Unit Outline

This unit investigates management concepts and theories to improve the integration and functionality of healthcare organisations. Strategies to improve the management of an organisation for enhanced care quality and equitable services will be discussed. A range of management issues are examined including leadership, strategic planning, change, and stakeholder behaviour. These issues are considered at the individual, team, and organisational levels and how they interact. Students will have opportunities to hear from experts across Australia and participate in industry case studies and analysis. [Special note: This unit is offered in even-numbered years only].

Intended Learning Outcomes

As per the Assessment and Results Policy 1.3, your results will reflect your achievement against specified learning outcomes.

On completion of this unit, you will be able to:


1.	Evaluate a range of management approaches for complex health systems.
2.	Assess management strategies in the public and private sectors to provide accessible and equitable services.
3.	Appraise stakeholder influence in healthcare organisations.
4.	Judge how management processes and decisions impact on health system integration and functionality.
5.	Recommend strategies to improve the management of an organisation for enhanced care, quality and value.

Alterations as a result of student feedback

The unit offers interactive Drop-in (Student consultation) sessions, between students and academics as students have found such session to be beneficial in the past.

Teaching arrangements


ATTENDANCE MODE	TEACHING TYPE	LEARNING ACTIVITY	CONTACT HOURS	FREQUENCY
On Campus	Seminar	A hybrid session (Online/On-campus attendance options) with academics and industry experts for a pragmatic view of health management theory and practices.	8	Once only
Online	Independent Learning	Engaging with MyLO module content, online discussion forum and core unit activities.	8.50	Weekly
	Lecture (Online)	Pre-recorded Lectures/overview of each module (x4).	1	Once only (4 times)
	Tutorial (Online)	Engage with academic staff to clarify and explore subject and assessment content presented in MyLo modules: Tutorial 1	1.50	Once only
	Tutorial (Online)	Engage with academic staff to clarify and explore subject and assessment content presented in MyLo modules: Tutorial 2	1.50	Once only
	Tutorial (Online)	Engage with academic staff to clarify and explore subject and assessment content presented in MyLo modules: Tutorial 3	1.50	Once only

Attendance / engagement expectations

If your unit is offered On campus, it is expected that you will attend all on-campus and onsite learning activities. This is to support your own learning and the development of a learning community within the unit. If you are unable to attend regularly, please discuss the situation with your course coordinator and/or our UConnect support team.

If your unit is offered Online, it is expected you will engage in all those activities as indicated in the Unit Outline, including any self-directed learning.

If you miss a learning activity for a legitimate reason (e.g., illness, carer responsibilities) teaching staff will attempt to provide alternative activities (e.g., make up readings) where it is possible.

How will I be Assessed?

For more detailed assessment information please see MyLO.

Assessment schedule


ASSESSMENT TASK #	ASSESSMENT TASK NAME	DATE DUE	WEIGHT	LINKS TO INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES
Assessment Task 1:	Critical Essay	Week 5	40 %	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4, LO5
Assessment Task 2:	Case Study	Week 10	40 %	LO2, LO4, LO5
Assessment Task 3:	Presentation	Week 13	20 %	LO1, LO3, LO5

Assessment details

Assessment Task 1: Critical Essay

Task Description:

Effective delivery of healthcare requires a crucial element of strategic planning in health services. This process involves a thorough analysis of the organisation's strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats, with the participation of senior leaders, managers, staff, and other stakeholders. Strategic planning involves developing long-term objectives, creating plans, and commencing progress reviews through engaging staff and stakeholders to achieve the overall organisational goals.

For this assessment, the aim is to develop a critical essay, examining a leadership approach(es) within your organisation. The essay will examine the enablers and barriers of the leadership approaches in engaging staff and other stakeholders in the organisation’s strategic vision, goals, and the development of plans. From the recognised barriers in leadership approach(es), develop collectivistic leadership intervention(s) and provide strategies to assist in implementing this intervention to achieve the organisation's managerial goals or visions.

Task Length:

2,500 words (10% +/- word count). Any other variance in word count will attract a penalty. The word count includes such items as headings, quotes, in-text citations, and the executive summary. It does not include the table of contents, any appendices, and reference list at the end of the assignment.

Due Date:

Week 5

Weight:

40 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Draw upon and articulate a range of leadership and management approaches identify and analysis current staffing and service provision issues within organisation or services dealing with large complex health services.	LO1
2	Examine and appraise healthcare in different states and territories, and between the public and private sectors with a view to identifying critical issues confronting leaders and managers and lessons that can be learned from such comparisons.	LO2
3	Appraise how leaders can utilise stakeholder engagement to achieve managerial goals or aims.	LO3
4	Using collective leadership to design a series of interventions that assist with stakeholder engagement in the organisation's decision-making process.	LO4
5	Argue recommendations to improve patient quality of care and value through managerial leadership and effective decision-making.	LO5

Assessment Task 2: Case Study

Task Description:

Healthcare services are shaped by a range of factors, including their geographical location, state/territory and political environment, organisational context (i.e., public/private; acute/community), resourcing levels and population served. Nevertheless, leading and managing teams and services involves addressing a common set of issues, activities, and strategies.

As a potential leader of your team, identify and analyse the key requirements for developing and effectively managing the team to improve patient-centred care.

The aim of the assessment is to address the organisational context for your team and how your team contributes to patient-centred care. This will be achieved by identifying theories and knowledge to inform your leadership style and approach and priority issues, activities and strategies required to improve team functioning.

Task Length:

Due Date:

Week 10

Weight:

40 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Identify and analyse problems currently challenging managers and leaders in healthcare organisations and formulate strategies to address these problems. This includes the application of logical, critical and creative thinking.	LO2
2	Identify and apply tools for organisational development and the management of change, including decision making, and evaluate how these processes may impact the effective functioning of health services.	LO4
3	Develop and articulate an informed evidence based position on future internal an external challenges facing healthcare in a way that makes it accessible to a wide audience of health service leaders & managers working within the complex health system.	LO5

Assessment Task 3: Presentation

Task Description:

In the healthcare industry, organisations must operate with agility, constantly adapting to new challenges and striving for improvement. Leaders and managers must be prepared to address emerging issues, even those that are not fully understood. To effectively manage change initiatives, they must utilise key management strategies and leadership opportunities.

The aim of this assessment is to recognize the significant obstacles that your organization may encounter in the next five years, evaluate the organization's readiness to tackle these challenges and develop strategies to overcome them.

The assessment task is for you to prepare a presentation to the Board of Directors and Senior Executives within your organisation addressing future major changes and challenges using evidence-based knowledge and approaches in leading and managing healthcare organisations.

Task Length:

PowerPoint slides with detailed speaking notes equaling 15 minutes of speaking time.

Due Date:

Week 13

Weight:

20 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Identify and analyse problems currently challenging managers and leaders in healthcare organisations and formulate strategies to address these problems. This includes the application of logical, critical and creative thinking.	LO1
2	Apply tools for organisational development and change management, including decision-making, and evaluate how these applications may impact the effectiveness of health services.	LO3
3	Develop an articulate position on future internal and external challenges facing healthcare leaders and managers working within the complex health system.	LO5

How your final result is determined

To pass this unit, you need to demonstrate your attainment of each of the Intended Learning Outcomes, achieve a final unit grade of 50% or greater, and pass any hurdle tasks.

Submission of assignments

Where practicable, assignments should be submitted to an assignment submission folder in MYLO. You must submit assignments by the due date or receive a penalty (unless an extension of time has been approved by the Unit Coordinator). Students submitting any assignment in hard copy, or because of a practicum finalisation, must attach a student cover sheet and signed declaration for the submission to be accepted for marking.

Requests for extensions

If you are unable to submit an assessment task by the due date, you should apply for an extension.

A request for an extension should first be discussed with your Unit Coordinator or teaching support team where possible. A request for an extension must be submitted by the assessment due date, except where you can provide evidence it was not possible to do so. Typically, an application for an extension will be supported by documentary evidence: however, where it is not possible for you to provide evidence please contact your Unit Coordinator.

The Unit Coordinator must notify you of the outcome of an extension request within 3 working days of receiving the request.

Late penalties

Assignments submitted after the deadline will receive a late penalty of 5% of the original available mark for each calendar day (or part day) that the assignment is late. Late submissions will not be accepted more than 10 calendar days after the due date, or after assignments have been returned to other students on a scheduled date, whichever occurs first. Further information on Late Penalties can be found on the Assessments and Results Procedure.

Review of results and appeals

You are entitled to ask for a review of the marking and grading of your assessment task if there is an irregularity in the marking standards or an error in the process for determining the outcome of an assessment. Details on how to request a review of a mark for an assignment are outlined in the Review and Appeal of Academic Decisions Procedure.

Required Resources

Required reading materials

There is no prescribed text for this unit. The learning materials of the unit will be drawn from publications, journal articles and other credible sources/websites. You will be able to access the learning materials through the Learning Hub section of the MyLO unit.