Improving Management Practice Assessment

Assignment Overview 

Task Description

Review an organisational initiative against components of Hood's New Public

Management model and prepare and submit an essay on your findings.

Select one of the reports nominated below and read the executive summaries and

recommendations and other relevant sections:

1. The 2022 IOPC Report - Investigation into photos taken of murdered sisters at a crime scene,

iopc-recommendations-after-investigation-photos-taken-murdered-sisters-crimescene

1. The 2024 coroner's report into the mass stabbings in Saskatchewan, Canada.
2. The 2024 NSW coroner's report into the death of Corporal Ian Turner, Australian Defence

Force.

Inquest_into_the_death_of_Ian_Turner_-_Findings_redacted.pdf

1. The special report into the workplace culture and security practices at the Metropolitan Fire

Report structure

1. In an essay format (Introduction, Body, Conclusion), respond to the following

requirements:

1. Briefly explain the context of the chosen review and explain why you selected the case

study to review.

1. Identify two of the recommendations that would be beneficial if implemented into your

organisation.

1. Discuss the linkages between the two recommendations and Hood's (1991) New Public

Management model, and any other relevant management and organisational theories and

concepts.

1. Explain and justify how each of these two recommendations could improve management

practices in your organisation. Ensure that your argument is supported with academic

research and APA referencing.

Assessment Requirements Summary

The assessment requires students to:

1. Review an organisational initiative against components of Hood’s New Public Management (NPM) model.

2. Select one nominated report (e.g., 2022 IOPC report, 2024 coroner’s reports, or the Metropolitan Fire Service report) and focus on the executive summaries, recommendations, and other relevant sections.

3. Prepare an essay with a clear structure: Introduction, Body, Conclusion.

4. In the essay, students must:

   • Briefly explain the context of the selected case study and justify their choice.

   • Identify two recommendations from the report that would benefit their own organisation.

   • Discuss the linkages between the recommendations and Hood’s NPM model, including other relevant management and organisational theories.

   • Explain and justify how these recommendations could improve management practices, supporting arguments with academic research and APA referencing.

Key learning objectives include:

• Understanding the application of Hood’s NPM model in real-world organisational contexts.

• Analysing and selecting actionable recommendations from official reports.

• Linking theory to practice in organisational improvement.

• Developing evidence-based arguments using scholarly research.

• Enhancing essay writing skills with proper academic structure and APA referencing.

Assessment Approach by Academic Mentor

The academic mentor guided the student through the assessment in a step-by-step process, ensuring clarity, academic rigor, and alignment with the learning outcomes. The approach included:

1. Understanding the Task:

   • Mentor explained the assessment requirements and the importance of Hood’s NPM model.

   • Student was encouraged to carefully read the task instructions and focus on the report sections most relevant for analysis.

2. Selecting the Case Study:

   • Mentor helped the student evaluate the available reports and select the most suitable one based on relevance and richness of recommendations.

   • Student justified the selection in the essay introduction, providing context and rationale.

3. Identifying Key Recommendations:

   • Mentor guided the student to choose two recommendations from the report that could be realistically applied in their organisation.

   • Emphasis was placed on the practicality and potential impact of these recommendations.

4. Linking Theory to Practice:

   • Mentor assisted in mapping the selected recommendations to Hood’s NPM model components (e.g., performance measurement, managerial autonomy, accountability).

   • Additional organisational theories were introduced to strengthen the argument, demonstrating a broader understanding of management concepts.

5. Developing Evidence-Based Arguments:

   • Mentor instructed the student to support each recommendation with academic research, highlighting benefits, potential challenges, and implementation strategies.

   • Student learned to use APA referencing accurately to maintain academic integrity.

6. Structuring the Essay:

   • Mentor ensured the essay followed a clear Introduction-Body-Conclusion structure.

   • Introduction: Context and justification of case selection.

   • Body: Analysis of recommendations, linkages to theory, and evidence-based argumentation.

   • Conclusion: Summary of findings and implications for organisational management.

7. Review and Refinement:

   • Mentor reviewed drafts with the student, providing feedback on clarity, cohesion, and adherence to academic standards.

   • Student revised content to enhance readability and ensure all requirements were addressed.

Outcome and Learning Achieved

• Outcome: A well-structured essay demonstrating the application of Hood’s NPM model to a real-world organisational case, supported by academic research.

• Learning Objectives Covered:

  • Applied theoretical knowledge to a practical scenario.

  • Developed analytical and critical thinking skills in management contexts.

  • Learned to justify recommendations with evidence and research.

  • Enhanced academic writing and referencing skills.

  • Gained insights into improving organisational management practices through research-informed strategies.

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