August 2025 Research, Consultancy and Advisory Past Paper Answers

Description

QUESTION ONE
MVUA COMPANY LIMITED (MCL)

Mvua Company Limited (MCL) is a dynamic consultancy firm based in Nairobi, Kenya, operating within the Research, Advisory and Consultancy Industry. Since its inception in 2017, the company has built a strong reputation for delivering high-quality, evidence-based solutions to clients across the public, private and development sectors. With a team of seasoned professionals drawn from diverse disciplines, MCL has consistently demonstrated its ability to combine analytical rigour with contextual understanding to address complex development and institutional challenges.

The company’s work spans three major areas of specialisation: socio-economic research and policy analysis, strategic advisory and institutional development and monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL). Through socio-economic research, MCL supports decision-makers with insights that shape policy and inform programme design. In the area of strategic advisory, it helps organisations align their structures and operations with long-term goals, often facilitating organisational transformation and improved service delivery. In MEL, MCL develops and applies frameworks that allow clients to track results, learn from implementation and adapt strategies for greater impact.

Due to its proven expertise, MCL was selected in 2023 by a regional development agency to undertake a comprehensive evaluation of a multi-country youth employment programme. The assignment involved designing evaluation tools, collecting data across four countries and delivering actionable recommendations. MCL’s ability to manage large-scale fieldwork, its sensitivity to cultural contexts and its capacity to generate practical insights were key factors in its selection. The successful execution of this project further solidified MCL’s standing as a trusted partner in driving change through research and strategic consultancy. As the company expands its footprint across East Africa, it remains committed to excellence, innovation and delivering value to every client engagement.
Required:
(a) In reference to the 2023 strategic exercise, explain FOUR planning approaches that MCL could have employed to facilitate the realignment of its operations. (4 marks)
(b) Analyse FOUR factors that MCL may have considered in the design of the baseline survey to guarantee high-quality data and alignment with policy objectives. (8 marks)
(c) Evaluate FOUR inferential statistical tools that MCL might have used to analyse data collected across the four countries. (8 marks)
(Total: 20 marks)
QUESTION TWO
(a) With specific reference to the importance of codes of conduct, explain FOUR roles that professional associations like the Institute of Certified Secretaries (ICS) play in upholding the standards and ethics of a profession. (4 marks)
(b) Evaluate FOUR strategies that could be used to effectively integrate divergent perspectives within a team to achieve the best outcomes. (8 marks)
(c) Analyse FOUR ways a consultant ensures consistency in approach in understanding their clients’ evolving needs throughout an assignment. (8 marks)
(Total: 20 marks)

QUESTION THREE
(a) Identify THREE factors a researcher should consider in assessing the quality of an abstract in research. (3 marks)
(b) With reference to data analysis in research, outline THREE assumptions of parametric tests. (3 marks)
(c) Assume that you have been hired as a coaching consultant in a research firm to coach new employees in the research directorate. Evaluate THREE strategies you could use to measure the success of the coaching programme. (6 marks)
(d) Analyse FOUR reasons why it is important to sign a contract in a research consultancy. (8 marks)
(Total: 20 marks)
QUESTION FOUR
(a) A researcher wants to establish students’ study habits at a university with a total population of 5,000 students. The student population consists of 2,000 undergraduate students, 2,000 master’s students and 1,000 PhD students. If the researcher uses proportionate stratified sampling and decides on a total sample size of 500 students, calculate the number of students that should be selected from each stratum. (3 marks)
(b) Outline FOUR applications of social network theory in organisations today. (4 marks)
(c) Identify FOUR soft skills that are needed in the client advisory process. (4 marks)
(d) Highlight FOUR sections of a technical proposal in a consulting assignment. (4 marks)
(e) With reference to Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Model, outline FIVE strategies for conflict resolution between a consultant and a client. (5 marks)
(Total: 20 marks)
QUESTION FIVE
(a) Outline FIVE characteristics of causal research. (5 marks)
(b) Crisis management is the process by which an organisation deals with a disruptive and unexpected event that threatens to harm the organisation, its stakeholders or the general public.
With reference to this statement, highlight FIVE types of crises. (5 marks)
(c) Describe FIVE characteristics that define a comprehensive and effective final report for a research study.
(10 marks)
(Total: 20 marks)