MBA7102 - Management Consultancy Project 1

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 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 methodology and theoretical/investigative framework for data collection and analysis and presentation, as well as manage ethics issues.

Content:

The module is focused on the following aspects of real-life business issues investigation and presenting it in the form of a project proposal (brief), 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;

Students will be conducting a preliminary 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. Students will also delve into methodology: selecting and justifying appropriate academically grounded research method and design; following code of research conduct and ethics; adequate data collection method, sampling and further analysis frameworks; The module will also focus on brief writing and presentation: following the agreed format and academic conventions, presenting all the above information.

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.

Learning and Teaching Information:

The module is designed to support self-directed learning through enquiry and research. 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 Management Consultancy Project (MCP 1) 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 may 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.

Lectures / seminars
Hours: 25
Intended Group Size: Cohort

Workshops / tutorials
Hours: 5
Intended Group Size: Cohort or variable-size groups

Guided independent study
Hours: 170

Further details relating to assessment
Project brief portfolio: the composition of the portfolio may vary depending on the potential research sponsors/client needs, but in principle should include project brief, scoping documents, suggested timeline (Gantt chart), risk assessment/mitigation documents.

An agreement (contract) to undertake the project is required - project brief to be negotiated by the student, between the student and the project host/ employer organisation (it should include research ethics clearance).

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 clearance of their project from module leader. The process follows key principles of the University Code of Research Conduct and Ethics, available on the LTU intranet.

Assessment:

001 Portfolio; 4,000 word equiv.; end of term 3 100%

Fact File

Module Coordinator - Professor Denis Kobzev
Level - 7
Credit Value - 20
Pre-Requisites - NONE
Semester(s) Offered - 7T2

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