Durham University
Programme and Module Handbook

Postgraduate Programme and Module Handbook 2013-2014 (archived)

Module BUSI5E715: ORGANISATIONAL CONSULTING

Department: Business School (Business)

BUSI5E715: ORGANISATIONAL CONSULTING

Type Tied Level 4 Credits 15 Availability Available in 2013/14 Module Cap
Tied to N1KE12
Tied to N2KE12
Tied to N2KF12

Prerequisites

  • None

Corequisites

  • None

Excluded Combination of Modules

  • None.

Aims

  • To provide students with the opportunity to study key topics in organisational consulting at an advanced level.

Content

  • A framework: definitions of consultancy; a brief history of consultancy; the role of consultancy in modern business; types of consultancy; the nature of relationships between organisations and their professional advisors.
  • Making Organisational Interventions: styles of consultancy - process or product; assessing the clients' needs; key stages in the consultancy process; when to intervene; consultancy roles; monitoring and evaluation; frameworks for consultants working.
  • The Consultant: key skills and attributes; working with individuals; working with groups.

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:
  • By the end of this module, students should:
  • Have an advanced understanding of the nature of management consultancy and its contribution to contemporary business;
  • Have a critical awareness of the key models available to management consultants;
  • Have a critical appreciation of the complex issues involved in the application of management consultancy models to real life business situations.
Subject-specific Skills:
  • By the end of this module, students should:
  • be able to apply some of the key models available to management consultants.
Key Skills:
    Written communication; planning, organising and time management; problem solving and analysis; using initiative; computer literacy.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

  • The learning outcomes will be met through a combination of lectures, seminars, facilitated discussion sessions and guided reading. Extensive use will be made of case studies and business simulations. All sessions have a high participation element, and an emphasis on action-learning.
  • Assessment of this module is by summative assignment, designed to: test the acquisition and articulation of knowledge; test conceptual understanding and skills of application and interpretation within the business context.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Activity Number Frequency Duration Total/Hours
Lectures 9 hours in total
Seminars 9 hours in total
Preparation & Reading 132
Total 150

Summative Assessment

Component: Individual written assignment Component Weighting: 100%
Element Length / duration Element Weighting Resit Opportunity
Individual written assignment 3,000 words (Max.). 100%

Formative Assessment:

Feedback on group and individual activities undertaken during contact hours. Feedback on learning set reflections and action points related to this module.


Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University