GRA 4146 Consultancy Project for Business Analytics

GRA 4146 Consultancy Project for Business Analytics

Course code: 
GRA 4146
Department: 
Department of Accounting and Operations Management
Credits: 
18
Course coordinator: 
Pål Berthling-Hansen
Course name in Norwegian: 
Consultancy Project for Business Analytics
Product category: 
Master
Portfolio: 
MSc in Business Analytics
Semester: 
2020 Autumn
Active status: 
Active
Level of study: 
Master
Teaching language: 
English
Course type: 
One semester
Introduction

This course intends to give students a sense of how to solve a problem for a concrete company or public entity. Students will experience first-hand how to solve a concrete business problem in groups and present the solution to a panel of high level executive decision makers within the company/entity in question.

The course is divided into two parts, with two different problems to solve. 

Learning outcomes - Knowledge

After having completed this course, students should be familiar with tools and knowledge to allow them map a specific problem for a company/entity. The problems can be of national or international application. The students will also gain domain knowledge in the industry under analysis.

 

 

Learning outcomes - Skills

Students will need to identify a problem and analyse a dataset in order to apply specific statistical tools to solve the probllem. Data management skills will also be required to turn data into information and further into insight.

Through the application of previous learnt knowledge and skills, the students will experience writing a consultancy report and presenting the report to key decision makers. Working in groups the students will experience and learn skills related to group related problem-solving.

General Competence

Students learn how to evaluate a business problem from several angles and will experience firsthand the importance of reflecting on how the suggested solution will add value to the organization and/or sustainability to the public sector through the suggested solutions. The students have to be critical to any data provided and also need to critically evaluate their suggested solution.

Course content

The course is divided into two parts:

Part 1

The student groups are presented with data and a real problem from a concrete company or public entity. The data will be of a structured/semi structured format, and the inherent business problem will be roughly outlined. The students spend a total of 5 weeks applying various methods/tools to analyse the data in order to outline a suggested course of action for the business in question. The students provide a written report for evaluation.

Part 2

In part two the same student group is presented with a more complex decision problem. The data will be of several formats. The students are then given a total of 7 weeks defining the business problem, gathering the data, structuring and cleaning the data, and applying specific methods /tools to analyse the problem at hand. The students provide a written report and conduct a real-time video conference/presentation suggesting their course of action. Key decision makers in the company will be able to interact with the student group.

During the two parts students will meet with individuals from consultancy companies sharing their insights into business analytic problem solving.

Teaching and learning activities

The learning process will be as follows (sequence changes may occur):

Week 1-5 

Handout of data/problem 1

Consultancy session 1 – How do consultants work?

Q/A session from the company/entity in question

Hand-in Solution 1

Week 5-11

Handout data/problem 2

Q/A session from the company/entity in question

Consultancy session 2 – How do consultants make a convincing presentation?

Hand in Solution 2

Presentation to company/entity

Students are expected to ulilise software/digital tools previously learnt in the programme.

Software tools
Software defined under the section "Teaching and learning activities".
Additional information

This is a course with 3 exam components. Each exam component is graded by using points on a scale from 0-100. The components will be weighted together according to the information in the course description in order to calculate the final letter grade for the examination code (course). Students who fail to participate in one/some/all exam components will get a lower grade or may fail the course. Information about the point system and the cut off points with reference to the letter grades, will be given when the course starts.

Qualifications

All courses in the Masters programme will assume that students have fulfilled the admission requirements for the programme. In addition, courses in second, third and/or fourth semester can have specific prerequisites and will assume that students have followed normal study progression. For double degree and exchange students, please note that equivalent courses are accepted.

Covid-19

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, there may be deviations in teaching and learning activities as well as exams, compared with what is described in this course description.

Required prerequisite knowledge

Students are expected to have completed all prior courses in the programme..

Exam categoryWeightInvigilationDurationGroupingComment exam
Exam category:
Submission
Form of assessment:
Written submission
Exam code:
GRA41461
Grading scale:
Point scale
Grading rules:
Internal and external examiner
Resit:
All components must, as a main rule, be retaken during next scheduled course
40No 5 Week(s)Group/Individual (1 - 3)Solution 1
Exam category:
Submission
Form of assessment:
Written submission
Exam code:
GRA41461
Grading scale:
Point scale
Grading rules:
Internal and external examiner
Resit:
All components must, as a main rule, be retaken during next scheduled course
40No5 Week(s)Group/Individual (1 - 3 )Solution 2
Exam category:
Activity
Form of assessment:
Presentation
Exam code:
GRA41461
Grading scale:
Point scale
Grading rules:
Internal examiner
Resit:
All components must, as a main rule, be retaken during next scheduled course
20No 1 Hour(s)Group/Individual (1 - 3)Oral presentation of written report 2.
Exams:
Exam category:Submission
Form of assessment:Written submission
Weight:40
Invigilation:No
Grouping (size):Group/Individual (1-3)
Duration: 5 Week(s)
Comment:Solution 1
Exam code: GRA41461
Grading scale:Point scale
Resit:All components must, as a main rule, be retaken during next scheduled course
Exam category:Submission
Form of assessment:Written submission
Weight: 40
Invigilation:No
Grouping (size):Group/Individual (1-3)
Duration:5 Week(s)
Comment:Solution 2
Exam code:GRA41461
Grading scale:Point scale
Resit:All components must, as a main rule, be retaken during next scheduled course
Exam category:Activity
Form of assessment:Presentation
Weight:20
Invigilation:No
Grouping (size):Group/Individual (1-3)
Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Comment:Oral presentation of written report 2.
Exam code: GRA41461
Grading scale:Point scale
Resit:All components must, as a main rule, be retaken during next scheduled course
Type of Assessment: 
Continuous assessment
Grading scale: 
ECTS
Total weight: 
100
Student workload
ActivityDurationComment
Feedback activities and counselling
16 Hour(s)
Examination
20 Hour(s)
Feedback activities and counselling
4 Hour(s)
Group work / Assignments
440 Hour(s)
Sum workload: 
480

A course of 1 ECTS credit corresponds to a workload of 26-30 hours. Therefore acourse of 18 ECTS credit corresponds to a workload of at least 480 hours.