MBA Consultancy Projects
Our Consultancy Projects
MBA consultancy projects in Norwich Business School are live and challenging projects. They are not simply placements where a student works full-time in an organisation for a small period of time. Consultancy projects take place over a period of about twelve weeks with groups of students acting as consultancy teams to address real problems and issues in organisations. All of this activity is undertaken whilst, at the same time, attending the taught units typical of an MBA programme.
How we teach our students to apply knowledge
By consulting over a longer time period than many other MBA programmes, the students have an opportunity to undertake an unusually thorough consultancy. Our approach allows them to initiate discussion with a wider range of people than in a short intensive consultancy where access to the relevant people may not be possible within the timeframe. Furthermore the students have time to reflect on their learning as the project progresses and, indeed, part of their assessment is a reflection on the project once it has been completed.
In addition to showing their analytical and creative skills, the students practice negotiation and time management (they work to a proposal agreed with the client) and learn to work as a group (never easy!) toward a high level objective. The projects are chosen so that models and frameworks taught within the course can be applied.
All of this is underpinned with 40 hours of formal education and training in consultancy skills. This commitment to education and training is vitally important when addressing real issues that matter in real organisations. Our approach has been recognised by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) which has given us a UK first our students are the only ones in the UK who can leave with a joint MBA and a Diploma in Management Consultancy awarded by the CMI.
These consultancy projects allow students to practice the real application of knowledge gained from the taught units and to show their skills in dealing with real live situations where theory might be adapted to help an organisation achieve its goals. Consultancy projects are group projects with established local businesses. They are particularly useful in helping students to develop teamwork skills and organisational relationship skills such as negotiation.
Although this module teaches consultancy skills these are fully transferable skills internally within an organisation and useful regardless of whether the student intends a career in consultancy or otherwise. The module is organised by Terry Kendrick. Please contact Terry if your organisation or business is interested in finding out more about hosting a consultancy project.
Chartered Management Institute
Norwich Business School was the first UK MBA to offer students the chance to gain a Diploma in Management Consultancy with their Masters of Business Administration (MBA) qualification. The School has been awarded Approved Centre status for the diploma by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI). To achieve the diploma students undertake a short extra piece of work at the end of the MBA programme.
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