Analysis of the main components that an organisation addresses or could address to maximise its capacity for high agility to support sustainable competitive advantages addressing core concepts and principles.

Assessment Structure

Exercises throughout course one will be used as preparation for the final assessment paper. In effect, the exercises will form components of your final paper. A brief regarding the assessment is given below.

Assessment title: An analysis of an organisation’s preparedness for agility and sustainable competitive advantage.

Details

• Analysis of the main components that an organisation addresses or could address to maximise its capacity for high agility to support sustainable competitive advantages addressing core concepts and principles. 
• In addition, explore what the nominated organisation can do to enhance its collective agility.
  • Analyse the characteristics of a highly agile organisation and the implications for the Nominated Organisation.
  • Analysis of the governance, risk management and ESG/CSR requirements for a highly agile organisation and the implications for the Nominated Organisation.
  • For the Nominated Organisation,
    • Analyse organisational structure that supports organisational agility and the implications with a view to recommending an enhanced organisational structure for 2028 or justification to retain the current structure
• Recommendations
• Appendix and References

Report Structure

The assignment is to be structured as a report as follows.

• Introduction. (150 words)
• Body of the paper
  • Address the core concepts and principles of an agile organisation and the essentials of ESG and risk management practices. (1000 words)
  • Address the three core questions above for the nominated assessment organisation. (1000 words)
    • For the specific organisation
      • The agility of the organisation to adjust to future workforce requirements and the expansion of AI.
      • The Governance structures and practices of the organisation including its capacity to manage risk, and any areas for enhancement.
      • The extent the organisation engages in ESG / CSR and where the modification could be made for enhancement
      • The effectiveness of the underpinning structure of the organisation as it operates today
      • What might the workforce and structural requirements be for 2028?

Conclusion 

• Recommendations (250 words)
  • What recommendations do you offer to enhance the sustainable competitiveness of the nominated organisation from your analysis?
  • Recommendations should be clear and concise. For example, it is recommended that:
    • The Nominated Organisation develop a talent attraction and retention program by the next financial year, or
    • The Nominated Organisation review the organisational code of code to seek stronger levels of workforce engagement.
• Reference list
  • It is anticipated that 20 plus references will be used for the paper.
  • Please use Deakin referencing guide.
• Appendix

Unit MBG775 High Performing Organisations

Overview

• Founded: 2005 by the Government of Dubai
• Headquarters: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
• Mandate: Plan and execute transport and traffic projects in Dubai; develop integrated road and public transport networks including Metro, Tram, buses, marine transport, and taxis
• Vision: “The world leader in seamless & sustainable mobility”

Key Strategies

• Smart Mobility & Digital Transformation: RTA is a global pioneer in using AI and IoT for transport optimization, with smart traffic systems, autonomous vehicle trials, and the Dubai Smart Self-Driving Transport Strategy aiming for 25% of all trips to be autonomous by 2030.
• Customer Happiness Focus: Through its Happiness Centers and digitized services, RTA places the customer experience at the center of its operations. Over 95% of its services are available digitally, resulting in higher satisfaction scores across commuter segments.
• Sustainability & Green Transport: Committed to the UAE Green Agenda, RTA has introduced electric buses, hybrid taxis, and clean energy marine transport options, and is reducing its carbon footprint through smarter infrastructure.
• Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs): Successful collaborations with international operators (e.g., Keolis, Serco) have helped manage Dubai Metro and Tram with world-class service levels.
• Project Excellence & Innovation: RTA won the 2023 EFQM Global Award for its integrated excellence model, applying innovation, performance management, and stakeholder engagement principles systematically across its operations.

Achievements

• EFQM Global Award Winner (2023): Recognized for embedding excellence, innovation, and sustainability into all aspects of operations and governance.
• Transport Infrastructure Leadership: Dubai Metro is the world’s longest driverless metro network. The city’s public transport usage grew significantly, with millions of trips recorded annually across all modes.
• Smart City Integration: RTA is a core enabler of Dubai’s Smart City vision, integrating transport systems with data analytics, AI-powered monitoring, and real-time customer engagement platforms.

Challenges

• Rapid Urban Growth: Keeping up with the city’s population and tourism-driven expansion while ensuring infrastructure scalability and service efficiency.
• Technology Integration at Scale: Ensuring smooth rollout of cutting-edge systems like autonomous vehicles, smart payment systems, and AI analytics across all services.
• Sustainability Goals: Achieving ambitious emissions targets in line with UAE’s Net Zero by 2050 initiative requires continuous innovation and resource alignment.

Organisational structure

• Organisational Type: Government Authority with specialized agencies under central leadership
• Main Functional Units: Public Transport Agency, Traffic and Roads Agency, Rail Agency, Licensing Agency, and Corporate Technical Support Services

Main Features

1. Functional Structure: Divided by key functions (e.g., transport modes, licensing, infrastructure).
2. Centralized Decision-Making with Agile Units: Strategic control rests with the Director General and board, while operational agility is enabled through agency-specific teams.
3. Innovation Hubs: Dedicated departments for future mobility and AI research collaborate with global firms and academia to drive innovation.
4. Customer Service Excellence: RTA runs dedicated Happiness Centers and uses real-time feedback systems to enhance service quality.
5. Talent Development: RTA invests in leadership development, technical training, and has launched the “RTA Innovation Lab” to foster internal innovation.

Objective:
The assessment requires a comprehensive analysis of how an organisationspecifically the RTA in Dubai demonstrates agility and supports sustainable competitive advantage. Students must explore key components of organisational agility, governance, ESG/CSR compliance, risk management, and structural effectiveness.

Key Requirements:

1. Introduction (150 words) – Brief overview of the organisation, purpose of the report, and assessment scope.
2. Core Analysis (1000 words) –
   • Principles of a highly agile organisation.
   • ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) and risk management essentials.
   • Implications for the nominated organisation (RTA).
3. Organisational-Specific Analysis (1000 words) –
   • Agility to respond to workforce and AI expansion.
   • Governance structures, risk management, and ESG/CSR practices.
   • Organisational structure evaluation and recommendations for 2028.
4. Conclusion & Recommendations (250 words) – Practical recommendations to enhance sustainable competitiveness.
5. References – Minimum 20 references following Deakin APA 7th edition guidelines.
6. Appendices – Supporting data, charts, or frameworks.

Learning Outcomes:

• LO1: Critically assess organisational agility and its impact on sustainable competitive advantage.
• LO2: Analyse governance, risk, and ESG/CSR implications.
• LO3: Evaluate organisational structure and propose strategic enhancements.

Approach by Academic Mentor

Step 1: Understanding the Assessment Brief
The mentor first guided the student in reviewing the assessment instructions to identify core requirements: analysing agility, ESG/CSR, governance, and structural efficiency, specifically for the RTA in Dubai.