Course Syllabus

Course Name and Number: MBA 640 - Consulting Practice

Course credits: 3

Method of Delivery: ON Campus

Course Start Date: July 4, 2017

Course End Date: September 17, 2017

Name of Instructor: Dr. Michele Vincenti

Instructor Contact Information: cell 778-968-6084

***Please send all your assignments and questions using MyUCW. (Moodle)

1.0 Course Description

This course is designed to help the student develop relationship skills with internal and
external clients. The student will learn about contracts, requests for proposals, client
attachment, role expectations, intervention models, process consultation, and organizational
learning. This is a foundation course required the MBA522 consulting assignment. This
consulting course is worth 3 credits.
MBA506 Consulting Practice course is a prerequisite course to the MBA capstone course,
MBA522 Management Consulting Project.
This course provides detailed and comprehensive approaches, surveys, and materials
necessary for undertaking and completing management consulting projects successfully.
Conceptual understanding, reflection on learning and practical advice is offered.

The following key areas are examined:

1. Core Management Consulting Skills needed to analyze, critique, coordinate, organize
and manage high-level management consulting projects effectively;
2. Analytical and Critical Thinking Skills needed to develop an understanding of the client
business, the issues faced, opportunities available and the development of innovative
approaches to dealing with them;
 UCW Course Syllabus for MBA 640

3. Relationship Building Skills needed to work effectively with others, develop leadership
potential, establish rapport with the client, and communicate ideas in effective and convincing
ways.

In addition, we cover the practical ideas on organizing, planning, and communicating data
and information within the context of a management-consulting project.
1.5 Course Prerequisite(s): None

2.0 Learning Goals:

As a result of successfully completing this course each student will:

1. Understand the importance of diagnostic tools, planning strategies, communication skills,
stakeholder strategy and critical thinking competencies when approaching business
opportunities as an internal or external consultant;
2. Recognize the need to be creative in finding consulting opportunities, proactive in
approaching potential clients, reflective in assisting clients, creative in identifying business
opportunities as a consultant and understand the challenges in the role of a consultant;
3. Appreciate the rewards for effective work of a consulting team in business situations,
including a basic understanding of the stages of development and leadership issues;
4. Critique existing consulting proposals for best practices and develop their own
management consulting proposal to address a consulting need;
5. Understand their personal business skill profile, and identify strengths and opportunities
for development;
6. Define and use influencing strategies as a consultant;
7. Develop confidence in promoting their own business ideas and developing a targeted
stakeholder analysis and action plan;
8. Develop an awareness of issues and decision-making requirements facing small and
medium- sized enterprises, and
9. Gain valuable insights into managerial abilities that will distinguish and direct their future
efforts in the job market.

3.0 Learning Outcomes:

The student will:

Develop a beneficial partnership with the client organization by:
Developing a clear understanding the purpose of the consulting assignment
Understand the 5 stages of consulting
Identifying the major challenges the organization desires to overcome
Developing findings useful to the client organization
Implementing an adequate organizational intervention, including:
Proper access to people
Relevant access to critical information
Applying a suitable problem solving methodology by the use of:
Relevant problem solving methods
Gathering accurate data

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 UCW Course Syllabus for MBA 640

Identifying relevant documentation sources (industrial and academic)

Using adequate research techniques
Demonstrating pertinent application of theory by:
Showing evidence of management theory integration
Supporting findings through applied research literature
Performing a valid analysis and synthesis of the information provided by:
Doing an appropriate depth of analysis
Developing logical development
Proposing adequate and suitable recommendations
Developing critical thinking skills applied to management consulting, as response to
opportunities and challenges posed by the corporation's business environment.

4.0 Required Course Materials, Resources, Textbook(s):

The students have at their disposal the following course material:
MyUCW Website (visit regularly, at least twice weekly)
Books (used as references throughout the course) - see list
Reading material (additional material for online discussion)
PowerPoint presentations covering course material
Case studies
Software tools (Microsoft Office Suite, Internet access, Adobe Acrobat)

Textbook:

Title: Kubr, Milan. Management Consulting - A Guide to the Profession, 4th ed.,
International Labor Office Geneva, Switzerland

Required Reading:
1. Coral Divers Resort (A). Case No. 9A96M001. London: Ivey Publishing, August
17, 2001

5.0 Recommended Course Materials, Resources, Textbook(s):

Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, APA, 6th edition
ISBN: 978-14338-0561-5 (softcover). Published by The American Psychological
Association, Washington, DC. (2010)
Philip A Wickham, Management Consulting: Delivering and Effective Project.
Second Edition, Prentice Hall, (2004) ISBN 0 273 68347 0
Charles J. Fombrun, Mark D. Nevins, The advice Business: Essential Tools and
Models for Management Consulting, Prentice Hall (2004) (this is a required book
for MBA522/23)
Michael I. Harrison, Diagnosing Organizations: Methods, Models, and Processes.
Third Edition, Sage Publications (2005)
The IT consultants handbook, CNC Global Consulting, (www.cncglobal.com)
The IT career guide, CNC Global Consulting, (www.cncglobal.com)

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 UCW Course Syllabus for MBA 640

R. Paul and L. Elder, The Miniature Guide to Critical Thinking Concepts and Tools,
The Foundation for Critical Thinking, P.O. Box 220, Dillon Beach, CA 94929;
www.criticalthinking.org
Additional reading resources: See details on the course website.

6.0 Course Schedule:

WEEKLY Content Case Studies Toolbox

TOPICS (Threaded
Discussions)
(see online)
Week 1 Course overview Introduction of the
Management
Introduction and Consulting Template
course logistics

The nature of
management
consulting

How consulting adds

value

Types of management
consulting projects

Week 2 The consulting Robin Hood case Using the SWOT,

process study PEST Analysis

The 5 phases of the Kubr Part 1

consulting process Management
consulting in
Ethical standards and perspective
code of conduct
(Chapters 1-3)
Introduction to
proposal writing

Functional analysis
Introduction of the
External and Internal
Size up process

Week 3 Writing a proposal Coral Divers Resort Using the proposal

case study template

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 UCW Course Syllabus for MBA 640

Individual Kubr Part 1

Assignment 1 Management
Proposal writing due consulting in
perspective
Online/in class review
of proposals written (Chapters 4-6)
by the students

Week 4 Using the Benevento Food: Kubr Part 2 The

Management When the rubber hits consulting process
Consulting Template the dough In class (Chapters 7-8)
discussion

Online: Class
discussion via forums

Week 5 Using the Coral Divers Resort Kubr Part 2 The

Management case study (Individual consulting process
Consulting Template Assignment 2) due (Chapters 9-11)

In class review of the

Coral Diver Resort

Week 6 Decision making Online Forum Portes five forces,

tools Fishbone, PDCA,
In class analysis Pareto, Field force,
others

Week 7 Analysis and Navistar Supply

Implementation Management Case
phases (Part 1) Team
Assignment due

Week 8 Termination phase Developing a Kubr scan Chapters

Consulting Practice 12- 26 per selected
(1): consulting practice
and review 27
Developing a through 35 and
consulting practice in Appendix #1
various fields
internal and external

Internal vs. External

Consultants

Individual
Assignment 4 due

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 UCW Course Syllabus for MBA 640

Week 9 Starting the Developing a Kubr -Chapter 29:

consulting career Consulting Practice Marketing of
(2): Consulting Services

Pricing and Time Chapter 30: Costs

Management and Fees

Internal/External Chapter 31:

Relationship Assignment
Management Management

Week 10 Review of the Navistar Supply

consulting 5 steps, Management Case
putting all together (Part 2) Team
Assignment due

Week 11 Navistar Supply

Management Case
Team Presentations
due

7.0 Assignments:

1) Proposal:
Background and understanding or problem
Project purpose and scope
Approach and workplan/process
Project fees and schedule
Anticipated outcomes and benefits
Consultant credentials
Conclusion
Appendices

2) Coral Diver Resort INDIVIDUAL

Diagnostic: Use template posted online

3) Individual Assignment 4:

Using APA Style answer the following questions:

1. Describe and comment the 5 stages of consulting. Use references

2. Describe the tools you need to use for each stage
3. What is the difference between process and expert approach in consulting?

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 UCW Course Syllabus for MBA 640

4. What are the issues/problems you can encounter in consulting? How do you
minimize the issues/problems?
5. Write the approach and methodology you need to follow to write a business plan

4) NAVISTAR SUPPLY MANAGEMENT - TEAM Use the TABLE OF CONTENTS

below:
Approach and Methodology and Key Findings are due in Week 7
Recommendations and end of the paper due in week 10

Use APA style. No page limit

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

TABLE OF CONTENTS

APPROACH & METHODOLOGY

KEY FINDINGS

Strategy
Finance
Human Resources
Information Technology
Operations
Marketing

SUMMARY FINDINGS

RECOMMENDATIONS

Strategy

Finance

Human Resources

Information Technology

Operations

Marketing

CHANGE READINESS ASSESSMENT

Establishing a Sense of Urgency

Forming a Powerful Guiding Coalition
Creating a Vision
Communicating the Vision
Empowering Others to Act on the Vision

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 UCW Course Syllabus for MBA 640

Planning for and Creating Short-Term Wins

Consolidating Improvements and Producing still More Change
Institutionalizing New Approaches

CONCLUDING REMARKS

BIBLIOGRAPHY

APPENDIX A: Assumptions

APPENDIX B: SWOT Analysis

APPENDIX C: Critical Issues Assessment

APPENDIX D: Evaluation of Possible Solutions

APPENDIX E: Recommendation Detail

APPENDIX F: Criteria Matrix for Prioritizing Recommendations

5) Team Presentation Assignment 5 Maximum 12 slides Use footnotes

8.0 Required Assignments or Activities, Distribution of Marks and Due Dates:

ASSIGNMENTS Due Dates Comments %

GRADING

Participation All Sessions Online 20% : 10 weeks 20

Or 2% per week

Individual Assignment 1 Week 3 Due at the end (Sunday 10

Proposal midnight) of week 3

Individual Assignment 2 Week 4 Due at the end (Sunday 20

Coral Diver Resort midnight) of week 4

Team Navistar Case Week 7 Due at the end (Sunday 10

Assignment 3 Part 1 midnight) of week 7

Individual Assignment 4 Week 8 Due at the end (Sunday 20

midnight) of week 8

Team Navistar Case Week 10 Due at the end (Sunday 15

Assignment 3 Part 2 midnight) of week 10

Team Presentation Week 11 Due at the end (Sunday 5

Assignment 5 midnight) of week 11

Total 100

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 UCW Course Syllabus for MBA 640

Late assignment policy: all work must be submitted by the assignment submission deadline. Late
assignment will not be graded and given a zero mark.
All written work will include a 30% weighting for communication effectiveness; therefore grammar,
spelling, and referencing will be considered and evaluated. In all instances, written material should be
referenced in a formal manner.
See for example, Handbook for Writers, 2nd edition, (1999), Lynn Quitman, Troyka, Simon & Schuster
Canada, or, A Canadian Writers Reference, 2nd edition, (1996), Diana Hacker, Nelson Canada.
References should appear in the body of the report and be listed at the end. References and
bibliographies are considered extra to the other word/page limits.
Limit all your citations/quotations to NO MORE than 10% of the paper content.
You are evaluated on your ability to present the results of your investigation and reflection in a concise,
clear, comprehensive, and creative manner.
Apply the APA 6th style in all your papers. Read the Writing Guidelines available on MyUCW s Library
website.

8.0 Assessment Rubrics:

You are expected to make a positive contribution to the learning of the entire class. To do this, you need:
1. to be present online,
2. to be prepared by having read the required reading material before the class,
3. to respond to what is posted by others
4. to participate constructively in discussions by posting substantive material AND responding to at least
one post,
5. to ask questions that help the class extend the exploration of the concepts covered, and avoid
questions that are already answered in the course material
6. to offer your own ideas, supporting them with reference to the reading material
7. to consistently demonstrate these behaviors to earn the full class contribution mark.

As the instructor for the course, I will take both the quantity and content of your participation into account
to determine your participation grade. Lack of attendance, missing deadlines, or incomplete submissions
will affect participation grades for those sessions.

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 UCW Course Syllabus for MBA 640

9.0 Grade Point and Letter Grades:

DESCRIPTOR GRADE
Exceptional: Normally achieved by a small minority
of students who have consistently exceeded 90-100% A+ (4.33)
performance expectations in all evaluation criteria.
Excellent: Demonstrates a comprehensive
knowledge and understanding of subject matter
and achievement of learning outcomes at high 85-89% A (4.00)
levels of performance in almost all of the
evaluation criteria.
Very good: Demonstrates a comprehensive
knowledge and understanding of the subject
matter and achievement of learning outcomes at 80-84% A- (3.67)
well above average levels of performance in most
of the course evaluation criteria.
Good: Demonstrates substantial knowledge and
understanding of the subject matter and 76-79% B+ (3.33)
achievement of learning outcomes at average to
above average performance levels in most of the 72-75% B (3.00)
course evaluation criteria
Satisfactory: Demonstrates sufficient knowledge
and understanding of the subject matter and
achievement of learning outcomes at average 68-71% B- (2.67)
levels of performance in most of the course
evaluation criteria.
Pass: Demonstrates acceptable knowledge and
understanding of the subject matter and
achievement of learning outcomes at low to 60-67% C (2.00)
average level of performance in many of the
course evaluation criteria.

Fail: Unacceptable performance in most or all of

0-59% F (0)
the course evaluation criteria

10.0 Class Participation / Expectations: Campus students are expected to attend every class.
Online students are expected to access the course site several times a week, to participate in the weekly
discussions, and to stay up-to-date with all activities and announcements. If you must be absent, please
contact the instructor as soon as possible. For international students within Canada, or Canadians on
student loans, the university must report any absences over 8 hours in a semester (all classes combined)
to the appropriate authority. This may result in the revoking of a students study permit or student loan
status. Students for whom this doesnt apply, still run the risk of grade penalties to their participation
mark.

MUST PARTICIPATE INTO ONLINE THREADS.

11.0 Late Assignments: Late Assignments will be penalized at a rate of 10% per day.

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 UCW Course Syllabus for MBA 640

12.0 APA Guidelines: UCW follows the Publication Manual of the American Psychological
Association (APA). All assignments must be submitted with the correct APA formatting and all
sources cited according APA standards. The UCW Library provides resources and reference
materials for students and faculty to utilize in order that their work meets APA standards.

13.0 Privacy Policy: University Canada West is committed to using personal information
collected in accordance with applicable provincial and federal privacy legislation. Use of the
information collected during this course will be used solely for purposes consistent with
academic and support services of a post-secondary educational institution. This statement is
consistent with UCW's Information Privacy & Security Policy.

14.0 Turnitin Policy: This course requires you to submit some material in electronic form.
When this requirement is in place, it will be noted in the course outline, the assignment, or both.
The electronic material will be submitted to a service to which UCW subscribes, called Turnitin.
This is a service that checks textual material for originality. Turnitin.com is used increasingly in
North American universities. For additional information please visit:
https://turnitin.com/static/resources/documentation/turnitin/sales/Turnitin_FAQ_Questio
ns_and_Answers.pdf

15.0 Plagiarism and Academic Misconduct:

Please ensure that you read the section on Academic Misconduct in the University Canada
West Calendar located in MyUCW. To find the calendar, click on Library Resources then
Forms and Calendar.

Plagiarism: includes, but is not limited to:

Submission of another persons work as original;
Inadequate attribution given to an author or creator whose work is incorporated in the
student's work; and
Paraphrase or use of material verbatim from a source without sufficient acknowledgement.

Falsifying Materials: includes, but is not limited to:

Fraudulently manipulating laboratory processes, electronic data, or research data in order
to achieve desired results;
Submitting work prepared by someone else (e.g., commercially prepared essays) as one's
own;
Citing a source from which material was not obtained; and
Submitting false records, information or data, in writing or orally.

Cheating : includes, but is not limited to:

Submitting the same work for different courses without prior permission from the faculty
member;
Copying another persons answers or other work;
Sharing information or answers when doing take-home assignments, tests, and
examinations except where the instructor has authorized collaborative work;
Having any unauthorized materials or equipment in an examination or test;
Submitting an assignment completed (or partially completed) by someone else;
Falsifying or making up data or bibliographic information;

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 UCW Course Syllabus for MBA 640

Impersonating a candidate in an examination or test, or being assigned the results of such

impersonation;
Reproducing, sharing or otherwise making unauthorized copies of UCW materials in any
format;
Using technological means such as cell phones, data storage units and other electronic
devices without prior permission from the faculty; and
Assisting others or attempt to help others to engage in any conduct described above or any
other activities prohibited by UCW.

Penalties for Academic Misconduct

Penalties for academic misconduct include, but are not limited to:
At the course level:
o Written reprimand for retention in the student file (no transcript entry)
o Repetition of the assignment or completion of a different, but similar, assignment (no
transcript entry)
o Failing grade for the assignment (no transcript entry)
o Failing grade for the course (recorded on transcript)
At the program level:
o Disciplinary probation for a defined period with written documentation retained in the
students file (transcript notation for period of probation)
At the University level:
o Suspension (permanent transcript entry)
o Expulsion (permanent transcript entry)
o Rescission of degrees granted (permanent transcript entry)

16.0 Instructor Biography:

Michele Vincenti PhD, MBA, M.A., CMC, C.Mgr (Canada), CIM, C.I.M., FCSI,
STI, CMgr (UK) F.CMI (UK), CITP

Michele Vincenti has over 25 years of experience in the financial sector, both as
a consultant and as an executive in financial institutions. He highly skilled in
strategic business planning with a focus on international development. Michele is
particularly adept in managing relationships and working as an agent of change
management. He believes in holistic approaches where business solutions are
achieved by integrating economics and people. Michele is a trusted consultant
and teacher and is faculty member at different Universities in Canada and
abroad.
He is a member of the American Institute of Management Consultants (IMC-
USA), Canadian Institute of Management (C.I.M.), Chartered Institute of
Management London (UK)(CMgr and F.CMI), Certified International Trade
Professional (CITP), and he is a Director of the Fellow Canadian Securities
Institute (FCSI) National Council.

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