2018/19 Taught Postgraduate Module Catalogue

LUBS5584M Commercial and Professional Skills

15 creditsClass Size: 80

Module manager: Dennis Macdonald
Email: D.W.Macdonald@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2018/19

Module replaces

LUBS 5387M

This module is not approved as an Elective

Objectives

The aim of this module is to equip students with the commercial and professional skills required for business consulting in 21st century organizations. The module takes a problem-based, student-centred approach, encouraging students to develop a range of core vocational skills and business acumen, which will together enhance their future employability.

Learning outcomes
On completion of this module, students will be able to critically evaluate:
- the commercial/ institutional context in which business consultants operate, and the implications that this has for their work;
- ethical conduct, professional issues, and practical constraints to common work problems experienced by business consultants working with organizations;
- the value of scientifically-informed, evidence-based courses of action that are rooted in psychological theory and methods, in order to improve commercial outcomes and/or employee well-being;
- their own professional identity, and the contribution that they are able to make within an organization, based on their particular expertise and knowledge.

Skills outcomes
Subject specific skills:
- Apply theory from the student's area of expertise (e.g. business psychology, global supply chain management, information systems, strategic management) in order to analyse complex organizational problems and develop viable solutions
- Apply appropriate research methodology to solve real-world organizational problems
- Demonstrate technical, analytical and interpersonal capability by designing and managing effective interventions in organizations


Transferable skills:
- Negotiate project parameters (including scoping, costing)
- Present information, both in writing and verbally to stakeholders from a range of organizational backgrounds
- Work effectively and efficiently with colleagues in interdisciplinary group projects
- Identify and analyse needs and problems to formulate and implement solutions and evaluate outcomes

Syllabus

Indicative content:
- The role of Management Consultant and the consultancy cycle
- Developing a professional identity and recognising your expertise
- Identifying and analysing needs, and developing a business case
- Project management, tendering/proposal writing and the costing of work
- The ethics of dealing with human participants
- Structure, politics, power and culture, and their collective impact on the work of a Management Consultant
- Obtaining data in organizations
- Making evidence-based decisions leading to solutions and recommendations
- Presenting information to organizations

For students taking the MSc in Organizational Psychology. The module also lays the foundations for those students wishing to undertake the Qualification in Occupational Psychology (Stage 2) process, regulated by the British Psychological Society (BPS) and the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) for practicing Occupational Psychologists.

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Fieldwork	1	4.00	4.00
Practical	9	3.00	27.00
Private study hours			119.00
Total Contact hours			31.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			150.00

Private study

Reading and preparation for workshops, and practical assessments (to include a mix of independent and online research, and private study):

- 2 hours preparation work per workshop (eg reading, or online research)
- 4 hours follow-up work per workshop (eg developing presentations, working on group tasks and case studies)
- 63 hours for 'organizational raid' assignment (including time working in groups to develop presentations)

= Total private study: 119 hours.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Students will be offered formative feedback on group activities and exercises undertaken in all practicals. Formative feedback will also be offered following a group presentation of the findings of the report to project sponsors. Finally, they will be offered an appointment for feedback on the final assignment prior to submission in an 'assessment clinic'.

Summative feedback will take the form of a final portfolio grade.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Report	Group report (4,000 words)	70.00
Report	Individual reflection (1,000 words)	30.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 12/12/2018 16:33:09

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