| Unit name | Management Consultancy |
|---|---|
| Unit code | EFIM30064 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | H/6 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24) |
| Unit director | Professor. Sturdy |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
EFIM20025 Management Research Methods |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
EFIM30064 Management Consultancy |
| School/department | School of Management - Business School |
| Faculty | Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
Why is this unit important?
This unit is important because it gives students the opportunity to draw together their learning over the course of their programme and use it to solve a real management/organisational challenge. It also provides new knowledge and skills for use in careers as consultants or managers/clients.
How does this unit fit into your programme of study
As above, it draws on the knowledge and skills of other units in the management/IB programme/s from current and previous years (e.g project management in year 2). It is therefore integrative, complementary and advanced, in drawing on the latest research on consulting and its use.
An overview of content
In the unit, students draw together some of their learning over the course of their programme and use it to solve a real management/organisational challenge. In addition, they will learn something about management consultancy research and practice. In groups, students will be allocated a consultancy research brief, mostly from outside organisations such as local charities. Over the course of one Teaching Block, students will work in groups to establish a set of project objectives through desk-based research. They will then undertake a piece of research in order to satisfy those objectives and present the research results and recommendations in a verbally and written report. In addition, they will individually assess the practical relevance of a piece of academic research on consultancy. The lectures will cover different aspects of consulting and its use and governance.
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit
They will know more and be able to do more in relation to consultancy, project management, group working presenting information (verbally and in writing/reports) as well as disciplines they draw on and apply in their projects. They will also be able to draw confidence from this.
Learning Outcomes
1. Identify and execute a coherent consultancy research project to achieve a set of goals.
2. Analyse and interpret the resultant data using appropriate methods and relevant techniques.
3. Present the results using appropriate academic and practitioner conventions, in academic essay / report format and verbally.
4. Provide evidence of an advanced level of competence in the design, execution and reporting of a consultancy project.
5. Demonstrate competency as a reflexive practitioner.
6. Analyse and evaluate academic research relevant to management consultancy.
The aim of this final year undergraduate unit is to introduce students to management consultancy research and practice/skills. This is achieved through lectures, reading and exercises, but also by carrying out a small group consultancy project based on briefs from outside organisations/clients in the not-for-profit sectors such as charities*. The purpose of this document is to provide an introduction to the unit and to the client projects in particular.
The unit is 20 credit points and runs weekly through Teaching Block 2 (11 weeks from February to May). Most weeks have two slots on the same day. This allows for a one-hour lecture first and then a two-hour lectorial for exercises/group working. There are two exceptions to this - the formative and summative presentations). A key part of the work will be conducted outside of this structure, working on projects in assigned small groups.
Knowledge streams:
1 Academic skills and expertise from other units may well be applied in the group project, including those units completed (e.g. research methods - a prerequisite - project management and marketing), but also other subjects in the final year and that which you acquire in your projects.
2 Academic knowledge from research on management consultancy - this will form part of the lecture content and readings and relates especially to the individual assessment.
3 Practical (consultancy) skills in team/group working, project management and (written and verbal) communication will be an important part of the project work and planning and be reflected on individually as part of the group element of the assessment.
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative):
1. PROJECT PROPOSAL/PLAN AND PRESENTATION (c3/4 sides and c15 mins plus 5 for Q&A) (FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT)
Working in small groups (normally of 4-6), students are required to problem analyse a client brief and outline in 4 pages (and present verbally) a set of objectives and show how and when they intend to achieve them.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
1. GROUP PROJECT REPORT (7000 words) AND INDIVIDUAL REFLECTION (600 words each) – 50% (SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT)
In order to address the learning objective of demonstrating an advanced level of competence in the design, execution and reporting of a consultancy project, students will work in groups to: integrate feedback on their proposal into a revised plan; conduct research and analysis; and communicate the results and recommendations in a written report format. (ILO1, ILO2, ILO3, ILO4, ILO5)
2. INDIVIDUAL SHORT ESSAY - 2000 words (+200 word article summary) excluding references - 50% (SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT)
A key element of the unit's learning objectives is an introduction to academic research on consultancy. This assignment asks you to evaluate the potential practical relevance of a selected research article on consulting. (ILO6)
When assessment does not go to plan
Re-assessment of units within the final year of undergraduate modular programmes is not normally permitted.
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. EFIM30064).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The assessment methods listed in this unit specification are designed to enable students to demonstrate the named learning outcomes (LOs). Where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, schools will make reasonable adjustments to support a student to demonstrate the LO by an alternative method or with additional resources.
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
