Business Project
| Module title | Business Project |
|---|---|
| Module code | BEMM466 |
| Academic year | 2023/4 |
| Credits | 45 |
| Module staff | Dr Stuart So (Convenor) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 11 - Jan start in Term 1 of 24/25 | Sept start |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 60 |
|---|
Module description
You will undertake an independent research or consultancy project based upon a data analytics topic of your choosing. The report will consist of 10,000 words and relevant analytical tables and figures. The project will allow you to display the skills you have learned during the taught part of the programme. These skills include: project planning, analytics, visual representation and writing. Each student will be supported throughout the project by a business analytics academic.
Module aims - intentions of the module
The aim of the Business Analytics Project is to give you the opportunity to work on a business-relevant challenge, developing and demonstrating the breadth of skills you have learned throughout your course. In particular you will learn to:
- Construct and execute an extended project
- Develop creative approaches to resolving business-relevant analytics problems
Your project will incorporate the academic rigour required to undertake research activities, while also drawing upon leading analytics practice to ensure relevance and application to current business.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. P2: Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of key business processes and structures, and the role of business analytics in decision support.
- 2. P3: Critically analyse and discuss current issues and influences relevant to the ongoing development of business analytics, and its application.
- 3. P4: Draw on knowledge of current research and practice to identify and apply appropriate analytics methods and tools to a range of business situations.
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 4. P6: Critically analyse the use of data within a business context, identifying strengths and limitations.
- 5. P7: Critically analyse and interpret relevant academic, technical and industry literature.
- 6. P8: Work with stakeholders from a range of backgrounds to identify the need for, design, develop, and deploy, analytics solutions within a business environment
- 7. P9: Communicate effectively through oral presentations and written reports, presenting methodologies and findings in a way that is appropriate to the intended audience.
- 8. P10: Contribute effectively to managerial decision processes within a business context.
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 9. P11: A global outlook: Our graduates are engaged and prepared for the demands of global business and society.
- 10. P13: An ethical ethos: Our graduates understand the social, financial and environmental factors that can impact on corporate sustainability and are able to make decisions openly and responsibly.
- 11. P15: A critical thinker: Our graduates have a commercial awareness that enables them to critically analyse, conceptualise and evaluate the challenges facing business.
Syllabus plan
The Business Analytics Project is unlike traditional taught modules. You will attend briefing sessions and preparatory workshops and lectures that will cover the following content, before embarking upon your project independently:
- Preparing a Business Analytics-relevant proposal for your project
- Identifying relevant data and developing appropriate research questions
- Devising a literature review
- Successful planning and project management
- Working with project stakeholders, including your supervisor
- Constructing a professional report
You will need to maintain contact with your supervisor and any collaborators throughout the time that you are working on your project.
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 20 | 430 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activity | 12 | Preparatory lectures and workshops |
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activity | 8 | Meetings with supervisor |
| Guided Independent Study | 430 | Background reading, research, analysis and preparation of project proposal, report and executive summary |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Progress meetings with supervisor | c. 8 hrs | 1-11 | Verbal |
| Project proposal | 2000 words | 1-11 | Verbal & written |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | 0 | 0 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Final report & Executive Summary | 100 | 11000 words | 1-11 | Written |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Final Report & Executive Summary | Final Report & Executive Summary (100%) (11000 words) | 1-11 | Referral/deferral period |
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
There is no formal reading list for this module, however you are likely to draw on resources used within other modules, and in particular those used for pre-requisite modules.
You may find that resources focussed on consultancy, data science in a business setting, and analysis tools and techniques are helpful throughout the development of your project. The following illustrative examples are available in online format from the University Library:
Bowden, J. (2011). 'Writing a Report: How to Prepare, Write & Present Really Effective Reports.’
https://encore.exeter.ac.uk/iii/encore/record/C__Rb2612719
Burman-Brown, R. (2006) ‘Doing Your Dissertation in Business and Management.’ Sage Study Skills.
Biggs, D. (2010) 'Management Consulting: A Guide for Students.' Cengage Learning.
https://uoelibrary.idm.oclc.org/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=edsbl&AN=RN281732399&site=eds-live&scope=site
Fisher, C. (2010) 'Researching and Writing a Dissertation: An Essential Guide for Business Students.' Financial Times Prentice Hall.
https://encore.exeter.ac.uk/iii/encore/record/C__Rb1917639
Lavin, P. (2005) 'Excellent Dissertations! : Planning, Managing and Writing a Dissertation Project for Undergraduates and Taught Postgraduates.' Open University Press.
Markham, C. (2019). Mastering management consultancy. London: Legend Business Books.
- Provost, F., & Fawcett, T. (2013). Data science for business. Sebastopol, CA: O’Reilly.
- Pochiraju, B. & Seshadri, S. (Eds.). (2019). Essentials of Business Analytics: An Introduction to the Methodology and its Applications. Cham: Springer
Stephan, F and Smith, I (2019) ‘A Practical Guide to Dissertation Writing,’ Cambridge Scholars Publishing.
Wickham, L. (2016) 'Management Consulting: Delivering an Effective Project.' Pearson, 5th Edition.
https://encore.exeter.ac.uk/iii/encore/record/C__Rb3527886
Witzel, M. (2016). Management consultancy. London: Routledge.
In addition, you will draw upon a wide range of additional resources specific to your individual project. Further examples of relevant resources will be available via the module ELE pages.
| Credit value | 45 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 22.5 |
| Module pre-requisites | This module is closed to MSc Business Analytics only |
| Module co-requisites | N/A |
| NQF level (module) | 7 |
| Available as distance learning? | No |
| Origin date | 09/01/2020 |
| Last revision date | 06/09/2023 |
