MBA7106 - Management Consultancy Project

Objectives:

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:
Explore, analyse and evaluate in depth a real life business or management related issue in the context of client/business needs; formulate specific research aims and objectives and project brief.
Critically situate the project proposal in relation to existing academic and industry-based literature and other relevant sources.
Select, justify and action an appropriate research methodology and theoretical/investigative framework for data collection and analysis, as well as manage research ethics issues.
Demonstrate a capacity for self-management and independent learning in the investigative process, engagement with academic and industry literature, management consultancy project design, planning and management, as well as managing client relations.
Produce a clear, logical and coherent presentation and project report based on the research undertaken, following specified requirements of the client and University.

Content:

The module is focused on the following aspects of research project investigation and presenting it in the form of a project report, including:
Problem definition – business context/issue; client relations, ability to identify their needs and collaboratively agree project brief are crucial in refining the scope of a research project with specific research aims and objectives;
Conducting a literature review, leading to justification of the novelty/originality of the management consultancy project, identification of theoretical investigative and analytical frameworks, as well as following appropriate reference practice in writing the project brief, report and presentation;
Methodology: selecting and justifying appropriate academically grounded research method and design; following code of research conduct and ethics, including signing ethical approval form; adequate data collection method, sampling and further analysis;
Brief/report writing and presentation: following the agreed format and academic conventions, presenting all the above information, leading to findings (in line with identified research objectives) and analyses/discussion, recommendations to business and conclusion.
It is anticipated that the research project will also build students’ in-depth knowledge and understanding in one of five core subject areas (K1-5: External Environment, People and Organisations, key Functional Specialism, Customer Orientation and Strategy) depending on the area of their interest – generic or finance and accounting. Research projects and reports should be in line with the selected MBA programme: e.g. generic - marketing, advertising or any managerial/customer service or HR, sales, operations/logistics, etc.; Finance - accounting or financial function.

Learning and Teaching Information:

The module is designed to support self-directed learning through enquiry and research. Students will be allocated a project supervisor to offer more specialist help in conducting the investigation for the generic MBA in a variety of Management Consultancy areas - Marketing, Management, Operations, Business, etc. and for MBA (Finance) in Finance & Accounting areas, verifying the primary (recommended)/secondary research methods adopted and offering guidance on data analysis and presentation. The module encourages deep learning through the critical analysis of relevant literature and the investigative research process required for the module.

The first part of the module will introduce the principles of social science research and key business, management and marketing research methodologies. Sessions (normally 2.5 hours) will cover a range of qualitative and quantitative approaches and techniques, including survey, case study, focus groups and statistical analysis, as well as the process of research design, proposal (project brief) writing for a study that includes an element of primary research, gaining ethical clearance and communicating research ideas through a project brief.

In parallel, students will be offered an opportunity to match their research and consultancy interests with an external organisation’s needs (private or public sector; EPO support will be provided). Special sessions on management consultancy skills will prepare them to work with a client, identify real life business issues and agree a project brief.

The second part of the module will involve the delivery of the research project for an external organisation, collecting and analysing data, producing recommendations for a client and presenting findings in the form of an oral presentation and written report.

Lectures
Hours: 16
Intended Group size: Whole cohort

Workshops
Hours: 8
Intended Group size: Whole cohort

Individual tutorials with supervisors
Hours: 8


Guided independent study
Hours: 568

Further details relating to assessment
Students are required to abide by the Leeds Trinity University Code of Research Conduct and Ethics to affirm that appropriate ethical safeguards are in place prior to undertaking the research. Ethical approval for the research will have been sought as part of the research brief.

A tri-partite agreement (contract) to undertake the project is required – project brief to be negotiated by the student, between the student, Leeds Trinity (supervisor) and the project host/ employer organisation (it should include research ethics considerations/approval).

The oral presentation is of the development, completion and outcomes/recommendations of the project (format may be tailored to client needs). Presentations may be directed at specific audiences, e.g. employer, staff, customers, directors, etc. The project report will broadly follow the convention of a written report (including academic reflections and referencing); students will be expected to negotiate the exact format with their supervisor (for example Business Reports, Finance/Audit Reports, Product/Service Development Plans, Marketing Plans/Campaigns, etc.)

Other relevant matters
As a result of University responsibility for ensuring that research conducted by its staff and research students abides by accepted standards of conduct and ethics, this aspect is integrated within the content of this course and students need to seek ethical approval of their project. The process is coordinated by a module leader and requires the signing of an ethical approval form before any project can be actioned. The process follows key principles of the University Code of Research Conduct and Ethics, available on the intranet.

Assessment:

001 Project brief and Ethical approval 2000 words Mid T3/Summer 15%
002 Presentation 10 minutes Mid T3/Summer 15%
003 Project report 8000 words end of T3/Summer 70%

Fact File

Module Coordinator - Professor Denis Kobzev
Level - 7
Credit Value - 60
Pre-Requisites - NONE
Semester(s) Offered - T3

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