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MMBA8089 – Organisational Design: Thriving in the Digital Age

2025 – Term 3, Online-scheduled-weekday

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
Pedram Keshavarzian
pedram.keshavarzian@mq.edu.au
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Admission to MBA or GradDipMgt
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

Enter the dynamic landscape of organisational strategy and design, where agility and innovation reign in the face of rapid digital transformation. This unit explores the critical role of organisational strategy and design in building and mobilising change capability to meet evolving customer needs and harness emerging technologies. In this unit, you’ll discover that traditional hierarchical structures and decision-making processes are often inadequate for the agility and innovation demanded by the digital era. Instead, organisations designed for the digital world leverage people, processes, data, and technology to unlock new capabilities and deliver innovative customer experiences. Dive into the five essential building blocks for success in the digital realm: the operational backbone, digital platform, shared customer insights, accountability framework, and external developer platform. Through in-depth analysis and practical exercises, explore how these building blocks can be designed, built, and implemented to transform organisations and drive new customer and employee experiences. Gain the insights and skills needed to navigate the complexities of organisational design in the digital age, positioning your business for sustained success and competitive advantage.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

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

  • ULO1: Explain the role and relationship between organisational design, digital technology, and digital transformation.
  • ULO2: Evaluate and apply different perspectives for digital design using the five building blocks model.
  • ULO3: Analyse and assess organisational capability gaps and development needs to create value in a digital world.
  • ULO4: Examine and identify leadership skills critical for managing a future-ready workforce.

General Assessment Information

Late Assessment Submission Penalty (written assessments) 

Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, a 5% penalty (of the total possible mark) will be applied each day a written assessment is not submitted, up until the 7th day (including weekends). After the 7th day, a grade of ‘0’ will be awarded even if the assessment is submitted. Submission time for all written assessments is set at 11.55pm. A 1-hour grace period is provided to students who experience a technical concern.

For any late submissions of time-sensitive tasks, such as scheduled tests/exams, performance assessments/presentations, and/or scheduled practical assessments/labs, students need to apply for Special Consideration.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Skills Development: Pitching Digital Transformation 30% No 03/08/2025
Professional Practice: Transforming through Digital Design 50% No 31/08/2025
Skills Development: Communicating Conceptual Insights 20% No 07/09/2025

Skills Development: Pitching Digital Transformation

Assessment Type 1: Report
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: 03/08/2025
Weighting: 30%

 

The purpose of this assessment is for you to demonstrate an understanding of the role and relationship between organizational design, digital technology and digital transformation. 

You will prepare a written pitch document that outline a strategic case for undertaking a digital transformation within an organization of their choice. The pitch should identify drivers for change, existing capability gaps and high-level opportunities enabled by digital technologies. An emphasis should be placed on the “why” behind the transformation and how it aligns with future business value.

Skills in focus : 

  • Work readiness 
  • Critical thinking 
  • Problem solving 
  • Communication

Deliverable: Written pitch document [max. 1,000 words] 

Individual assessment 

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Explain the role and relationship between organisational design, digital technology, and digital transformation.
  • Evaluate and apply different perspectives for digital design using the five building blocks model.
  • Analyse and assess organisational capability gaps and development needs to create value in a digital world.

Professional Practice: Transforming through Digital Design

Assessment Type 1: Project
Indicative Time on Task 2: 22 hours
Due: 31/08/2025
Weighting: 50%

 

The purpose of this assessment is for you to demonstrate your understanding and capability to analyse a business and its building blocks required to design an organization to deliver the digital offering. 

You will develop a concise corporate report built on the pitch. The report should outline a comprehensive roadmap for transforming an organization of choice into a digitally enabled enterprise. The project should apply the models and frameworks discussed in the unit and cover key areas such as organisational structure, leadership, culture and technology infrastructure. 

Skills in focus :

  • Critical thinking 
  • Problem solving 
  • Work readiness 
  • Discipline project 
  • Collaboration 
  • Communication 

Deliverable: Written report [max. 2,000 words] 

Individual assessment 

 

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Explain the role and relationship between organisational design, digital technology, and digital transformation.
  • Evaluate and apply different perspectives for digital design using the five building blocks model.

Skills Development: Communicating Conceptual Insights

Assessment Type 1: Debate
Indicative Time on Task 2: 12 hours
Due: 07/09/2025
Weighting: 20%

 

The purpose of this assessment is for you to demonstrate your understanding of key topics by engaging in meaningful discussion with your peers and to deepen your learning through collaborative dialogue. 

You will participate in the structured online forum discussions aligned with the unit’s core themes, and you are expected to reflect on the topic, post thoughtful and relevant insights and respond constructively to your peers’ contributions. Contributions will be assessed for depth, relevance and engagement with unit content, and will be given a final grade. 

Stills in focus  

  • Critical thinking 
  • Communication 
  • Discipline knowledge 

Deliverable: Written discussion post 

Individual assessment 

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Examine and identify leadership skills critical for managing a future-ready workforce.

1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:

  • the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
  • the Writing Centre for academic skills support.

2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation

Delivery and Resources

See iLearn.

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Students seeking more policy resources can visit Student Policies (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/policies). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/student-conduct

Results

Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit connect.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

Academic Integrity

At Macquarie, we believe academic integrity – honesty, respect, trust, responsibility, fairness and courage – is at the core of learning, teaching and research. We recognise that meeting the expectations required to complete your assessments can be challenging. So, we offer you a range of resources and services to help you reach your potential, including free online writing and maths support, academic skills development and wellbeing consultations.

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

Academic Success

Academic Success provides resources to develop your English language proficiency, academic writing, and communication skills.

The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources. 

Student Services and Support

Macquarie University offers a range of Student Support Services including:

Student Enquiries

Got a question? Ask us via the Service Connect Portal, or contact Service Connect.

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/. 

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.

Unit information based on version 2025.07 of the Handbook