Master of Business Administration in Business Consulting

Master of Business Administration in Business Consulting Issued on behalf of: IPE Management School Paris 19/21 Rue Erard 75012 Paris France October...
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Master of Business Administration in Business Consulting Issued on behalf of:

IPE Management School Paris 19/21 Rue Erard 75012 Paris France

October 2012

2 TABLE OF CONTENT 1

Introduction.......................................................................................... 3

2

International Recognition of the Degree .............................................. 4

3

Approval of Teaching and Learning Centres ....................................... 4

4

Who is the MBA in Business Consultancy for...................................... 5

5

Assessment Policy .............................................................................. 5

6

Course Documentation ........................................................................ 6

7

Course Outline .................................................................................... 7

8

7.1

Mission of the Master of Business Administration in Business Consultancy ................................................................ 7

7.2

Strategic Aims ............................................................................ 7

7.3

Learning Outcomes .................................................................... 8

7.4

Delivery of the Course................................................................ 9

7.5

Course Structure ........................................................................ 9

7.6

Route for further Progression: .................................................. 11

Individual Module Outlines ................................................................ 12 8.1

Management Consultancy Principles ....................................... 12

8.2

Strategic Management ............................................................. 16

8.3

Fundamentals of Project Management .................................... 20

8.4

Organisational Development and Change Management.......... 23

8.5

Business Ethics ........................................................................ 26

8.6

Management Consultancy Practice.......................................... 29

8.7

Scenario Planning .................................................................... 33

8.8

Strategic Crisis Management ................................................... 36

8.9

International Business Law ...................................................... 39

8.10 Research Methods ................................................................... 42 8.11 Dissertation .............................................................................. 46 9

External Professional Acknowledgement .......................................... 51

© IPE Management School Paris

3

1

Introduction

The following documentation presents the outline for the Postgraduate Degree of the Master of Business Administration in Business Consulting. This Degree is in accordance with the internationally acknowledged standards, which constitute postgraduate Higher Education in the provision of MBA Degrees. Its learning objectives and module content are closely related to the PRME Framework of the United Nations, with reference to educate reflective managers for sustainable management. This Degree meets the ECTS standards, directed by the so-called European Bologna process and gains successful students 105 credits 

75 ECTS credits are awarded by completion of ten compulsory taught modules



The dissertation gains 30 credits

Purpose of this specific degree is to provide students with contemporary knowledge, delivered by interactive and research-based lectures. For this Degree the IPE Management School Paris collaborates intensively with its sister School Pôle Paris Alternance in the network of the Réseau des Grandes Ecoles Spécialisées. Based on the aligned curriculae of both Higher Education institutions successful students are therefore awarded a second distinctive MBA Degree by Pôle Paris Alternance at the time of their Graduation. Furthermore, the Professional Body of the International Professional Managers Association (IPMA) acknowledges this Postgraduate Degree and supports it. This way students do not only benefit from two distinctive and specialised Postgraduate Degrees, but also from enhanced professional acknowledgement. IPMA issues a specific document of professional acknowledgement for Graduates. This unique combination of academic Twin-Degrees to which adds the professsional acknowledgement by the IPMA is a tangible expression of the high standards, which IPE Management School Paris Degrees own. They support students in their future application process significantly. Greatest care guided the selection of all modules and their content to make them contemporary and to provide the right balance between managerial roles in a consultancy function, the corporate and the wider responsibilities, which acting managers and employees have to fulfil for sustainable management. The elaboration of the Degree is considered as well balanced, insightful and academically valid adopting highest standards of French and international Higher Education and meeting superior professional standards at the same time. This process provides extended value to this course as a Degree of outstanding excellence and experience in its field and to meet organisational expectations. On behalf of the IPE Management School Paris Professor Klaus Oestreicher Academic Director of International Degrees

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2

International Recognition of the Degree

The delivering IPE Management School Paris is part of the elite French Higher Education strand known as Grandes Ecoles. Historically Grandes Ecoles deliver superior Higher Education, which is profession-oriented (applied science). This way the French Grande Ecole system is very different to Higher Education systems of other countries. One expression of such difference is expressed in the degree title of ‘degré professionnel’. Degrees of the IPE Management School Paris as the Awarding Body are delivered under the regulations of French Higher Education at ‘Niveau I’ and fully acknowledged by the Ministère français de l’enseignement supérieur et de la recherche (Ministry of Higher Education and Research) of the French State. The Degree is strictly in accordance with the rigid regulations of the Cadre Européen des Certifications (CEC) and the French Government’s Commission Nationale de la Certification Professionnelle (CNCP). Further acknowledgements are awarded, e.g., by NARIC, UK. For European student specific attention is drawn to the process of harmonised Higher Education within the European Union.

3

Approval of Teaching and Learning Centres

Each centre in which teaching and learning of this Degree takes place will be subject to an accreditation process of careful selection. No institution will be accepted, which cannot provide sustainable evidence of 

Written and valid acknowledgement issued by local authorities entitling the institution to provide Higher Education



High quality infrastructure



Committed staff with sufficient experience in Higher Education, which includes that all teaching staff must at least have a Master’s Degree him/herself being awarded by an acknowledged University or other provider of Higher Education



Implemented own quality processes and procedures



Student-centred and oriented commitment to high quality outcomes



Fair, impartial and equal approaches to students of multi-cultural origin and backgrounds



Highest professional standards

To assure a consistent and sustainable quality, teaching and learning centres are accredited for a maximum period of five (5) years. After each period a new process of assessment must take place. © IPE Management School Paris

5 These procedures do not only assure local requirements of high standard teaching and learning, but are also a process of quality management with regard to French authorities by which the Degree Awarding Powers of the IPE Management School Paris are governed.

4

Who is the MBA in Business Consultancy for

The MBA in Business Consultancy is a focused programme of postgraduate study. It is mainly aimed at candidates who already have obtained an undergraduate degree, have collected practical experience in professional practice on a managerial level, as independent consultants or in a self-employed context. Applications are equally welcomed from individual candidates or from individuals sponsored by their existing employers. It is designed to be studied while candidates continue to pursue their professional responsibilities. The MBA builds on candidates’ professional experience. This body of existing experiences provides the many practical perspectives on which the programme builds. Candidates are therefore expected to act as co-producers in shaping the precise teaching content of the MBA. In this teaching model, the programme tutors’ expertise and knowledge acts as translational research, responding to and at the service of candidates on the programme. On completion, candidates on the MBA Degree in Business Consultancy will have gained two premier academic qualifications awarded by IPE Management School Paris and Pôle Paris Alternance that will enhance their capacity to act successfully as consultants. The MBA is therefore designed to improve candidates’ leadership qualities, capacity to exercise effective judgement, intellectual calibre, generic problem-solving skills and through these, their career prospects.

5

Assessment Policy

Within all ten taught modules and the dissertation the policy of assessment is consistent. Each module is assessed by assignments, examinations and non-assessed presentations, which are explained in the individual module outlines. The possible range of grades consists of:



0 – 49%

Fail



50 – 64%

Pass



65 – 79%

Pass with Merit



80% and beyond

Pass with Distinction

Students, who have failed a module are admitted to one retake. The maximum mark awarded to retakes is a Pass at 50%.

6 To achieve consistent marking and as an implemented and proven control of quality all examination papers are subject to the moderating approval of an Examination Board. This procedure guarantees that students will find an impartial, equal and fair marking process.

6

Course Documentation

The following chapters consist of the Course Outline and the individual Module Outlines. Rigid quality assurance processes, whose focus is on highest quality standards, govern the IPE Management School Paris. Therefore only approved study centres are entrusted with the delivery of IPE Management School Paris Degrees, which are bound to Course and Module Outlines. The MBA in Business Consultancy is aligned with the Higher Education provision of the Grande Ecole Pôle Paris Alternance, which awards successful students its own Master of Business Administration Degree as an additional evidence of studies at superior academic level.

© IPE Management School Paris

7

7

Course Outline

7.1

Mission of the Master of Business Administration in Business Consultancy

The MBA in Business Consultancy is a Postgraduate Degree preparing students to become responsible consultants in a variety of professional fields. This includes consultancy for specific organisational functions, but also with regard to strategic issues on the top level of an organisation. Consultants’ task is to add the important outside-in perspective to organisations. However, the time to understand an organisation’s internal structures, culture and norms is limited. This restriction requests that consultants are capable to analyse an organisation’s driving forces, key performance and critical success factors quickly. At the same time consultants must be driven by high standards of ethics and moral, which are indispensable elements within the demand for sustainable management meeting the multiple contemporary challenges. Consultants rarely are in a position to implement their recommendations and have to respect the objectives of multiple constituents and a variety of stakeholders. Internalising these criteria into the studies enhances Graduates’ employability and career opportunities within consultancies significantly or provides the necessary credibility for becoming a self-employed consultant. The Degree supports Graduates to differentiate themselves from those consultants, whose capabilities are limited to prior professional experience. This MBA provides candidates with extended and superior knowledge being fully concentrated on latest reconnaissance and developments, but focuses on modern organisational challenges and driving forces and values. The course combines knowledge of organisations with key management practice skills and respects acknowledged findings of latest research on organisations.

7.2

Strategic Aims

Shared Aims unite the Modules in the MBA in Business Consultancy. These common aims are: 

To use theory, case study insights and practical demonstrations to enhance candidates’ intellectual calibre, professional and leadership skills and problem-solving capacity.



To communicate sophisticated understandings of present and future problems and challenges typically found in contemporary organisations and identify scope for general and particular improvements in a globalised economy.



To identify and foster appropriate leadership roles in the general management and responsibilities in sophisticated approaches to drive organi-

8 sational development and meet the needs of demanding markets and multiple organisational contexts. 

7.3

To explore the scope and content of effective organisational and functional strategies focused on turbulent markets, organisational sustainability and progress within the permanently changing environment in a national, international and global context.

Learning Outcomes

This MBA Programme is specifically designed for prospective senior and selfemployed careers in Business Consultancy. It is developed to gain superior knowledge: 

Develop critical thinking and analytical approaches to theories and practices of contemporary organisational contexts by in-depth analysis of the internal and external environment.



Enhance the ability to read, understand and make sense of the specific organisational needs for sustainable organisational progress in a variety of businesses and contexts.



Extend the capacity to evaluate and critically select between strategies, tactics and operational models in contemporary and future-oriented market environments.



Provide organisations with necessary insights and robust structures for becoming a socially responsible citizen.



Apply high standards of moral and ethical behaviour to the own work, whether in a consultancy organisation or as an independent consultant.

The aims for each of the individual Modules that make up the MBA in Business Consultancy are set out in the relevant Module specifications. The MBA Degree is structured under the regulations for Higher Education in France and acknowledged by various French and international regulating bodies. Successful candidates will gain the academic Twin-Degree (IPE and PPA) of a Master of Business Administration in Business Consultancy, additionally supported by the recognition of the International Professional Managers Association, UK, providing explicit evidence of the quality of superior management studies.

© IPE Management School Paris

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7.4

Delivery of the Course

The course will be delivered in intensive monthly presence blocks over weekends (Friday to Sunday), in which the emphasis is not on traditional lectures, but on examples of best practice in which high levels of interaction between lecturers and students are the decisive elements of teaching and learning. Other contemporary learning methods, including presentations and practice-oriented activities, are completing a student-centred focus on participants’ individual achievements. This structure will allow candidates to pursue their professional responsibilities during their studies. The MBA in Business Consultancy builds on both candidates’ professional experience and knowledge gained within their MBA studies. Students’ experience and academic knowledge provides the essential combination for the course’s objective of advanced practice-oriented perspectives. These are built on the translation of theoretical underpinnings into best practice for informed decision-making and understanding of the contemporary complexities of turbulent marketplaces. Candidates are therefore expected to act as co-producers in shaping the precise teaching content of the MBA. In this teaching model, the programme tutors’ expertise and knowledge acts as translational research, responding to and at the service of candidates on the programme.

7.5

Course Structure

This MBA is based on ten specific modules, which concentrate on permanently improving organisational performance to which consultancy provides additional external perspectives. Sustainability, ethical considerations embracing the wider stakeholder context are as important as organisational needs for profitability and survival. Therefore the course adopts a holistic Higher Education approach. The topics of the modules are based on latest research, in which students critical and analytical thinking is permanently extended. A major driver of these course objectives will be to develop together with students’ pathways to translate and adopt research findings for practical application concentrated on organisational growth, competitive advantages, but as well sustainable management driven by ethical corporate behaviour. The usual duration of this course is structured to be accomplished within eight months of studies but may be extended to two years on request. The compulsory Modules that candidates study are:

1. Management Consultancy Principles – Managing consultancy projects by consideration of group behaviour and respect for individual stakeholders, undertaking corporate analysis and evaluating management and functional processes within a firm 2. Global Strategic Business Management – Global strategies in comparison and contrast to the organisational levels of strategic scaffolding, critical

10 analysis of existing strategy models, differentiators between strategy, tactics and operations 3. Fundamentals of Project Management – Configuration of projects, stepby-step planning, cost/benefit and Forcefield analysis, precedence diagram planning, risk management, EVA-planning, communication, the Dice Framework 4. Organisational Development and Change Management – Analyses of the external environment, influence of external forces and drivers; development and implementation of change models, Balogun et al’s. Kaleidoscope of Change, psychological factors, stakeholder analysis 5. Business Ethics – Sustainable and socially responsible corporate behaviour in the context of, e.g., Deontology, the Golden Rules, Kant’s Principles, and the Utilitarian Principle 6. Management Consultancy Practice – Analysis of organisational value creation, critical success factors and key performance indicators the reflective development of critical skills to evaluate new concepts, techniques and arguments in organisational and project management 7. Scenario Planning – Performance-based scenario planning, theoretical foundations, scenario development and implementation, management of scenario projects 8. Strategic Crisis Management – Crisis analysis, de-escalation methods, crisis prevention, business continuity models and turning crises into opportunities 9. International Business Law – Consultancy within legal restrictions on national and international level, differentiation between ethically-driven legitimacy and legality, international regulatory contexts 10. Research Methods – Application of qualitative, quantitative and mixed method research methods, research strategies, methodological considerations, principles of primary and secondary data collection, processing and presentation with reference to validity and reliability 11. Dissertation in form of a consultancy project (practice-oriented, applied research of 15,000 words)

These Modules function as stand-alone programmes of study in their own right. They have also been designed to address common issues and problems. Each module offers intensive learning content, in which theory is oriented towards practice and informs, how consultancy can support organisational decisionmaking processes. The monthly presence blocks enable and facilitate peer discussion by guided tutor support. This MBA requires significant elements of additional independent studies. In this combination students find permanent support helping them to understand content, intensify the relevant topics and to interact in groups of interest. To support these efforts between the single presence blocks a rich and interactive Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) is of further assistance. © IPE Management School Paris

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7.6 

Route for further Progression: The study of Doctor in Business Administration (DBA).

A three-year study including four specific taught research method modules and a doctoral thesis consisting of applied research in the business and/or management environment.

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8

Individual Module Outlines

8.1

Management Consultancy Principles

Consultancy work is important to all forms and types of organisations. It complements the organisational inside-out perspective by the essential outside-in view. Good consultants contribute to value development and their extension, offer advice for organisational progress and sustainability and support organisations in improving and maintaining their internal and external relationships. This important task requires highly developed skills. A consultant’s work depends on critical analysis, quick assessment of issues, advantages and disadvantages, but also the classical factors of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats, which an organisation owns. But there are limitations to a consultant’s work, too. Usually, a consultant can recommend, but he/she cannot make things happen. This needs persuasive skills by good communication, a talent for de-escalation and moderation. Eventually, a consultant’s work depends on own structured processes and the ability to understand a variety of multiple methods and principles, which support his/her value contribution to an organisation. At the same time these principles must be guided by more than high professional standards. They must be delivered with respect to ethics and moral, too.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Students should be able to: 

Formulate the processes of client-centric processes



Understand the consultancy lifecycle



Apply frameworks of business analyses



Differentiate between hard and soft skills



Embrace ethical considerations

© IPE Management School Paris

13 Learning and Teaching The module will be delivered in intensive presence blocks over one weekend (Friday to Sunday), in which the emphasis is not only on traditional lectures, but also on examples of best practice in which high levels of interaction between lecturers and students are the decisive elements of teaching and learning. Additional contemporary learning methods, including non-assessed presentations may complete the student-centred focus on participants’ individual achievements.

Assessment Details The assessment for this module is based on one assignment.

Assignment (3,000 words) In an essay students will critically reflect on the essential ‘principles’ of consultancy. In their work students will controversially discuss how client-centric approaches can be developed in the effort to meet an organisation’s expectations, but also address limitations, which may occur, e.g., by considerations of ethics and moral. Essential for the result is an in-depth assessment, which is accompanied by a high level of criticality.

Set Texts O’Mahoney, J. 2010. Consultancy. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Newton, R. 2010. The Management Consultant: Mastering the Art of Consultancy. Harlow: Pearson Education Ltd.

Academic Dishonesty Warning Please note the regulations on academic dishonesty, in particular the inclusion in your assignments of un-attributed material taken from other sources. Be assured that every effort will be taken to deal with you fairly, but remember that there are strict rules concerning cheating. Refer to the Business Management Student Handbook.

14 Reassessment In the event you are required to take reassessment you will receive formal notification of this in writing.

Late submission of work Should you find that you are unable to meet the assessment deadlines, you should consult the regulations regarding late submission and applying for mitigation. Details should be clarified with your local Centre of Studies.

Attendance The IPE Management School Paris feels strongly that good attendance is necessary on your part as an essential element of successful studies. Consequently, the following requirements operate. 

You are expected to attend all sessions.



If you cannot attend for any genuine reason (e.g. illness) you are expected to e-mail the module tutor.



Persistent non-attendance will require an explanation, in person, initially with the module tutor.

Work In addition to the formal contact hours you will be expected to engage in independent study between the different modules. This is an essential part of study requirements.

Academic Writing You will be graded on the quality of your writing as well as the content, i.e. how you write as well as what you write. This will include 

The ability to present your material in an appropriate format (report, essay, exam).



The ability to present your work in grammatically correct language.



The correct use of references based on the Harvard system.



Academic depth according to Postgraduate Studies, which includes appropriate application of frameworks and theories, critical thinking and contrasting argumentation.

© IPE Management School Paris

15 Poor language and referencing can lose you up to 10% per assignment. Please note that you must clearly identify all sources, including the Internet, and that you should communicate your thoughts in your own words/diagrams/images rather than reproducing the material of others. Failure to do so may lead to an allegation of cheating. The use of online collaborative encyclopædias such as Wikipedia is not acceptable.

Student Handbook In addition the validated regulations of the Student Handbook apply.

16

8.2

Strategic Management

This Module explores how strategies are formulated, implemented and evaluated at the strategic business unit or corporate level with reference to an organisation’s societal and market purpose. It explains the tools of strategic management and locates them within a larger cycle of planning and management. It therefore emphasises the need for holism and integration in responding to complex social and competitive challenges. The module supports students in undertaking a strategic analysis being an essential part of the work of a business consultant. Key issues covered include designing a strategy based on an organisation’s resources and capabilities recognising the assumptions and limits of strategic design. A further focus is on the differentiation between strategy, tactics and operations necessary for delivering strategy and the implementation of strategy by securing alignment between key functions in the organisation, which leads to evaluating strategy as it unfurls and upon delivery.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Students should be able to: 

Understand and apply theories of international business strategy to real world cases



Appreciate the multidisciplinary nature of strategic decision-making



Access and utilise a range of data sources and other materials pertinent for analysing trends and changes in global industries



Demonstrate an awareness of global forces of change on business strategies and structures



Critically differentiate reach and scope of strategy – tactics – operations

Learning and Teaching The module will be delivered in intensive presence blocks over one weekend (Friday to Sunday), in which the emphasis is not only on traditional lectures, but also on examples of best practice in which high levels of interaction between lecturers and students are the decisive elements of teaching and learning. Addition-

© IPE Management School Paris

17 al contemporary learning methods, including non-assessed presentations may complete the student-centred focus on participants’ individual achievements.

Assessment Details The assessment for this module is based on one assignment.

Examination (open book, 3 hrs) The examination will be based on a relevant case study focused on the understanding of strategy in the corporate planning cycle and the activities derived. These may include the various strategy levels, which organisations typically implement. Students will have to provide evidence of their understanding of the impact of strategy on organisational outcomes alongside the value chain.

Set Texts Johnson, G., Whittington, R. and Scholes, K. 2011. Exploring Corporate Strategy. 9th ed Harlow: Pearson Education Ltd. Barney, B. and Hesterley W.S. 2010. Strategic Management and Competitive Advantage. 3rd ed Harlow: Pearson Education

Academic Dishonesty Warning Please note the regulations on academic dishonesty, in particular the inclusion in your assignments of un-attributed material taken from other sources. Be assured that every effort will be taken to deal with you fairly, but remember that there are strict rules concerning cheating. Refer to the Business Management Student Handbook.

Reassessment In the event you are required to take reassessment you will receive formal notification of this in writing.

18 Late submission of work Should you find that you are unable to meet the assessment deadlines, you should consult the regulations regarding late submission and applying for mitigation. Details should be clarified with your local Centre of Studies.

Attendance The IPE Management School Paris feels strongly that good attendance is necessary on your part as an essential element of successful studies. Consequently, the following requirements operate. 

You are expected to attend all sessions.



If you cannot attend for any genuine reason (e.g. illness) you are expected to e-mail the module tutor.



Persistent non-attendance will require an explanation, in person, initially with the module tutor.

Work In addition to the formal contact hours you will be expected to engage in independent study between the different modules. This is an essential part of study requirements.

Academic Writing You will be graded on the quality of your writing as well as the content, i.e. how you write as well as what you write. This will include 

The ability to present your material in an appropriate format (report, essay, exam).



The ability to present your work in grammatically correct language.



The correct use of references based on the Harvard system.



Academic depth according to Postgraduate Studies, which includes appropriate application of frameworks and theories, critical thinking and contrasting argumentation.

Poor language and referencing can lose you up to 10% per assignment. Please note that you must clearly identify all sources, including the Internet, and that you should communicate your thoughts in your own words/diagrams/images rather than reproducing the material of others. Failure to do so may lead to an allegation of cheating. The use of online collaborative encyclopædias such as Wikipedia is not acceptable.

© IPE Management School Paris

19 Student Handbook In addition the validated regulations of the Student Handbook apply.

20

8.3

Fundamentals of Project Management

Project Management is a key skill for consultants. Annually billions in an any currency are lost due to badly implemented, delayed or disrupted projects. As research reports, this high failure rate can often be attributed to mismanagement starting as early as the planning process. The Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) is a globally standardising approach and quality-defining dimension in this field. Driven by this standardising method of good project management, the module will introduce the holistic project management, from first planning, to implementation and evaluation. Students will learn about professional best practice project management, which also includes to respect the affectations of a variety of stakeholder groups and their different interests.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Students should be able to: 

Understand the theoretical foundations of project management



Apply analytical framework and research opportunities



Analyse organisational processes and emergent practices



Plan, implement and evaluate projects



Respect affectations of different stakeholder groups ethically

Learning and Teaching The module will be delivered in intensive presence blocks over one weekend (Friday to Sunday), in which the emphasis is not only on traditional lectures, but also on examples of best practice in which high levels of interaction between lecturers and students are the decisive elements of teaching and learning. Additional contemporary learning methods, including non-assessed presentations may complete the student-centred focus on participants’ individual achievements.

Assessment Details The assessment for this module is based on one assignment.

© IPE Management School Paris

21 Report (4,000 words) Students are requested to provide a management report, in which they adopt a consultant’s perspective. This report may use any kind of organisation and any type of project. Essential for the outcome is that the project is developed in a realistic environment and presents a holistic approach (planning, recommendations for implementation and methods of evaluation). Furthermore important is that the report respects affectations of different stakeholders comprehensively and provides suggestions to address these by an ethically and socially responsible solution.

Set Texts Morris, P.W.G., Pinto, J.K. and Söderlund, J. 2012. The Oxford Handbook of Project Management. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Project Management Institute. 2009. A Guide to The Project Management Body of Knowledge: PMBOK Guide. 4th ed Newton Square: Project Management Institute, Inc.

Academic Dishonesty Warning Please note the regulations on academic dishonesty, in particular the inclusion in your assignments of un-attributed material taken from other sources. Be assured that every effort will be taken to deal with you fairly, but remember that there are strict rules concerning cheating. Refer to the Business Management Student Handbook.

Reassessment In the event you are required to take reassessment you will receive formal notification of this in writing.

Late submission of work Should you find that you are unable to meet the assessment deadlines, you should consult the regulations regarding late submission and applying for mitigation. Details should be clarified with your local Centre of Studies.

22 Attendance The IPE Management School Paris feels strongly that good attendance is necessary on your part as an essential element of successful studies. Consequently, the following requirements operate. 

You are expected to attend all sessions.



If you cannot attend for any genuine reason (e.g. illness) you are expected to e-mail the module tutor.



Persistent non-attendance will require an explanation, in person, initially with the module tutor.

Work In addition to the formal contact hours you will be expected to engage in independent study between the different modules. This is an essential part of study requirements.

Academic Writing You will be graded on the quality of your writing as well as the content, i.e. how you write as well as what you write. This will include 

The ability to present your material in an appropriate format (report, essay, exam).



The ability to present your work in grammatically correct language.



The correct use of references based on the Harvard system.



Academic depth according to Postgraduate Studies, which includes appropriate application of frameworks and theories, critical thinking and contrasting argumentation.

Poor language and referencing can lose you up to 10% per assignment. Please note that you must clearly identify all sources, including the Internet, and that you should communicate your thoughts in your own words/diagrams/images rather than reproducing the material of others. Failure to do so may lead to an allegation of cheating. The use of online collaborative encyclopædias such as Wikipedia is not acceptable.

Student Handbook In addition the validated regulations of the Student Handbook apply.

© IPE Management School Paris

23

8.4

Organisational Development and Change Management

If there is one overarching concept in today’s economy, than that of permanent change. But this concept is accompanied by a plenitude of others, like structural crisis and one, which may be the reason for the turmoil, turbulent markets. In this rather hostile environment organisations struggle for their survival. As Kelly pointed out as early as 1997, “all is flux, no harmony”. This context is essential for consultants, since frequently being a major reason to be hired. Therefore, this module is a core element of the Degree. Development and change complement each other. They have two major elements in common: They are addressing professional and functional obligations and commitments, but also involve barriers to overcome, like psychologically induced changeresistance of affected stakeholders. This results in consultants’ need to be analytical and professional, but also communicators persuading and convincing organisational constituents.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Students should be able to: 

Understand organisational development in a national, international and global context



Diagnose the organisation, its functions and human resources with reference to its capabilities for sustainable development



Analyse and design effective change strategies



Consider the driving forces of change in planning and implementation of change projects

Learning and Teaching The module will be delivered in intensive presence blocks over one weekend (Friday to Sunday), in which the emphasis is not only on traditional lectures, but also on examples of best practice in which high levels of interaction between lecturers and students are the decisive elements of teaching and learning. Additional contemporary learning methods, including non-assessed presentations may complete the student-centred focus on participants’ individual achievements.

24 Assessment Details The assessment for this module is based on one assignment.

Exam (3 hours) Based on a case study students answer a set of fixed questions, which assess issues of organisational development and/or change management. The answers will be assessed by application of theoretical backgrounds in the real-life scenario the case study deals with and on the level of criticality, which the answers provide. The exam is open book. Students are allowed to bring any books and notes to the exam.

Set Texts Cummings, T. 2008. Organization Development and Change: International Edition. Mason: South-Western Cengage Learning. Balogun, J., Hope Hailey, V., Johnson, G. and Scholes, K. 2008. Exploring Strategic Change. 3rd ed Harlow: Pearson Education Ltd.

Academic Dishonesty Warning Please note the regulations on academic dishonesty, in particular the inclusion in your assignments of un-attributed material taken from other sources. Be assured that every effort will be taken to deal with you fairly, but remember that there are strict rules concerning cheating. Refer to the Business Management Student Handbook.

Reassessment In the event you are required to take reassessment you will receive formal notification of this in writing.

Late submission of work Should you find that you are unable to meet the assessment deadlines, you should consult the regulations regarding late submission and applying for mitigation. Details should be clarified with your local Centre of Studies.

© IPE Management School Paris

25 Attendance The IPE Management School Paris feels strongly that good attendance is necessary on your part as an essential element of successful studies. Consequently, the following requirements operate. 

You are expected to attend all sessions.



If you cannot attend for any genuine reason (e.g. illness) you are expected to e-mail the module tutor.



Persistent non-attendance will require an explanation, in person, initially with the module tutor.

Work In addition to the formal contact hours you will be expected to engage in independent study between the different modules. This is an essential part of study requirements.

Academic Writing You will be graded on the quality of your writing as well as the content, i.e. how you write as well as what you write. This will include 

The ability to present your material in an appropriate format (report, essay, exam).



The ability to present your work in grammatically correct language.



The correct use of references based on the Harvard system.



Academic depth according to Postgraduate Studies, which includes appropriate application of frameworks and theories, critical thinking and contrasting argumentation.

Poor language and referencing can lose you up to 10% per assignment. Please note that you must clearly identify all sources, including the Internet, and that you should communicate your thoughts in your own words/diagrams/images rather than reproducing the material of others. Failure to do so may lead to an allegation of cheating. The use of online collaborative encyclopædias such as Wikipedia is not acceptable.

Student Handbook In addition the validated regulations of the Student Handbook apply.

26

8.5

Business Ethics

Since the start of the global crisis the debate on sustainable and responsible management has significantly increased. However, these questions are not new. Both academic research and political regulations have paid attention to Corporate Social Responsibility much earlier. Eventually Corporate Social Responsibility is about moral and ethics. Without these, sustainability in management is merely possible. For a consultant business ethics unfurls in two dimensions. Firstly it is about his/her own ethical and moral approach to consultancy and secondly business ethics should be an essential part of his/her advice and recommendations in the consultancy work provided to any organisation. This module covers a range of approaches and theories, which are explaining more than moral and ethics in business activities. Philosophy drives the agenda of business ethics on the one hand, but on the other hand societal norms, cultures and expectations add to the pressure on organisations.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Students should be able to: 

Understand major theory and frameworks in the field of Corporate Social Responsibility



Develop ethical standards for their own work as business consultants



Analyse organisational practices with regard to corporate ethical behaviour



Improve organisations’ approach to sustainable management and benefits for society

Learning and Teaching The module will be delivered in intensive presence blocks over one weekend (Friday to Sunday), in which the emphasis is not only on traditional lectures, but also on examples of best practice in which high levels of interaction between lecturers and students are the decisive elements of teaching and learning. Additional contemporary learning methods, including non-assessed presentations may complete the student-centred focus on participants’ individual achievements.

© IPE Management School Paris

27 Assessment Details The assessment for this module is based on one assignment.

Exam (3 hrs) In the exam students will analyse a case study with reference to corporate social responsibility and ethical behaviour of an organisation. A set of questions will test students’ knowledge gained in this module, but will also request their own critical application of concepts with regard to ethical management in the light of sustainability.

Set Texts Velasquez, M.G. 2011. Business Ethics: Concepts and Cases. 7th ed Upper Saddle River: Pearson Education Inc. Crane, A. and Matten, D. 2010. Business Ethics: Managing Corporate Citizenship and Sustainability in the Age of Globalization. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Academic Dishonesty Warning Please note the regulations on academic dishonesty, in particular the inclusion in your assignments of un-attributed material taken from other sources. Be assured that every effort will be taken to deal with you fairly, but remember that there are strict rules concerning cheating. Refer to the Business Management Student Handbook.

Reassessment In the event you are required to take reassessment you will receive formal notification of this in writing.

Late submission of work Should you find that you are unable to meet the assessment deadlines, you should consult the regulations regarding late submission and applying for mitigation. Details should be clarified with your local Centre of Studies.

28 Attendance The IPE Management School Paris feels strongly that good attendance is necessary on your part as an essential element of successful studies. Consequently, the following requirements operate. 

You are expected to attend all sessions.



If you cannot attend for any genuine reason (e.g. illness) you are expected to e-mail the module tutor.



Persistent non-attendance will require an explanation, in person, initially with the module tutor.

Work In addition to the formal contact hours you will be expected to engage in independent study between the different modules. This is an essential part of study requirements.

Academic Writing You will be graded on the quality of your writing as well as the content, i.e. how you write as well as what you write. This will include 

The ability to present your material in an appropriate format (report, essay, exam).



The ability to present your work in grammatically correct language.



The correct use of references based on the Harvard system.



Academic depth according to Postgraduate Studies, which includes appropriate application of frameworks and theories, critical thinking and contrasting argumentation.

Poor language and referencing can lose you up to 10% per assignment. Please note that you must clearly identify all sources, including the Internet, and that you should communicate your thoughts in your own words/diagrams/images rather than reproducing the material of others. Failure to do so may lead to an allegation of cheating. The use of online collaborative encyclopædias such as Wikipedia is not acceptable.

Student Handbook In addition the validated regulations of the Student Handbook apply.

© IPE Management School Paris

29

8.6

Management Consultancy Practice

Good consultancy is more than analysis of an organisation and report writing. Good consultancy is also about persuasion of managers, convincing affected stakeholders and actively supporting organisations in achieving a set of goals. Professional knowledge and experience are one asset of a consultant’s experience. For best practice consultancy more capabilities than these are essential. Good project management is one, excellent capabilities for research and analysis another to which add soft skills, like communication, negotiation or leadership. This module combines a number of content taught in the prior modules (e.g., principles of consultancy, project management, business ethics and so on) in the effort to improve students’ capabilities for best practice in consultancy.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Students should be able to: 

Be self-aware with reference to their own capabilities in soft and hard skills



Apply techniques of communication and persuasion



Concentrate efforts of development and change in best practice consultancy



Gain effectiveness and efficiency in consultancy work



Embed ethical and societal concerns in their recommendations and activities

Learning and Teaching The module will be delivered in intensive presence blocks over one weekend (Friday to Sunday), in which the emphasis is not only on traditional lectures, but also on examples of best practice in which high levels of interaction between lecturers and students are the decisive elements of teaching and learning. Additional contemporary learning methods, including non-assessed presentations may complete the student-centred focus on participants’ individual achievements.

30 Assessment Details The assessment for this module is based on one assignment.

Exam (3 hrs) Students will analyse a case study. Instead of answering a set of questions, they will elaborate a consultancy plan of best practice for the case study’s organisation. This planning under ‘real’ time limitations will provide 1. A critical statement of the organisation’s present situation 2. A variety of options for improvements in which sustainability is of equal concern 3. A reasoned statement, which of the identified options they adopt 4. A sound planning and recommendations for implementation and methods of evaluation Students are invited to present much of their argumentation by spreadsheets (e.g., advantages vs disadvantages / strengths vs weaknesses of their approach).

Set Texts O’Mahoney, J. 2010. Consultancy. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Newton, R. 2010. The Management Consultant: Mastering the Art of Consultancy. Harlow: Pearson Education Ltd.

Academic Dishonesty Warning Please note the regulations on academic dishonesty, in particular the inclusion in your assignments of un-attributed material taken from other sources. Be assured that every effort will be taken to deal with you fairly, but remember that there are strict rules concerning cheating. Refer to the Business Management Student Handbook.

Reassessment In the event you are required to take reassessment you will receive formal notification of this in writing.

© IPE Management School Paris

31 Late submission of work Should you find that you are unable to meet the assessment deadlines, you should consult the regulations regarding late submission and applying for mitigation. Details should be clarified with your local Centre of Studies.

Attendance The IPE Management School Paris feels strongly that good attendance is necessary on your part as an essential element of successful studies. Consequently, the following requirements operate. 

You are expected to attend all sessions.



If you cannot attend for any genuine reason (e.g. illness) you are expected to e-mail the module tutor.



Persistent non-attendance will require an explanation, in person, initially with the module tutor.

Work In addition to the formal contact hours you will be expected to engage in independent study between the different modules. This is an essential part of study requirements.

Academic Writing You will be graded on the quality of your writing as well as the content, i.e. how you write as well as what you write. This will include 

The ability to present your material in an appropriate format (report, essay, exam).



The ability to present your work in grammatically correct language.



The correct use of references based on the Harvard system.



Academic depth according to Postgraduate Studies, which includes appropriate application of frameworks and theories, critical thinking and contrasting argumentation.

Poor language and referencing can lose you up to 10% per assignment. Please note that you must clearly identify all sources, including the Internet, and that you should communicate your thoughts in your own words/diagrams/images rather than reproducing the material of others. Failure to do so may lead to an allegation of cheating. The use of online collaborative encyclopædias such as Wikipedia is not acceptable.

32 Student Handbook In addition the validated regulations of the Student Handbook apply.

© IPE Management School Paris

33

8.7

Scenario Planning

Good work of a consultant for an organisation means to forecast potential future developments. These can be on the micro and macro level, but both levels are subject to strong external influences. The unknown is a decisive factor for success or failure needing sound interpretation of tendencies and trends. Scenario planning is an instrument and technique, which supports reconnaissance and intelligence. Developed by Pierre Wack of Royal Dutch Shell in the early 1970s scenario planning has found its way into corporations around the globe. In this module students will learn about the advantages of scenario planning, its technical instruments and their application. But they will also be introduced to scenario planning’s limitations. Scenario planning supports forecasting the future, but it does not fix it.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Students should be able to: 

Understand the fundamental principles of Scenario Planning



Apply major techniques



Critically evaluate scenario planning’s advantages in contrast to its limitations



Use scenario planning as an assessed tool within consultancy work

Learning and Teaching The module will be delivered in intensive presence blocks over one weekend (Friday to Sunday), in which the emphasis is not only on traditional lectures, but also on examples of best practice in which high levels of interaction between lecturers and students are the decisive elements of teaching and learning. Additional contemporary learning methods, including non-assessed presentations may complete the student-centred focus on participants’ individual achievements.

34 Assessment Details The assessment for this module is based on one assignment.

Essay (3,000 words) The essay will critically discuss advantages and disadvantages of scenario planning. An essential part of the essay will deal with the opportunities and limitations, which scenario planning can provide for consultants with reference to their work for organisations. Teaching centres and their faculty may specify this outline further with reference to a particular case or focus it on specific parts of scenario planning.

Set Texts Wade, W. 2012. Scenario Planning: A Field Guide to the Future. Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Wright, G. and Cairns, G. 2011. Scenario Thinking: Practical Approaches to the Future. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.

Academic Dishonesty Warning Please note the regulations on academic dishonesty, in particular the inclusion in your assignments of un-attributed material taken from other sources. Be assured that every effort will be taken to deal with you fairly, but remember that there are strict rules concerning cheating. Refer to the Business Management Student Handbook.

Reassessment In the event you are required to take reassessment you will receive formal notification of this in writing.

Late submission of work Should you find that you are unable to meet the assessment deadlines, you should consult the regulations regarding late submission and applying for mitigation. Details should be clarified with your local Centre of Studies.

© IPE Management School Paris

35 Attendance The IPE Management School Paris feels strongly that good attendance is necessary on your part as an essential element of successful studies. Consequently, the following requirements operate. 

You are expected to attend all sessions.



If you cannot attend for any genuine reason (e.g. illness) you are expected to e-mail the module tutor.



Persistent non-attendance will require an explanation, in person, initially with the module tutor.

Work In addition to the formal contact hours you will be expected to engage in independent study between the different modules. This is an essential part of study requirements.

Academic Writing You will be graded on the quality of your writing as well as the content, i.e. how you write as well as what you write. This will include 

The ability to present your material in an appropriate format (report, essay, exam).



The ability to present your work in grammatically correct language.



The correct use of references based on the Harvard system.



Academic depth according to Postgraduate Studies, which includes appropriate application of frameworks and theories, critical thinking and contrasting argumentation.

Poor language and referencing can lose you up to 10% per assignment. Please note that you must clearly identify all sources, including the Internet, and that you should communicate your thoughts in your own words/diagrams/images rather than reproducing the material of others. Failure to do so may lead to an allegation of cheating. The use of online collaborative encyclopædias such as Wikipedia is not acceptable.

Student Handbook In addition the validated regulations of the Student Handbook apply.

36

8.8

Strategic Crisis Management

The Chinese symbol for crisis is danger and opportunity. This means that despite the negative impact any crisis inherits, an organisation has chances to overcome a crisis with good options for improvements. But this needs good crisis management. That an organisational crisis will happen is not a question of whether, but of when. Therefore an organisation must be prepared for it. This is not only a matter of due diligence, in many countries crisis prevention is legally compulsory. Nevertheless, ways and form by which organisations comply are not always promising. For consultants crisis management represents a frequent reason to be hired, since affected organisations have lost control in a crisis or do not have sufficient manpower and expertise to resolve a crisis.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Students should be able to: 

Undertake risk assessment



Identify origins of a potential crisis in an organisation



Develop protective preparation for the occurrence of a crisis within an organisation



Build business continuity plans



Evaluate crises in an ongoing loop of organisational learning

Learning and Teaching The module will be delivered in intensive presence blocks over one weekend (Friday to Sunday), in which the emphasis is not only on traditional lectures, but also on examples of best practice in which high levels of interaction between lecturers and students are the decisive elements of teaching and learning. Additional contemporary learning methods, including non-assessed presentations may complete the student-centred focus on participants’ individual achievements.

© IPE Management School Paris

37 Assessment Details The assessment for this module is based on one assignment.

Examination (3 hrs) The examination will assess an organisational crisis by a case study. Students will answer a set of questions, which may deal with crisis preparation, the organisation’s management of a crisis, its fulfilment of due diligence and/or legal requirements. Essential for each answer provided is that students demonstrate their knowledge by explaining, how and which way the organisation can improve its crisis management by their consultancy.

Set Texts Hopkin, P. 2012. Fundamentals of Risk Management: Understanding, Evaluating and Implementing Effective Risk Management. London: Kogan Page Ltd. Elliott, D., Swartz, E. and Herbane, B, 2010. Business Continuity Management: A Crisis Management Approach. Abingdon: Routledge.

Academic Dishonesty Warning Please note the regulations on academic dishonesty, in particular the inclusion in your assignments of un-attributed material taken from other sources. Be assured that every effort will be taken to deal with you fairly, but remember that there are strict rules concerning cheating. Refer to the Business Management Student Handbook.

Reassessment In the event you are required to take reassessment you will receive formal notification of this in writing.

Late submission of work Should you find that you are unable to meet the assessment deadlines, you should consult the regulations regarding late submission and applying for mitigation. Details should be clarified with your local Centre of Studies.

38 Attendance The IPE Management School Paris feels strongly that good attendance is necessary on your part as an essential element of successful studies. Consequently, the following requirements operate. 

You are expected to attend all sessions.



If you cannot attend for any genuine reason (e.g. illness) you are expected to e-mail the module tutor.



Persistent non-attendance will require an explanation, in person, initially with the module tutor.

Work In addition to the formal contact hours you will be expected to engage in independent study between the different modules. This is an essential part of study requirements.

Academic Writing You will be graded on the quality of your writing as well as the content, i.e. how you write as well as what you write. This will include 

The ability to present your material in an appropriate format (report, essay, exam).



The ability to present your work in grammatically correct language.



The correct use of references based on the Harvard system.



Academic depth according to Postgraduate Studies, which includes appropriate application of frameworks and theories, critical thinking and contrasting argumentation.

Poor language and referencing can lose you up to 10% per assignment. Please note that you must clearly identify all sources, including the Internet, and that you should communicate your thoughts in your own words/diagrams/images rather than reproducing the material of others. Failure to do so may lead to an allegation of cheating. The use of online collaborative encyclopædias such as Wikipedia is not acceptable.

Student Handbook In addition the validated regulations of the Student Handbook apply.

© IPE Management School Paris

39

8.9

International Business Law

What is possible for an organisation, may not be allowed by law. Within the process of globalisation organisations have to respect a variety of legal requirements, which may limit their opportunities or even make it impossible to operate in particular countries. This module provides a general overview on international business law. It provides an extended understanding for those issues, which a consultant must consider in his work for organisations, when they intend to expand their activities in foreign markets. The module cannot replace a lawyer’s work, but creates an understanding, how a consultant can assess legal opportunities and restrictions before a full legal evaluation becomes necessary.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Students should be able to: 

Critically evaluate an organisation’s opportunities in a foreign country on the macro level within a country’s regulatory framework



Understand fundamental issues in sales, credits and commercial transactions



Apply regulations of the international marketplace to their consultancy work



Differentiate between legal compliance and legitimate (ethical) organisational behaviour

Learning and Teaching The module will be delivered in intensive presence blocks over one weekend (Friday to Sunday), in which the emphasis is not only on traditional lectures, but also on examples of best practice in which high levels of interaction between lecturers and students are the decisive elements of teaching and learning. Additional contemporary learning methods, including non-assessed presentations may complete the student-centred focus on participants’ individual achievements.

40 Assessment Details The assessment for this module is based on one assignment.

Essay (3,000 words) Students will critically discuss in form of an essay issues of the globalisation process with regards to legal requirements in one or more foreign countries for an organisation or organisations in general. Students are invited to adopt a specific organisation and explore its options in a selected foreign market or can offer a general discussion, for which one example, which is no limitation, can be the difference between acting legally and behaving legitimate. However the latter will need specific application of the learning outcomes of this module.

Set Text Schaffer, R., Agusti, F. and Earle, B. 2011. International Business Law and Its Environment. 8th ed Mason: South-Western Cengage Learning.

Academic Dishonesty Warning Please note the regulations on academic dishonesty, in particular the inclusion in your assignments of un-attributed material taken from other sources. Be assured that every effort will be taken to deal with you fairly, but remember that there are strict rules concerning cheating. Refer to the Business Management Student Handbook.

Reassessment In the event you are required to take reassessment you will receive formal notification of this in writing.

Late submission of work Should you find that you are unable to meet the assessment deadlines, you should consult the regulations regarding late submission and applying for mitigation. Details should be clarified with your local Centre of Studies.

© IPE Management School Paris

41 Attendance The IPE Management School Paris feels strongly that good attendance is necessary on your part as an essential element of successful studies. Consequently, the following requirements operate. 

You are expected to attend all sessions.



If you cannot attend for any genuine reason (e.g. illness) you are expected to e-mail the module tutor.



Persistent non-attendance will require an explanation, in person, initially with the module tutor.

Work In addition to the formal contact hours you will be expected to engage in independent study between the different modules. This is an essential part of study requirements.

Academic Writing You will be graded on the quality of your writing as well as the content, i.e. how you write as well as what you write. This will include 

The ability to present your material in an appropriate format (report, essay, exam).



The ability to present your work in grammatically correct language.



The correct use of references based on the Harvard system.



Academic depth according to Postgraduate Studies, which includes appropriate application of frameworks and theories, critical thinking and contrasting argumentation.

Poor language and referencing can lose you up to 10% per assignment. Please note that you must clearly identify all sources, including the Internet, and that you should communicate your thoughts in your own words/diagrams/images rather than reproducing the material of others. Failure to do so may lead to an allegation of cheating. The use of online collaborative encyclopædias such as Wikipedia is not acceptable.

Student Handbook In addition the validated regulations of the Student Handbook apply.

42

8.10

Research Methods

Introduction This module gives students the opportunity to learn about effective and efficient marketing research. Market research, sourcing and sourcing models, methods of evaluation and assessment by underpinned data gathered through a sound design and structure of business research and executed by informed research strategies are essential core elements of the learning achievements. Based on this learning students will also be guided towards the design of a research project for their dissertation. Students will have to conduct a critical review on various research methods, reflect on advantages and disadvantages of particular research strategies, analyse the tasks involved in the research process, and deploy their understanding of research methods to develop a dissertation research proposal (practice-oriented, applied research) with tutors’ support.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Students should be able to: 

Show their understanding of the need for a defensible fit between the nature of practice-oriented problems in marketing research and methods of inquiry designed to address those problems and of means for securing that fit



Be able to appraise alternating designs for addressing marketing issues, mindful of central distinctions in data collection, analysis & reporting



Be capable of applying tests of quality & appropriateness to different research proposals and designs



Demonstrate an awareness of research programs and their potential impact on the reception afforded to research efforts

Learning and Teaching The module will be delivered in intensive presence blocks over one weekend (Friday to Sunday), in which the emphasis is not only on traditional lectures, but also on examples of best practice in which high levels of interaction between lecturers and students are the decisive elements of teaching and learning. Additional contemporary learning methods, including non-assessed presentations may complete the student-centred focus on participants’ individual achievements. © IPE Management School Paris

43 Assessment Details The assessment for this module is based on two assignments.

Exam (2 hours)

70%

This exam is open book and based on a case study. Students will answer questions with reference to marketing research. Essential is the assessment of the case study’s details by theory-underpinned judgement and recommendations for improvement.

Dissertation Proposal (1,000 words)

30%

Based on the module’s learning outcomes students are expected to elaborate their individual dissertation proposal. In this proposal they will present a precise research strategy and justify the value of their dissertation with reference to modern marketing and with a particular eye on sustainable and ethical marketing management.

Set Texts Creswell, J.W. 2008. Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches. 3rd ed Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications Inc. Saunders, M., Thornhill, A. and Lewis, P. 2009. Research Methods for Business Students. 5th ed Harlow: Pearson Education Ltd.

Academic Dishonesty Warning Please note the regulations on academic dishonesty, in particular the inclusion in your assignments of un-attributed material taken from other sources. Be assured that every effort will be taken to deal with you fairly, but remember that there are strict rules concerning cheating. Refer to the Business Management Student Handbook.

Reassessment In the event you are required to take reassessment you will receive formal notification of this in writing.

44 Late submission of work Should you find that you are unable to meet the assessment deadlines, you should consult the regulations regarding late submission and applying for mitigation. Details should be clarified with your local Centre of Studies.

Attendance The IPE Management School Paris feels strongly that good attendance is necessary on your part as an essential element of successful studies. Consequently, the following requirements operate. 

You are expected to attend all sessions.



If you cannot attend for any genuine reason (e.g. illness) you are expected to e-mail the module tutor.



Persistent non-attendance will require an explanation, in person, initially with the module tutor.

Work In addition to the formal contact hours you will be expected to engage in independent study between the different modules. This is an essential part of study requirements.

Academic Writing You will be graded on the quality of your writing as well as the content, i.e. how you write as well as what you write. This will include 

The ability to present your material in an appropriate format (report, essay, exam).



The ability to present your work in grammatically correct language.



The correct use of references based on the Harvard system.



Academic depth according to Postgraduate Studies, which includes appropriate application of frameworks and theories, critical thinking and contrasting argumentation.

Poor language and referencing can lose you up to 10% per assignment. Please note that you must clearly identify all sources, including the Internet, and that you should communicate your thoughts in your own words/diagrams/images rather than reproducing the material of others. Failure to do so may lead to an allegation of cheating. The use of online collaborative encyclopædias such as Wikipedia is not acceptable.

© IPE Management School Paris

45 Student Handbook In addition the validated regulations of the Student Handbook apply.

46

8.11

Dissertation

Candidates for the MBA in Business Consultancy are requested to submit a dissertation as part of the Degree. The dissertation is focused on a topic, which is part of the specific Degree’s studies. Subject to the particular Degree objectives in Business Consultancy it is compulsory that dissertations are structured in a form being typical in consultancy work. This structure may be adopted, e.g., as 

An analytical report



An assessed project proposal



A scenario planning

Students can use any organisation with which they are familiar with or fully theory-based dissertations are accepted, too, provided that they lead to practical conclusions (e.g., how theory, concepts or frameworks improve the value of good consultancy). An important contribution should be made to issues of sustainability, ethics and moral, which does not only address the organisation’s position, but also provides evidence for the reflectivity of the consulting student with regard to societal and stakeholder concerns and expectations. Paradigmatic suggestions, which are not limitations, are: 

Strategic Development (restructuring, internationalisation / globalisation, extension of business fields, and so on)



Functional issues of productivity, improvement of internal and external relations, market development



Change, crisis and project management



Issues of corporate social responsibility and ethical stakeholder management



Market entry strategies, foreign direct investment



Scenario planning

Within this dissertation students are requested to provide evidence of their intellectual capability to undertake own and independent research, which is robust, consistent and evidence-based. The dissertation must meet the standards on postgraduate level. The dissertation requirements and specifications are: 

Submission of a dissertation, which consists of 15,000 words (+/- 10%).



Submission within 12 weeks after the start of the dissertation module. © IPE Management School Paris

47 

The dissertation module is counted as the core module, providing evidence for the overall learning achievements.

Admission to the Dissertation: The dissertation module can only be started, when all taught modules of this Degree have been completed successfully. Prior to start students will have to present a dissertation proposal of a maximum of 1,000 words, in which they explain 

The topic of their dissertation



The relevance of the topic with regard to management principles



The methodology of research (e.g., quantitative, qualitative, mixed method research, case study, empirical study, etc.)



An abstract of the dissertation including a maximum of six (6) key words, not longer than 400 words.

The dissertation proposal will be moderated and approved by a member of the academic staff.

Assessment of the Dissertation: The assessment of the dissertation is based on 

Relevance and appropriateness of the discussion and the research findings



Academic depth



Appropriateness of the methodology



Practical orientation and scientific contribution to the field of management



Selection of relevant literature, such as peer-reviewed accepted and published research papers, book publications, relevant statistics and other academically acceptable publications



Narrative style and structure of the dissertation

Structural Outline: 

The dissertation has to be submitted either electronically or printed in a bound style

48 

Submission has to be made latest on the due day by 17:00 hours local time of the student



The dissertation must present on the title page o

The dissertation’s title

o

Full name of the author

o

Student number

o

Name of Degree

o

Date of submission

o

Name of supervisor



On the following page the declaration of honour has to be presented, in which the student confirms that the submitted dissertation is his/her own work and that all citations, external graphics, reports, etc. are fully referenced.



On page 3 a full table of content has to be presented (incl. appendices), followed by the index of graphics, the index of tables, the index of abbreviations used.



At the end of the dissertation the full list of references is presented; the reference style is Harvard.



Allowed fonts are Arial, Times New Roman or Garamond at 12.0 size, 1.5 space



Graphics and tables have to be numbered and to present a headline in bold, 10.0 size

Supervision: A supervisor will be allocated to each student based on the supervisor’s specific knowledge in the chosen subject area of the dissertation. It is task of the student to request supervision sessions and to arrange these with the allocated supervisor. The supervisor will not unnecessarily delay the request for supervision and will provide guidance for the student as facilitator for his/her independent research. Supervision sessions can be personal, by skype, email, chat forums or other means on which supervisor and student agree.

Complaints Procedure: If a student feels unfairly treated, disadvantaged or not supervised according to this outline, he/she has the right to complain to the Course Leader. © IPE Management School Paris

49 The Course Leader will contact the supervisor and discuss the issues raised. The intention is to achieve a moderation in which the student’s concerns are intensively considered and discussed to achieve mutual understanding in the endeavour of a solution by consent. Should the reasons of complaint be so serious that it will not be appropriate for the student to continue with the allocated supervisor, the Course Leader can allocate a different supervisor. The loss of time will then be compensated accordingly and the deadline for submission extended. The decision of the Course Leader will carefully respect a student’s rights and not act against these, but his decision is final.

Language of the Dissertation: Generally the language of the thesis is English. Students have the right to write either in US or British language. Alternatively, national languages of study centres may be accepted. Generally approved are French and German language. The language standard must be appropriate. Poor writing will affect the result of the dissertation. Students may seek help by a translator and/or native speaker, but must declare this support and assure specifically that such assistance is exclusively based on language improvements and did not alter or add to the content of the dissertation.

Allocation of Marks: 

Fail

0 – 49%



Pass

50 – 64%



Pass with Merits

65 – 79%



Pass with Distinction

80% and beyond

The dissertation will be marked within six weeks after receipt by the supervisor. Holidays and public or bank holidays do not count to this period and may extend the period of marking. Students, who are failing the dissertation will have one further approach by writing a new dissertation with a different topic (repetition of the module). Should this retake fail again, the student will not be awarded with the Degree of the Master of Business Administration (MBA). Repetitions have to be started latest within twelve (12) weeks after the first attempt failed.

50 Unlawful Student Behaviour: Students, who may hurt the given Declaration of Honour will be informed in writing that doubts exist about the origin of his/her work. These doubts can be accompanied by a report, such as turn-it-in or alike. The student will be invited to explain the situation and to provide evidence that the doubts raised are unjustified. The process of a student's justification can either be in writing or by a personal hearing. Should the student not be able to invalidate the suspicions about the originality of his/her work, a formal Cheating Committee will take place. This committee will consist of three academics, which will evaluate the case presented. The decision of the Cheating Committee is binding and may result in the student's exclusion from further studies.

© IPE Management School Paris

51

9

External Professional Acknowledgement

This Degree was reviewed and approved by the Board of the International Professional Managers Association (IPMA). The Degree of the MBA in Business Consultancy fulfils the criteria for Higher Education on Postgraduate Level 7, which the IPMA requires within its standards of managerial education. The IPMA has approved the Master of Science in Management of the IPE Management School for the duration of five years.

October 2012

52

IPE Management School Paris 19/21, rue Erard 75012 Paris France www.ipe-paris.com

© IPE Management School Paris