Organisational performance and culture in practice
How an organisation's structure, strategy and outside environment shape each other — and where people practice sits in that.
Level 5 People Management · 12 assessment criteria
Learning outcome 1
Understand the connections between organisational structure, strategy and the business operating environment.
- AC1.1evaluate
Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of different types of organisation structures, including the reasons underpinning them.
What that asks for: Weigh it up and reach a judgement. Both sides, then a position — an answer with no verdict does not meet this.
- AC1.2analyse
Analyse connections between organisational strategy, products, services and customers.
What that asks for: Break it into parts and show how they connect. Listing the parts is not analysing them.
- AC1.3analyse
Analyse external factors and trends impacting organisations to identify current organisational priorities.
What that asks for: Break it into parts and show how they connect. Listing the parts is not analysing them.
- AC1.4assess
Assess the scale of technology within organisations and how it impacts work.
What that asks for: Judge the significance or extent of something. Close to evaluate, but the emphasis is on how much it matters.
Learning outcome 2
Understand organisational culture and theoretical perspectives on how people behave at work.
- AC2.1explain
Explain theories and models which examine organisational and human behaviour.
What that asks for: Make it clear how or why something works. Description is enough here — you are not being asked to judge it.
- AC2.2assess
Assess how people practices impact on organisational culture and behaviour.
What that asks for: Judge the significance or extent of something. Close to evaluate, but the emphasis is on how much it matters.
- AC2.3explain
Explain different approaches to managing change.
What that asks for: Make it clear how or why something works. Description is enough here — you are not being asked to judge it.
- AC2.4discuss
Discuss models for how change is experienced.
What that asks for: Set out more than one view and show how they relate. A one-sided answer is the usual miss.
- AC2.5assess
Assess the importance of wellbeing at work and the different factors which impact wellbeing.
What that asks for: Judge the significance or extent of something. Close to evaluate, but the emphasis is on how much it matters.
Learning outcome 3
Understand how people practice supports the achievement of business goals and objectives.
- AC3.1discuss
Discuss the links between the employee lifecycle and different people practice roles.
What that asks for: Set out more than one view and show how they relate. A one-sided answer is the usual miss.
- AC3.2analyse
Analyse how people practice connects with other areas of an organisation and supports wider people and organisational strategies.
What that asks for: Break it into parts and show how they connect. Listing the parts is not analysing them.
- AC3.3discuss
Discuss processes for consulting and engaging with internal customers to understand their needs.
What that asks for: Set out more than one view and show how they relate. A one-sided answer is the usual miss.
Learning outcomes and assessment criteria are quoted from the CIPD CIPD Level 5 Associate Diploma in People Management qualification specification, version 2.6 (February 2026), © CIPD. MarkReady is not a CIPD approved centre and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the CIPD.
- 5CO02Evidence-based practice
- 5CO03Professional behaviours and valuing people
- 5HR01Employment relationship management
- 5HR02Talent management and workforce planning
- 5HR03Reward for performance and contribution
- 5OS01Specialist employment law
- 5OS02Advances in digital learning and development
- 5OS03Learning and development essentials
- 5OS04People management in an international context
- 5OS05Equality, diversity and inclusion
- 5OS06Leadership and management development
- 5OS07Wellbeing at work
Stuck on something? Start a chat.
Tell us what you're working on and what's going wrong. We'll tell you what would help, what it costs, and how long it takes — before you commit to anything.
Replies in under 2 hours. No account needed to ask.