MBA Project
| Module title | MBA Project |
|---|---|
| Module code | MBAM914 |
| Academic year | 2024/5 |
| Credits | 20 |
| Module staff | Dr Donald Lancaster (Convenor) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 3 days (LCIC) | 5 days + 3 days (GSC) | (+10 hours 1:1 supervision) |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 30 |
|---|
Module description
This module introduces you to the field of applied management consulting and develops an understanding of the principles, tools and processes involved through a ‘hands-on’ live project with a client organisation. It is a practical experience designed to develop consultancy and other transferable skills.
Introduction: The module is primarily focused on the final piece of the MBA programme, but also includes the Local Community Impact Challenge (LCIC) and the Global Sustainability Challenge (GSC) as developmental steps. Both LCIC and GSC will contribute to the final grade for MBAM914.
Internationalisation: client organisations are both based in the UK and internationally.
External Engagement: guest speakers from the world of consulting will contribute to the module, and you will be engaging with external client organisations throughout the duration of your project.
Employability: You will gain valuable, transferrable skills through the undertaking of a consultancy project as part of the module.
Sustainability: a number of consulting projects will focus on the area of sustainability
Ethics and Corporate Responsibility: the module will specifically address ethical aspects of data collection, research and consulting
Research in Teaching: You will be introduced to the process and practicalities of undertaking Applied Research.
Module aims - intentions of the module
This module introduces you to the field of applied management consulting and develops an understanding of the principles, tools and processes involved through a ‘hands-on’ live project with an external organisation aimed at addressing a real issue set by the organisation. It is a practical experience designed to develop consultancy and other transferable skills. The module is organised around an individual consultancy assignment with a real client which the Business School might have sourced for you, or a consultancy project you might have sourced yourself. In some circumstances the MBA project can be linked to an internship and/or a new venture creation. The module requires you to deconstruct and negotiate a project task, apply critical thinking and a range of frameworks to structure analysis and evaluation, apply techniques to complete the required research, and demonstrate effective communication skills in delivering the final results to their client.
The early components of LCIC and GSC – both group work – will develop the skills required to successfully complete the individual consultancy project.
The principles of effective consultancy and project management will be introduced alongside barriers to successful intervention and how consultants manage risk.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. scope the project and design a proposal, this involves being able to plan, manage and complete a consulting project to a client brief, budget and timescale.
- 2. determine appropriate methodologies to help structured thinking, and the techniques for effective project management - specifically addressing the ethical aspects of data collection, research, and consulting.
- 3. synthesise from across MBA to locate the theories, models and concepts relevant to the client brief - mindful of the demands of global business and society more generally.
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 4. conduct research into applied issues (including deciding on appropriate data collection methods, analysis and interpretation) and generate insights to inform recommendations
- 5. critically analyse, conceptualise and evaluate the challenges facing client business.
- 6. manage stakeholders at all levels of project management, delivering rigour and relevance in all communications.
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 7. take a global outlook: apply creative intelligence and ethical imagination to complex problems to ensure that environmental and social governance is taken in to account;
- 8. apply critical thinking: present and defend strategic analyses in multiple forms (written, verbal, digital) based on case material, desk based and empirical research;
- 9. work with a collaborative mind-set: give and receive feedback at all levels in a confident and respectful manner. Work inclusively across multi-cultural groups to research, explore and prepare a persuasive argument against an assignment or client brief;
- 10. develop an ethical perspective: improve personal effectiveness through consciously and diligently making decisions on behalf of all stakeholders, environmental, social and financial;
- 11. demonstrate Technological and Digital Literacy: identify and apply relevant technologies to source, process and communicate accurate information.
Syllabus plan
The module opens with the LCIC early in Term 1, working on a real problem from one of a selection of local charities and 3rd sector organisations. In Term 2/3, Exeter MBA students partner with MBA students from other international universities (e.g. Holland, South Africa) to work on a sustainability problem from a global organisation. In both cases groups make assessed presentations to their ‘client’.
The module will include workshops in Term 2 aimed at promoting key mindset and transferrable skills and will include but is not limited to:
- Consulting as a profession and skill, and the role of a consultant.
- Key competencies for effective consulting.
- The process and cycle of consulting.
- Understanding client needs; appreciative inquiry; understanding the client organisation - stakeholders and the systems perspective.
- Preparing to meet the client.
- Project scoping and research design.
- Research methods: data collection and analysis
- Project management issues; causes of success and failure.
- Consulting processes, negotiation and problem-solving.
- Experiences on the receiving end – the client’s view.
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 60 | 130 | 10 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Skills development, guided independent group study | 30 | LCIC developmental project in groups; GSC developmental project in groups |
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching | 30 | Research methods and consultancy workshops |
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching | 10 | 1:1 Supervision |
| Guided Independent Study | 130 | Reading, Research, Writing |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Discussion: group and 1:1 | Throughout the LCIC and GSC, in the workshops and 1:1 meetings with supervisor | 1-11 | Oral feedback |
| Consultancy/Research proposal (individual) | Pass/Fail | 1-6,7,9 | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Group presentation (LCIC) | 3 | 15 minutes | 1,2,5,6,9 | Oral & written feedback and grade |
| Group presentation (GSC) | 7 | 20 minutes | 1,2,5,6,9 | Oral & written feedback and grade |
| Consultancy report, plus supporting materials (individual) | 80 | 6500 words | 1-11 | Written feedback on report and grade |
| Client assessment or external appraisal (individual) | 10 | N/A | 6,7,9,11 | Written feedback and grade |
| OR Complete a consultancy project (above) or research dissertation (below) | 0 | |||
| Group presentation (LCIC) 3% | 0 | 15 minutes | 1,2,5,6,9 | Oral & written feedback and grade |
| Group presentation (GSC) 7% | 0 | 20 minutes | 1,2,5,6,9 | Oral & written feedback and grade |
| Research Dissertation (Individual) (R) 90% | 0 | 10000 words | 1,5,7-11 | Written feedback on report and grade |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| LCIC | Individual report of 750 words | 1,2,5,6,9 | Next re-assessment period |
| GSC | Individual report of 1500 words | 1,2,5,6,9 | Next re-assessment period |
| Consultancy report 6500 words plus supporting materials | Consultancy report 6500 words | 1-11 | Next re-assessment period |
| Client assessment or external appraisal (individual) | Individual assignment 2500 words | 6,7,9,10,11 | Next re-assessment period |
| As original | Complete the consultancy project re-assessment (above) or research dissertation re-assessment (below) | ||
| Research dissertation | Consultancy report or research dissertation (10,000 words) | 1,5,7-11 | Next re-assessment period |
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
Galea, C (2009) Consulting for Business Sustainability, Greenleaf Publishing.
Biggs, D (2010) Management Consulting: A Guide for Students, South-Western.
Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources
http://vle.exeter.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=5038
| Credit value | 20 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 10 |
| Module pre-requisites | None |
| Module co-requisites | None |
| NQF level (module) | 7 |
| Available as distance learning? | No |
| Origin date | 10/02/2015 |
| Last revision date | 22/07/2024 |
