Technical Business Consultancy Project

Dr Beryl Burns Email: b. burns@mmu. ac Dr Beryl Burns Email: b.burns@mmu.ac.uk Telephone: 0161 247 3996 Room: BS 6.11 Mr Jonathan Kettleborough Email: j.kettleborough@mmu.ac.uk Telephone: 0161 247 6066 Room: BS 6.33

What is it and what does it entail Aim To address a technical business problem. Prepare and deliver a presentation and supporting documents undertaking a critical reflection to assist in professional development.  Indicative Content This project-based the unit will start with formal teaching about consultancy approaches and business process analysis. Unit involves solving a technical business problem proposed by the apprentice's employer (negotiated with the project supervisor). Apprentices will scope and frame the problem, analyse alternative solutions and make clear rational recommendations. The apprentices will use a consultancy approach in solving the problem and deliver a formal presentation to the client together with supporting documentation. This unit will assist in improving individual skills and knowledge related to taking control and delivering on an individual project by requiring the apprentice to undertake a reflective account of what they have learned.

Learning Outcomes LO-1 Negotiate consultancy objectives with a client and produce a project plan and objectives for business problem requiring technology. LO-2 Apply a relevant consultancy approach to define and solve a business problem, including research into current practice and industry trends. LO-3 Develop alternative technical solutions to a business problem. LO-4 Present recommendations to a client-based on risk, cost, benefits and impact. LO-5 Critically reflect upon the learning undertaken on the project.

Subcomponent Weightage Assessment Model Component Name Overall Weightage Subcomponent Name Subcomponent Weightage Details Portfolio 70% Client Presentation 50% of portfolio (35% overall) 30 minutes + questions Client Report Documentation (4,000 words) Reflective Account 30% An individual reflective essay Documentation (1,500 words) Coursework 1: Presentation: A presentation to your host organisation and your project supervisor on process, outcomes and consequences of the project. Supporting Documentation: A 4000 word report on the research aspects of the project undertaken, these may be evidenced in a variety of ways, e.g. defining scope, objectives and outcomes based on evidence and rigorous reasoning identifying and evaluating appropriate methods to undertake your work based on industry best practice and/or academic literature evaluating outcomes using a justified method. Coursework 2: Individual Reflective Account Provide a reflective account of your experience of processes involved in the client project.

Roles and Responsibilities Responsibility Apprentice Will undertake the project Will be responsible for communication with your employer and tutor/unit leader Tutor Will guide the apprentice in ensuring that the project meets unit specification Will have primary input in the marking/grading of the assessments Will provide support for completing the project. Unit Leader Will have the overall responsibility for monitoring progress and coordinating assessments. Will also moderate individual project specifications to ensure consistency in level of difficulty. Employer Will help the apprentice define the scope of the project

What is it and what does it entail Negotiating with your employer, you will choose a real problem from work and produce a solution for it. Your solution must include solving a technical business problem. You will have to conduct research and provide evidence of this research e.g. define the objectives of the project, explain their rationale, indicate and justify the methods used to achieve them. You will explain the nature of the problem, the background to this, and why (from a business perspective) some improvement in this area would be beneficial.

What you can do: For example: You could investigate, analyse, evaluate, recommend or provide solutions for: product design, prototype design 3rd party or outsourced technical solution process design and implementation market and data analysis design of bespoke training and development help in developing strategic thinking and policy making technical reviews, advice and practical problem solving If your team is working on a bigger project, you can use the part of the solution that you are responsible for. However, you must be able to demonstrate your individual input into the project.

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Proposed Timeline What By when Initial discussions with apprentices and employers June Agreeing project titles/problems September or before Submitting project proposal 2nd week of October Submitting Client report and Presentations Mid to End of April (dates TBC) Submitting Reflective Report May (dates TBC) The proposed timetable may be subject to alteration – Presentation delivery will need further discussion/agreement.

Questions and Project Topic Discussion