Consultancy Report for Temple Bar University

Consultancy Report for Temple Bar University
Introduction
TBU Online Initiative by Temple Bar University (TBU) is an extreme measure that aims to combine profitability with socially responsible behavior. This consultancy report analyzes the measure to determine the program's viability while keeping the external environment and internal strengths and weaknesses in view. The report starts with a general overview of the importance of consultancy and training as treated in the existing literature, followed by a critical commentary on the TBU Online Initiative. The critical overview of the practice extends into identifying potential opportunities and challenges, followed by the coverage of key factors to be considered. Finally, there are recommendations for the university based on the insights from the analysis.
Consultancy and Training
The importance of consultancy and training has only grown over the past few decades following the growing dynamism and unpredictability of the business environment. Consultants use their prowess to bridge the knowledge gap left unattended by their clients. In this way, consultancy is an essential source of articulating the opportunities and challenges, allowing the clients to act wisely and in line with the requirements of the external environment combined with international potential (Manville et al., 2017; Blokdyk, 2018).
At the same time, consultants help clients find the best fit between theory and practice by analysing the opportunity from different perspectives and considering the bigger picture of a scenario. The holistic view allows them to adopt an unbiased approach to a future venture and arrive at realistic conclusions (Manville et al., 2017).
Furthermore, a necessary amount of value of consultancy and individualised training lies in objectivity brought into the analysis. The client may have an overambitious view of the situation due to bias inherent in their desperation. The consultants should adopt an objective approach and apply multidimensional scanning to articulate all potential risks and opportunities to come up with a realistic conclusion (Hodges, 2017). Hence, objectivity is a valuable outcome of relying on consultancy services.
Besides, the coaching combined with the consultancy facilitates knowledge transfer which is a crucial by-product for any client. This knowledge helps them deal with identical future matters more effectively (Dawson-Shepherd et al., 2013). The knowledge transfer also eliminates the need to rely on external aid in the future.
Hence, consultancy plays a vital role in enabling the client to fully use an opportunity and ascertain the viability of a prospect from a realistic standpoint.
Critical Commentary on Temple Bar University’s TBU Online Initiative
Project Efficacy
While evaluating the projected efficacy, it is vital to consider the scope of a project (Zidane & Olsson, 2017). The purpose of the TBU Online Initiative is twofold: to offer employer-validated degrees to the under-served population and to attract potential learners desirous of relying on an established institution. As for the first initiative, it gains support from the following internal strengths of the organisation:
High Visibility: TBU is a globally recognised organisation boasting high visibility. This visibility enables it to effectively market its new measure and draw the target audience's attention to its effectiveness. It will help the university effectively target the under-represented population.
Research-Oriented Environment: The university is the first Irish university to have representation in an elite research consortium. This research prowess will enable it to effectively reach the population with targeted demographics. The research will assist the university in articulating the needs of its target audience in a precise manner so that it can make timely adjustments to its delivery style and content.
Reliance on a Reliable Foundation: Besides, the company relies on Wuinness Family Foundation to create a rationale for its scholarship plan. However, the organisation's success along this dimension depends on the financial capacity of the foundation in the future.
The above analysis shows that the project's scope is very well defined and backed by the internal strengths of the organisations.
Key External Factors
The external factors relevant to the TBU Initiative are discussed as follows:
Political Factors
The Irish government's focus on rapid tech integration is a crucial factor likely to influence the program indirectly. For instance, the government has already ensured that 99% of its population has access to 4G (Department of Environment, Climate, and Communication, 2022). Besides, the government tends to rapidly embrace 5G to take the potential of connectivity to the next level (Department of Environment, Climate, and Communication, 2022). This factor is crucial for TBU Online Initiatives since the effectiveness of the project will be highly reliant on the smoothness of connectivity. However, the government in Central Africa has different priorities where disadvantaged populations barely have access to internet connection. For example, as of 2020, internet penetration is only 14% (Hasbi & Dubus, 2020). It is indicative of the lack of support on the part of the government in these areas.
Keeping the above in view, a prerequisite for the university is to encourage the target population to avail internet connection to become a part of the project. Hence, there is an additional milestone to be achieved as the initial plan for the project.
Economic Factors
The global economy is under massive stress while wading through the aftermath of COVID 19 and combating the detrimental implications of the Russo-Ukrainian war. Hence, the affordability of quality education has presumably become a pronounced issue for the working and middle class of the countries targeted by TBU (Dhawan et al., 2022). It is a crucial factor and lends support to the university's plan. TBU Online Initiative is an economical source of getting educated, aiming at the inclusion of underserved populations. It is also a well-timed initiative and relieves the population from feeling inflationary pressure. Therefore, the macroeconomic forces are set up to support high participation from the targeted communities in the program.
However, the onset of a new recession also has its downside while seen in conjunction with the lack of government support for the underrepresented population in TBU's targeted geographic segments. For instance, the anticipated layoffs and reduced demand for labour are also likely to translate into shrunken disposable income. This factor will add to the challenge of providing internet connection and required equipment for an already resource-starved population.
Social Factors
Among the social factors, a key highlight is ethical consumption. The growing awareness at the public level regarding environmental degradation and the importance of socially responsible business operations has played a vital role in changing collective behaviour (Junior et al., 2019). This behaviour owes a great deal to the United Nations and other major global organisations' efforts to incorporate social and environmental dimensions into traditional practices (Junior et al., 2019).
These trends serve as a potential advantage for the university. For example, the university's vision attached to its newly founded plan is ethically oriented and portrays the organisation as a socially responsible entity aiming to create societal value. For example, the program commits to granting 100% scholarships to deserving students. Besides, it caters to the underrepresented population. Therefore, the initiatives align with the 1st, 4th, and 8th Sustainable Development Goals in a manner detailed below:
Goals

Alignment

Goal 1: No Poverty

The employer-validated programs offered at an affordable price will create opportunities for the target population to improve its living standards (Browne, 2017).

Goal 4: Quality Education

This goal involves equitably ensuring quality education (Browne, 2017). The program is aimed to sustain a high level of inclusion and serve the target audience irrespective of colour, caste, nationality, or any other dimension of ethnicity. Therefore, it conforms with this particular goal.

Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

The central part of the program is dedicated to offering employer-validated degrees to employees belonging to the underserved population. Hence, it creates an opportunity for individuals to carve a career path likely to translate into prosperity and socioeconomic development. These outcomes match the desired ou...