Professional IS Consulting (ISYS90045)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5Dual-Delivery (Parkville)
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About this subject
Contact information
Semester 1
Rod Dilnutt
Semester 2
Atif Ahmad
Overview
| Availability | Semester 1 - Dual-Delivery Semester 2 - Dual-Delivery |
|---|---|
| Fees | Look up fees |
AIMS
This practice-oriented subject allows students to develop their ability to build and utilise good working relationships with internal and external clients. Feedback from industry indicates that these 'consulting skills' are highly valued, and an important factor in employment and promotion decisions. Information systems professionals learn that technical knowledge is seldom sufficient in itself, and must be supported by the ability to understand, communicate and collaborate with clients.
Students work individually and in syndicate groups. Classes are interactive and focus on practice, with reading and research tasks undertaken largely outside class. Most classes feature a guest speaker from industry.
Topics covered include understanding business and management needs, setting and managing expectations, reporting and staying on track, giving advice, written and verbal communication, consulting ethics, and the business of consultancy.
The subject will enhance students’ ability to manage relationships with stakeholders, communicate effectively about IS services, and engage effectively with senior decision makers in organisations.
INDICATIVE CONTENT
- Defining consulting
- Understanding the challenge of consulting
- Understanding the client: What managers want
- Establishing Expectations
- Selling IT Services
- Managing Expectations
- Consulting practices
- Working with the client
- Meetings, Interviews, Workshops
- The trusted advisor
- Effective written and verbal communication
- Dealing with problems and difficult people
- Negotiation Basics
Intended learning outcomes
On completion of this subject the student is expected to:
- Understand the importance of the consulting process and the factors which determine its success
- Make use of the body of research relevant to IS consulting
- Elicit client expectations for a consulting assignment or service
- Plan a substantial information systems consulting project
- Communicate technical concepts to a management audience, both verbally and in writing
- Approach consulting problems, including 'people issues' in a disciplined and effective manner
- Work effectively in a team to collectively achieve practical consulting outcomes
Generic skills
On completion of this subject, students should have developed the following generic skills:
- Problem Analysis
- Critical thinking
- Independent learning
- Confidence at presenting to a business audience
- Teamwork
Last updated: 31 January 2024
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
None
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 31 January 2024
Assessment
| Description | Timing | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
Group based report with 3-4 group members of approximately 4000 words. Intended Learning Outcomes (ILO's) 1 to 7 are addressed in this report.
| Due in the second third of semester | 30% |
One class presentation of first group based report of approximately 15 minutes duration. ILO's 1 to 7 are addressed in this presentation.
| During the teaching period | 10% |
Group based report with 2 group members of approximately 1500 words. ILO's 1 to 7 are addressed in this report.
| Due in the last third of semester | 15% |
One class presentation of second group based report of approximately 5 minutes duration. ILO's 1 to 7 are addressed in this presentation.
| During the teaching period | 5% |
One written 2 hour closed book examination. ILO's 1 to 6 are addressed in the examination.
| End of semester | 40% |
Last updated: 31 January 2024
Dates & times
- Semester 1
Principal coordinator Rod Dilnutt Mode of delivery Dual-Delivery (Parkville) Contact hours Semester 1: 36 hours (block mode); Semester 2: 36 hours, comprising of one 3 hour seminar per week Total time commitment 200 hours Teaching period 28 February 2022 to 29 May 2022 Last self-enrol date 11 March 2022 Census date 31 March 2022 Last date to withdraw without fail 6 May 2022 Assessment period ends 24 June 2022 Semester 1 contact information
Rod Dilnutt
- Semester 2
Principal coordinator Atif Ahmad Mode of delivery Dual-Delivery (Parkville) Contact hours Semester 1: 36 hours (block mode); Semester 2: 36 hours, comprising of one 3 hour seminar per week Total time commitment 200 hours Teaching period 25 July 2022 to 23 October 2022 Last self-enrol date 5 August 2022 Census date 31 August 2022 Last date to withdraw without fail 23 September 2022 Assessment period ends 18 November 2022 Semester 2 contact information
Atif Ahmad
Time commitment details
200 hours
Last updated: 31 January 2024
Further information
- Texts
- Subject notes
Learning and Teaching Methods
12 (half day) lectures are delivered covering all examinable topics.
Each lecture focusses on a major topic of consultancy practice and is supported by case studies from real world consulting situations.
A guest speaker is provided every 2nd lecture from a current professional IS/IT consulting business or a CIO from a major commercial organisation that regularly hires IS/IT consultants.
Indicative Key Learning Resources
Each lecture, a number of prescribed readings are advised to the students.
In addition, recommended texts are as follows:
Weinberg, G: Secrets of Consulting, 1986
Block, P: Flawless Consulting, Second Edition, Pfeiffer, 2000.
Maister, D, Green, C & Galford, R: The Trusted Advisor, Free Press, 2000.
Maister, D: Managing the Professional Service Firm, Free Press, 1993.
Careers/Industry Links
A number of major consulting firms provide guest speakers focussing on real world consulting practices, issues and required personal attributes. These speakers also have an opportunity to promote their organisations to students for potential recruitment opportunities.
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Course Ph.D.- Engineering Course Doctor of Philosophy - Engineering Course Master of Philosophy - Engineering - Links to additional information
- Available through the Community Access Program
About the Community Access Program (CAP)
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.
Please note Single Subject Studies via Community Access Program is not available to student visa holders or applicants
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
Additional information for this subject
Subject coordinator approval required.
- Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students
Last updated: 31 January 2024