Business Project
| Module title | Business Project |
|---|---|
| Module code | BEMM149 |
| Academic year | 2024/5 |
| Credits | 30 |
| Module staff | Professor Tim Coles (Convenor) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 8-10 | 1-11 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 65 |
|---|
Module description
Summary
Available only to students on the MSc Management,
this module offers you the opportunity to tackle a real organisational problem via an applied research approach. Working in a group, your consultancy team will investigate an authentic business challenge specified in a partner’s research brief. From initial discussion and design, you will conduct an in-depth investigation using appropriate methods, concepts and theories, culminating in interpretations and the dissemination of your findings to the partner in a report and presentation. You will engage and liaise with the partner (assisted by the module lead), with the intention of offering a set of recommendations and/or a solution relevant to the partner’s needs. At the end of the module, you will reflect on your experience and the next steps in your professional development.
Additional Information
Internationalisation
The module considers international perspectives on management consultancy and some of inter-cultural challenges faced by this ‘global’ form of business.
External Engagement
You will engage with a company or organisations as your client.
Employability
You will develop skills, knowledge and experience that are highly transferable, beneficial and valuable in a number of career paths including, but not restricted to, consultancy and contract research.
Module aims - intentions of the module
This module is an opportunity to conduct independent research to tackle a real organisational problem as prescribed by an external partner (i.e. client). Working as a group of no more than five other students ideally, the aim is for you to learn how to undertake consultancy across the entire lifecycle of a project. This includes the realities of engaging with a partner; working as part of a consulting team; and applying knowledge, skills and expertise you develop so far in the programme towards real knowledge needs. You will develop consulting skills; practice your research skills (i.e. using quantitative and/or qualitative approaches; primary and/or secondary data); exercise critical judgement; and you will learn how others find working with you. Ultimately , with your colleagues, you will successfully deliver rigorously-researched, evidence-based work to your partner.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. Critically evaluate and enhance an organisations specific competencies and/or capabilities in the core and optional areas of study.
- 2. Relate real world situations to subject-specific knowledge from previous and current learning, using appropriate academic literature to inform your approach, arguments and recommendations.
- 3. Interpret protocols, expectations and outcomes by engaging with the clients internal strategies, policies, contexts and needs
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 4. Design, construct and execute an extensive research consultancy project
- 5. Critically engage with a variety of research materials and approaches, including primary research where appropriate
- 6. Critically analyse a business problem using both practitioner and academic perspectives.
- 7. Demonstrate effective relationship skills and professionalism.
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 8. Develop creative approaches to solving problems; managing in unpredictable situations; and making sound judgment in the absence of complete data
- 9. Effectively present information orally and in writing, including the formulation and delivery of logical and precise arguments.
- 10. Demonstrate self-direction, initiative and planning in the context of independent learning and the management of a major project
- 11. Effectively apply reflective practice to explore and identify learning needs for your future development
Syllabus plan
Topic area as agreed with supervisor, supported by several preparatory workshops, including:
- Consultancy, consulting skills and engaging with partner
- Building effective project teams
- International and inter-cultural perspectives on consultancy
- Applied research: using your knowledge and skills to meet the partner’s needs.
- Research project design and management
- Reflective practice for continuing professional development
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 20 | 280 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning & Teaching Activities | 16 | Lectures |
| Scheduled Learning & Teaching Activities | 4 | Project oversight: team briefings with tutor |
| Guided Independent Study | 280 | Reading, skills acquisition and/or uplift, preparation for classes and assessments, meetings with group and client. |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Client assessment = Students will receive feedback from the partner (ongoing and/or at the end of the project). This feedback should inform the reflective report. | N/A | 1, 3, 7, 9, 10 | Verbal or written feedback |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business proposal (group indicating breakdown of tasks by individual) | 10 | 1500 words | 1-4,8-9 | Written feedback on proposal and grade |
| Business report and/or other agreed artefact, plus a partner presentation of no more than 15 slides (group) | 80 | 10,000 words | 1-3,4-6,7-10 | Written feedback on report and grade |
| A reflective report (individual) | 10 | 1,500 words | 9,11 | Written feedback on report and grade |
| 0 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business proposal | Critical commentary on proposal (1000 words) | 1-4, 8-9 | Referral/deferral period |
| Business report | Change Log+Action Plan. 2500 words, individual paper reflecting on feedback from tutor and client, and proposing next steps | 1-3,4-6,7-10 | Referral/deferral period |
| Reflective paper | Reflective paper (1,500 words), to include experiences across module including since first submission | 9,11 | Referral/deferral period |
Re-assessment notes
For mitigation purposes, students may be deferred in each component separately.
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
Basic reading:
Bell, E., Bryman, A. and Harley, B. (2022). Business Research Methods. Oxford: OUP, 6th edition.
Biggs, D. (2010). Management Consulting: a Guide for Students. Australia: CENGAGE.
Davidson, J. (2019). Everyday Project Management. Oakland, CA: Berrett-Koehler.
Knaflic, C. (2015). Storytelling with Data. A Data Visualization Guide for Business Professionals. Chichester: Wiley.
Williams, K., Wooliams, M. and Spiro, J. (2020). Reflective Writing. London: Red Globe.
Wickham, L. and Wilcock, J. (2020). Management Consulting: Delivering an Effective Project. Harlow: Pearson, 6th edition.
| Credit value | 30 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 15 |
| Module pre-requisites | None |
| Module co-requisites | None |
| NQF level (module) | 7 |
| Available as distance learning? | No |
| Origin date | 17/06/2014 |
| Last revision date | 01/05/2024 |
