MN-M069: International Business Consulting Assessment

Task Overview

Your submission should take the form of a consultancy report (maximum 5,000 words) and should include three key parts. The first part will take the form of a short proposal based on an imagined Terms of Reference (ToR) agreed with the TAFE client. All sections are included within the word count.

1. Proposal and Diagnostic Analysis

Prepare a short consulting proposal outlining the Terms of Reference (ToR) for your engagement with TAFE. This should include:

• Background and context

• Scope and objectives

• Key questions and deliverables

• Methods of data collection and analysis (e.g., benchmarking, process review, stakeholder interviews)

Then, drawing on your analysis of the factory videos and background material, provide a diagnostic assessment of the key operational and strategic issues facing TAFE India. Identify performance bottlenecks, capability gaps, and opportunities for improvement.

2. Benchmarking and Best Practice Review 

Compare TAFE India's current operations with global best practices observed in the Massey Ferguson (France) and New Holland facilities. Identify and explain the managerial, technological, and organisational practices that could be transferred to TAFE. Discuss the feasibility, risks, and benefits of adopting these practices in an Indian context.

3. Strategic Recommendations 

Develop a phased set of recommendations for short-, medium-, and long-term transformation. These should outline proposed initiatives, resource implications, and measurable indicators of success. Include reflections on change management, stakeholder engagement, and sustainability.

Summary of the Assessment Requirements

The assessment requires students to produce a professional consultancy report (up to 5,000 words) analysing the operations of TAFE India and recommending strategic improvements. The report must include three key components:

1. Proposal and Diagnostic Analysis

Students must prepare a consulting proposal outlining the Terms of Reference (ToR) agreed with the TAFE client. This proposal must describe:

• Background and context

• Scope and objectives

• Key questions and deliverables

• Proposed methods for data collection and analysis (e.g., benchmarking, stakeholder interviews, process reviews)

Students must then deliver a diagnostic assessment of TAFE India’s operational and strategic challenges using insights from factory videos and background materials. This includes identifying:

• Performance bottlenecks

• Capability gaps

• Areas of inefficiency

• Improvement opportunities

2. Benchmarking and Best Practice Review

Students must compare TAFE India’s operational performance against:

• Massey Ferguson (France) operations (AGCO Group best practice)

• New Holland as a comparable competitor

This comparison must highlight:

• Transferable managerial, technological, and organisational practices

• Feasibility of implementation in India

• Risks and benefits associated with adopting global best practices

3. Strategic Recommendations

Students must develop a phased improvement roadmap consisting of:

• Short-term recommendations

• Medium-term transformation initiatives

• Long-term strategic changes

Each recommendation must include:

• Resource implications

• KPIs or measurable success indicators

• Consideration of change management, stakeholder engagement, and sustainability

How the Academic Mentor Guided the Student 

To support the student in completing this structured consultancy assignment, the Academic Mentor adopted a systematic, step-by-step guidance approach aligned with the consulting lifecycle. Below is a breakdown of how the mentor guided the student through each component.

Step 1: Understanding the Task and Structuring the Report

The Academic Mentor first helped the student interpret the brief by breaking down the requirements into three core sections. This ensured clarity on deliverables, allowed the student to plan the word count effectively, and provided a logical sequence for writing.

The mentor then helped the student create a report structure resembling a real consultancy format, including an executive summary, introduction, main sections, and conclusion.

Step 2: Developing the Consulting Proposal (ToR)

To guide the student through Part 1, the mentor:

• Explained how consultancy proposals are typically formulated in industry

• Demonstrated how to write a Background and Context section using TAFE’s industry position

• Helped the student frame Scope and Objectives with clear boundaries

• Assisted in shaping Key Questions and Deliverables aligned with operational efficiency and global competitiveness

• Guided the student on selecting appropriate data collection methods, such as video analysis, benchmarking frameworks, and stakeholder perspectives

Once the proposal structure was clear, the student drafted the ToR confidently, ensuring all required elements were addressed.

Step 3: Conducting Diagnostic Analysis

The mentor next supported the student in analysing the videos and background materials by teaching them how to:

• Identify operational bottlenecks (e.g., outdated machinery, manual processes)

• Observe strategic-level gaps (e.g., lack of automation, workforce skill limitations)

• Categorize issues into themes such as productivity, quality, supply chain flow, and management practices

• Use consulting tools like SWOT, Fishbone Diagrams, and value-chain analysis

This step helped the student build a strong diagnostic foundation for the remainder of the report.

Step 4: Benchmarking Against Best Practice

To complete Part 2, the Academic Mentor:

• Explained what benchmarking means in a consultancy context

• Helped the student examine AGCO’s Massey Ferguson (France) practices and New Holland’s systems

• Guided the student in comparing areas such as automation, lean manufacturing, robotics, quality systems, and layout optimisation

• Discussed Indian-specific constraints to help the student assess feasibility

This allowed the student to build a realistic benchmarking review with practical insights on transferable best practices.

Step 5: Formulating Strategic Recommendations

For Part 3, the mentor assisted the student in constructing a phased roadmap by:

• Explaining the difference between short-, medium-, and long-term strategies

• Helping the student align each recommendation to identified problems

• Ensuring recommendations were practical and resource-conscious

• Introducing concepts such as KPIs, change management models, stakeholder mapping, and sustainability goals

This guidance enabled the student to develop actionable and industry-relevant recommendations.

Step 6: Final Review and Refinement

The mentor supported the student in:

• Reviewing the structure, clarity, and flow of the entire report

• Ensuring each section linked back to the ToR

• Checking academic tone and professional formatting

• Validating that all assessment criteria were met

This final review step ensured the message was coherent, logical, and aligned with real-world consultancy expectations.

Final Outcome and Learning Achievement

Through systematic guidance, the student successfully produced a comprehensive consultancy report that:

• Clearly outlined the Terms of Reference

• Delivered a robust diagnostic analysis grounded in evidence

• Provided a detailed benchmarking comparison

• Presented a well-structured transformation roadmap

• Demonstrated professional consulting skills and report-writing competence

Learning Objectives Achieved

By completing this assessment with guided support, the student achieved the following learning outcomes:

• Developed consulting skills including scoping, diagnosis, and recommendations

• Enhanced analytical capabilities through performance assessment and benchmarking

• Gained understanding of global best practices and how they apply in varied contexts

• Strengthened strategic thinking through phased planning and KPI development

• Improved professional communication skills through structured consultancy writing

• Built awareness of change management and stakeholder engagement principles

• Learned to apply theoretical knowledge to real-world industry situations

Get Expert Guidance with Our Reference-Only Sample Solution

Before you begin writing your assignment, take advantage of our professionally prepared sample solution designed to help you understand structure, flow, and academic expectations. This downloadable file is a valuable learning resource, but it must be used for reference and study purposes only. Submitting the sample as your own work may lead to plagiarism issues, so always ensure that your final submission is original and written in your own words.

If you need a fully customised, plagiarism-free assignment crafted specifically for your topic and university guidelines, our expert academic writers are here to help. We deliver well-researched, properly referenced, and high-quality solutions tailored to your exact requirements, ensuring you score higher with confidence.

Why Order a Fresh, Custom-Written Solution?

• Written from scratch by qualified academic professionals

• Guaranteed 100 percent original and plagiarism-free

• Tailored to your university’s marking criteria

• Delivered on time with unlimited revisions

• Helps you understand complex concepts more clearly

Take the next step towards academic success with dependable support you can trust.

Call-to-Action Buttons

Download Sample Solution   Order Fresh Assignment