GRA 8242 Consultancy Project (2022/2023)
GRA 8242 Consultancy Project (2022/2023)
The aim of the consultancy project is to apply the knowledge and skills that students have acquired during the EMBA program to solve a real-life substantial managerial problem/challenge for an organization of their choice.
The consultancy project trains the students in conducting evidence-based analyses of a substantial managerial problem/challenge and to think critically about challenges connected to realizing the suggested solution to the organization.
The work on the consultancy project is conducted as a team project. This also gives the students practical training in solving business problems together with other people through collaborative non-hierarchical teamwork.
The Consultancy Project is an integral part of the EMBA degree. The subject for the consultancy project is provided by the organization and must be approved by the Associate Dean EMBA. The students should be able to observe and discuss the topic with people dealing with the challenge in the organization. Issues encountered in the coursework should be discussed in the report, and the students should demonstrate their ability to apply the models, theories and methods that they have studied to the real-life situation. The project is supervised by a representative from the organizationa who ensures that the project is being led according to its objectives and guidelines, as well as by a BI faculty advisor whose role is to coach the team in developing and executing the project, particularly ensuring the academic quality.
- Understand the management disciplines and how they are related
- Identify relevant business concepts and models
- Understand how business concepts explain different business problems
- Evaluate empirical evidence when proposing business solutions
- Conduct an independent analysis of a managerial challenge/problem in an organization
- Propose actionable solutions
- Identify and address implementation challenges
- Develop team work skills
Students develop independent critical thinking and deep understanding of the business context.
Students learn how to:
- Identify and articulate business challenges
- Plan and execute a consulting project
- Manage client relationships
- Communicate findings and recommendations effectively
The course will support the students in developing the following elements of a consulting report:
- A short presentation of the organization and the challenge to be addressed
- An application and discussion of theories and concepts that are relevant for the challenge
- A presentation and justification of the methodological approach, data source(s) and analysis. The group may apply a conventional strategic planning approach, a design-inspired process involving experimentation/prototyping, or a combination depending on what is appropriate for the project.
- A presentation/synthesis of findings and analysis of the challenge/situation
- A discussion on how the challenges can be handled and a proposed solution
- A plan/suggestion for next steps
The work with the consultancy project starts in module 1 of the EMBA programme where the students receive general information about what is expected from a consultancy project. The students also start to form groups at this time. The consultancy project groups are self-organized by the students. By module 3 the groups should be formed and the topic for the consultancy project should be approved. Between module 3 and 4 each group will receive a faculty advisor. The concrete work on the consultancy project takes place in the last half of the EMBA programme.
The students are expected to identify and refer to relevant literature.
In addition to submitting the consultancy report to BI, it should also be delivered to the client organization in the form of the final report and a presentation.
Attendance to all sessions in the course is compulsory. If you miss part(s) of the course, you must ask in advance for leave of absence. More than 25% absence in a course will require retaking the entire course. It's the student's own responsibility to obtain any information provided in class that is not included on the course homepage/ It's learning or other course materials.
The students are evaluated through the team report and its oral presentation in front of a jury consisting of the faculty advisor and an external examinator.
This is a course with continuous assessment (several exam elements) and one final exam code. Each exam element will be graded using points on a scale (e.g. 0-100). The elements will be weighted together according to the information in the course description in order to calculate the final letter grade for the course.
Specific information regarding student evaluation beyond the information given in the course description will be provided in class. This information may be relevant for requirements for term papers or other hand-ins, and/or where class participation can be one of several elements of the overall evaluation.
The course is a part of a full Executive Master of Business Administration Program and all evaluations must be passed to obtain a certificate for the degree.
In all BI Executive courses and programmes, there is a mutual requirement for the student and the course responsible regarding the involvement of the student's experience in the planning and implementation of courses, modules and programmes. This means that the student has the right and duty to get involved with their own knowledge and practice relevance, through the active sharing of their relevant experience and knowledge.
Granted admission to the EMBA programme. Please consult our student regulations.
Disclaimer
Deviations in teaching and exams may occur if external conditions or unforeseen events call for this.
| Assessments |
|---|
Exam category: Submission Form of assessment: Written submission Weight: 70 Grouping: Group (3 - 4) Duration: 1 Semester(s) Comment: Team report, counts 70% of the total grade. Exam code: GRA 82421 Grading scale: Point scale leading to ECTS letter grade Resit: All components must, as a main rule, be retaken during next scheduled course |
Exam category: Activity Form of assessment: Presentation Weight: 30 Grouping: Group (3 - 4) Comment: Oral presentation, counts 30% of the total grade. Exam code: GRA 82421 Grading scale: Point scale leading to ECTS letter grade Resit: All components must, as a main rule, be retaken during next scheduled course |
| Activity | Duration | Comment |
|---|---|---|
Examination | 800 Hour(s) | Preparation of Consultancy Project |
A course of 1 ECTS credit corresponds to a workload of 26-30 hours. Therefore a course of 30 ECTS credit corresponds to a workload of at least 800 hours.