Aims

To synthesise the theoretical and empirical knowledge gained in the ICE programme’s first semester by applying this knowledge to an external organisation’s innovation agenda.

To develop students’ practical skills in consulting practice for a genuine client, including team work, diagnosis, solution development and reporting.

Outline Of Syllabus

1. The purpose of innovation consultancy
2. Understanding the problem and scoping the study
3. Team work for consulting
4. Problem and opportunity diagnosis
5. Solution development
6. Reporting and presentation

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

The course will be partly directed by six classroom lectures and workshops of two hours each that will address key elements of the syllabus above, for lectures and small group discussion and reflection on the declarative knowledge on innovation consulting practice. This generic knowledge will also be supplemented by readings and research guided by the Module Leader. Much of the independent study for assessment preparation and completion will be focused on the client study, and it is envisaged that part of this time will include fieldwork such as meetings with the client, with the consulting team, and with interviews and meetings with key informants, including the Module Leader.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

This is a client problem-centred module and so the assessment focuses on the deliverables of the report, and the presentation and discussion with the clients. Both deliverables will demonstrate the diagnostic and solving learning outcomes, and the skills outcomes in terms of data collection and analysis. Reports will indicate the contributions of individual team members for the assessment of team working, while the presentation will also provide the opportunity for team work to be shown. The discussion at the presentation will be important to assess the client management performance.