The module will consist of two key elements:

1. a series of semi or unstructured business problems, typically introduced by a manager from an outside organisation. The business problems will typically relate to a topic/technique recently covered in one of the other modules
2. experience is augmented, and integrated with, the rest of the course by a series of workshops on directly related topics that will provide guidance on key skills development

This module aims to provide students with skills and knowledge relating to the use of engineering practices in Project Management with particular respect to the project triple constraint: time, cost and quality.

The module covers: project management principles, concepts and processes; organisational influences, project stakeholders and project lifecycle; project scoping such as project definition, project objectives, project deliverables, and work breakdown structure; Project planning and scheduling: definition of events, activities and nodes, network diagram, analysis of critical path, PERT method and use of industry standard software packages; Project controlling: cost estimate, budget setting, risk identification and assessment and contingency planning.

At the end of this module students will be able to:

• demonstrate a good understanding of project management practices and practical skills to manage project scope – including translating project specifications into work packages
• define and schedule project activities using tools such as critical path and PERT methods; estimate cost and determine budget using analogous and three-point estimating methods; identify and control quality standards using cost of quality and other tools
• develop a good understanding of the inter-dependency between various project management knowledge areas, such as managing projects under constraints; identifying and assessing risks and developing contingency plans
• understand the importance of project stakeholders and their impact on project management, including managing stakeholder relationships

Assessment and feedback is in the form of a group report (50%) and an individual project (50%).

In the current harsh and fast-changing competitive environment, organisations are becoming increasingly engaged with the management of a complex collective set of projects. Assembling a project portfolio management (PPM) system is a process that must be carefully and strategically devised, as well as frequently and regularly maintained and reviewed.

This is fundamental to ensure that the organisation supports those projects which provide the most appropriate match between its capabilities with the opportunities available. This class focuses on all key aspects of PPM ranging from selecting projects and facilitating their successful execution.

This module aims to provide students insights into Strategic Purchasing Management, focussing on the Excellent Purchasing Model (EXP), which summarises purchasing functions and processes at strategic, tactical and operational levels.

The module covers: Purchasing management including impact on a company’s competitiveness, Balance sheet and P&L account, contract management; Excellent Purchasing Model to highlight a controlled process for defining purchasing management including Total Cost of Ownership; Operational processes of the Excellent Purchasing Model including legal implications and ethics in procurement, corporate social responsibility, supplier selection, implementation and management and purchasing BSC & KPI management; Category Management strategy and development including an introduction to Kraljic Matrix and supplier/customer power matrix.

At the end of this module students will be able to:

• understand why procurement is a strategic influence of an organisation and determine the building blocks that are essential to this
• demonstrate how purchasing systems may facilitate decision making at organisational levels
• identify how the purchasing strategy is defined and deployed and to prepare a strategic purchasing plan
• identify the skills and attitudes necessary to build a strategic procurement structure and the functions that make it imperative to the organisation

Assessment and feedback is in the form of a group presentation (15%) and a two-part assignment (essay) consisting of an individual assignment focusing on an evaluation of a critical procurement topic (35%) and a group analysis of a major organisation’s procurement practices case study (50%).

This module will explore the generic problem solving process which underpins the provision of decision support. In particular, it'll consider the role of modelling in that process. The activities of problem structuring, data collection and analysis, identification and evaluation of options, communication and implementation of learning, findings and recommendations will each be discussed along with the issues pertaining to each of them.

Quantitative Analysis for Consulting runs over one semester but in two parts. The first part provides an introduction to the basic theory and application of statistical modelling. Topics covered included data analysis, probability theory, distributions and moments, estimation and hypothesis testing.

The second part focuses mainly on two areas - regression modelling and multivariate analysis. While key background theory will be presented, the emphasis is on the generation and interpretation of output from commercially available software.

This modules teaches essential principles, tools and techniques of Operations Management – both in general and as applied to specific manufacturing or service businesses. A section of the class focuses on service operations, where specific subjects and operational issues surrounding services will be discussed.

This module will demonstrate how spreadsheets can be used to support the analytical techniques whose theory is taught on other modules. For example, forecasting, simulation, optimisation, data analysis, as well as being used to support technical report writing.

Most prominence is given to demand forecasting and you'll be introduced to different types of forecasting technique for short term smoothing through to decompositional analysis. These methods will be implemented using spreadsheet models.

This module builds on a number of earlier taught skills, in particular the problem structuring element covered in Foundation of Business Analysis & Consulting Practice as this provides a basis to qualitative modelling for managing uncertainty and multiple perspectives along with becoming an effective business analyst. This class aims to specific subjects and operational issues surrounding services will be discussed.