2021/22 Taught Postgraduate Module Catalogue

LUBS5588M Management Consulting: Facts, Theories and Issues

30 creditsClass Size: 160

Module manager: Sundeep Aulakh
Email: S.Aulakh@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable

Year running 2021/22

This module is not approved as an Elective

Module summary

The rise of management consultancy during the last two decades of the 20th century is one of the key success stories of the contemporary business world. Given the pervasiveness of consultants and their services in the contemporary economy as well as the problematic nature of their involvement (not to mention the significant rewards that this occupation offers to its members), it is therefore increasingly important that students come to terms with the history of consulting, and the structure of management consultancy as a specific market and occupation. This module will introduce these management consulting structures to you, both as potential future consultants and/or as purchasers of consulting services.

Objectives

This module aims to develop students’ understanding of the history of the consulting industry, the key characteristics of the consultancy industry and its market It will also look at the important and at times problematic role of management consulting and consultants in contemporary business and society

Learning outcomes
On completion of this module, students will be able to:

- Critically assess the principal academic theories, dominant market practices and popular conceptions of management consulting and management consultants;
- Understand and critically evaluate the practitioner perspective on consulting
- Discuss how management consulting may affect business performance and survival;
- Evaluate the practical application of management consulting in various business settings

Skills outcomes
Transferable skills:

- Teamworking
- Negotiation
- Communication skills
- Commercial awareness
- Reflective Thinking
- Professional Development

Subject specific skills:

Upon completion of this module, students will be able to:

- Analyse the rise of the consulting sector
- Analyse the role of different stakeholders in the consultancy relationship
- Evaluate the purpose, nature and effectiveness of different consulting interventions;

Syllabus

Indicative content:

- History and overview/profile of the sector
- Consultant-client relationships
- Consulting firms, their organization and management
- The ‘managing’ of management consultants (client side perspectives including procurement)
- The dark side of management consulting, (including ethical issues and consultancy)
The roles and responsibilities of the consultant
-consultant behaviours
-recruitment and management of consultants
-the importance of professional development

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Group learning	11	2.00	22.00
Lecture	11	1.50	16.50
Seminar	11	1.50	16.50
Independent online learning hours			20.00
Private study hours			225.00
Total Contact hours			55.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			300.00

Private study

Students will be required to both prepare for the module and to undertake further research and study following the teaching period in order to complete their individual assignments.
Online learning will involve reading online cases and materials between lectures.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Students’ progress will be monitored through their participation in seminars, and through a discussion (within seminars) of their plans for the assessed coursework. Feedback on the first piece of assessed coursework (a group presentation) essay) will help students to prepare for their coursework assessment.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Essay	3000 words	70.00
Oral Presentation	15 minute group presentation	30.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

Students will work in groups on an assessed presentation throughout the duration of the module and will present in the final week of term. The final assessment will be a 3000 word coursework. The resit for this module will be 100% by 3,000 word coursework.

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 30/06/2021 15:20:04

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