MMM194: Assembling Strategy

Module code: MMM194

Module provider: International Business and Strategy; Henley Business School

Credits: 20

ECTS credits: 10

Level: 7

When you’ll be taught: Semester 2

Module convenor: Dr Cristian Luise, email: c.luise@henley.ac.uk

Module co-convenor: Mr Karim Kirollos, email: k.r.w.kirollos@henley.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2026/7

Available to visiting students: No

Talis reading list: No

Last updated: 25 March 2026

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This module enables students to apply concepts, tools, and analytical frameworks introduced in the first semester to a real-life consulting project with an external company. The module bridges academic learning with professional practice by integrating analytical rigour, data-driven insights, and critical evaluation with problem-solving, client communication, and teamwork. It prepares students for careers in consulting, corporate strategy, and policy analysis.   Students will work in teams as consultants to investigate a strategic or operational challenge faced by a client organisation, producing evidence-based recommendations and developing professional consulting competencies. While students will be working in assigned groups, they are assessed individually.  Students will have the opportunity to develop each element of the Henley Skills. 

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Apply and integrate theoretical frameworks from strategy, international business, and economics to diagnose complex real-world organisational and policy problems, using appropriate qualitative and quantitative data and exercising analytical and creative judgement.

(Link to the Henley Skills: analytical & creative thinking; AI & digital skills)

2. Design, manage, and deliver a structured consulting project, including scoping, independent data collection, critical analysis, and the development of coherent, evidence-based strategic recommendations under conditions of uncertainty.

(Link to the Henley Skills: curiosity & lifelong learning; resilience & agility)

3. Critically evaluate data, assumptions, stakeholder perspectives, and contextual constraints, demonstrating professional judgement and ethical, sustainable, and socially responsible decision-making.

(Link to the Henley Skills: ethical & environmental leadership; analytical & creative thinking)

4. Communicate and justify strategic insights effectively to different audiences, producing professional consulting deliverables while working effectively within a consulting team, maintaining individual accountability, and demonstrating self-awareness, empathy, active listening, and reflective learning relevant to future professional practice.

(Link to the Henley Skills: communication & negotiation; motivation & self-awareness; teamworking; empathy & active listening)

Module content

• Introduction to applied consulting projects and project scoping
• Data collection and analysis for consulting (quantitative and qualitative)
• Structuring consulting deliverables: slide decks and executive reports
• Stakeholder management and client communication
• Ethical considerations and confidentiality in consulting practice
• Integration of strategic management, IB, and economics frameworks into real-world application
• Presentation skills and professional storytelling

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

The teaching of this course is inspired by the case study method approach. Knowledge and understanding of the subject areas will be developed through lectures, alongside students revisiting and integrating content from first semester modules. Application of knowledge and critical evaluation will be developed through tutorials that draw on real company interactions. Tutorials will facilitate students’ analysis of company-level data to further develop their analytical capability and critical evaluation skills. The assignments are structured around a consulting project split into two components. 

The first assignment is a consulting slide deck, assessed on the quality and depth of data collection and analysis. 

The second assignment is a detailed consulting report. 

Both assignments are based on the same organisation, with the first assignment acting as structured feedforward for the second assessment. Students will work in groups to simulate a consulting environment and are expected to coordinate their activities accordingly. However, assessment is conducted on an individual basis.

Study hours

At least 25 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 50% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in your Individual Learning Plan): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each calendar day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three calendar days;
• where the piece of work is submitted up to three calendar days after the original deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in you Individual Learning Plan), the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three calendar days after the original deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in your Individual Learning Plan), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three calendar days after the original deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in your Individual Learning Plan): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three calendar days of the deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in your Individual Learning Plan): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three calendar days after the original deadline (or a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment indicated in your Individual Learning Plan): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

Where a piece of work is submitted late after a deadline which has been revised owing to an extension granted through the Assessment Adjustments policy and process (self-certified or otherwise), it will be subject to the maximum penalty (i.e., considered to be more than three calendar days late). This will also apply when such an extension is used in conjunction with a DAS-agreed extension as a reasonable adjustment.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Reassessment

Additional costs