Unit rationale, description and aim

Effective organisational analysis is a critical step for managers who are responsible for delivering sustainable business outcomes. If students are able to do this, they will need knowledge and understanding of how to effectively analyse organisations through different theoretical lenses and at different levels: individual, structural, systemic and social. In this unit students will develop a toolset to analyse organisations from both theoretical and practical perspectives, expand their critical reasoning skills through the application of organisational analysis frameworks and perspectives to business case studies and create ethical and socially responsible solutions to business challenges. Students will apply their knowledge in managing organisations, teams and individuals. The aim of this unit is to provide knowledge and understanding of effective analysis of complex organisational interactions and contexts, and to develop the understanding and skills necessary to create effective, ethical and socially responsible solutions to business challenges.

2026 10

Campus offering

Find out more about study modes.

Unit offerings may be subject to minimum enrolment numbers.

Please select your preferred campus.

  • Term Mode
  • Semester 1Campus Attendance
  • Term Mode
  • Semester 1Campus Attendance
  • Term Mode
  • Semester 1Campus Attendance

Prerequisites

Nil

Learning outcomes

To successfully complete this unit you will be able to demonstrate you have achieved the learning outcomes (LO) detailed in the below table.

Each outcome is informed by a number of graduate capabilities (GC) to ensure your work in this, and every unit, is part of a larger goal of graduating from ACU with the attributes of insight, empathy, imagination and impact.

Explore the graduate capabilities.

Analyse frameworks, concepts and theories used to ...

Learning Outcome 01

Analyse frameworks, concepts and theories used to understand interactions in contemporary organisations
Relevant Graduate Capabilities: GC1, GC11

Interpret different analytical perspectives employ...

Learning Outcome 02

Interpret different analytical perspectives employed to understand organisations at the individual, structural, systemic and social levels
Relevant Graduate Capabilities: GC2, GC7

Apply analytical frameworks and multiple perspecti...

Learning Outcome 03

Apply analytical frameworks and multiple perspectives to analyse specific organisations and the contexts in which they operate
Relevant Graduate Capabilities: GC1, GC3

Discuss how organisational analysis can be used to...

Learning Outcome 04

Discuss how organisational analysis can be used to engender solutions to organisational challenges that are ethical and socially responsible
Relevant Graduate Capabilities: GC2, GC11

Work individually or collaboratively to undertake ...

Learning Outcome 05

Work individually or collaboratively to undertake organisational analysis
Relevant Graduate Capabilities: GC1, GC4

Content

Topics will include:

  • introduction to organisational analysis 
  • critical frameworks for analysing organisations) 
  • institutional theory and resource dependency theory 
  • organisational culture and organisational learning 
  • systems approach and networks 
  • models of analysis for the understanding of organisational environment 
  • application of frameworks and models of organizational analysis to business practices and problems 
  • data analysis and synthesis 
  • understanding organisations at the individual, structural and systemic levels 
  • implementation and measuring the effectiveness of organisational analysis initiatives 
  • social, ethical and sustainability considerations in undertaking organisational analysis

Assessment strategy and rationale

In order to pass this unit, students are required to achieve an aggregate mark of at least 50% and demonstrate achievement of learning outcomes. Marking will be in accordance with a rubric specifically developed to measure students’ level of achievement of the learning outcomes for each item of assessment. Students will also be awarded a final grade which signifies their overall achievement in the unit. The assessment strategy for this unit allows students to sequentially develop their knowledge and skills of organisational analysis to the point where they can work in a group and present their solution to a real-world business challenge. To develop this level of capability, students will demonstrate their knowledge of organisational analysis through engagement-led discussions and other activities focusing on the trends related to the unit, and then apply models and tools in analysing a case study problem and then apply their knowledge and understanding by collaboratively developing and presenting a solution in the final assessment task.  

Overview of assessments

Task 1: Critical Report Critical Report:  T...

Task 1: Critical Report

Critical Report: This assessment task consists of a1200-word report. This task requires students to draw on their effective communication and critical thinking skills to critically analyse and evaluate frameworks and theories of organisational analysis and synthesise their preferred option.

Submission Type: Individual

Assessment Method: Report

Artefact: Written Report

Weighting

30%

Learning Outcomes LO1, LO2, LO3
Graduate Capabilities GC1, GC2, GC3, GC7, GC11

Task 2: Organisational Analysis Oral Presentation...

Task 2: Organisational Analysis Oral Presentation (Group)This assessment task requires students to collaboratively apply their critical thinking skills as they analyse, evaluate, and diagnose what needs changing in an organisation and present findings in a 15-minute presentation with transcript. This requires the application of organisational analysis frameworks to understand the complexity and inter-relatedness of organisational components and concisely present diagnostic results to all stakeholders. Individual members to complete Peer Evaluation Tool.

Submission Type: Group

Assessment Method: Presentation

Artefact: Oral Presentation Transcript

Weighting

30%

Learning Outcomes LO3, LO4, LO5
Graduate Capabilities GC1, GC2, GC3, GC4

Task 3: Major Case Study Analysis This assessmen...

Task 3: Major Case Study Analysis

This assessment task consists of a 1500-word written report. This task requires students to apply and integrate the concepts, models and theories from this unit to develop and present a solution to a global organisational problem. The purpose of this assessment is to synthesize students’ knowledge and show respect to the individual dignity and human diversity while developing practical application and skills in organisational analysis that they have learned in the unit.

Submission Type: Individual

Assessment Method: Case Study

Artefact: Written report 

Weighting

40%

Learning Outcomes LO1, LO2, LO4, LO5
Graduate Capabilities GC1, GC2, GC7, GC11

Learning and teaching strategy and rationale

Multi-Mode and Online Delivery

This unit uses an inquiry-based, experiential learning approach to help students develop capabilities in organisational analysis and socially responsible business solution design. In the multi-mode format, students participate in on-campus workshops that support both individual and collaborative learning through shared stories, reflections, and expert guidance. This socially grounded approach fosters critical thinking, encourages deep learning, and prepares students for dynamic business and non-business environments.

In the online mode, students engage in asynchronous learning activities that promote the construction, application, and synthesis of knowledge. Weekly discussion forums, case-based tasks, and interactive exercises allow students to apply theory to practice and bring their own examples to demonstrate understanding. Regular and timely feedback supports student progress and skill development. The online delivery provides flexibility while maintaining structured opportunities for engagement and expert support.

Representative texts and references

Representative texts and references

Bolman, L.G. and Deal, T.E., 2017. Reframing organizations: Artistry, choice, and leadership. 6th Edition. John Wiley & Sons.

Daft, R. L. (2020) Organization Theory and Design, 13th Edition, ISBN: 9781285866345. Cengage Learning.

Dal Molin, M. and Masella, C., 2016. Networks in policy, management and governance: a comparative literature review to stimulate future research avenues. Journal of Management & Governance, 20(4), pp.823-849.

Dobbs, M.E., 2014. Guidelines for applying Porter's five forces framework: a set of industry analysis templates. Competitiveness Review, 24(1), pp.32-45.

Greenwood, R., Oliver, C., Lawrence, T.B. and Meyer, R.E. eds., 2017. The SAGE handbook of organizational institutionalism. SAGE.

Mitchell, B.C., Fredendall, L.D. and Cantrell, R.S., 2015. Using McKinsey’s 7 S Model to Empirically Examine Organizational Effectiveness among the NBA Teams. International Journal of Management and Human Resources, 3(1), pp.69-86.

Senge, P.M. (2014). The fifth discipline fieldbook: Strategies and tools for building a learning organization. New York: Crown Business.

Shafritz, J.M., Ott, J.S. and Jang, Y.S., 2015. Classics of organization theory. 8th Edition. Cengage Learning.

Thornton, P.H., Ocasio, W. and Lounsbury, M., 2015. The institutional logics perspective. John Wiley & Sons.

Locations
Credit points
Year

Have a question?

We're available 9am–5pm AEDT,
Monday to Friday

If you’ve got a question, our AskACU team has you covered. You can search FAQs, text us, email, live chat, call – whatever works for you.

Live chat with us now

Chat to our team for real-time
answers to your questions.

Launch live chat

Visit our FAQs page

Find answers to some commonly
asked questions.

See our FAQs