Research & Consultancy Skills for Project Managers - ELE00185M

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Module summary

Today project managers are expected to provide research-based support, analysis, and insights to inform project planning, decision-making, and execution to their clients. This module introduces the theoretical foundation, skills, and tools needed to effectively conduct research, engage with clients and provide consulting services to different stakeholders. By leveraging research expertise, students will learn how to provide specialized research-based services and expertise to support project management activities and decision-making processes to facilitate and enhance project performance, mitigate risks, and achieve successful outcomes in engineering businesses.

Module will run

Occurrence	Teaching period
A	Semester 1 2025-26

Module aims

Subject content aims:
• Enable students to fully understand the range of research approaches, methodologies and strategies used in research.
• Give students the tools or knowledge by which they can design a research proposal applying relevant research strategies to collect and test data based on client needs.
• Explore various data collection techniques used in research consultancy.
• Engage with project stakeholders to gather input, feedback and perspectives on project objectives, requirements, and expectations.
• Discuss strategies for engaging effectively with clients, understanding their needs and expectations, and building strong, collaborative relationships.
• Conduct feasibility studies for clients.
• Analyze industry trends and market developments relevant to projects.
• Write research proposal and develop project plans for stakeholders.
• Discuss legal and contractual issues in research consultancy.
• Discuss the importance of quality assurance in research consultancy and the role of peer review in ensuring validity and reliability of research findings.

Graduate skills aims:
• To develop capacity for analysis and synthesis of data instances.
• To develop research skills on exploring real-world engineering issues.
• To develop an ability to structure and present information concisely.
• To develop skills to engage with a range of stakeholders.
• An improved capacity for applying knowledge in practice.
• To develop communication and presentation skills to provide research-based solutions to clients.

Module learning outcomes

Subject content learning outcomes

At the successful completion of this module, you should be able to:

• Discuss the roles and responsibilities of research consultants.
• Design research studies and analyse qualitative and quantitative information.
• Write professional research proposals and business plans for clients.
• Synthesize information and formulate appropriate outputs.
• Discuss and apply ethical considerations in research consultancy including informed consent, confidentiality, data privacy, data storage and conflict of interests.
• Communicate the output of research appropriately to different stakeholders.
• Apply strategies to effectively engage with clients to understand their needs and expectations.
• Address the legal and contractual issues in research consultancy including contracts, Intellectual Property rights, liabilities, and insurance.

Graduate skills learning outcomes

After successful completion of this module, you should be able to:

• Apply knowledge in practice – evidence of application in the assessment.
• Analyze and synthesize data evidenced through the module assessment.
• Plan and manage your time – plan your own activities and manage your own time to achieve the required deliverables.
• Be able to apply techniques to collect, analyze, and interpret data for different stakeholders.
• Communicate research outputs in an effective manner for the given audience.
• Demonstrate consultancy skills in project management.

Module content

• Introduction to Research Consultancy
• Theoretical foundations of Research Methods
• Qualitative Research Methods
• Quantitative Research Methods
• Mixed Research Methods
• Different Research strategies
• Research Design and Process
• Data Collection Techniques
• Data Analysis and Interpretation
• Research Ethics and Integrity
• Client Engagement and Relationship Management
• Trend Forecasting
• Quality Assurance and Peer Review
• Proposal Writing

Indicative assessment

Task	% of module mark
Essay/coursework	100.0

Special assessment rules

None

Additional assessment information

Formative Feedback

• Regular workshops allow you to engage with the course material and receive verbal help and feedback.

• Weekly activities/homework will help you to gain feedback on your understanding of the key module material covered in the lectures.

• Emails to the Module Coordinator with Questions / Comments will be answered as soon as possible.

Summative Feedback

You will receive a customised feedback sheet, showing the marks breakdown for each of the key areas being assessed in this module along with a personalised feedback and suggestions for improvement. The School of PET will also endeavour to return all coursework feedback within 20 working days of the submission deadline. The School would normally expect to adhere to the times given, however, it is possible that exceptional circumstances may delay feedback. The School will endeavour to keep such delays to a minimum. Please note that any marks released are subject to ratification by the Board of Examiners and Senate. Meetings at the start/end of each term provide you with an opportunity to discuss and reflect with your supervisor on your overall performance to date.

Indicative reassessment

Task	% of module mark
Essay/coursework	100.0

Module feedback

'Feedback’ at a university level can be understood as any part of the learning process which is designed to guide your progress through your degree programme. We aim to help you reflect on your own learning and help you feel more clear about your progress through clarifying what is expected of you in both formative and summative assessments. A comprehensive guide to feedback and to forms of feedback is available in the Guide to Assessment Standards, Marking and Feedback.

This can be found at https://www.york.ac.uk/students/studying/assessment-and-examination/guide-to-assessment/

The School of PET aims to provide some form of feedback on all formative and summative assessments that are carried out during the degree programme. In general, feedback on any written work/assignments undertaken will be sufficient so as to indicate the nature of the changes needed in order to improve the work. The School will endeavour to return all assessment feedback as per the University's Policy on Assessment Feedback Turnaround Time, however, it is possible that exceptional circumstances may delay feedback. The School will endeavour to keep such delays to a minimum. Please note that any marks released are subject to ratification by the Board of Examiners and Senate. Meetings at the start/end of each term provide you with an opportunity to discuss and reflect with your supervisor on your overall performance to date.

Indicative reading

TBC