Course overview
- Study period
- Semester 2, 2024 (22/07/2024 - 18/11/2024)
- Study level
- Postgraduate Coursework
- Location
- Brisbane City
- Attendance mode
- In Person
- Units
- 2
- Administrative campus
- St Lucia
- Coordinating unit
- Business School
This capstone course is designed to enable students to integrate all of the capabilities that they have built in the MBA program to execute an industry engagement project. Students will work in teams to design and execute a strategic project for an industry partner. These projects will be drawn from industry partners in the corporate, not-for-profit, and startup sectors. Teams will work closely with their external clients to specify the scope of the project and then execute the design. While each project is different, they will all be of sufficient scale to incorporate the students' learning from across the MBA program - providing a unique opportunity to learn by doing.
This course is designed as the capstone course for the MBA program preparing those of you close to finishing the MBA to be responsive to complex organisational decision making in dynamic business environments. This course is structured differently to other MBA courses in that it adopts an experiential approach to learning which requires you to draw upon knowledge, tools, methods and capabilities acquired through out your MBA course work and apply this to deliver innovative and evidence-based results for clients.
The organisations you will be working with operate in dynamic industries which require complex decision making and strategy formation. You will be working in high performing consultancy teams in collaboration with your industry partner to deliver research-driven strategies and client-focused outcomes.
The learning outcomes for this course are correlated with your commitment levels and the efforts you put into the project and your team. Many, if not all, dimensions of the consultancy projects are screened against the “reality experience” one would encounter in consulting environments, with the support of a dedicated experienced mentor sand project faculty assigned to each team to enhance success and student experience. This is truly an impactful course that will cement your learnings through out the MBA and will provide you with valuable complex problem solving capabilities, coupled with advanced skills in dealing with ambiguity.
Course requirements
Assumed background
This course is intended to be completed as the MBA Capstone in the final semester of study. At a minimum, it is preferential for students to have completed at least 8 units of the MBA ﾠprogram. This prior course work will provide students with the tools and capabilities necessary to complete this course to a high standard.ﾠ
Prerequisites
You'll need to complete the following courses before enrolling in this one:
MBA accelerated mode: 14 units completed; MBA part-time and streamlined modes: 16 units completed
Restrictions
GCBA, GDipBA, MBA
Course contact
Course staff
Lecturer
Program director
Associate Professor Nicole Hartley
Timetable
The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.
Additional timetable information
Dates associated with this course delivery will be confirmed on course launch day - Sunday 21 July. These are dependent upon project allocations. Set weeks for Learning Activities are shown as a guide only.
Aims and outcomes
This capstone course aims to develop graduate skills in delivering evidence-based, innovative business strategies and outcomes in response to dynamic and complex business needs. Students will enhance their managerial skills and capabilities and develop key consultancy and project management skills to confidently and collectively deliver implementable business solutions.ﾠ
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
Critically analyse an industry-based problem
LO2.
Undertake complex decision making in an organisational setting based on key business theory and tools
LO3.
Work collaboratively and professionally as a team in a consultancy capacity with an industry partner
LO4.
Practice and actively contribute to enhanced capability for teamwork
LO5.
Formulate business strategies and operational plans to inform business practice
LO6.
Defend rigorously and persuasively your business solutions and recommendations
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Presentation |
Proposal Pitch
|
25% |
15/08/2024 - 16/08/2024
Teams will be assigned a presentation time based on your client availability |
| Presentation, Project |
Final Pitch Presentation and Report
|
75% |
5/11/2024 - 6/11/2024
Teams will be assigned a presentation time based on your client availability |
Assessment details
Proposal Pitch
- Team or group-based
- Mode
- Oral
- Category
- Presentation
- Weight
- 25%
- Due date
15/08/2024 - 16/08/2024
Teams will be assigned a presentation time based on your client availability
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04
Task description
The clients you will be working with in your consulting teams have a business problem in mind that they would like you to solve. A client brief document will be completed by your client outlining the business problem however your team will prepare a consulting project proposal.
You will need to work with your client and mentor to prepare the proposal which will be delivered in the form of a presentation of 20 mins (with an additional 40 min discussion and feedback workshop) on either Thursday 15th or Friday 16th August. At this time, you will gain sign off by your client on the scope of your project based on the information delivered in your consulting proposal.
Your consulting proposal should reflect a clear understanding of the engagement, context, methodology and timeframes your team will use to deliver a strategic and actionable recommendation and plan. The objectives and activities your outline within your consulting proposal will vary depending on the client situation.
The consulting proposal should be scoped so that it provides substantial value for the client but also represents a realistic body of work that can be completed by the team effectively during the course of the semester.
Further consulting proposal guidelines will be disseminated via the Practera platform.
This assessment task evaluates students' abilities, skills, and knowledge without the aid of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI). Students are advised that the use of AI technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
Presentation slides and a Client-Consultancy Signature Form should be submitted in soft copy through Practera. Copies should also be made available to your client, mentor and all team members.
Deferral or extension
You cannot defer or apply for an extension for this assessment.
Final Pitch Presentation and Report
- Team or group-based
- Mode
- Oral, Product/ Artefact/ Multimedia
- Category
- Presentation, Project
- Weight
- 75%
- Due date
5/11/2024 - 6/11/2024
Teams will be assigned a presentation time based on your client availability
- Learning outcomes
- L03, L04, L05, L06
Task description
The final deliverables for your consultancy project will consist of a presentation and final report for your client.
The client presentation will be a 30-40 minute pitch of the team's recommendations and client-based outcomes. The presentation will be supplemented with a client meeting to facilitate Q&A. The presentation should use an appropriate storyboard logic structure, graphics/illustrations and appropriate text. Slides should not be text-intensive, but rather an appropriate amount of text to substantiate the key points being made in the storyboard. It is not a Word document transplanted into a PowerPoint and should include significant graphics and pictorial content to make the document reader-friendly for most audiences.
The consultancy presentation and report should contain the following (but not limited to) sections (noting that content will be dependent upon the client needs):
- Overview of client problem
- Viable strategic options
- Description of methodology
- Recommended implementation steps, schedule and financial implications
Additionally, your report should contain any supporting evidence collected and driven by the work executed. This should include any and all primary and/or secondary data results and reports used by the team to substantiate recommendations and client outcomes. All spreadsheets including financial projections of revenue, operating and implementation costs should also be included. All sources should be appropriately cited.
The consultancy presentation and report should clearly communicate your team's recommendations and justifications. Overall teams are being assessed on how well the final presentation and report communicates the extent to which the team has modelled and quantified the measureable impact of their recommendations on the client's business.
Individual grades will be based on the presentation (40%), final report (35%) and the aggregate results of the second peer evaluation (see below).
Peer Evaluations
Peer evaluations are designed to provide students with timely and relevant feedback, and to improve your contributions to the team's efforts. There will be two rounds of peer evaluation within the course. The first evaluation is at the time of your pitch proposal and then one on completion of the final assessment. The evaluations will be used primarily to provide feedback so that individuals can build on strengths and develop their improvement areas in relation to the team dynamics. They will also assist in determining individual grades - further informaiton on this is availble via Practera. In addition, you are encouraged to review and debrief team progress/processes collectively at team meetings.
Mentor and Client Evaluations
The variability of the Capstone Consultancy Projects creates a challenging learning environment. In order to optimise the learning experience, students will be given the opportunity to evaluate their mentors and clients anonymously within the course of the projects. These evaluations will be anonymous but will serve as a check point on the progress of the projects and highlight any possible team concerns.
NB: Students must complete the Peer/Mentor/Client Evaluations and the Collaborate Skills Assessments through out the course in order to obtain a grade for the final assessment item. All feedback and evaluations will be submitted via Practera.
Submission guidelines
Consultancy Reports should be submitted online via Practera.
Deferral or extension
You cannot defer or apply for an extension for this assessment.
Course grading
Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.
| Grade | Cut off Percent | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (Low Fail) | 0 - 29 |
Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 2 (Fail) | 30 - 46 |
Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 3 (Marginal Fail) | 47 - 49 |
Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes |
| 4 (Pass) | 50 - 64 |
Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 5 (Credit) | 65 - 74 |
Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 6 (Distinction) | 75 - 84 |
Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 7 (High Distinction) | 85 - 100 |
Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes. |
Additional course grading information
Grades will be allocated according to University-wide standards of criterion-based assessment.
Supplementary assessment
Supplementary assessment is not available for this course.
Additional assessment information
This will be provided at course kick off day - Sunday 21 July.
Learning resources
You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.
Library resources
Library resources are available on the UQ Library website.
Learning activities
The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.
Filter activity type by
Please select
| Learning period | Activity type | Topic |
|---|---|---|
O-week |
Seminar |
Capstone Project Kick Off Day Sunday 21 July 9-4pm - Introductory seminar: Project team assignment, Team building activities and Project Mechanics sessions. Learning outcomes: L01, L03, L04 |
Multiple weeks From Week 1 To Week 2 |
Team Based Learning |
Industry Client Meeting Teams must meet with their client within the first two weeks of semester. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
Week 1 |
Workshop |
Business Problem Solving Session Learning outcomes: L01, L02 |
Week 2 |
Workshop |
Introduction to Storyboarding Learning outcomes: L02, L04 |
Team Based Learning |
Business Problem Solving consultations |
|
Week 4 |
Workshop |
Proposal Pitch Sessions Teams to present their Consultancy Proposals to clients, mentors and faculty. Proposal sign off by teams and clients. Learning outcomes: L02, L05, L06 |
Week 5 |
Team Based Learning |
Hash out sessions On demand team based sessions for research guidance Learning outcomes: L02, L05 |
Week 8 |
Team Based Learning |
Midway Feedback Sessions Team feedback sessions and discussions with faculty and mentors. Learning outcomes: L02, L04, L05 |
Week 10 |
Workshop |
Applied Storyboarding Learning outcomes: L01, L05, L06 |
Week 11 |
Team Based Learning |
1:1 Storyboarding sessions On demand team based storyboard consultation sessions Learning outcomes: L05, L06 |
Week 13 |
Workshop |
Practice Pitch Sessions Teams to present their draft pitch to faculty and mentors for feedback Learning outcomes: L03, L05, L06 |
Exam week 1 |
Workshop |
Final Pitch to Client Teams will present their recommendations and outcomes to clients in their final pitches and present their client reports Learning outcomes: L03, L05, L06 |
Policies and procedures
University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:
- Student Code of Conduct Policy
- Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
- Assessment Procedure
- Examinations Procedure
- Reasonable Adjustments - Students Policy and Procedure
Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.