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Unit of study_

WORK6111: Management Consulting

Semester 2, 2020 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

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 subject 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

Unit code WORK6111
Academic unit Work and Organisational Studies
Credit points 6
Prohibitions
? 
None
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

Knowledge is assumed in the areas of basic business strategy and organisational change. It is recommended that students enrolling in this Unit will have completed either or both of the following or similar Units: WORK6026 Organisational Change and Development, WORK6002 Foundations of Strategic Management.

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Christopher Wright, christopher.wright@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Final exam (Take-home extended release) Type E final exam Final exam
Written exam
40% Formal exam period 72 hours
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Assignment group assignment Assignment
Written assessment
30% Multiple weeks 2000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2
Small test Weekly class test
Short answer and MCQ
25% Multiple weeks 15 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Presentation group assignment Presentation
Oral presentation
5% Weekly 7 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
group assignment = group assignment ?
Type E final exam = Type E final exam ?

Assessment summary

  • Presentation: Pairs of students will provide a short introduction to the class based on one of the seminar discussion questions. Your pair should endeavour to limit the introduction to a response organised around six key points in no more than 7 minutes. Seminar introductions will be allocated in the first online class in week 1.
  • Assignment: One week after your introduction, your pair will submit a written paper based on your presentation. This needs to be a full essay response to the discussion question you chose to present on and needs to be submitted via Turn-It-IN on the Unitr Canvas site.
  • Weekly class test: During weeks 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11, students will undertake a short online multi-choice and matched answers quiz which will review your comprehension of required readings and core concepts outlined in the previous weeks' lectures and learning sessions. The test will be delivered as an online quiz on the Unit Canvas site.
  • Final Exam: This exam will test students retention of key content knowledge and their ability to apply this knowledge in various situations. Further details of the exam format will be provided later in the unit.

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

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 sydney.edu.au/students/guide-to-grades.

For more information see guide to grades.

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.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website  provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.  

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

You may only use artificial intelligence and writing assistance tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator, and if you do use them, you must also acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section.

Studiosity is permitted for postgraduate units unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission.

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.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 Introduction: what is management consulting? Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 02 Management Consulting: Historical Dynamics Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 03 Consulting Work: Practice and Process Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO3 LO4
Week 04 ‘Professionalism’ and the Critique of Management Consulting Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 05 The Consultant-Client Relationship Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO3 LO4
Week 06 Consultant Led Forms of Organisational Transformation Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO4 LO5
Week 07 Internal Consulting and Change Agency Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 08 Consulting Expertise and ‘Knowledge Work’ Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO3 LO4
Week 09 Consulting and Management Fashion Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO3 LO4
Week 10 Managing Management Consultancies: Business and HR Strategies Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 11 Being a Management Consultant: Identities and Careers Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO4 LO5
Week 12 The Future of Consulting Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5

Attendance and class requirements

This semester, this Unit will be delivered online via Zoom and to get the most out of this Unit you will need participate in these online lectures, seminars and class exercises.

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, however extensive weekly readings are listed on the Canvas site for this Unit organised by weeks.

If you are looking for a good overview book on this topic, the following is recommended: O'Mahoney, J., & Markham, C. (2013). Management Consultancy (2nd ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press.

All weekly readings for this unit can be accessed through the Library eReserve, available on Canvas.

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.

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 organisational 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
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

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

No changes have been made since this unit was last offered

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

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