MBA Strategic Consulting Project – Designing TfL’s data science department

The School offers MBA students the opportunity to undertake a Strategic Consulting Project as part of the programme. We speak to MBA alumnus Ronan Murray about his project.

Between June and September, our MBA students work with companies to complete a Strategic Consulting Project. The project provides students with the opportunity and support to conduct an in-depth investigation at an advanced level of an issue or a business challenge. Our students work across all sectors and functions, applying their skills and knowledge to deliver results that can move a business forward. The consulting projects also provide an excellent opportunity for students to gain practical experience during their study which is relevant to their career aspirations, enhancing their experience and professional network.

Full-time MBA alumnus, Ronan Murray, chose to do his Strategic Consulting Project with the London Underground, a rapid transit system serving Greater London and the surrounding areas. Before studying his MBA at the Business School, Ronan came from a design background and chose this particular project as he wanted to test himself in a different field and truly understand how translatable his core skills were. The structure and subject of the project also appealed to him and he felt it linked well to his studies throughout the MBA.

Ronan shares his Strategic Consulting Project experience as part of his MBA.

Please can you provide an overview of your Consulting Project?

The Consulting Project sought to develop an organisational design for a new data science department across both London Underground and the wider Transport for

London (TfL). Currently, data scientists are embedded in the different business units across the organisation and as such, the profession is not leveraged to its full potential. The project sought to understand industry best practice and using this research alongside accepted academic theory, suggest a new structure for data science within TfL, with the data science department in London Underground as a pilot scheme.

What were the project outcomes?

The project really generated some discussions within TfL and I believe they are implementing some of the recommendations. The project was very well received, and the grounded research and theory really convinced the sponsors of its worth and the possible future it sketched out for London Underground.

What did you learn from doing your Consulting Project?

Beyond the obvious knowledge gain in the field of organisational design, the most valuable learning from the Consulting Project was the experience I gained working as a consultant in industry, whilst having the safety net of an academic advisor from the Business School. I received incredible mentorship from my supervisor, Peter Allen, whose wisdom and insight guided me through both the relationship with London Underground and the Consulting Project itself – advice I still rely upon in my current role.

What are you doing now?

I now work as a Senior Consultant for Cedus, a data-led strategy and change consultancy in London. To date, my clients have all been FinTech startups and I have been working directly on their engagements with traditional financial institutions. It is a huge change from my previous career, and I am learning something new every day – much like the MBA!

Scan or click for more information on the Durham MBA.