1. Technical Business Consultancy Project
Dr Beryl Burns
BS 6.19

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. Subcomponent Weightage
Assessment Model
Component Name
Overall Weightage
Subcomponent Name
Subcomponent Weightage
Details
Portfolio
70%
Presentation
50% of portfolio (35% overall)
30 minutes + questions
Supporting Document
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.

5. 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

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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 Oct
Submitting the final project
End of April
Delivering the presentation
May (TBC)
The proposed timetable may be subject to alteration – Presentation delivery will need further discussion/agreement.

9. Questions and Project Topic Discussion