BM9404 - Analytics Study and Consultancy Skills

What will I learn on this module?

As part of your business analytics education, it is vital you develop competencies such as business analytical skills, interpersonal skills, creative thinking, problem solving, communication and time management. This module will prepare you for your degree and the graduate marketplace by equipping you with the skills required to tackle a wide range of business challenges, and to appreciate how information/data can guide decision making.

This hands-on module will provide you with an introduction to experiential learning, where you create knowledge through experience. You will work on live business projects and collaborate in teams to develop solutions to real business problems. A core part of this process is reflection: appreciating your own skills, how they complement those of other group members and identifying areas for your own future development.

This module will complement ‘Business Analysis for Decision Making’, where you will be focused on learning the core principles of business analysis. In this module you will apply these principles to business cases and whilst developing research, communication and consultancy skills that are crucial to your future analytics modules. The module will also provide you with an introduction to prescriptive statistics, which can be used by organisations to predict the outcomes of future business decisions.

How will I learn on this module?

The Teaching and Learning Plan outlines the overall structure of the module. The accompanying Blackboard site provides with core information such as the Teaching and Learning Plan, Assessment Brief and suggested further reading.

You will learn through a range of lectures, practical sessions, seminars, webinars and independent learning, supporting materials for which will be shared on Blackboard:

• Lectures will introduce you to the core module content of the module.
• Practical sessions will largely focus on collaborative working with fellow students and applying your module ideas to actual business problems.
• Seminars will adopt a case study approach, given you the opportunity to reflect on the usefulness of analytics concepts in business.
• A one-hour weekly webinar is used to reinforce key issues covered in class and offer further opportunities for engagement with external speakers and discussions around the assessment.
• Directed learning will include a range of activities including preparation for practical sessions and seminars, developing presentations and wider reading.

How will I be supported academically on this module?

Support will be provided to you by a Module Tutor and teaching team. A team of academic staff are allocated to practical and seminar groups of about 20 students, providing closer, more personal academic support. The groups are typically based on study programme cohorts, so you will be taught here alongside fellow members from your specific programme. The final aspect of the direct contact support is a 1-hour weekly webinar, where students can link with the module tutor and other members of the teaching team to engage in question and answer sessions on the module materials and assessment brief.

Your module is supported by an e-learning portal, which houses lecture materials, practical and seminar tasks, alongside assessment details and various support facilities such as recordings of certain lectures and details on the module reading list.

You will have a wide-ranging electronic reading list that comprises of various textbooks reinforcing the lecture and seminar inputs. The list will include top academic journals, specific academic journal article, relevant textbooks and other publications which will help to enhance the module content.

Support will be provided to encourage you to become active and independent learners through an experiential approach to the co-creation of knowledge through engagement and enquiry which will prepare you for higher levels of academic rigour.

The module assessment consists of two components which will be communicated at the beginning of the semester. Including a group computer project, a mid-term group (presentation) and an end of module individual (report) components, both formative and summative, are planned to enhance your knowledge and understanding as you progress through the module. All tasks are designed to allow you to develop and showcase skills developing into a work ready placement student and your onward journey into graduate employment.

What will I be expected to read on this module?

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. Online reading lists (provided after enrolment) give you access to your reading material for your modules. The Library works in partnership with your module tutors to ensure you have access to the material that you need.

What will I be expected to achieve?

Knowledge & Understanding:
Knowledge and Understanding (KU):

Develop understanding and the application of the role of Business Analytics, Consultancy Skills and Experiential Learning (MLO1)

Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:

Develop team working and communication skills in through experiential learning and presenting solutions to real business problems (MLO2)

Gain practical skills in using a range of professional techniques and technologies including specialist software e.g., Python and R. (MLO3)

Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):

Develop an awareness of the cultural and ethical contexts relating to Analytics Study and Consultancy Skills. (MLO4)

How will I be assessed?

Summative Assessment:
Summative assessment will consist of two components.

The first component includes a group computer presentation related to the group computer project (35%)
.
This component will address MLO1,MLO2, MLO3 and MLO4

The second part of the assessment (65%) consists of an individual report (1500 words) submitted during the assessment period.
This component will address MLO1, MLO3 and MLO4

Formative Feedback.
Formative feedback will be given to students during the preparation and development of the two assessment components. Feedback will be provided by the tutor(s) alongside a discussion around how the key issues can be progressed to the next stage of the assessment as a means of feedforward.

Pre-requisite(s)

N/A

Co-requisite(s)

N/A

Module abstract

Analytics Study and Consultancy Skills adopts an experiential learning approach designed to integrate business theory and practice,

You will apply analytical knowledge and skills to develop viable solutions to real business analysis problems. You will learn through a process of enquiry, often co-operatively with peers, using digital information and technology. It will develop your ability to think independently, apply discipline knowledge to complex problems/opportunities, to work in teams, to communicate (present and report). You will undertake practical tasks which place emphasis on your personal reflection and interpretation of business problems.

During this module you will explore a range of topic areas that give you both an introduction to core concepts and technologies that you will utilise later in the programme, and also develop crucial transferable skills which are critical when seeking placements or graduate employment. Areas of focus will include:
• R-Software
• Python for beginners
• Communication Skills
• Data analysis
• Social media and data analysis
• Negotiation
• Consultancy skills

Course info

UCAS Code N650

Credits 20

Level of Study Undergraduate

Mode of Study 3 years Full Time or 4 years with a placement (sandwich)/study abroad

Department Newcastle Business School

Location City Campus, Northumbria University

City Newcastle

Start September 2025

Fee Information

Module Information

All information is accurate at the time of sharing. 

Full time Courses are primarily delivered via on-campus face to face learning but could include elements of online learning. Most courses run as planned and as promoted on our website and via our marketing materials, but if there are any substantial changes (as determined by the Competition and Markets Authority) to a course or there is the potential that course may be withdrawn, we will notify all affected applicants as soon as possible with advice and guidance regarding their options. It is also important to be aware that optional modules listed on course pages may be subject to change depending on uptake numbers each year.  

Contact time is subject to increase or decrease in line with possible restrictions imposed by the government or the University in the interest of maintaining the health and safety and wellbeing of students, staff, and visitors if this is deemed necessary in future.

 

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