Course syllabus - Management Consulting

Objectives

The aim of the course is to:
- Learn about pragmatic as well as critical perspectives about the consultancy process and the management consulting industry with regard to small and medium-sized enterprises as well as corporations and governmental organisations.
- Gain experience and skills in using tools and methods in practical consultancy assignment with a focus on business development in enterprises and organisations
- Inspire students to develop a capacity to critically assess consultancy roles, client identities and consultancy organisations
- Relate to current research activity at the School of Business
- Function as an arena for knowledge exchange between the School of Business and businesses as well as governmental organisations in the Mälardalen region

Learning outcomes

After the course has been completed the student shall be able to:

- Develop and improve the businesses and activities of a client organisation by performing a consultancy assignment which is presented to the client, fellow course members and the teachers in the form of a consultancy report

-Demonstrate the ability to uses relevant tools and methods within the performance of the consultancy assignment

-Demonstrate the ability to create and maintain professional relations with the client and the consultancy course team until the assignment is completed

- Demonstrate the ability to initiate, plan, perform, reflect about and assess the consultancy process by writing a process report

- Demonstrate the ability to use critical and reflexive social scientific method to assess a consultancy process and/or a client relation
- Document the ability to uses critical theories and critical reflection to re-examine established theories and methods by writing a memo
- Demonstrate the ability to use and synthesise knowledge from courses on basic levels by applying earlier acquired skills and knowledge in the consultancy assignment as well as the critical memo and the written examination.

Course content

The course has two parallel themes:
1. Practical consultancy assignment in which tools and methods for business and organisational development is applied
2. Critical assessment of consultancy work and consultancy processes

The first theme is aimed to train the uses of methods and tools for business and organisational development and at the same time contribute to the improvement of businesses and organisations
The other theme is aimed to gain understanding of consultancy work and consultancy organisations as well as critical assessments of consultancy processes.

Specific requirements

Business 90 credits with gradual progression, at least 75 credits must be completed at the beginning of the course. Of these, at least 22.5 points at level G1F and at least 15 credits at Level G2F. In addition, Sv B/course 2 and En A/course 5. In cases where the course is offered in English, exemption from the Sv B/course 2 is given.

Examination

Exercise (PM01), 5 credits, marks Pass (G) or Pass with distinction (VG)
Exercise (PM02), 5 credits, marks Pass (G) or Pass with distinction (VG)
Examination (TEN1), 5 credits, marks Pass (G) or Pass with distinction (VG)

A student who has a certificate from MDU regarding a disability has the opportunity to submit a request for supportive measures during written examinations or other forms of examination, in accordance with the Rules and Regulations for Examinations at First-cycle and Second-cycle Level at Mälardalen University (2020/1655). It is the examiner who takes decisions on any supportive measures, based on what kind of certificate is issued, and in that case which measures are to be applied.

Suspicions of attempting to deceive in examinations (cheating) are reported to the Vice-Chancellor, in accordance with the Higher Education Ordinance, and are examined by the University’s Disciplinary Board. If the Disciplinary Board considers the student to be guilty of a disciplinary offence, the Board will take a decision on disciplinary action, which will be a warning or suspension.

Grade

Pass with distinction, Pass, Fail