Consulting Project

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2016:

At least 62 hours of contact time required to achieve a satisfactory level in this course. Over and above this the team is expected to spend significant time finalising their documentation and presentation to the client.

MGMT90148 Consulting Fundamentals is recommended as a prerequisite but may be taken as a corequisite.

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Student Support and Engagement Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and Student Equity and Disability Support: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/disability

Students will be assigned to a Practicum Organisation where they will work in teams to undertake a significant business consulting activity. Students will need to work with the Practicum Organisation in order to develop a solid statement of work, which the project will be expected to deliver to. Students will learn to work with unstructured and incomplete information, to develop research and networks to support their enquiry, to work successfully in teams, and to present their findings and seek and receive constructive feedback in a range of settings. Students will also be encouraged to plan, reflect and modify their approaches to improve the outcomes of their efforts in managing their business consulting project. Students will be supported in this consulting project with seminars on the consulting process, staged deliverables which facilitate solid project management techniques and input from the course co-ordinator.

On successful completion of this subject, students should be able to:

• Identify key strategic business questions or opportunities;
• Research, analyse, evaluate and propose practical business options given the project constraints;
• Manage key aspects of a business consulting project, including scope development, stakeholder communication and issue management;
• Show how the theory of consulting translates to real life practices;
• Explain the end-to-end process of client engagement with regard to undertaking a business project;
• Apply consulting and problem solving tools and techniques to a real life project; and
• Present a compelling business case within a real-life business situation.

• 4 x 500 word team based progress notes. Weeks 4, 6, 8 & 10 (20%);
• A team presentation of 1 hour in length. Week 12 – To be scheduled based on client availability in week 12 or shortly thereafter (30%);
• A 4000 word team based business report. Week 12 (40%); and
• Individual participation and contribution: assessment based on the contribution throughout the semester. Assessed at the end of the semester (10%).

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

On successful completion of this subject, students should have improved the following generic skills:

• Time management;
• Commercial awareness;
• Initiative within ambiguity;
• Independent learning, interpersonal skills and team skills;
• Verbal and written communication skills through discussion and assigned tasks;
• Project management;
• Team working;
• Communication skills in a business context;
• Research, problem solving, critical thinking; and
• Documentation, preparation and presentation skills through assigned tasks and the practicum exercise.