We live in a complex and uncertain world. In the 21st century, humanity faces challenges stemming from climate change, pandemics, rising inequality, and great power rivalry, which cannot be understood or managed from the perspective of a single discipline. Domains that were previously kept relatively separate (such as economics, security, health and the environment) are colliding. Governance regimes are multiplying, fragmenting, and overlapping in a bid to grapple with these challenges. This course considers approaches to governance in the face of complexity and uncertainty. It covers issues such as: what theories and tools can we use to better understand complex problems and systems dynamics? What frameworks can we develop to better understand and manage risks, opportunities and resilience across domains? How does incremental and transformative change happen in complex systems and what leverage points exist for interventions? The course uses contemporary examples, including COVID-19, the pushback against globalisation, and US-China tech/trade competition.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

1. Demonstrate an understanding of concepts related to complex systems
2. Critically analyse contemporary national and international challenges relating to governing in a complex and uncertain world
3. Evaluate different governance approaches for responding to these issues and apply them with respect to a variety of domains
4. Critically analyse different change strategies for intervening in complex and uncertain domains
5. Conduct independent research on governance challenges and approaches to a complex problem within a particular domain

Research-Led Teaching

Teaching in this course is informed by current research and scholarship in regulation and governance. Students will engage with contemporary research, debates and practical examples relating to governance in complex and uncertain environments.

Field Trips

No field trips.

Additional Course Costs

All required readings are provided via Canvas or accessible through the ANU Library at no cost.

Examination Material or equipment

No additional examination materials or equipment are required.

Required Resources

There is no prescribed textbook for this course. Required readings will be made available on Canvas.

Recommended Resources

Whether you are on campus or studying online, there are a variety of online platforms you will use to participate in your study program. These could include videos for lectures and other instruction, two-way video conferencing for interactive learning, email and other messaging tools for communication, interactive web apps for formative and collaborative activities, print and/or photo/scan for handwritten work and drawings, and home-based assessment.

ANU outlines recommended student system requirements to ensure you are able to participate fully in your learning. Other information is also available about the various Learning Platforms you may use.

Staff Feedback

Students will receive feedback in the following forms:

• written comments
• verbal comments
• feedback provided to the class, groups or individual students

Student Feedback

ANU is committed to the demonstration of educational excellence and regularly seeks feedback from students. Students are encouraged to offer feedback directly to their Course Convener or through their College and Course representatives (if applicable). Feedback can also be provided to Course Conveners and teachers via the Student Experience of Learning & Teaching (SELT) feedback program. SELT surveys are confidential and also provide the Colleges and ANU Executive with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement.

Other Information

Assessment task submission times refer to Canberra time.

Further information about this course is available through the course Canvas site. Students are required to access Canvas regularly throughout the course for announcements, readings, assessment information and other course materials.

Artificial Intelligence

The ANU Academic Integrity website provides guidance on the responsible and ethical use of artificial intelligence in learning and assessment.

Students may also consult the ANU Library Generative AI guide and the ANU Academic Skills website.

Students must comply with the specific artificial intelligence requirements stated for each assessment task.

Class Schedule

Week/Session	Summary of Activities	Assessment
1	28th July - Foundations of Systems Thinking and Complexity. Introduction to the course, its three-phase structure (Seeing Complexity, Examining Ourselves, Acting in Complexity) and pedagogical principles. Core concepts of complex systems, including emergence, feedback, non-linearity, and why complexity matters for governance.	In line with the University’s recording policy, lectures will be recorded and made available to students through Echo360. However, recordings are an additional resource and should not be treated as a substitute for regular attendance. If a recording fails, there is no guarantee that a replacement recording will be provided.Book Assessment 2 presentation slot (via email or in class) by the end of Week One. Weekly Assessment 1 posting package due 5:00pm Friday each teaching week.
2	31st July - Tools and Frameworks for Navigating Complexity. Practical diagnostic frameworks for distinguishing simple, complicated, and complex problems, and their application to governance cases.	Assessment 1 weekly package due 5:00pm today. Assessment 2 presentation bookings close at the end of this week.
3	4th August - Globalization and Connectivity. Connectivity as the structural condition producing both global prosperity and cascading catastrophe, anchored in Roberts and Lamp, Six Faces of Globalization.	Case study presentations (Assessment 2) begin this session and run through Session 12 (maximum three presenters per session). Written reflection due within 72 hours of presenting.
4	7th August - Integrative Complexity and Expert Judgment. The contested concept of the polycrisis, integrative complexity, and expert judgement as a bridge to the perception arc in Phase 2.	Assessment 1 weekly package due 5:00pm today. Assessment 3 professional to be identified and notified to the convenor by email by the end of Week Three.
5	11th August - Cognitive Biases and Dual-Process Thinking. Heuristics, biases, and dual-process accounts of cognition, and their implications for judgement and decision-making under uncertainty.	Case study presentations continue.
6	14th August - Situated Knowledge and Sense-Making. The social and institutional dimensions of knowledge, sense-making, and the value of cognitive diversity in governance settings.	Assessment 1 weekly package due 5:00pm today. Assessment 3 conversations may be conducted from 3 August; students are encouraged to schedule early.
7	18th August - Foresight and Strategic Decision-Making. Practical foresight and forecasting tools, including superforecasting and scenario thinking, with a return to expert judgement from Week 2.	Case study presentations continue.
8	21 August - Epistemic Communities and Governance Design Under Uncertainty. The epistemic community as a governance category, synthesising the perception arc with a view to institutional design.	Assessment 1 weekly package due 5:00pm today.
9	25th August - The Risk-Reward-Resilience Framework. An integrative framework for managing risks, opportunities, and resilience across domains, anchored in Roberts’ Journal of International Economic Law article.	Case study presentations continue.
10	28th August - Vulnerability and Equity. Resilience subjected to critical scrutiny on grounds of vulnerability, equity, and the distribution of risk.	Assessment 1 weekly package due 5:00pm today. Assessment 3 conversation window closes 31 August.
11	1st September - Actors and Dynamics of Change. The architecture of distributed intervention and change-maker archetypes in complex systems.	Case study presentations continue.
12	4th September - Theories of Change, Leverage Points, and Strategies of Intervention. Leverage points and the strategies through which systems can be moved without being controlled. Course synthesis and conclusion.	Final Assessment 1 weekly package due 5:00pm today. Final case study presentations. Assessment 3 is due 7th September and Assessment 4 is due Sunday 20th September 2026, 11:55pm.

Tutorial Registration

ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Due Date	Return of assessment	Learning Outcomes
Class Participation	20 %	04/09/2026	28/09/2026	1,2
Case Study Presentation and Reflection	20 %	*	*	1,2,3
Recorded Conversation and Reflection	30 %	06/09/2026	28/09/2026	2,3,4
Research Essay	30 %	06/09/2026	28/09/2026	1,2,3,4,5

* If the Due Date and Return of Assessment date are blank, see the Assessment Tab for specific Assessment Task details

Policies

ANU has educational policies, procedures and guidelines , which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University’s academic standards, and implement them. Students are expected to have read the Academic Integrity Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:

• Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
• Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure
• Extenuating Circumstances Application
• Student Surveys and Evaluations
• Deferred Examinations
• Student Complaint Resolution Policy and Procedure
• Code of practice for teaching and learning

Assessment Requirements

The ANU is using Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the Academic Skills website. In rare cases where online submission using Turnitin software is not technically possible; or where not using Turnitin software has been justified by the Course Convener and approved by the Associate Dean (Education) on the basis of the teaching model being employed; students shall submit assessment online via ‘Canvas’ outside of Turnitin, or failing that in hard copy, or through a combination of submission methods as approved by the Associate Dean (Education). The submission method is detailed below.

Moderation of Assessment

Marks that are allocated during Semester are to be considered provisional until formalised by the College examiners meeting at the end of each Semester. If appropriate, some moderation of marks might be applied prior to final results being released.

Participation

Students are expected to engage actively with the scheduled learning activities for this course.

Examination(s)

There is no final examination for this course.

Assessment Task 1

Class Participation

Name of assessment task: Class Participation

Nature of task: To demonstrate satisfactory participation, students are expected to complete the full weekly posting package in at least 5 of the 6 teaching weeks.

Weighting: 20%

Release date: 9:00 am, Monday 27 July 2026

Word limit: Two posts of 150–200 words each and four comments of 50–75 words each, per week

Submission requirement: Posts and comments are submitted to the Canvas Discussions threads.

Due date: 5:00 pm each Friday of the six teaching weeks (31 July; 7, 14, 21, 28 August; 4 September 2026)

Late submission: Late submission is permitted. Work submitted after the due date without an approved extension will incur the standard late penalty.

Estimated return date: Monday 28 September 2026. Formative feedback will be provided progressively in class and on the discussion threads.

Details of task: Each week, students complete a posting package on the Canvas Discussions threads and bring their examples and reflections into seminar discussion. The weekly package comprises:

• one post (150–200 words) describing the student’s experience undertaking one of the subject’s Weekly Challenges
• one post (150–200 words) identifying a cross-disciplinary interpretation, application, or implication of one of the week’s anchoring concepts, drawn from a field, case, or context outside the course (this post must cite at least one scholarly source)
• four substantive comments (50–75 words each) on classmates’ posts (two in each thread).

Assessment criteria:

• presence and quality of contribution to seminar discussion
• quality, consistency, and timeliness of weekly posts and comments
• engagement with course concepts and with classmates’ contributions

Further information regarding the assignment and the assessment rubric will be available in Canvas and discussed in Day One of the subject.

Assessment Task 2

Case Study Presentation and Reflection

Name of assessment task: Case Study Presentation and Reflection

Nature of task: Compulsory and non-redeemable. Failure to complete this assessment will result in a mark of zero for this assessment task.

Weighting: 20%

Release date: 9:00 am, Monday 27 July 2026

Word limit: 1,000 words (written reflection; excludes title and references)

Submission requirement: The presentation is delivered in class in the student’s booked session. The written reflection must be submitted through Canvas within 72 hours of presenting.

Due date: Presentation: booked session between Sessions 3 and 12 (4 August – 4 September 2026); slots are booked via email or in class by the end of Week One, with a maximum of three presenters per session, allocated first come, first served. Reflection: within 72 hours of presenting.

Late submission: Late submission of the written reflection is permitted and will incur the standard late penalty. Presentations cannot be rescheduled except where extenuating circumstances apply. If you are unable to present on the scheduled day due to extenuating circumstances and have supporting documentation, please contact your Course Convenor as soon as possible. The Course Convenor will advise whether an alternative presentation arrangement is available. Extenuating circumstances that may warrant approval may include, but are not limited to: medical reasons, family or personal reasons, bereavement, or cultural or religious commitments where the commitment conflicts with the scheduled presentation. Approval will not be given for work-related reasons.

Estimated return date: Within two weeks of submission of the written reflection.

Details of task: Students select one concept, theory, or framework from any week of the course and identify a real-world case, from a domain not directly covered in the course, in which it can be observed in practice. The following recurring course examples will not be accepted: COVID-19, the 2008 financial crisis, US–China rivalry, and the major climate cases discussed in the readings. The assessment comprises a 5 minute in-class presentation (slides encouraged but not required) followed by approximately five minutes of class questions, and a 1,000-word written reflection. The reflection should address:

• why the case was chosen and how the choice was arrived at
• how the concept maps onto the case at the level of mechanism
• what the case illuminates about the concept’s scope, limits, or deeper structure
• what governance implications follow from the analysis.

Assessment criteria:

• novelty and appropriateness of case selection
• clarity and precision of the conceptual connection
• methodological explanation of how and why the concept played out in the case
• quality of consilience reasoning
• communication quality, including engagement with readings and in-class questions.
• The reflection must cite at least five scholarly sources (PhD) or three scholarly sources (Masters/Graduate Certificate).

The oral presentation will be assessed during the allocated session. A record of the assessment outcome and rubric will be retained for validation and moderation purposes.

Further information regarding the assignment and the assessment rubric will be available in Canvas and discussed in Day One of the subject.

Assessment Task 3

Recorded Conversation and Reflection

Name of assessment task: Recorded Conversation and Reflection

Nature of task: Compulsory and non-redeemable. Failure to submit this assessment will result in a mark of zero for this assessment task.

Weighting: 30%

Release date: 9:00 am, Monday 27 July 2026

Word limit: 1,000 words (written reflection; excludes name, title, and references)

Submission requirement: Three components must be submitted through Canvas: (1) an audio or video recording of the conversation, minimum 30 minutes, uploaded to Canvas or provided as a restricted Google Drive link shared with the convenor only; (2) the signed consent form, attached to the Canvas submission; and (3) a 1,000-word written reflection.

The recording must be submitted in a format that enables subsequent validation and retention of the assessment.

Due date: 11:55 pm, Sunday 20th September 2026 (final deadline; submissions are accepted at any time during the semester). The professional must be identified and notified to the convenor by email by the end of Week Three.

Late submission: Late submission is permitted. Work submitted after the due date without an approved extension will incur the standard late penalty.

Estimated return date: Monday 28 September 2026.

Details of task: Students identify a professional whose organisational role involves managing a minimum of two people under conditions of uncertainty and navigating complex systems in ways that reflect one or more course concepts, and conduct a recorded conversation with them of at least 30 minutes. The conversation is an educational activity, not research. The recording will be reviewed only for assessment, moderation and review purposes, in accordance with University records and assessment requirements, and will not be published or shared beyond those purposes. The conversation must include at least one prepared question grounded in a specific week’s topic or reading and at least three follow-up questions responding directly to the professional’s answers. Written and verbal consent must be obtained before recording begins, using the consent form template provided on Canvas. The written reflection should:

• explain the student’s reasoning for selecting this professional and these questions
• articulate how the conversation illuminates the chosen course concept
• address the follow-up questions asked during the conversation and the reasoning behind them
• situate the professional within the broader governance system.

Assessment criteria:

• professional conduct, including preparation, respectful tone, and a comfortable conversational environment (15%)
• precision and clarity of questions (15%)
• capacity to probe and follow up with active listening (10%)
• conceptual connection between the conversation and the chosen course component (25%)
• methodological reasoning behind prepared and follow-up questions (20%)
• multi-stakeholder analytical lens (10%)
• quality of written work (5%).
• The reflection must cite at least five scholarly sources (PhD) or three scholarly sources (Masters/Graduate Certificate).

Further information regarding the assignment and the assessment rubric will be available in Canvas and discussed in Day One of the subject.

Assessment Task 4

Research Essay

Name of assessment task: Research Essay

Nature of task: Compulsory and non-redeemable. Failure to submit this assessment will result in a mark of zero for this assessment task.

Weighting: 30%

Release date: 9:00 am, Monday 27 July 2026

Word limit: 2,000 words (references and bibliography excluded)

Submission requirement: This assessment must be submitted through Canvas in a word processing file format (.doc, .docx). PDF files are not acceptable.

Due date: 11:55 pm, Sunday 20th September 2026 (final deadline; submissions are accepted at any time during the semester)

Late submission: Late submission is permitted. Work submitted after the due date without an approved extension will incur the standard late penalty.

Estimated return date: Monday 28 September 2026.

Details of task: Students write a research essay applying concepts, theories, and frameworks from the course to a governance problem of their choice. Three options are available: (A) extend the case study from Assessment 2; (B) extend the recorded conversation from Assessment 3, treating the conversation as one piece of evidence within a larger scholarly argument; or (C) select a new social, regulatory, or governance problem not examined in previous assignments. Whichever option is chosen, the essay must address:

• the context and governance problem selected, with clearly defined scope
• the course concepts, theories, and frameworks most useful for understanding it, with justification for their selection
• analysis applying these frameworks to the case, supported by specific examples
• the implications of the analysis for governance design, regulatory response, or policy intervention.

Assessment criteria:

• introduction and conclusion, including structure, significance, and implications
• clarity of research context, problem, and question(s)
• strength of theoretical analysis and application, including description, justification, debates, and limitations
• engagement with course and external literature
• appropriate referencing and attribution
• clarity of expression and quality of written work.
• The essay must engage with at least six scholarly sources, at least three of which must be course readings (minimums for both cohorts). PhD students should demonstrate sophisticated theoretical engagement and may connect the essay to their doctoral research.

Further information regarding the assignment and the assessment rubric will be available in Canvas and discussed in Day One of the subject.

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a core part of the ANU culture as a community of scholars. The University’s students are an integral part of that community. The academic integrity principle commits all students to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support, academic integrity, and to uphold this commitment by behaving honestly, responsibly and ethically, and with respect and fairness, in scholarly practice.

The University expects all staff and students to be familiar with the academic integrity principle, the Academic Integrity Rule 2021, the Policy: Student Academic Integrity and Procedure: Student Academic Integrity, and to uphold high standards of academic integrity to ensure the quality and value of our qualifications.

The Academic Integrity Rule 2021 is a legal document that the University uses to promote academic integrity, and manage breaches of the academic integrity principle. The Policy and Procedure support the Rule by outlining overarching principles, responsibilities and processes. The Academic Integrity Rule 2021 commences on 1 December 2021 and applies to courses commencing on or after that date, as well as to research conduct occurring on or after that date. Prior to this, the Academic Misconduct Rule 2015 applies.

 

The University commits to assisting all students to understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. All coursework students must complete the online Academic Integrity Module (Epigeum), and Higher Degree Research (HDR) students are required to complete research integrity training. The Academic Integrity website provides information about services available to assist students with their assignments, examinations and other learning activities, as well as understanding and upholding academic integrity.

Online Submission

You will be required to electronically sign a declaration as part of the submission of your assignment. Please keep a copy of the assignment for your records. Unless an exemption has been approved by the Associate Dean (Education) submission must be through Turnitin.

Hardcopy Submission

For some forms of assessment (hand written assignments, art works, laboratory notes, etc.) hard copy submission is appropriate when approved by the Associate Dean (Education). Hard copy submissions must utilise the Assignment Cover Sheet. Please keep a copy of tasks completed for your records.

Late Submission

Individual assessment tasks may or may not allow for late submission. Policy regarding late submission is detailed below:

• Late submission not permitted. If submission of assessment tasks without an extension after the due date is not permitted, a mark of 0 will be awarded.
• Late submission permitted. Late submission of assessment tasks without an extension are penalised at the rate of 5% of the possible marks available per working day or part thereof. Late submission of assessment tasks is not accepted after 10 working days after the due date, or on or after the date specified in the course outline for the return of the assessment item. Late submission is not accepted for take-home examinations.

Referencing Requirements

The Academic Skills website has information to assist you with your writing and assessments. The website includes information about Academic Integrity including referencing requirements for different disciplines. There is also information on Plagiarism and different ways to use source material. Any use of artificial intelligence must be properly referenced. Failure to properly cite use of Generative AI will be considered a breach of academic integrity.

Returning Assignments

All marks and feedback will be provided by the return date listed in the class summary.

Extensions and Penalties

Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are covered by the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure. Extensions may be granted for assessment pieces that are not examinations or take-home examinations. If you need an extension, you must request an extension in writing on or before the due date. If you have documented and appropriate medical evidence that demonstrates you were not able to request an extension on or before the due date, you may be able to request it after the due date.

Privacy Notice

The ANU has made a number of third party, online, databases available for students to use. Use of each online database is conditional on student end users first agreeing to the database licensor’s terms of service and/or privacy policy. Students should read these carefully. In some cases student end users will be required to register an account with the database licensor and submit personal information, including their: first name; last name; ANU email address; and other information.
In cases where student end users are asked to submit ‘content’ to a database, such as an assignment or short answers, the database licensor may only use the student’s ‘content’ in accordance with the terms of service – including any (copyright) licence the student grants to the database licensor. Any personal information or content a student submits may be stored by the licensor, potentially offshore, and will be used to process the database service in accordance with the licensors terms of service and/or privacy policy.
If any student chooses not to agree to the database licensor’s terms of service or privacy policy, the student will not be able to access and use the database. In these circumstances students should contact their lecturer to enquire about alternative arrangements that are available.

Distribution of grades policy

Academic Quality Assurance Committee monitors the performance of students, including attrition, further study and employment rates and grade distribution, and College reports on quality assurance processes for assessment activities, including alignment with national and international disciplinary and interdisciplinary standards, as well as qualification type learning outcomes.

Since first semester 1994, ANU uses a grading scale for all courses. This grading scale is used by all academic areas of the University.

Support for students

The University offers students support through several different services. You may contact the services listed below directly or seek advice from your Course Convener, Student Administrators, or your College and Course representatives (if applicable).

• ANU Health, safety & wellbeing for medical services, counselling, mental health and spiritual support
• ANU Accessibility for students with a disability or ongoing or chronic illness
• ANU Dean of Students for confidential, impartial advice and help to resolve problems between students and the academic or administrative areas of the University
• ANU Academic Skills supports you make your own decisions about how you learn and manage your workload.
• ANU Counselling promotes, supports and enhances mental health and wellbeing within the University student community.
• ANUSA supports and represents all ANU students