As part of the assessment for Module One of the Certified Orgtologist Program (COP), students must submit an essay that is publishable on the International Orgtology Institute’s (IOI) website. The essay must focus on the practical application of Hypothesis 2X to any topic of the student’s choice. Module One of the COP covers the theoretical aspects of orgtology, explaining how to apply Hypothesis 2X, which is the basic assumption of orgtology. There are no limitations on the topic; it can be anything, as long as the tutor can see that the student is able to practically apply Hypothesis 2X. It is important to note that the essay will not be given a numerical mark (e.g., 57% or 88%). Instead, it must be publishable. This means it must be coherent, readable, and adhere to all technical requirements. In essence, it must contribute to the Orgtology Body of Knowledge (OBoK). Our assessment will focus on two major aspects: Technical requirements such as word count, readability, structure, citations, references, etc. Substance, which includes the formulation of the essay’s hypothesis, the ability to practically apply Hypothesis 2X to the chosen topic, literature review, source integration, data collection, and the meaningfulness of the conclusion. Below are guidelines on the structure of the essay: 1. Introduction Hook: Start with a quote, question, anecdote, or a surprising fact to grab attention. Example: "The current way most organisations manage risk might be severely flawed." Background Information: Provide context that helps the reader understand the topic. Example: "In today's interdependent world, organisations face complex risks. Therefore, we need risk management systems that can deal with this complexity." 2. Hypothesis, Problem Statement, or Basic Assumption Clearly state your main argument or point. Use the “If-Then-Because” formula. Example: "If we apply Hypothesis 2X to risk management, then our ability to manage risk will be receptive and the risk itself will be projective, because how we manage the risk depends on the disruption that the risk imposes." 3. Body Paragraphs Each body paragraph should follow this structure: Topic Sentence: Introduce the main idea of the paragraph. Example: "The first problem that organisations face in terms of risk management is the accurate identification of risks." Evidence and Analysis: Present evidence and explain how it supports your thesis. Example: "Orgtology studies show that the best place to identify risks is within the activities that make up our process and project environment. A first step would be to identify the critical success factors for a process to optimally perform or for a project to have the maximum impact. These critical success factors will become default risks. This is because if something is critical for an activity to work, then such will impose an immediate threat to the successful cycling of a process or completion of a project." Transition: Smoothly lead into the next paragraph. Example: "In addition to risk identification, it is equally important to accurately quantify the risk." 4. Conclusion Restate Thesis: Summarize your main argument in a new way. Example: "In summary, the orgtology method provides a new way to identify, quantify, and remedy risk exposure because its holistic nature offers a level of accuracy that other models do not have." Summary of Main Points: Briefly recap the key points discussed. Example: "From improved risk identification, quantification, and remedial action, the benefits of applying the orgtology method to risk management are clear." Closing Thought: End with a final thought or call to action. Example: "As organisations become more interconnected and complex, applying a more sophisticated risk management method is not just beneficial but essential." 5. Reference List We use the Harvard method for references. As a general rule, all citations must be in the reference list. A minimum of 50% of references must be from the study material, and a minimum of 40% must be external references. The essay is often a bottleneck for students who want to complete the COP. In our experience, the best way to deal with this is to begin documenting your research as soon as possible and to send it to your tutor. Your tutor will then provide feedback, and you will resubmit. This iterative process often involves several submissions but ultimately saves time by allowing you to address issues promptly. Most importantly, the essay must be publishable and must contribute to the OBoK (Orgtology Body of Knowledge). Good luck with your submission. We believe that you will find it highly satisfying when your essay is published and referred to by other students.
