2024/25 Taught Postgraduate Module Catalogue

LUBS5592M Research Methods and Practice for Consultants

15 creditsClass Size: 72

Module manager: Jiachen Shi
Email: J.Shi3@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2024/25

This module is not approved as an Elective

Module summary

The role of the consultant requires data handling, manipulation and analysis on a day to day basis. This module will develop your understanding of the main tools and techniques used by consultants. It will also allow you to locate these within the broader methodologies used within business and management. You will develop specific consulting skills in this module, and will develop understanding of a range of research strategies and types of data to help you make informed, ethically sound choices about appropriate research strategies.

Objectives

This module aims to give students an understanding of a range of research methodologies and strategies, with a specific focus on the tools and techniques used by consultants to help their clients. Students will gain an understanding of the research methodologies used by consultants and will be able to locate these within broader methodological debates within business and management.

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

- Critically assess a range of key consulting methodologies, skills, and services, to develop a structured approach to managing consultancy interventions;
- Critically assess the strengths and weaknesses of different research methodologies in business and management
- Evaluate the limitations of the tools and techniques of consultancy
- Explain how consultancies develop their own tools and products
- Illustrate the soft skills that consultants use and develop in their work
- Undertake their own consultancy project/dissertation

Transferable skills:

- Teamworking
- Negotiation
- Communication skills
- Data analysis skills (quantitative and qualitative)
- Reflective Thinking
- Professional Development

Subject specific skills:

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

- Assess the appropriateness of a range of research methodologies and strategies, with a specific focus on those used by the consultant
- Gather, manipulate and analyse quantitative and qualitative data
- Outline and apply the stages of research in a consultancy project

Skills outcomes
Transferable skills:

- Teamworking
- Negotiation
- Communication skills
- Data analysis skills (quantitative and qualitative)
- Reflective Thinking
- Professional Development

Subject specific skills:

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

- Assess the appropriateness of a range of research methodologies and strategies, with a specific focus on those used by the consultant
- Gather, manipulate and analyse quantitative and qualitative data
- Outline and apply the stages of research in a consultancy project

Syllabus

Indicative content:

-research methodologies in business and management studies
-research strategies in business and management
-case studies
-surveys
-interviews

-consulting methodologies: frameworks for analysis
-consulting methodologies: improving operations
-consulting methodologies: bespoke frameworks
-quantitative data and data analytics in consulting
-qualitative data in consulting
-soft skills: communication and team building
-preparing for your project: dissertation/project guide

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Workshop	1	1.00	1.00
Lecture	10	2.00	20.00
Seminar	7	1.00	7.00
Private study hours			122.00
Total Contact hours			28.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			150.00

Private study

This could include a variety of activities, such as reading, watching videos, question practice and exam preparation.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Formative feedback will be available through feedback on seminar activities as well as a Q&A session related to coursework.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Reflective log	2500 words	100.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

The reflective log will comprise three elements: reflection on a series of tasks undertaken during the seminars; reflection on learning during the module; and reflections on how they will use their knowledge acquired during their dissertation/project. Resit will be 100% by 2,500 coursework.

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 16/08/2024 11:44:42

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