Industrial Consulting Project COM617

This module gives you direct experience of working on a live industry project.
Rather than focusing on new taught content, it centres on applying the knowledge and skills you have already developed. You will work in a small group on a brief set by an external organisation or practitioner, with the aim of developing a practical solution and presenting it to a real audience.

Project structure and approach
Projects come from industry and may involve either a clearly defined problem or a broader brief. Your group is expected to interpret the brief, define what needs to be achieved and decide how to approach the work.

The project follows an agile style structure organised into three stages. You begin by researching the problem and defining requirements, then develop a proof of concept to test your ideas, and finally produce a minimum viable product that demonstrates the core value of your solution. At each stage, you present your progress to gain feedback and refine your work.

Group working and organisation
You will form a group of four to six students, with six preferred. Group work is central to the module and all members are expected to contribute consistently.

You should organise yourselves early by assigning roles based on strengths, agreeing how you will communicate and planning how progress will be tracked. Regular attendance, clear communication and shared responsibility are essential. Although tasks may differ, effort should be balanced and all members receive the same grade, reflecting the importance of collaboration.

Learning, time commitment and weekly delivery
There is limited formal teaching, so you are expected to take ownership of your learning and address any gaps independently or as a group. You should commit around three hours each week to the module and use this time consistently to maintain progress.

Each week begins with a short recorded introduction followed by a two hour practical session where you work with your group, review progress with your tutor and receive feedback. Most of your time will be spent planning, researching, developing your solution and preparing outputs.

Planning, research and development
Careful planning is essential across the teaching period. You should break the project into manageable tasks, assign responsibilities and monitor progress using a structured approach such as a task backlog.

Tools such as GitHub or other project management platforms can support organisation and provide evidence of your contribution. Research should go beyond the initial brief and inform your decisions, particularly when defining requirements. Clear and well considered requirements will help keep your project focused and achievable within the available time.

Testing, evaluation and delivery
As your solution develops, you are expected to test and evaluate it to ensure it works as intended. You should plan how testing will be carried out, record results and use this evidence to improve your work.

The final stage involves delivering a working product alongside supporting documentation and a presentation that explains your approach, demonstrates your solution and responds to questions from both your tutor and the project provider.

Assessment and expectations
Assessment consists of two group components. The first is a project initiation document of around 2000 words, outlining the scope, requirements and planned approach. The second is a final group presentation covering the full project journey and demonstrating your solution in practice.

Throughout the module, you are expected to keep clear records of your work, including task allocation and individual contributions. Regular tutor meetings will support your progress, but responsibility for managing the project and achieving a successful outcome sits with you.

Getting started
In the first week, you should form your group, review your project brief carefully and begin planning your approach. Early organisation, clear direction and active engagement will help you make steady progress and get the most from this professional, practice based experience.