Outline

Overview

This unit explores the role, influence and activities of management consultants in Australia and overseas. It examines management consultants as developers and disseminators of knowledge and practice and their role as change agents. The main management themes covered in the unit include: the consulting industry in Australia and overseas; consultant roles and the consultant-client relationship; consultants and organisational change; knowledge intensive firms and the management of expertise; the diffusion of management knowledge and fashion in a global economy; consulting as an occupation and career; managing a consultancy.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit	Strategy, Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Credit points	6
Prerequisites ?	None
Corequisites ?	None
Prohibitions ?	WORK6111
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	No

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Donna Denyer, donna.denyer@sydney.edu.au
Tutor(s)	Marcel Briggen, marcel.briggen@sydney.edu.au

Assessment

The census date for this unit availability is 31 March 2026

Details
Criteria

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length	Use of AI
Written work	Case Study Reflection Written critical reflection drawing on course readings and content along with self-reflection	25%	Formal exam period Due date: 09 Jun 2026 at 23:59 Closing date: 19 Jun 2026	1500 words	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Written work	Problem Statement and Solution Framework Skills-based assessment to develop problem statements and solution framework application (outside class).	20%	Week 06 Due date: 30 Mar 2026 at 23:59 Closing date: 09 Apr 2026	1000 words	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
In-class quiz	Class quiz Short multi-choice in-class quiz (not secured) assessing previous weeks' content	10%	Week 07 Due date: 15 Apr 2026 at 14:00	10-15 minutes	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Case studies	Consulting Case Competition Teams of students develop solutions to a consulting case challenge and present these in a written report and recorded presentation.	40%	Week 10 Due date: 08 May 2026 at 23:59 Closing date: 18 May 2026	2500 words plus 10 minute presentation	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Evaluation	Peer Students will provide group members with constructive feedback.	5%	Week 11 Due date: 15 May 2026 at 23:59 Closing date: 25 May 2026	30 Minutes	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
= group assignment ?

Assessment summary

Class Quiz: During week 7 students will undertake a short multi-choice and matched answers quiz which will review your comprehension of required readings and core concepts outlined in the previous weeks' lectures and tutorial sessions.

Problem Statement and Solution Framework: Individually you will apply two consulting frameworks to a short case. In applying the frameworks you will identify the problem facing the client in the case and how to structure the solution of the problem.

Consulting Case Competition: In teams you will apply knowledge of the relevant topics and tools from the unit in response to a client brief and prepare a 2,500-word consulting case report. You will also deliver a 10-minute client presentation.

Case Study Reflection: You will write a critical reflection drawing on course readings and content in response to a case study and self-reflect on your experience of the consulting case competition.

Peer Evaluation: You will provide constructive feedback on your team members' performance in the consulting case competition groupwork.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name	Mark range	Description
High distinction	85 - 100	Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an exceptional standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.
Distinction	75 - 84	Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a very high standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.
Credit	65 - 74	Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a good standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.
Pass	50 - 64	Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an acceptable standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.
Fail	0 - 49	When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see guide to grades.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI)

You can use generative AI tools for open assessments. Restrictions on AI use apply to secure, supervised assessments used to confirm if students have met specific learning outcomes.

Refer to the assessment table above to see if AI is allowed, for assessments in this unit and check Canvas for full instructions on assessment tasks and AI use.

If you use AI, you must always acknowledge it. Misusing AI may lead to a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy.

Visit the Current Students website for more information on AI in assessments, including details on how to acknowledge its use.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date. After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The University expects students to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

Our website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. This includes advice on how to avoid common breaches of academic integrity. Ensure that you have completed the Academic Honesty Education Module (AHEM) which is mandatory for all commencing coursework students

Penalties for serious breaches can significantly impact your studies and your career after graduation. It is important that you speak with your unit coordinator if you need help with completing assessments.

Visit the Current Students website for more information on AI in assessments, including details on how to acknowledge its use.

Learning support

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Support for students

The Support for Students Policy reflects the University’s commitment to supporting students in their academic journey and making the University safe for students. It is important that you read and understand this policy so that you are familiar with the range of support services available to you and understand how to engage with them.

The University uses email as its primary source of communication with students who need support under the Support for Students Policy. Make sure you check your University email regularly and respond to any communications received from the University.

Learning resources and detailed information about weekly assessment and learning activities can be accessed via Canvas. It is essential that you visit your unit of study Canvas site to ensure you are up to date with all of your tasks.

If you are having difficulties completing your studies, or are feeling unsure about your progress, we are here to help. You can access the support services offered by the University at any time:

Support and Services (including health and wellbeing services, financial support and learning support)
Course planning and administration
Meet with an Academic Adviser

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 01	Introduction: What is Management Consulting?	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 02	Management Consulting - Practice and Process (I)	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 02	What is Management Consulting?	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 03	Management Consulting - Practice and Process (II)	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 03	Management Consulting - Practice and Process (I)	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 04	'Professionalism' and Ethics of Management Consulting	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 04	Management Consulting - Practice and Process (II)	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 05	Consultant Led Forms of Organizational Transformation: Solving the Problem	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 05	'Professionalism' and Ethics of Management Consulting	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 06	The Client - Consultant Relationship	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 06	Consultant Led Forms of Organizational Transformation: Solving the Problem	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 07	Consulting Identities and Selling the Solution	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 07	The Client - Consultant Relationship and Consultant Toolkits	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 08	Managing Management Consultancies: Business and HR Strategies	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 08	Consulting Identities and Selling the Solution (I)	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 09	Internal Consulting	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 09	HR Strategies in Consulting and Selling the Solution (II)	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 10	The Politics of Consulting	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 10	Internal Consulting	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 11	Consulting and Sustainability – Environmental and Societal Issues	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 11	The Politics of Consulting	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 12	Consulting Competition Presentation Event	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 12	Consulting and Sustainability – Environmental and Societal Issues	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 13	The Future of Consulting and Consulting Careers	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 13	The Future of Consulting and Consulting Careers	Tutorial (2 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

Students are expected to attend each week's classes and participate actively in class discussions based on their weekly reading and lecture content. This is particularly important as the unit includes a team-based consulting case competition.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

There is no prescribed textbook for this unit of study. All readings for this unit can be accessed through the Library’s reading list system Leganto, available on Canvas.

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

LO1. Identify and analyse the major features of the management consulting industry, its key practice areas, historical and current dynamics, and consulting’s impact on organizational and management practice
LO2. Use suitable research methods and information technologies to acquire, analyse and interpret data, concepts and theories salient to an analysis of consulting problems and formulate appropriate findings, recommendations and remedies
LO3. Question, assess and respond independently and creatively to assumptions, propositions and debates within management and organisational theory and practice
LO4. Define factors relevant to selling and conducting a successful consulting engagement and make recommendations that are coherent, persuasive, and appropriate for the situation
LO5. Influence others to work collaboratively to recommend and report on policies and strategies to address complex organisational problems

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1	Depth of disciplinary expertise Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.
GQ2	Critical thinking and problem solving Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.
GQ3	Oral and written communication Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.
GQ4	Information and digital literacy Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.
GQ5	Inventiveness Generating novel ideas and solutions.
GQ6	Cultural competence Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.
GQ7	Interdisciplinary effectiveness Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.
GQ8	Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.
GQ9	Influence Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes	Graduate qualities
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

I have reverted back to the Semester 1, 2025 format for this unit in response to student requests to do so and to the positive feedback received on this format in the USS of that semester. This has the support of other SIEN6003 teaching staff and previous unit coordinators. From the perspective of being informed by pedagogical considerations, the requested reversion to the semester 1 format will enable students to put into direct practice what they are learning and to gain a deeper understanding of the concepts taught in the unit. In the USS for the unit from semester 1, 2025 students made comments such as: "It was really nice to apply the concepts we take in class to an actual case study from an actual consulting firm. I really enjoyed this course as it gave me a deeper insight into the world of consulting"; "Active industry participation - the consulting case was a brilliant opportunity and I hope they do it again for future students"; " The teaching materials were closely connected to practical applications and real-world cases"; "I like the case competition assignment since it offers a valuable chance to apply our knowledge and the tools that we've learned from the class. It also helps us to experience what management consultants will do and what kind of characteristics or skills they are looking for"; "The practical aspects of this course were very well integrated. Working on intriguing cases, and presenting to professional consultants really added a lot value to my personal development". Through the use of case studies, the consulting case competition and guest speakers from the consulting industry, reintroducing the semester 1, 2025 format will therefore give students the opportunity to deepen their learning beyond the surface, to gain confidence in applying the tools and methods that they are being taught and to gain real life industry exposure which adds to their graduate attributes to support their employability. The experience that they gain from this format of the unit can be included in the students' resumes, introduced into interview responses and provides excellent material for conversations when networking.

Additional information

Business School Policies

Disclaimer

Important: the University of Sydney regularly reviews units of study and reserves the right to change the units of study available annually. To stay up to date on available study options, including unit of study details and availability, refer to the relevant handbook.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI)

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Support for students

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

SIEN6003: Management Consulting

Semester 1, 2026 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI)

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Support for students

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links