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The Fast-Track MBA
Designed for busy working professionals, this fully online MBA course is highly flexible and delivered with interactive, bite-sized content and personalised student support.
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Subject Summary
Business Consulting is an innovative AIB MBA elective subject designed for forward-thinking individuals eager to carve out a successful career in the consulting industry. Over 8 weeks, you’ll become equipped with the tools to transform your unique expertise into actionable consulting strategies, drive success in your own business or elevate your role within an organisation.
It commences with an overview of the consulting landscape, offering a macro view of the industry before progressively narrowing focus, diving into the role and activities of a business consultant, assessing personal suitability for consulting and detailing the essentials of starting and surviving the initial year of a consultancy business. As you progress through the subject, you’ll delve into the fundamentals of building and maintaining client relationships, developing operational templates and systems for enhanced productivity, integrating billing mechanisms and planning for business growth and expansion.
By comprehensively exploring the practice, process and project aspects of consulting, you’ll acquire practical skills essential for delivering expertise or guidance to clients or decision-makers effectively. The learnings from this subject are incredibly practical, empowering the application of strategic thinking, problem-solving methodologies and refined communication skills to provide value to clients in various business scenarios.
| AIB Subject Code | 9026BC |
| Qualifications | MBA (General) MBA (Entrepreneurial Management) |
| AQF Level | Level 9 |
| Delivery | 100% online |
| Subject Length | 8 weeks |
| Start Dates | 2024 MBA Timetable |
Subject Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this subject, you will be able to:
- Demonstrate advanced understanding of contemporary business consulting theory, process and practice.
- Apply innovative approaches and techniques as well as ethical perspectives throughout the development of a consulting service.
- Evaluate complex business and enterprise concepts and issues to make evidence based recommendations.
- Communicate business consulting knowledge, skills and ideas to others clearly, persuasively and credibly.
Key Topics
- The consulting landscape
- Assessing your ‘fit’ for consulting and starting a business
- Surviving your first year
- Managing clients and business relationships
- Consulting systems and billing
- Productivity and business growth
Subject Faculty
The AIB academic team hold significant qualifications and experience in their field of expertise. Our academics strive for excellence in teaching, learning, scholarship and research so they can deliver high quality, life-changing experiences for our students.
Assessment
In our Business Consulting MBA subject, students engage in two assessments designed to sharpen their consultancy expertise. The first involves a recorded presentation, where students devise a consulting service, identify a potential client and articulate a problem-solving approach. The second assessment is a written report that lays out a strategic plan for operating as a consultant, detailing market positioning, value propositions, client and project types and relationship management plans, as well as operational, financial and ethical considerations, setting the foundation for a successful consulting career.
As a Management Consultant with an MBA, when I walk in the door to meet potential clients, I already have credibility. If someone’s talking to me about operations, processes, human resources, corporate governance, leadership, strategic management – whatever it may be – I’m able to have a legitimate and relevant conversation with them.
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How you will learn
100% Online MBA Learning
Our innovative Student Learning Portal is your ultimate digital resource for everything you’ll need to successfully complete this subject and your online MBA, with the flexibility to access your learning materials, videos, podcasts and other multimedia on any device. You’ll engage with fellow students and have key concepts explained by your Online Facilitators in webinars and forums.
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In addition to the Student Learning Portal, the myAIB app allows you to download modules and full subjects to view offline to save your cellular data, receive notifications for assessments and webinars, listen to audio versions of modules through Soundcloud and enjoy many other useful features.
The myAIB learning portal app is available on Google play and on the Apple app store.
AIB supports your success
When you study with AIB, you’ll be supported by our skilful team of over 180 academic, student support and professional staff, who will be with you every step of your MBA journey.
Student Learning Portal
- Our innovative Student Learning Portal provides all the resources and support you’ll need to successfully complete your MBA studies
Academics
- Highly qualified and experienced academics
- Practice-centric curricula, innovative learning resources and realistic assessment techniques
Study Tools
- Access to tools you’ll need to successfully complete your degree and excel in your career including Office 365, LinkedIn Learning, Scite_, GrammarlyEDU and Endnote
Student Support
- Dedicated student and enrolment teams
- Supporting you with any issues big or small from orientation to graduation
Online Facilitators
- Each class has a dedicated Facilitator (OLF) and a limit of just 50 students to ensure you’ll benefit from high levels of interaction, relationship building and learning
Wellbeing and career support
- Access to a confidential support service providing personal counselling, wellbeing advice and career assistance
Frequently Asked Questions
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What does a business consultant do?
A business consultant is a service professional who provides expert advice or guidance to assist managers and organisations achieve organisational purposes and objectives. Their primary goal is to analyse existing problems or opportunities within a business and offer strategic recommendations to help resolve problems, identify and seize new opportunities, enhance learning or implement changes.
Consultants can work independently in their own business, within a consulting firm or as part of a larger organisation. They may serve a broad range of clients or specialise in a particular industry or niche. Ultimately, their aim is to bring value to the client by offering expertise, fresh perspectives and actionable solutions to enhance business performance.
What kinds of businesses need a consultant?
Various types of businesses, regardless of their size or industry, can benefit from the services of a business consultant. The need for a consultant often arises from specific circumstances, challenges or goals within a company.
In essence, any business that faces complex challenges, seeks fresh perspectives, lacks specific expertise or aims to optimise its performance can benefit from the expertise and guidance of a business consultant. Consultants bring external viewpoints, specialised skills and experience, assisting companies in identifying and addressing issues, seizing opportunities for growth and improvement, enhancing learning or implementing changes.
What are the advantages of an organisation hiring a business consultant?
Hiring a business consultant offers businesses the advantage of tapping into specialised knowledge, gaining objective insights and obtaining customised strategies and solutions that can drive positive changes, improve efficiency and propel the business toward its goals.
I’m currently working in consulting. How will this subject benefit me?
If you’re a business consultant, this subject is a great way to evaluate and improve your skills. Reflective exercises integrated throughout the curriculum encourage introspection and self-assessment, supporting you in identifying strengths and areas for development as a business consultant.
I’m not a consultant and unsure if it’s something I want to pursue. How will this subject benefit me?
Our Business Consulting subject provides a great opportunity to explore the possibility (in a safe environment) of becoming a business consultant now or in the future. The knowledge gained is directly applicable to not only initiating a consulting business and managing it for growth but also enhancing managerial abilities and delivering more effective solutions within an existing business. The skills and insights gained are highly transferrable across professions and industries.
Do I have to be enrolled in the Entrepreneurship MBA specialisation to study Business Consulting?
You do not. Students undertaking the General MBA can study Business Consulting as one of their three elective choices. Those who do will study alongside Entrepreneurial Management MBA students, ensuring rich discussion in live webinars that facilitate entrepreneurial thinking.
If you’re interested in studying Business Consulting and the AIB MBA, get in touch with an AIB Advisor to discuss your application and timetabling.
