Theory and Practice of Business Technology Consultancy Course Descriptor

Course Overview

This course provides the key principles and practice of consultancy applied to digital business technology as a solution for clients, in the context of business strategy, operations, and change. It addresses the theory of consultancy, consulting structure, generic consulting methods and tools, as well as client engagement methodologies. It also introduces a wide range of consulting tools and techniques, such as problem diagnosis, requirements elicitation and management, solution design, development, and evaluation, stakeholder management, intervention design, change control, client training, and change management. That is suitable for analysis and solution development for digital business technology problems and consultancy in organisations aiming to benefit from digital and technology solutions. The course also ensures that the learners develop the knowledge and skills to navigate the legal and ethical requirements during a consultancy project, including sustainability, diversity and inclusion issues.

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge and Understanding

Subject Specific Skills

Transferable and Employability Skills

Teaching and Learning

This course has a dedicated Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) page with a syllabus and range of additional resources (e.g. readings, question prompts, tasks, assignment briefs, discussion boards) to orientate and engage students  in their studies.

This is an e-learning course, taught throughout the year. This course can be offered as a standalone short course.

Teaching and learning strategies for this course will include:

• On-line learning
• On-line discussion groups
• On-line assessment

Students are required to attend and participate in all the formal and timetabled sessions for this course. Learners are also expected to manage their self-directed learning and independent study in support of the course.

The course learning and teaching hours will be structured as follows:

• Off-the-job learning and teaching (12 days x 7 hours) = 84 hours
• On-the-job learning (24 days x 7 hours) = 168 hours (e.g. 2 days per week for 12 weeks)
• Independent study (4 hours per week) = 48 hours

Workplace assignments (see below) will be completed as part of on-the-job learning.

Indicative total learning hours for this course: 300

Assessment

Both formative and summative assessment are used as part of this course, with purely formative opportunities typically embedded within interactive teaching sessions, office hours, and/or the VLE.

Summative Assessments

Feedback

Students will receive formative and summative feedback in a variety of ways, written (e.g. marked up on assignments, through email or the VLE) or oral (e.g. as part of interactive teaching sessions or in office hours).

Indicative Reading

Note: Comprehensive and current reading lists are produced annually in the Course Syllabus or other documentation provided to students; the indicative reading list provided below is for a general guide and part of the approval/modification process only.

• Baaij, M. G. (2022). An introduction to management consultancy. An Introduction to Management Consultancy, Sage.
• Tidd, J., & Bessant, J. R. (2020). Managing innovation: integrating technological, market and organizational change. John Wiley & Sons.
• O’Mahoney, J., & Markham, C. (2013). Management consultancy. Oxford University Press, USA.
• Leading Global Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. (2021). Berrett-Koehler Publishers.
• Quino, C. T. E. de, Robertson, R., & Robertson, R. (2018). Diversity and inclusion in the global workplace : aligning initiatives with strategic business goals (C. T. E. de Aquino & R. (Robert W. . Robertson, Eds.). Palgrave Macmillan. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-54993-4

Indicative Topics

Note: Comprehensive and current topics for courses are produced annually in the Course Syllabus or other documentation provided to students; the indicative topics provided below are used as a general guide and part of the approval/modification process only.

• Consultancy concepts, principles and methods
• Problem diagnosis
• Stakeholder management
• Requirements elicitation and management
• Solution evaluation
• Change control

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