executive MBA subject 18

Consulting Methodology and Action Project

Year 2, term E: action project. 3.5 ECTS, about 88 hours, 4 parts. Part 1 is free.

task, condition, standard

What you will be able to do

Task, condition and standard

Task

Deliver an action project: frame a client problem, research it and present a recommendation.

Condition

Given a client sponsor, eight to twelve weeks and access to client data.

Standard

The problem is framed with the client, the recommendation is evidence-based and the client agrees next steps.

Who it is for: Final-year learners who will solve a real problem for a real organisation.

how this subject works

Free entry, voice and your learning style

Part 1 is free to try. Read it, listen to it and answer it before you decide. Join the programme, or this subject on its own, to open the other parts.

Listen. Every part has a Listen button that reads it aloud.
Speak or type. Answer each part by talking (press Speak) or by typing. Your answers stay on this device only.
Learn your way. Every part has a See, Hear, Do and Read-and-write route. Not sure which suits you? Take the eight-question learning-style check.

4 parts

The parts, with worked examples

Part 1 Problem framing 22 hAnalyse: frame

A well-framed problem is half solved. Agree with the client what decision they must make and how success will be judged.

Write the key question as a decision
Agree scope: what is in and out
Agree success measures

Worked example: Worked-example figures, in your currency. Vague: "improve sales". Framed: "Which two of five regions should we add 10 sales staff to by June to raise sales by 2m?"

Activity: Write the key question for your project and agree it with the sponsor.

Standard: One decision question, scope and measures agreed in writing.

Learn your way

See. Sketch "problem framing" as a picture: boxes, arrows and the key number.
Hear. Press Listen, or explain the worked example aloud to someone.
Do. Do the activity with your own work or a practice case.
Read and write. Write the idea in three lines in your own words below.

Your answer. Write the key question for your project and agree it with the sponsor.

Part 2 Hypotheses and research design 22 hApply: plan research

Start with possible answers (hypotheses) and plan what evidence would prove or disprove each.

Break the question into parts that do not overlap
Write a hypothesis for each part
Plan data, interviews and analysis for each

Worked example: Worked-example figures, in your currency. Hypothesis: "Region C has the most unmet demand." Evidence: market size, current share, lost bids. If C's share is 8% against 20% elsewhere, it supports the hypothesis.

Activity: Write an issue tree and a research plan.

Standard: Parts do not overlap and each has a test.

Learn your way

See. Sketch "hypotheses and research design" as a picture: boxes, arrows and the key number.
Hear. Press Listen, or explain the worked example aloud to someone.
Do. Do the activity with your own work or a practice case.
Read and write. Write the idea in three lines in your own words below.

Your answer. Write an issue tree and a research plan.

Part 3 Analysis and storyline 22 hEvaluate: synthesise

Turn findings into a short storyline: the answer, three supporting points, and the evidence for each.

Answer first
Three supporting points
Each slide has one message in its title

Worked example: Worked-example figures, in your currency. Answer: "Add staff in C and E." Points: biggest gap, fastest payback (8 months), lowest hiring cost.

Activity: Write the storyline on one page before making slides.

Standard: Answer, three points and evidence aligned.

Learn your way

See. Sketch "analysis and storyline" as a picture: boxes, arrows and the key number.
Hear. Press Listen, or explain the worked example aloud to someone.
Do. Do the activity with your own work or a practice case.
Read and write. Write the idea in three lines in your own words below.

Your answer. Write the storyline on one page before making slides.

Part 4 Action Project proposal and delivery 22 hCreate: deliver

Present to the client, handle questions and agree next steps. A good project leaves the client able to act.

Proposal at the start, delivery at the end
Practise with tough questions
Agree owners and dates for next steps

Worked example: Worked-example figures, in your currency. Final meeting: client agrees to hire 6 staff in C and 4 in E by June; a review in September checks the 2m target.

Activity: Deliver the final presentation and a short report.

Standard: Client agrees next steps with owners and dates.

Learn your way

See. Sketch "action project proposal and delivery" as a picture: boxes, arrows and the key number.
Hear. Press Listen, or explain the worked example aloud to someone.
Do. Do the activity with your own work or a practice case.
Read and write. Write the idea in three lines in your own words below.

Your answer. Deliver the final presentation and a short report.

ten checks

Check yourself

Say or write your answer first, then read the model answer.

Q1. Why frame the problem as a decision?
Model answer: It makes clear what the client must choose. (Covered in part 1: Problem framing.)
Q2. Name three things to agree at the start.
Model answer: Key question, scope, success measures. (Covered in part 1: Problem framing.)
Q3. What is a hypothesis?
Model answer: A possible answer to test. (Covered in part 2: Hypotheses and research design.)
Q4. Why must issue tree parts not overlap?
Model answer: To avoid double work and gaps. (Covered in part 2: Hypotheses and research design.)
Q5. Region share 8% against 20% elsewhere supports what?
Model answer: Unmet demand in that region. (Covered in part 2: Hypotheses and research design.)
Q6. What comes first in a storyline?
Model answer: The answer. (Covered in part 3: Analysis and storyline.)
Q7. How many messages per slide?
Model answer: One, in the title. (Covered in part 3: Analysis and storyline.)
Q8. Why write the storyline before slides?
Model answer: To keep the logic clear and short. (Covered in part 3: Analysis and storyline.)
Q9. What should a project leave the client with?
Model answer: The ability to act, with agreed next steps. (Covered in part 4: Action Project proposal and delivery.)
Q10. What do next steps need?
Model answer: Owners and dates. (Covered in part 4: Action Project proposal and delivery.)

slides L1 to L7

The seven-level ladder, slide by slide

Slide 1: L1 Consulting. Helping clients decide. Speaker note: Say: put "consulting" in one sentence and give one example from work. Check: ask one learner to say it back in their own words. Mistake: moving on before the numbers are clear.
Slide 2: L2 Framing. Key questions. Speaker note: Say: put "framing" in one sentence and give one example from work. Check: ask one learner to say it back in their own words. Mistake: moving on before the numbers are clear.
Slide 3: L3 Hypotheses. Issue trees. Speaker note: Say: put "hypotheses" in one sentence and give one example from work. Check: ask one learner to say it back in their own words. Mistake: moving on before the numbers are clear.
Slide 4: L4 Research. Evidence plans. Speaker note: Say: put "research" in one sentence and give one example from work. Check: ask one learner to say it back in their own words. Mistake: moving on before the numbers are clear.
Slide 5: L5 Storyline. Answer first. Speaker note: Say: put "storyline" in one sentence and give one example from work. Check: ask one learner to say it back in their own words. Mistake: moving on before the numbers are clear.
Slide 6: L6 Delivery. Presenting and questions. Speaker note: Say: put "delivery" in one sentence and give one example from work. Check: ask one learner to say it back in their own words. Mistake: moving on before the numbers are clear.
Slide 7: L7 Leading projects. Client action and follow-up. Speaker note: Say: put "leading projects" in one sentence and give one example from work. Check: ask one learner to say it back in their own words. Mistake: moving on before the numbers are clear.

how it is judged

Marking rubric

Marking rubric (Not yet, Meets, Exceeds)
Criterion	Not yet	Meets	Exceeds
Accuracy	Several figures or facts are wrong.	Main figures are correct and the working is shown.	Figures are correct and checked a second way.
Use of consulting methodology and action project tools	Tools are named but not used.	The right tools are used for each step.	Tools are adapted to the case and their limits are stated.
Recommendation	No clear answer.	A clear answer backed by the analysis.	A clear answer that also says what would change it.
Communication	Hard to follow.	Answer first, clear and short.	Clear, short and persuasive under questions.

jobs this leads to

Where this takes you

Management consultant. Solves client problems.
Internal consultant or strategy manager. Leads improvement projects inside a firm.
Programme manager. Turns recommendations into delivery.

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Draft for review. Not live. Credit values are aligned with the European credit system for orientation only and are not an accreditation.