NX0479 - Business Clinic PG Group Consultancy Project

The module is supported by a teaching and learning plan that outlines the formal sessions, together with the tutor-directed project support and independent reading. Throughout, the emphasis will be on high levels of individual and group participation within the consultancy project. The latter is particularly true when you are interacting with the host organisation, which has provided the project.

Directed learning will centre upon a range of activities including pre-reading, preparation for interactive activities and use of the discussion board on the e-learning platform.

In the case of the organisation visits/meetings, this will involve research into the host organisation and its environment and development of questions and discussion points in preparation for the subsequent visit, relating to the chosen area of organisational investigation.

Independent learning will centre upon you identifying and pursuing areas of interest in relation to the subject area or by providing deeper/broader knowledge and understanding of the subject through a range of learning activities that might include extended reading, reflection, research, etc. Groups will be expected to identify areas of expertise where they need development/support from the mentor or other coaches based in the Business Clinic.

Critical reflection on knowledge, experience and practice underpins the learning and teaching philosophy along with the explicit development of competence and you as an independent learner.

You will be supported by appropriate academic content and workshops with supervisory guidance from an NBS mentor during the work-based element and subsequent management report (in the follow up module NX0470).

This support carries on into the second semester of the second year of these programmes where you, supported by your academic supervisor will produce a significant group and individual assessment, as indicated above and which is specific to the module NX0470.

Where appropriate, organisational representatives will further provide you with formative feedback on performance, particularly in regard to the content and presentation of the report and group presentation.

The module is delivered by a series of lectures and seminar sessions based around formal input, workshop activities, case discussions and practical exercises on research methods, presentation skills, report writing and choosing a research topic.

Whilst the module will represent your entire study for the relevant period on the programme and your team can work flexibly on this in terms of time and place, it is expected that you work in the Business Clinic itself on at least two days per week and therefore make yourself available to academic staff who can provide appropriate ad-hoc support.

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.

Knowledge & Understanding:

Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
• By working is an new location, demonstrate and critically evaluate their ability to work in potentially cultural diverse groups and teams and by doing so, making a personal contribution to team effectiveness. [MLO1]

• In the context of their research or consulting experience, demonstrate effective analysis and communication of the associated complex issues. [MLO2]

Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):
• Plan and complete a major consulting project on a contemporary business and management topic. [MLO3]

• Demonstrate skills of critical analysis and synthesis in the application of research methods. [MLO4]

Formative assessment will take place through group work, assignment discussion and reflection, discussion board activity on the e-learning platform, case study activity, and theory/practice related discussions.

Criteria will be provided to enable you to understand what is expected and how you will be assessed on their performance. You are required to demonstrate self-reflection and reflective practice where appropriate.

Summative assessment takes the form of:
1. Presentation(s) to a panel comprised of academic mentors, and where appropriate, clients. The presentation(s) will focus on the research issue, the findings and the appropriate recommendations. This will assess MLO1 and MLO2.

2. Strategic report(s) based on the real-life organizational issues of Business Clinic clients. This will assess MLO1, MLO3 and MLO4.

You will also have to submit a peer evaluation as per NBS Group protocols.

There will be approval sought through the Faculty Student Learning and Experience Committee(s) so that this assessment is exempt from the anonymous marking process.

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The module aims to provide you as a postgraduate student with experiential learning activities in a work-based context that utilises skills and knowledge acquired during the taught part of your study programme, i.e. in year one of the two-year Advanced Practice programme suite. The module recognises that you may have limited prior experience of real world management investigations.

Through your work-based experience, you will develop abilities as a problem solver with valued investigative, theoretical and practical business skills. This work-based experience will last the length of the semester and involve the examination of a complex organisational problem or commercial opportunity. By undertaking this module, you will have enhanced your individual skills, knowledge, effectiveness and employability by locating learning and development within a work-based context and will have critically reflected and evaluated upon organisational practices and the relation with academic theory.

Assessment will be both formative and summative and incorporate self, peer, and tutor evaluation. You will present your work-based findings to the academic mentors (oral presentation) and strategic reports written on behalf of past Business Clinic clients. Students who obtain an individual mark of 80% or above will be recommended for progression onto the follow-up module (NX0470)*. NX0470 you will provide a substantial management investigation report for an appropriate client of the Business Clinic, alongside a personal reflective statement.

*Those students who do not achieve a mark 80% or more would not progress to NX0470 but would progress to the Masters Dissertation or Management Enquiry Module.