| Module Title |
Consulting Skills |
| Module Code |
MNA1068 (ITS: HR5111) |
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Faculty |
DCU Business School |
School |
DCU Business School |
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NFQ level |
9 |
Credit Rating |
5 |
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Description
This module will provide an overview of the management consulting profession, its industry and competitive dynamics, major practice areas, approaches to project management and management of consulting relationships. Participants will be introduced to business models and tools utilised by consultants , assess critical issues for the success of management consulting projects, and consider the dynamics of individual career progression in the industry
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Our focus will be on developing conceptual understanding and skill proficiency for practising consulting. The module is relevant to those who are specifically interested in consulting careers and/or those whose current or future job interests include staff consulting or line management with the use of consultants.
The module will address the topic on five levels of analysis.
1 Industry Level: understanding the consulting industry.
2 Firm Level: examine the issues associated with working in different types of consulting firms.
3 Project Level: a thorough understanding of all the phases of a consulting project lifecycle.
4 Relationship Level: consultant client relationship dynamics.
5 Individual Level: skills, attributes, ethics and lifestyle issues
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Learning Outcomes
1. Critically assess the changing nature of the management consultancy industry.
2. Demonstrate a detailed understanding of the key models and processes used by management consultants
3. Assess the typical phases of any consulting project
4. Apply skills, techniques, and processes that are considered important to success in management consultancy
5. Present analyses of issues and organizational problems in a concise, accurate, clear and compelling manner from the perspective of a consultant.
6. Describe the dynamics of the consulting relationship, and differentiate between the roles of internal and external consultants
7. Work with peers in an applied and collaborative manner to explore, design and propose consulting roles and interventions, including devising the best way to communicate and pitch
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| Section Breakdown | | CRN | 20733 | Part of Term | Semester 2 | | Coursework | 100% | Examination Weight | 0% | | Grade Scale | 40PASS | Pass Both Elements | N | | Resit Category | RC1 | Best Mark | N | | Module Co-ordinator | Brian Harney | Module Teacher | John Fitzsimons |
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| Assessment Breakdown |
| Type | Description | % of total | Assessment Date |
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| Assignment | You must submit an original paper about the progression of your consulting skills over the module. Please use this opportunity to research, personally reflect and write about this progression. It is expected that you will refer to the knowledge and insights you have accrued from the various elements of the course module e.g.
Meeting the client, guest speakers, VR lab, course material and other research.
For example:
－ In your opinion, what personal values and skills do the best consultants have?
－ In your opinion, which of these are hardwired and which can be learned?
－ Where were you vis-à-vis these as the start of the year?
－ What progress have you made developing these skills?
－ Where does that leave you vis-à-vis working in consulting or elsewhere?
－ How else could these skills be used to positive effect? | 25% | Week 12 | | Group assignment | The project requires you to prepare a proposal to provide consulting services, to address
a real business issue, for a real business.
This project will afford you the opportunity to work with others in practicing some of the critical skills in consulting including writing and delivering a proposal for a consulting engagement. You will also be using key consulting skills associated with entering and contracting and organisational diagnosis. Information on expectations around content and structure of the proposal will be covered in relevant lectures
Current Trends:
1. Climate Change; Sustainability / ESG / Social
2. Post Pandemic; New world of work
3. Technology; Digitisation - AI / Metaverse / Etc.
4. Purposeful Business
5. Change; Organisational Change | 50% | Week 9 | | Group presentation | Present a proposal to provide consulting services, to address a real business issue, for a real business.
This project will afford you the opportunity to work with others in practicing some of the critical skills in consulting including writing and delivering a proposal for a consulting engagement. You will also be using key consulting skills associated with entering and contracting and organisational diagnosis.
I will provide more information about my expectations on the content and structure of the proposal
and presentation in the coming weeks.
The outline should cover:
● Team – diversity is key!
● Brief rationale for your choice of client and proposal
● Proposed process (e.g. desk research, primary research, other)
● The expected structure of your final proposal (sections, headings) | 25% | Week 8 |
| Reassessment Requirement Type |
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories;
RC1: A resit is available for both* components of the module.
RC2: No resit is available for a 100% coursework module.
RC3: No resit is available for the coursework component where there is a coursework and summative examination element.
* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a coursework/summative examination split; where the module is 100% coursework, there will also be a resit of the assessment
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Pre-requisite |
None
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Co-requisite |
None |
| Compatibles |
None |
| Incompatibles |
None |
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All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml
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Indicative Content and Learning Activities
Module introduction The Consulting Industry
Introduction to consulting industry skills. Exploration- how do consultants add value with AI?
The Consulting Life Cycle
How do consultants work? Entering, contracting and diagnosis, selecting action and implementation; Basic consulting methodologies.
Internal versus External consulting
Roles and prospective benefits/limitations of external and internal consultancies
Meet the Client
How you engage with your client- relational intelligence
Organisational entry and diagnosis
Organisational entry and diagnosis- ways to solve problems. Case study exercise
Negotiation skills
actor facilitated role play on negotiation and sales
Consulting skills
consulting tools, skills and careers
Networks
Building your network, promotion and module review
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Indicative Reading List
Books:
- Block, Peter: 2023, Flawless Consulting: A Guide to Getting Your Expertise Used, 3rd, Wiley,
- O'Mahoney, Joe and Markham Calvert: 2013, Management Consultancy, Oxford University Press,
- Marshall B. Rosenberg & Deepak Chopra: 2015, Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life: Life-Changing Tools for Healthy Relationships, Puddledancer Press,
Articles:
- Ejenãs M. and Werr A.: 2012, Managing internal consulting units: challenges and practices, SAM Advanced Management Journa, 76 2, 523860
- 0: Harvard Business Review on Winning Negotiations, 523861, 1
- Engaging Engagements: Journal of Management. Consulting, 10(4), 2328,
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Other Resources
- 1: Podcast, McKinsey Podcast,
- 420059: 1, Podcast, Consulting success podcast,
- 420060: 1, Podcast, Strategy Skills Podcast, Spotify
- 420061: 1, Podcast, Grant, Adam, Work life with Adam Grant,
- 420062: 1, Podcast, Ted Business,
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