BUSI 460 – LT Assignment Brief 1 ACADEMIC YEAR 2020 – S.docx

BUSI 460 – LT Assignment Brief 1
ACADEMIC YEAR 2020 – SPRING TERM
MBA
(MASTER OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION)
BUSI 460 – CONSLTING PRACTICE
INSTRUCTOR: DR. PAURIC P. O’ROURKE
LEARNING TEAM (LT) ASSIGNMENT BRIEF –
LAYERED
TOPIC: LT CONSULTING PROJECT CASE STUDY
35% OF TOTAL COURSE GRADE
(Part 1-5% -W6, Part 2-10% -W7, Part 3 - 15%-W10 &
Part 4 - 5%- W11)
SUBMISSION DATES: VARIES - WEEKS 6, 7, 10 &

11 ONLINE VIA STUDENT PORTAL(MOODLE)
TURNITIN LINK
Self-Selected Learning Team Group (LT Group)
N= Name. Cell = Mobile. e = E Mail Address. f/t/i =
Facebook. or Twitter or Instagram Account
Members of Group Written Assignment Learning Team:
1.N:______________ C: __________ e: ___________f/t/i:
___________
2.N:______________ C: __________ e: ___________f/t/i:
___________
3.N:_______________ C: __________ e: ___________f/t/i:
___________
4.N:______________ C: __________ e: ___________f/t/i:
___________
If you change any of your contact details, such as cell number,
you are obliged to let your team members know in advance
asap.
Important: Sharing such personal contact details is totally
optional and up to each individual student but it does make
arranging
meetings outside of class time, which you will have to do in this
subject must easier. Sharing of such information is on the strict
basis

and understanding that such information will not be misused or
passed on to third parties without the individual’s consent. Any
breach
of this will be reported to the University Authorities.
Learning Outcomes:
On successful completion of this assignment the student will be
able:
1. To develop abilities to gather, analyse, interpret and evaluate
information on a
management consulting task and project related topic(s).
2. To strengthen conceptual and analytical skills in the study
management
consulting.
3. To build tangible links between the theory and practice of
management
consulting.
4. To heighten awareness and understanding of management
consulting in action
and gain greater self-awareness of oneself as a consultant.
5. To develop and present thoughts, arguments, and informed
opinions in a logical
and coherent way.

6. To develop creativity and critical management skills.
7. To develop skills in case study navigation and analysis.
8. To demonstrate academic and management research,
proposal, report writing
and composition skills with academic and business integrity.
9. To consistently apply the APA system of academic
referencing.
10. To demonstrate word processing and IT skills
11. To develop project and time management skills.
12. To develop team working skills in order to function as a
high performance team.
13. To develop healthy and functional work habits in
progressing confidently and
consistently towards a defined submission deadline date.
Learning Team (LT) Assignment – Overall Task
Using your LT Ivey Case Study as your client organisation,
immerse yourself in the role
of Management Consultant in providing a consulting service
which involves the
following key milestone deliverables/tasks/assignments::
Part 1: Learning Team Consulting Skills Analysis (5%)
Part 2: Environmental Scanning and Analysis
(10%)
Part 3: Generate Strategies and Recommend A

Solution
(15%)
Part 4: Communicating Results and Recommendation (5%)
.
This 4 Part Learning Team Assignment is a learning team
practice in management
consulting via the use of the case study method and follows the
steps outlined in the flow
diagram in Appendix A.

PART 1
PART 1: Learning Team Consulting Skills Analysis and
Inventory (5%) -
2,500 Words max. - Week 6
Understanding yourself and your Learning Team (LT) members
is vital to working
cohesively and effectively as a team and to deliver the best
service to your client
organisation.
All Learning Team members to individually complete a range of
Learning Team
Diagnostics and share results to develop an inventory of
Learning Team Skills.
Step 1: Self Select a Learning Teams (LT) and arrange a

meeting with your
allocated group:
Meet online using any of the tools such as Zoom or MS Team
etc. The maximum number
in a team is 4 with ideally a gender balance.
Step 2: Agree a Name for your LT.
Select an appropriate name for the LT that is acceptable to all
LT members. The LT
name cannot be offensive or rude or discriminatory in anyway
invoke a negative
reaction.
Step 3: Draw Up a Learning Team (LT) Contract-Charter-
Constitution:

Compose a Learning Team Charter and Learning Contract using
the guidelines below:
Your LT Group Norms, Values, Attitudes and Rules: The
Quickest Route to Maximizing
Team Effectiveness & Performance
How to Facilitate the Team Charter on First Meeting of LT
Group – U Tube Clip:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6UxZ_e2RQtU (3.5 mins)
Guidelines on Drawing up a Learning Team Contract:
University of Waterloo: https://bit.ly/380Itz4
And
https://bit.ly/2ToVCy4
Work through the above e to help identify relevant issues for

inclusion in your
Charter/Contract/Constitution.
At your first LT Group meeting, discuss and agree the norms,
values, attitudes and rules
that will apply to your particular learning team so that you can
reach performance stage
of team formation as soon as possible. E.g. Practical issues and
logistics, Meeting time,
what happens if someone is ‘not pulling their weight’ i.e.,
social loafing, how many
strikes and you are out, how many last chances, lateness,
disagreements and conflict,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6UxZ_e2RQtU
https://bit.ly/380Itz4
https://bit.ly/2ToVCy4

making decisions, etc. Recall the Learning Team-Contract-
Charter that was drawn up
for the entire class that was agreed by the Instructor at the first
class meeting.
Each LT Group must draw up a Learning Team Contract-Charter
mutually agreed
between the group, print it out and each member sign it and
submit it with the final
completed assignment.
The format and style of the Charter is not rigid and will be
determined by each LT Group.
However, it should cover the following headings:
1. Norms, Values and Beliefs: e.g. We believe that every LT
member is responsible for

their own individual learning and for the collective learning of
the group. E.g. We
subscribe to the principles of natural and organizational justice
in how this LT Group is
run and operates. E.g. We believe in fair play and everyone
pulling their weight in terms
of contributions and outputs. i.e. No social loafing.
2. Mechanics and Logistics: We will meet every Thursday at 10
am in the Library Study
Room for one hour maximum, during term. We will take turns
in booking the Library
Study Room starting in alphabetical order of surname of LT
Members. E.g. We will
meet punctually at 10 am with the preparatory meeting starting
at 10.05 am and finishing
on time at 10.55 am. Those who are consistently late or do not
attend will be addressed

under the Strikes/Last Chance and Expulsion clause below.
E.g. If any LT member
changes their e mail address or mobile number contact, they
must notify the rest of the
LT members as soon as possible and no later than 1 day aft the
change.
3. Outcomes, & Deliverables: Tutorial Activities: We agree for
the following protocol
in how we will prepare for and present all activities.
4. Division of Roles and Work: The allocation and distribution
of work and roles will
be done fairly and evenly and will follow the following
protocol. Each LT member will
take turns doing ….
5. Decision Making: We will make decisions on a unanimous or
majority basis.

6. Conflict Handling and Resolution: e.g. When disagreements
and conflict occur, we
agree to discuss the issue quickly and openly with fully
transparency with all the LT
members. E.g. When there is a personality clash, we agree that
both LT members will
sit down and agree a way to work constructively together for the
good of the LT.
7. Strikes, Last Chance and Expulsion: e.g. We agree that an
LT member will have two
strikes against them before the LT group decides to expel them
from the LT. Before
expelling an LT Member, they must be given an opportunity to
give their side of the
story. If they fail to respond to 2 e mails and or texts, then the
decision to expel will

proceed. The Instructor must be notified when an LT member is
expelled.
8. Changes and Amendments: The LT group can change and
amend this Charter and
Contract via the following protocol?
9. Academic Integrity: We will individually and collectively
commit and abide to
academic integrity in all written work we submit and follow
APA referencing protocol.
10. Declaration and Signatures: Each LT Group member must
make a solemn
declaration that they fully understand the Charter and Contract
and agree to be bound by
it

E.g. I as an individual and Learning Team member fully
understand and agree with the
contents of this Charter and Contract as drawn up by the LT
Group and solemnly declare
that I will abide by it and fully understand the implications and
repercussions of not
doing so.
Signed: ____________________ Date: _____________
The above is not intended to be an exhaustive and totally
comprehensive list as it will
be up to each LT Group to decide what they wish to include and
what best suits them as
a unique and distinctive LT Group.
A sample LT Contract is also attached to the document.

NB: Incorporate a screen shot of the signed LT Contract into
your completed
document. Do not put in as a word document as it will drive up
the Turnitin similarity
score.
Successful and Effective Learning Teams:
To optimise the learning that can be achieved through this
activity, it is essential that
ever LT member:
• Agree norms and rules for the learning team and stick to them
as mutually agreed
by all LT members in your written Learning Contract-Charter.
(See below)
• Prepare adequately in advance for all your LT meetings.

• Actively participate in your LT meetings by freely
contributing thoughts and ideas
• Working effectively as a learning team in pooling and
presenting ideas.
• Taking ownership for individual and group learning,
understanding, quality and
success.
• Work through the stages of team formation as quickly as
possible so that you can
reach the ‘performing’ stage and get the best results as early as
possible.
• Recognise any difficulties or conflict within the group as soon
as possible and
commit to resolving it immediately.
• Coming to any LT meeting having read any required material.
• Committed to fully participate and engage in all LT activities
and sub tasks.

Readings and Literature on Working in Teams:
1. Woolley, Anita. et al. (2015) Why Some Teams Are Smarter
Than Others - It’s
about Listening, Empathy and Having More Women in The New
York Times January,
18th
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/18/opinion/sunday/why-some-
teams-are-smarter-
than-others.html?mwrsm=Email
Step 4. Individually Complete Each of the Following Team
Building Exercises
and Self Diagnostics and Record and Collate the LT Results in
in the LT Team
Skills Table.

teams-are-smarter-than-others.html?mwrsm=Email
teams-are-smarter-than-others.html?mwrsm=Email
Each LT member must individually complete each of the
following diagnostics below
and then collate all the individual results onto a Table, like the
one below in order to
paint a collective profile of your LT in terms of skills and
competencies.
LT Diagnostic and Skills Inventory Table for LT Called ____
Diagno
stic / LT
Membe

r Name
D. #1
Team
Roles
D. #2
Conflict
Manage
ment
D.#3
Decision
Making
D.#4
Communic

ation Skills
D.#5
Problem
Solving
Skills
D#6
Functional
Expertise –
Top 2
D#7
Other
LTM 1

LTM 2
LTM 3
LTM 4
NB: Incorporate a screen shot of this completed table into your
completed document.
Do not put in as a word document as it will drive up the
Turnitin similarity score.
LT Diagnostic No. 1: Team Roles Test:
There are a variety of roles a person can adopt when working on
a team. Determining
your natural tendencies can help you in your career planning
and allow your employer
to place you in an environment where you would thrive. The
Team Roles Test provides

information about the role or roles that would suit you best and
the rest of the Learning
Team so that each LT member can play to their strengths.
See: http://testyourself.psychtests.com/testid/3113.
Record your results on the table.
LT Diagnostic No.2 – Conflict Management Style:
Everybody is exposed to stressful situations, both positive and
negative. Your
perception and interpretation of the stressor and how you react
to it can have a
significant impact on your ability to cope and to work
effectively in a team. The
Coping Skills Test determines the type of methods you are most
likely to use to deal

with stressful situations and also compare with our LT
members.
See:
https://tools.mheducation.ca/college/mcshane4/student/olc/4obm
_sa_13.html
LT Diagnostic No.3 – Decision-Making Style Inventory:
This self-assessment exercise is designed to help you estimate
your preferred style of
decision making and to discover how your LT members make
decisions.
See:
_sa_10.html

http://testyourself.psychtests.com/testid/3113
_sa_13.html
_sa_10.html
LT Diagnostic No. 4: Communication Skills
Please complete individually and share results with LT via the
Table.
How Good Are Your Communication Skills? -
https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newCS_99.htm

LT Diagnostic No. 5: Problem Solving Skills
Please complete individually and record on table
How Good Are Your Problem-Solving Skills?
https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newTMC_72.htm
LT Diagnostic No. 6: Functional Expertise
Please complete individually and record on table
Identify in order of priority your top two area of functional
expertise that you can
contribute to the LT. e.g. Finance, Management Accounting,
Marketing, Digital
Marketing, HR, Talent Management, Supply Chain
Management etc.

Record your preference on the table.
Other Skills:
You are free to add additional skills to the inventory table if
you so wish, particular if
you feel your learning team has some unique skills and
competencies.
Suggested Format for Assignment:
1. Table of Contents
2. Executive Summary
3. Introduction
4. Completed Inventory Table of 6 Skills for the LT.
5. SWOT Analysis of LT including Fault lines
6. LT Reflection
7. Conclusion
8. References

NB: Again, remember to Incorporate a screen shot of the
completed diagnostics chart
into your completed document. Do not put in as a word
document as it will drive up
the Turnitin similarity score.
https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newCS_99.htm
https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newTMC_72.htm
PART 2
PART 2: Environmental Scanning and Analysis - 10% - 4,000
words max –

Week 7
Similar to your individual assignment, environmental scanning
is the process of
gathering information about events and their relationships
within an organization's
internal and external environments. The basic purpose of
environmental scanning is to
help management and you as an advising consultant to
determine the current status and
possible future direction of the organization. It’s like a health
check before an operation
or checking the weather forecast before going on a voyage ! It
should be approx. 3,500
words in length.

Simple Guide to Environmental Scanning:
http://bokeconsulting.com/strategy-
ethics/environmental-scanning/
It primarily entails environmental scanning and diagnosis and
will include the
following heading:
1. Table of Contents
2. Introduction
3. Purpose and Goal of the environmental analysis.
4. Client Profile and Company Background
5. Internal Analysis: Structure, System, Policies, Resources etc.
6. External Analysis: PESTLE analysis, Stakeholder analysis,
Industry and Sector
SWOT – Strengths, Weakness, Opportunities and Threats and
Issues Priority
Matrix
7. Discussion and Conclusion

8. References
9. Appendices
Submit via Turnitin on Moodle by due date.
http://bokeconsulting.com/strategy-ethics/environmental-
scanning/
http://bokeconsulting.com/strategy-ethics/environmental-
scanning/
PART 3
PART 3: Generate Strategies and Recommend A

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