International Business Consulting: Learning Outcomes, Content and Delivery

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Students will conduct effective assessments of relevant issues facing selected organisations, the impact of these on business viability and/or project feasibility and, subsequently, they will develop practical recommendations to assist the selected organisations in relation to further business growth and development. The module will do this by requiring students to integrate the key concepts and theories from their previous studies with relevant research, drawing on a range of sources, pertinent to their project and using a variety of functional and strategic perspectives, assisted by module tutors.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Successful students will be able to:

1Critically evaluate complex arguments and evidence in the field of international business, management and/or marketing (as appropriate)

2Integrate and apply academic theory to business practice in order to understand and analyse key issues

3Demonstrate knowledge and critical understanding of the fundamental concepts, principles, theories and practices that underpin a consultancy project

4Work autonomously to produce an effective research project.

CONTENT

Initial online sessions will consider elements generic to all business consulting projects. It is expected that students will study the material provided during the first 4 weeks of the module to prepare them for the completion of the project, during which time they will have selected their consultancy project. The remainder of semester will focus on completing the project work and mentoring students to successful completion.

Week 1: Introduction and explanation of the module

The Nature of Management Consulting - value, process, skills, the proposal.

Week 2: Project Evaluation and Analysis

Working with clients.

Week 3: Project Management.

Week 4: Delivering an Effective Business Strategy and meeting the client

Week 5: Project Proposal Deadline TBA. Submit via TurnItIn using folder called ‘Assessment’ in the BBL module area.

Week 6 - 10: Weekly Progress Reports and project mentoring with supervisors

Week 11: Collation of final report and reflective portfolio - provide drafts for proof reading

Week 12: Submission of final reports and reflective portfolios. Deadline TBA. Submit via TurnItIn using folder called ‘Assessment’ in the BBL module area.

LEARNING AND TEACHING METHODS

This module is delivered by a combination of online lectures and workshop material which will focus on development of key consulting skills. Students will also be required to research their project and gather the relevant information. Regular communication to report on the progress of each project forms a key requirement of this module.

Each student will be required to submit 5 progress reports in order to report progress on a regular basis and to receive feedback\mentoring to enable the successful completion of the project. Progress reports are compulsory and should be submitted weekly to Supervisors for feedback. These progress reports represent formative feedback.  Successful completion of these reports is however, integral to the completion of the project.

ASSESSMENT AND FEEDBACK

Part 1: Project [85%]

Students will focus on a ‘live’ business issue of importance to an identified UK organisation and will be asked to identify the parameters, key deliverables, timescales and project management details of their work. There are two stages to this:

• Proposal (15/100%): Students will firstly provide an individual project proposal of 1,500 words setting out the consultancy project requirements. This will be submitted in week 5 and feedback provided within one week to allow the project to develop onto the next stage.
• Report (70/100%): Using the project proposal, students will complete the project work and then produce an individual consultancy report of 6,000 words (worth 70%), based on the deliverables agreed within the project proposal.
• Part 2: Reflection (15/100%): Students will submit an individual reflection of 1,500 words. Students will be   required to provide details on their learning experiences, achievements, significant occurrences, and personal/professional development.