencies.
Literature from subject and
industry sources, has been
referred to in the essay, but
is unrelated to an argument.
Much of the work is opinion,
unsupported by the
literature. Some key sources
have not been used.
Adhered to APA referencing
conventions in both in-text
referencing and the
reference list is minimal or
nonexistent.