Business Project

Module title	Business Project
Module code	BEMM466
Academic year	2023/4
Credits	45
Module staff	Dr Stuart So (Convenor)

Duration: Term	1	2	3
Duration: Weeks	11 - Jan start in Term 1 of 24/25		Sept start

Number students taking module (anticipated)	60

Module description

You will undertake an independent research or consultancy project based upon a data analytics topic of your choosing. The report will consist of 10,000 words and relevant analytical tables and figures. The project will allow you to display the skills you have learned during the taught part of the programme. These skills include: project planning, analytics, visual representation and writing. Each student will be supported throughout the project by a business analytics academic.

Module aims - intentions of the module

The aim of the Business Analytics Project is to give you the opportunity to work on a business-relevant challenge, developing and demonstrating the breadth of skills you have learned throughout your course. In particular you will learn to:

Construct and execute an extended project
Develop creative approaches to resolving business-relevant analytics problems

Your project will incorporate the academic rigour required to undertake research activities, while also drawing upon leading analytics practice to ensure relevance and application to current business.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

1. P2: Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of key business processes and structures, and the role of business analytics in decision support.
2. P3: Critically analyse and discuss current issues and influences relevant to the ongoing development of business analytics, and its application.
3. P4: Draw on knowledge of current research and practice to identify and apply appropriate analytics methods and tools to a range of business situations.

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

4. P6: Critically analyse the use of data within a business context, identifying strengths and limitations.
5. P7: Critically analyse and interpret relevant academic, technical and industry literature.
6. P8: Work with stakeholders from a range of backgrounds to identify the need for, design, develop, and deploy, analytics solutions within a business environment
7. P9: Communicate effectively through oral presentations and written reports, presenting methodologies and findings in a way that is appropriate to the intended audience.
8. P10: Contribute effectively to managerial decision processes within a business context.

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

9. P11: A global outlook: Our graduates are engaged and prepared for the demands of global business and society.
10. P13: An ethical ethos: Our graduates understand the social, financial and environmental factors that can impact on corporate sustainability and are able to make decisions openly and responsibly.
11. P15: A critical thinker: Our graduates have a commercial awareness that enables them to critically analyse, conceptualise and evaluate the challenges facing business.

Syllabus plan

The Business Analytics Project is unlike traditional taught modules. You will attend briefing sessions and preparatory workshops and lectures that will cover the following content, before embarking upon your project independently:

Preparing a Business Analytics-relevant proposal for your project
Identifying relevant data and developing appropriate research questions
Devising a literature review
Successful planning and project management
Working with project stakeholders, including your supervisor
Constructing a professional report

You will need to maintain contact with your supervisor and any collaborators throughout the time that you are working on your project.

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities	Guided independent study	Placement / study abroad
20	430	0

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Category	Hours of study time	Description
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activity	12	Preparatory lectures and workshops
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activity	8	Meetings with supervisor
Guided Independent Study	430	Background reading, research, analysis and preparation of project proposal, report and executive summary

Formative assessment

Form of assessment	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
Progress meetings with supervisor	c. 8 hrs	1-11	Verbal
Project proposal	2000 words	1-11	Verbal & written

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Coursework	Written exams	Practical exams
100	0	0

Details of summative assessment

Form of assessment	% of credit	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
Final report & Executive Summary	100	11000 words	1-11	Written

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Original form of assessment	Form of re-assessment	ILOs re-assessed	Timescale for re-assessment
Final Report & Executive Summary	Final Report & Executive Summary (100%) (11000 words)	1-11	Referral/deferral period

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

There is no formal reading list for this module, however you are likely to draw on resources used within other modules, and in particular those used for pre-requisite modules.

You may find that resources focussed on consultancy, data science in a business setting, and analysis tools and techniques are helpful throughout the development of your project. The following illustrative examples are available in online format from the University Library:

Bowden, J. (2011). 'Writing a Report: How to Prepare, Write & Present Really Effective Reports.’

https://encore.exeter.ac.uk/iii/encore/record/C__Rb2612719

Burman-Brown, R. (2006) ‘Doing Your Dissertation in Business and Management.’ Sage Study Skills.

Biggs, D. (2010) 'Management Consulting: A Guide for Students.' Cengage Learning.

https://uoelibrary.idm.oclc.org/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=edsbl&AN=RN281732399&site=eds-live&scope=site

Fisher, C. (2010) 'Researching and Writing a Dissertation: An Essential Guide for Business Students.' Financial Times Prentice Hall.

https://encore.exeter.ac.uk/iii/encore/record/C__Rb1917639

Lavin, P. (2005) 'Excellent Dissertations! : Planning, Managing and Writing a Dissertation Project for Undergraduates and Taught Postgraduates.' Open University Press.

https://uoelibrary.idm.oclc.org/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=cat07716a&AN=pclc.99987593405136&site=eds-live&scope=site

Markham, C. (2019). Mastering management consultancy. London: Legend Business Books.

Provost, F., & Fawcett, T. (2013). Data science for business. Sebastopol, CA: O’Reilly.
Pochiraju, B. & Seshadri, S. (Eds.). (2019). Essentials of Business Analytics: An Introduction to the Methodology and its Applications. Cham: Springer

Stephan, F and Smith, I (2019) ‘A Practical Guide to Dissertation Writing,’ Cambridge Scholars Publishing.

Wickham, L. (2016) 'Management Consulting: Delivering an Effective Project.' Pearson, 5th Edition.

https://encore.exeter.ac.uk/iii/encore/record/C__Rb3527886

Witzel, M. (2016). Management consultancy. London: Routledge.

In addition, you will draw upon a wide range of additional resources specific to your individual project. Further examples of relevant resources will be available via the module ELE pages.

Key words search

Analytics, data, consultant, project

Credit value	45
Module ECTS	22.5
Module pre-requisites	This module is closed to MSc Business Analytics only
Module co-requisites	N/A
NQF level (module)	7
Available as distance learning?	No
Origin date	09/01/2020
Last revision date	06/09/2023