Executive Solution Overview
You will submit an individual report (4,000-5,000 words, +/-10%) which is the culmination of a consultancy project with suggestions for action. You must justify your approach to the management of the project and data collection and take into account corporate accountability, ethics and professionali…
Assignment Prompt & Instructions
You will submit an individual report (4,000-5,000 words, +/-10%) which is the culmination of a consultancy project with suggestions for action. You must justify your approach to the management of the project and data collection and take into account corporate accountability, ethics and professionalism and any organisational constraints in developing your conclusions and recommendations. Assesses all learning outcomes.
**Title Page** – make this title specific to the project you are recommending – do not use the module title. For example, a report could be called 'A Project Proposal for an Effective Social Media Campaign for Quad Derby'.
**Executive Summary** – it is common for students to just write this as an introduction. An Executive Summary should be able to stand instead of the whole report, and as the name suggests, it should summarise each section of the report, including the findings/conclusions drawn in each section.
**Contents Page** – in Word, you could use the 'Table of Contents' tool in 'References' (check your version of Word). Or have a look at the contents page of another report or of a book to give you an idea of how this should look. Section and sub-section titles should be aligned to the left, and page numbers to the right. Make sure that you list 'Appendices' as a section, and that you list each appendix with a number and a title.
**Introduction** (to report) – outline the content of the report. Here you are telling the reader what they can expect you to cover in the report.
**Situational Analysis of Case Study Organisation** showing appropriate, logical analysis of secondary research. You should use at least two models to analyse the secondary data and we advise you to summarise your findings in a SWOT and/or a TOWS. Your secondary research will come from market information, media reports, industry reports, and academic articles, as well as the case study organisation's presentations and Q & As.
Your Situational Analysis should end with a clear **Problem Identification**. This should not be new information but should come from your situational analysis and should be an assessment of the key, important issues facing the case study organisation.
You must include your findings from your **Primary Data Collection** in your report. It could contribute to the Situational Analysis and therefore your Problem Identification. It should complement your secondary research to draw out key findings and problems that the organisation must face, based on (for example) customer or stakeholder views/input. You will work with your seminar tutor and your group to identify areas for primary data collection.
**Possibilities** (Options) that could be project solutions to the problem/s you have identified. This section allows you to show your awareness that there are several possible approaches to solve problems. This section would include an assessment of the various approaches and draw a conclusion as to the appropriate approach. Students should choose an appropriate model/theory (CBA, Business Case, SAF) to assess the options to show logical justification for the chosen option. This section could also include the findings from your Primary Data Collection, showing how it contributed to the selection of the appropriate project.
**Specific Project** – Here give DETAILS of the overall project, with aim and objectives and a detailed plan of action. For the detailed plan you could use a Gantt chart that incorporates tasks, timing, costs and human resource allocation. Or you can use the individual tools of the WBS, CPA, RAM or RACI, and budget. It's up to you to make it very clear to the case study organisation what they need to do to achieve the project you have defined. This section also needs a risk assessment and stakeholder analysis. This section should be underpinned by project management literature, explaining the importance of a detailed project plan.
**Conclusion** (to report) – summarise what the report has included.
**Reference List**
**Appendices** (list each appendix with number and title in the Contents Page)