IT Consulting 1 - 2025 entry

***DEGREE APPRENTICESHIP STUDENTS ONLY***

An IT consultant requires a broad set of skills in Business Analysis, solutions development, network infrastructure, data, cyber security etc. They use their consulting skills in order to advise clients on how to best utilise technology to meet their business objectives, overcome problems and increase productivity. They provide strategic guidance to clients with regard to technology and facilitate changing business processes through enhancements to technology solutions. They provide technical assistance, and are often responsible for providing training.

The aim of this module is to give you basic competence in IT consulting skills, including an understanding of the business context in which consultants operate and the client relationship, developed in part through the use of real-world case studies, the use of tools and techniques for solving business problems, and skill in gathering requirements for IT solutions.

On successful completion of this module, you should be able to:

Module Specific Skills and Knowledge:

1. Understand the role of IT consultants and different forms of IT consulting in organisations

2. Understand how to define the approach to IT consulting, taking into account various factors in a client organisation

3. Recognise different consulting fee models

4. Understand the approaches to analysing business problems and gathering requirements for technology solutions

5. Prepare detailed specifications for all requests for development/modification to the system

6. Prepare technology development recommendations for a client organisation

Discipline Specific Skills and Knowledge:

7. Recognise the principles of different consulting methodologies

8. Understand how consulting ties into project management, Business Analysis and business management

9. Recognise the barriers to solving digital and technology problems or maximising opportunities

10. Recognise the approaches to presenting recommendations to stakeholders and influencing action

11. Recognise the approaches to analytical and critical thinking to define business problems objectively and create value for the client

12. Understand different questioning strategies and active listening to ensure all requirements are gathered

13. Understand the approaches to change control and requirements management

14. Analyse client needs and determine how to advise them strategically through improved business processes, new ideas, or technology solutions

15. Effectively communicate value add to the client through a variety of media

16. Make evidence based recommendations taking into account risks, costs, and benefits

17. Participate in walk-throughs for Information Technologies, to identify, document and evaluate key risks within a client’s organisation

18. Effect change within an organisation through evaluation of a new system, process or initiative

Personal and Key Transferable/ Employment Skills and  Knowledge:

19. Communicate orally and in writing

20. Solve problems creatively

21. Think analytically and critically

22. Organise your own work

23. Work to a deadline

Introduction (1 week)

•          The business context for consulting

•          Relationship of consulting with other disciplines

           o          Project management

           o          Business Analysis

           o          Business management

•          Different structured process approaches for consulting

•          Introduction to case studies used throughout module
 

Engaging with the client (3 weeks)

•          The commercial relationship; lifecycle

•          Procurement processes

•          Performing scoping processes such as definition of approach, scope and resource requirements
 

Solving business problems (4 weeks)

•          Identifying problems; framing/defining business problems

•          Participating in walkthroughs for IT, to identify and document key risks within a client’s organisation

•          Problem-solving techniques

•          Barriers to solving problems or maximising opportunities
 

Requirements gathering (4 weeks)

•          Defining requirements; establishing trust; interviewing; open-ended, closed and leading questions

•          Probing techniques; discovering hidden requirements

•          Preparing detailed specifications for system development/modification requests

Deferral – if you miss an assessment for certificated reasons judged acceptable by the Mitigation Committee, you will normally be deferred in the assessment. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.

Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 40%) you may be required to sit a referral. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of referral will be capped at 40%.

Basic reading:

Markham, C. 2019. The Art of Consultancy. 1st Ed. Legend Business. ISBN: 9781789550818

ELE: https://ele.exeter.ac.uk

Reading list for this module: