BUSHRM 710 : Consultancy Practice

Business and Economics

2022 Quarter One (1222) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

Develops the tools and frameworks required to engage in consultancy work. Engages students in problem framing, identifying and employing appropriate methodologies, and developing and presenting solutions to specific problems. Considers the dynamics of client-consultant relationships.

Course Overview

This course will prepare participants for a consultancy project to be conducted as part of an internship with a company. The course develops an understanding of the consulting role, client engagement process, solution development, and presentation techniques.

The course will help participants understand consulting as a process with the five phases of a) entry and contracting, b) discovery and dialogue, c) analysis and decision to act, d) engagement and implementation, and e) extension or termination. The participants will also develop a better understanding of academic research, including research methods and presentation of research results.

Throughout this course, participants will be challenged to understand the role of consulting research in business. Students will also develop an ethical practice of consulting that is of benefit to all stakeholders. Students will also gain hands on experience in exploring the research process and the key issues related to research design. Finally students will formulate a research proposal for a consultancy research project. 

Course Requirements

Prerequisite: BUSMGT 724, 751, 761, 762, with a B average or higher

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice
Capability 2: Critical Thinking
Capability 3: Solution Seeking
Capability 4: Communication and Engagement

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Apply knowledge of the business consultancy process (Capability 1 and 4)
  2. Apply critical strategies for developing and managing mutually beneficial relationships with stakeholders, to serve the needs of both the consultancy project and the research process (Capability 1 and 3)
  3. Assess the appropriateness of major types of research design for different research situations, demonstrating an awareness of ethical practice (Capability 2)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Project kick-off meeting - Planning 20% Individual Coursework
Secondary Research Report 25% Individual Coursework
Research Interview 25% Individual Coursework
Project kick-off reflection - Reflection 30% Individual Coursework
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3
Project kick-off meeting - Planning
Secondary Research Report
Research Interview
Project kick-off reflection - Reflection

Workload Expectations

This is an intensive, highly interactive course that requires all students to participate and contribute so that all can learn from each other how to best conduct a consulting engagement and deliver a research project to a client. The course involves a considerable amount of experiential learning and practical application of course material in exercises, role play, and debate. Students will be doing independent research, working in small groups, presenting to the whole class and practising all aspects of consulting and research for business and management.

We will meet for 3 weeks, with 15 hours of weekly class time. In addition to the 45 hours of in-class course time, students are expected to spend approximately 100 hours of learning related to this course outside of the classroom.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Attendance is required at scheduled activities to receive credit for components of the course.
The course will include live online events including group discussions.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.

Learning Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against online source material using computerised detection mechanisms.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course students may be asked to submit coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.

Published on 11/11/2021 11:19 p.m.