Capstone (CAPS) 697

Overview

CAPS 697 – Capstone (Consultancy Project) is the culminating experience of the MBA program designed to integrate theory and practice through an applied consultancy engagement. Before the course begins, students must identify a sponsoring organization to serve as their client. This may be their current employer, or another organization approved by the Academic Area Manager (AAM). The organization can be for-profit, not-for-profit, public, or hybrid, but should present a clearly defined management challenge, be available to provide data and to designate a contact person to support the consultancy project. 

The student should first discuss a potential project idea informally with the organization to confirm its interest and feasibility. Once the organization agrees in principle, the student must complete the Client Agreement Form and the Letter of Engagement, which must be signed by both the company representative and the AAM. This agreement formalizes permission to use secondary data only and outlines the project’s general scope, expected deliverables, and confidentiality requirements. The signed form and the letter must be submitted before Week 1 and attached as an appendix to the Project Proposal. 

Working individually, students act as consultants to address the identified management challenge, collaborating with the client to diagnose issues, develop actionable strategies, and present their recommendations supported by MBA-level analytical tools. 

Students apply integrative knowledge from the MBA program, i.e., marketing, finance, operations, strategy, and leadership, to generate evidence-based solutions that align with the client’s objectives and ethical business practices. The course is assessed through a project proposal, interim progress report, and final consultancy report, ensuring both academic rigour and professional relevance.

Outline

This course is divided into 10 lessons/weeks:

• Lesson/Week 1: Define Project Scope and Submit Proposal
• Lesson/Week 2: Conduct Environmental and Organizational Analysis
• Lesson/Week 3: Problem Definition and Data Framework
• Lesson/Week 4: Secondary Data Review and Synthesis
• Lesson/Week 5: Midpoint Review and Progress Assessment
• Lesson/Week 6: Strategic Analysis and Option Development
• Lesson/Week 7: Recommendation Design and Validation
• Lesson/Week 8: Implementation Planning
• Lesson/Week 9: Report Drafting and Feedback Integration
• Lesson/Week 10: Report Submission

 

Lesson/Week	Topic	Assessment / Deliverable	Recommended Reading
1	Project Definition & Client Meeting: Students meet with the client organization to confirm project objectives, clarify expectations, and discuss access to secondary data. They define the project scope, objectives, and expected outcomes.	Capstone Project Proposal (1,000–1,200 words). Submit Client Agreement and Letter of Engagement (finalized before Week 1)	Chapter 1 – Experiential learning using consulting   Chapter 4 – Client contract development and relationship management
2	Environmental & Organizational Analysis Students establish communication routines with their client and begin conducting internal and external analyses (e.g., SWOT, PESTEL, stakeholder analysis) using secondary data to understand the organization’s environment and strategic context.	Work on Situational Analysis Summary	Chapter 2 – Developing the consulting team and its dynamics   Chapter 3 – Internal analysis and external analysis
3	Problem Definition & Research Design Students refine the problem statement, identify root causes, and establish the analytical framework guiding their consultancy project.	Work on Problem Definition Section	Chapter 3 – Identifying the Client’s Issues Through Root Cause Analysis
4	Data Collection & Preliminary Insights Students gather and interpret relevant secondary data sources and begin integrating insights into their analysis.	Work on Data Review Section	Chapter 3 – Resources for Research
5	Midpoint Review Students consolidate analysis completed to date, receive feedback, and outline next steps for the remaining project phases.	Interim Progress Report (2,000–2,500 words)
6	Strategic Analysis & Option Development Students evaluate strategic options using MBA-level frameworks (e.g., Porter’s Five Forces, BCG Matrix, financial ratios).	Work on Strategic Options Section
7	Recommendation Design & Validation Students refine and validate their strategic recommendations to ensure alignment with the organization’s objectives and feasibility.	Recommendation Summary	Chapter 5 – Project Deliverables
8	Implementation Planning Students design actionable implementation plans that include timelines, KPIs, risk management, and resource allocation.	Work on Implementation Section	Chapter 5 – Project Deliverables
9	Drafting the Final Report Students integrate all report sections, revise for logic, structure, and flow, and prepare the report for submission.	Report Outline (Optional)	Chapter 6 – Professional Development and Conclusion
10	Report Submission Students synthesize all findings, analyses, and recommendations into a cohesive consultancy report.	Final Consultancy Report (5,000–5,500 words)

 

Learning outcomes

By the end of this course, students should be able to:

• Diagnose and analyze organizational challenges using secondary data.
• Apply MBA frameworks to develop strategic, evidence-based recommendations.
• Synthesize findings into a professional consultancy report.
• Integrate financial, strategic, operational, and ethical considerations in problem solving.
• Communicate insights clearly and persuasively to managerial audiences.
• Reflect critically on the consultancy approach and professional development.

Evaluation

Your grade will be based on the successful completion of three written assignments, evaluated on a Pass/Fail basis, and the submission of your simulation certificate:

Activity	Weight
Consultancy Project Proposal (Week 1)	Pass/Fail
Interim Progress Report (Week 5)	Pass/Fail
Final Consultancy Report (Week 10)	Pass/Fail

To receive a passing grade in this course, you must meet these minimum standards:

• Receive a Pass on all three deliverables (Proposal, Interim Report, Final Report).
• Work consistently on assigned report sections throughout the course and meet all specified deadlines.

Materials

Digital course materials

Links to the following course materials will be made available in the course:

Cook, R., Harris, M., & Barber, D. III. (2022). Management consulting projects: A step-by-step experiential guide (6th ed.). Routledge.

All additional materials are available online through the Digital Reading Room (DRR) in Brightspace

Important links

• Graduate Diploma in Management (GDM)
• Contact an Advisor
• Master of Business Administration
• Accelerated MBA for Executives
• MBA for Accountants
• MBA for Health Leaders
• MBA for Supply Chain Management