Consulting Practice

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2016:

144 hours per semester, including self-directed study and research

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

This subject introduces students to the world of consulting through the eyes of practicing consultants. Guest consultants, drawn from leading international and local firms and academia, will introduce students to the ideas, theories and frameworks that are most influential and used in the industry. They will do this by introducing students to a major text that has inspired their thinking and consulting practice. Students will engage with the text critically to recognise its strengths and limitations. Students will also be exposed to how the consultants practically apply the concepts through demonstration case studies. Consultants will be drawn from representative functional areas, such as strategy, operations, human resources, marketing and sustainability.

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

• describe and explain influential ideas applied by management and marketing consultants to guide decision making in organisations;
• describe and explain how management and marketing consultants apply these ideas to organisation and market based problems for clients; and
• critically analyse a range of organisation and market based problems and apply relevant models and theories to generate effective solutions.

• Seminar contribution, due throughout the semester (10%);
• Individual theory application assignment 1 (1500 words), due Week 6 (20%);
• Individual theory application assignment 2 (1500 words), due Week 11 (20%);
• Take home individual exam (2000 words), during exam period (50%).

Will be set by guest presenters at least 2 months prior to the beginning of semester

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

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

• problem solving in business through the application of appropriate consulting theories and principles;
• ability to synthesise ideas and theories in developing solutions to business problems;
• demonstrate a capacity to successfully engage in collaborative activities such as group based work and activities; and
• interpret and communicate research results to specialist and non-specialist audiences.