Business Analysis and Consultancy (MSc) MSc

About the course

The course has been developed to enable you to develop advanced knowledge and skills in the following areas:

i) Business Analytical Methods and Information Technology
ii) Business Problem Structuring and Solving
iii) Consultancy Skills in the Business Environment

These themes are explored through modules in Business Analytics, Computer Simulation, Creative Problem Solving, Consultancy Skills and Business Statistics. The course also includes a project based module where you will solve a problem for a client using the knowledge and skills acquired during your study. There is then a further applied consultancy project, which allows you to independently research, investigate and analyse a current business problem.

The course focuses on:

• computational, mathematical, philosophical and management science approaches to business analysis
• developing problem solving skills
• enhancing your ability to use business software and other information technology
• encouraging independent and creative thinking
• effective communication in all formats appropriate to a business environment.

Why choose this course?

New for September 2013

This new Master's in Business Analysis and Consultancy aims to provide you with the analytical knowledge and skills required to be a successful consultant in the modern business environment.

You will gain experience of applying these skills to real consultancy (working with a local organisation) in the complex context in which organisations operate. You will also experience a range of teaching, learning and assessment methods, which will enable you to gain - and be confident in - the skills of modelling, analysis and consulting. All this should directly improve your employment prospects.

The programme is delivered by the Business Analysis and Statistics (BAS) group at Hertfordshire Business School (HBS). The BAS group is very strong in the areas of Business Analytics and Consultancy, and its members have diverse experience and expertise in mathematical, computational and philosophical methods of analysis. The group is home to the Statistical Services and Consultancy Unit which does commercial consultancy carried out by members of the group. The course is informed by the cutting edge research undertaken by members of the group.

Study routes

• Part Time,
• Part Time, 2 Years
• Full Time, 1 Years
• Full Time,

Locations

• University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield

Careers

Graduates can work in a wide range of industries as business analysts or management consultants. The knowledge and skills obtained will enable you to work as an independent consultant, or within an organisation at middle management or senior level.

Teaching methods

You will learn how to be a successful analytical consultant through a varied programme of teaching that will include guest lectures, masterclasses, facilitated seminars, practical workshops, web-based learning, computer based tutorials, case study analysis and traditional lectures.

Assessment will be practical and coherent across the course, including a mixture of methods such as presentations (written and oral), case study work, action learning sets. The University promotes professional integrity and thus the course provides opportunities to develop the skills of communication, independent and team working, problem solving, creativity, digital literacy, numeracy and self-management.

The course will provide the opportunity to work in teams with a local organisation and an academic supervisor to scope out an area for improvement / where you can deliver a business solution, your team will then create a proposal of the research to be undertaken and this will be presented to the organisation. Individual areas of research will be identified to form the basis for your individual applied consultancy project.

Structure

Year 1

Core Modules

• Becoming an Effective Consultant

  The module aims to develop the consultancy skills of the student and will be essentially lectorial-based with some assessed role plays. Lectorials are a combination of a lecture and tutorial run as a 2 hour block once a week. During lectorials, theories concerning the practice of professional consultancy will be presented and discussed. Much of the workshops will be practical in nature with students using role-play, case studies, group exercises and presentations to develop their skills in these areas. Assessment will be a mix of individual and group work based on an on-going consultancy case study.

• Business Modelling Tools

  The module will develop knowledge and understanding of a range of management modelling tools used in business management today. Students will be presented with the importance of business problem formulation and will be guided to shape business problems as analytical models. The module will include a range of tools and techniques to solve the business analytical models with an emphasis on the interpretation of the results generated through the solution process. The difficulties and limitations associated with the formulation and solutions process will be presented including their implications to the business decision making process. Students will be encouraged to use appropriate software to solve the models. The modules include the following topics -Linear Programming -Dynamic Programming -Critical path Methods and PERT -Queuing Theory -Markov Process

• Creative Problem Solving B

• Individual Consultancy Project

• Project Management B

• Research Skills for Management

  This module will cover a range of research issues relating to the functional areas of Management in support of the preparation of a research proposal which will form the foundation for the development of a dissertation to complete the MSc programme. Areas that will be covered will include: reading and interpreting academic research, identifying appropriate research topics, setting out research objectives, searching, using and evaluating the literature, drafting a research methodology and conceptual framework, examining a range of theories and theorizing their selected topic. This module gives the students the knowledge and skills to enable them to prepare a research proposal as the first step towards undertaking a management dissertation. On completion of the module, students will have the ability to plan and execute the next stage of their research leading to a full dissertation.

• Running a Consultancy Project

  This module aims to enable students to integrate their analytical knowledge and consultancy skills to successfully plan and execute a live consultancy project. This is a team working based module, where the team works with a client organisation to identify a substantial business problem or issue to be investigated. The team will then produce a project plan stating aims and objectives and identifying the appropriate methodologies and project timescales, This plan will be agreed with the team academic supervisor and client organisation. Students will then shape and structure the problem , identify and apply the appropriate tools and techniques to analyse and solve the business problem. They will present their finding, recommendations and an implementation plan to the client organisation to receive feedback.

• Statistical Techniques for Business

  The topics covered in this module make up the basic set of statistical tools that would be commonly used by a business analysis consultant. The delivery of the topics will focus on the practical use and interpretation of the statistical methods and results, using software useful in a consultancy environment. The following topics will be covered in the module • Descriptive statistics • Probability (incl. Binomial, Poisson) • Normal distribution and confidence intervals • Hypothesis testing o One-sample tests and non-parametric o Two-sample hypothesis tests and non-parametric o ANOVA (incl. non-parametric) o Chi-square test of independence • Correlation (incl. non-parametric and serial) • Regression (incl. model selection and checking) • Introductions to more advanced techniques such as General Linear Models, multilevel models, multivariate analyses • A statistical software package such as R will be used

Optional

• Computer Simulation for Business

  Computer simulation of business systems is an increasingly important management tool for effective decision making. This module covers the general principles of computer simulation, both Discrete-Event and System Dynamics simulation. In Discrete-Event simulation, we will cover construction of the model, verification, validation and experimentation techniques. In Systems Dynamics, we will cover the construction of causal loop diagrams, building of stock flow structures, modelling of non linear relationships and time delays and use of models for policy analysis. Throughout the module, we will be using commercial software such as Simul8 and Ithink and referring to case studies reported in OR/MS literature.

• Managing Knowledge in Organisations

Fees & funding

Discounts are available for International students if payment is made in full at registration

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Other financial support

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Living costs / accommodation

The University of Hertfordshire offers a great choice of student accommodation, on campus or nearby in the local area, to suit every student budget.

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How to apply