Professional IS Consulting (ISYS90045)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5Dual-Delivery (Parkville) and On Campus (Parkville)
To learn more, visit 2023 Course and subject delivery.
About this subject
Contact information
Semester 1
Rod Dilnutt
Semester 2
Overview
| Availability | Semester 1 - Dual-Delivery Semester 2 - On Campus |
|---|---|
| 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 - Dual-Delivery
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 lecture per week Total time commitment 200 hours Teaching period 27 February 2023 to 28 May 2023 Last self-enrol date 10 March 2023 Census date 31 March 2023 Last date to withdraw without fail 5 May 2023 Assessment period ends 23 June 2023 Semester 1 contact information
Rod Dilnutt
- Semester 2 - On Campus
Principal coordinator Rod Dilnutt Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours Semester 1: 36 hours (block mode); Semester 2: 36 hours, comprising of one 3-hour lecture per week Total time commitment 200 hours Teaching period 24 July 2023 to 22 October 2023 Last self-enrol date 4 August 2023 Census date 31 August 2023 Last date to withdraw without fail 22 September 2023 Assessment period ends 17 November 2023 Semester 2 contact information
Time commitment details
200 hours
What do these dates mean
Visit this webpage to find out about these key dates, including how they impact on:
- Your tuition fees, academic transcript and statements.
- And for Commonwealth Supported students, your:
- Student Learning Entitlement. This applies to all students enrolled in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP).
Subjects withdrawn after the census date (including up to the ‘last day to withdraw without fail’) count toward the Student Learning Entitlement.
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 Doctor of Philosophy - Engineering Course Ph.D.- 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