Units

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Sample subject outline - Semester 1 2013

Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.

Rationale

In an IT degree, students learn many technical skills that they can apply to IS consulting assignments. In addition to these technical skills, students will benefit from learning the processes that consultants use to engage clients.

This unit presents the tactical and strategic issues involved in management consulting, and in particular: client engagement. In the unit there is an emphasis on Information Systems (IS) related work. IS constitutes a substantial portion of consulting activity and cuts across all areas of business expertise. The unit examines the dynamics of IS consulting within the context of large consulting firms and familiarises students with the consulting engagement lifecycle.

Students seeking a career in consulting will be able to better appreciate the environment in which they will be working. Organisations are increasingly moving to flatter, project-oriented, team structures, akin to consulting firms. A better appreciation of the consulting process will be beneficial to students working in these modern organisations as internal consultants. The unit will give students useful background to consider establishing their own consulting practice. Furthermore, it will yield insights and provide techniques to engage clients successfully.

Aims

The aim of the unit is to develop your skills in the consulting engagement process. This unit will give you an appreciation of the management of consulting practices and an understanding of the consulting sector generally.

Objectives

1. Demonstrate the knowledge and skills required to pursue a career or related professional activity in Information Systems Consulting. This includes theoretical and practical knowledge of the consulting engagement lifecycle, types of consulting practices, practice management considerations and engagement success factors (GC1);


2. Demonstrate critical and evaluative thinking in the evaluation of practical and ethical consulting dilemmas and the evaluation of consulting proposals in a systematic way (GC2, GC6);


3. Exhibit a professional and systematic approach to the identification of client needs and the writing and public presentation (oral and visual) of consulting proposals (GC2, GC3);


4. Demonstrate skills in consulting-style presentations and engagement meetings;


5. Demonstrate the ability to work as an effective consulting team member taking leadership responsibility (driving or monitoring activities) in certain tasks when required (GC7, GC5);


6. Demonstrate in a professional manner the ability to commit to and meet timelines and targets in the preparation for the workshop (GC4) .

Key: Graduate Capabilities
GC1 - Knowledge and Skills
GC2 - Critical and Creative Thinking
GC3 - Communication
GC4 - Lifelong Learning
GC5 - Independence and Collaboration
GC6 - Social and Ethical Responsibility
GC7 - Leadership and Change

Content

This Unit examines the strategic and operational environment of a consulting firm. It examines the complete consulting lifecycle before concentrating on the earlier engagement stages. The marketplace for IS consulting firms is appraised to give you a better understanding of their positioning and the role of consultants within the different market sectors.

Students are exposed to consulting management issues such as workforce planning, strategic positioning, and client engagement techniques. There is a concentration on engagement including how to organise a proposal, steps in structuring a client-consultant meeting, consulting presentation techniques, tendering and contacting issues, negotiation, knowledge management within a firm and exposure to consultants working in large and small firms.

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

This unit revolves around the IS consulting process. Theory, concepts and practical prescription addressed in the readings come together in a compulsory 6-hour, Saturday workshop at which students, organised into client and consultant teams, interact to arrive at a client choice of consultant proposal. Reflection on this workshop experience will demonstrate application of ideas encountered in the readings and classroom discussion. In workhops you will practise skills to enhance your chances of securing consultant engagements.

Assessment

Students participate in workshop exercises, building the skills to effectively take part in the end-of-semester workshop.Feedback is provided to individual students on their performance in the workshop exercises.

Furthermore, feedback from participating in weekly practical activities will help you to build an essential consulting toolkit to prepare for the culminating compulsory Saturday Workshop and to better equip you when entering the IT industry.
You will gain insight into the workshop experience through feedback from the 'client-team' who select the winning proposal, and at a reflective discussion session following the workshop where all are debriefed on the experience.
You can obtain feedback on your progress throughout the unit through the following mechanisms:
· ask the teaching staff for advice and assistance during lectures and practical sessions
· formative assessment of the consulting proposal
· private consultation with teaching staff

Assessment name: Problem Solving Task
Description: Tutorial exercises relating to unit materials and participation in workshop activities.
Relates to objectives: All
Weight: 20%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Weekly

Assessment name: Presentation (Oral or Group)
Description: This practical 6-hr workshop is scheduled to run on a Saturday late in the semester (in lieu of two regularly scheduled weekly sessions). (This is a group assignment.) Students will submit part of the proposal as formative assessment prior to the workshop.
Relates to objectives: Relates to all unit objectives.
Weight: 40%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Group
Due date: Week 12

Assessment name: Examination (Theory)
Description: 2hr examination.
Relates to objectives: Relates to all unit objectives.
Weight: 40%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: End of Semester

Academic Honesty

QUT is committed to maintaining high academic standards to protect the value of its qualifications. To assist you in assuring the academic integrity of your assessment you are encouraged to make use of the support materials and services available to help you consider and check your assessment items. Important information about the university's approach to academic integrity of assessment is on your unit Blackboard site.

A breach of academic integrity is regarded as Student Misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties.

Resource materials

There is no required text for this unit.
Apart from lecture materials and set readings, there will be supplementary materials available on Blackboard to enhance your learning experience.

Risk assessment statement

There is minimal health and safety risk in this unit. It is your responsibility to familiarise yourself with the health and safety policies within FIT campus areas and laboratories.

Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of semester.

Last modified: 24-Oct-2012