EThames Graduate School

Edexcel Level 7

Extended diploma in Strategic Management and Leadership

Unit Name: PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR STRATEGIC MANAGERS

Unit Number: 02

Credit: 05

Assignment Submission Date:

22nd April 2011 @ 23:55

Assessor: MRS GEORGINIA COX/ MR FELIX SHABA

Mode of submission: LIVECAMPUS

Submitted By: Kamal jeet singh

Student ID:21149

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Table of Content

Page No.

Personal and Professional strategic management skills

1.1a: Importance of personal and professional skills 03

1.1b: practical methods to improve skills 04

Personal skills audit

2.1a: skills audit 05

2.2b: preferred learning style 08

Personal Development Plan

3.1a personal development plan 10

3.2b monitoring and evaluation of the plan 12

3.3c impact of own learning against the strategic goals 12

Conclusion 13

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Task -01

Personal and Professional strategic management skills

1.1a: Importance of personal and professional skills

Carrying out meetings is a main activity of setting strategic goals and making strategic decisions

in an organization. The manager must have specific ability to running the meetings and making

presentation. The presentation should cover all essentials and not be too long and boring.

Otherwise the decisions taken in the meeting cannot be successfully practically implemented

within the organization and also the presentation should be meaningful and interested. Therefore

the organizational success is depending on the success of the meeting (Hersey, and Blanchard

1977).

The time management is most important. When we are doing a business, every activity has a

particular time frame. If we start before the time frame it cannot fit and also if we were late it

was also missing out the situation, therefore deadlines were most important to consider. So time

management is very essential to go forward the business functions.

When working in the organization the stress is a common situation. Therefore the stress

management is a personal skill of the people. The main requirements for the stress less situation

were time management, maintaining the good health habits, clear mindset and etc. The stress out

situation of the individual will help to maintain the friendly environment with subordinates and

colleagues, control responds to others, improve own health status and so on (Monks, &

McMackin, 2001)

Leader is the most influential person in the organization. There are lots of examples that the

leader can improve the business as well as bankrupt the business. The leadership skills were very

essential to the organizational existence and long time survival. The leader should have ability to

initiate others, influence others decisions, better organizing ability, understand the future and

trends and so on. Therefore we can see the leadership skills are also required professional skills

to the personals in their carrier life (Katzenbach, and Smith, 1994)

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The each and every profession use specific professional knowledge for their working load. So

they must carry out professional education about in any professional body. Therefore this

knowledge is also important to professional development and carries out quality work in the

organization.

Due to strategic decisions of the organizations will change their current systems in to new

systems; therefore the employees must have ability to adapt to these systems. If they were

lacking of knowledge working there those employees were not suitable to those organizations.

Therefore the personal and professional skills were very important.

Bowie, L., and Bronte, J. (Dec 2006) THE IMPORTANCE OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR YOUTH

WORKERS http://www.childtrends.org/Files//Child_Trends-2007_06_15_RB_ProDevel.pdf (Accessed on 26th

March 2011)

1.1b: practical methods to improve skills

The report written skills and presentation skills of top management are required to achieve

strategic goals. The learning programs were carried out by the organization to improve the

personal skills of the employees.

Workshops were carried out by the organization to improve the personal skills (leadership, time

management and etc) development in the organization. Through these workshops the employee

can understand the own strengths and weaknesses.

Self assessment is use to identify own weaknesses and strengths. Then improve the status of the

weak points in the working place.

The engagement of extra activities (meditation, yoga) and participation in committees and all

reflect the physical and mental fitness of the personal skills of the individual. This will clearly

manage the stress.

The reading will improve the personal and professional skills. Therefore reading the books,

newspapers, journals and search knowledge about the related topics will improve the humans.

Time management is very essential personal skill of the individual. If the individual provide the

required documents on time or work on deadlines is the way of time management in the on job 4

training. The strategic goals must be taken on required time otherwise the business cannot be run

and changes must be done on particular time frame.

The good communication skills are also most important in every time. So maintaining eye

contact and try to control the voice according to the time and using different techniques the

communication skills must be developed. That must be developing in only communicating not

just listening and waiting.

When we are working around different people we should understand their emotions and maintain

the friendly relationship with them. Therefore the outdoor activities will help to improve the

personal and professional skill of the individual.

Individual counseling and mentoring is very essential service carried out by organizations which

operating large number of workforce. Because of the personal problems the employee work is

not in particular standards. In that time the counseling helps to gain mental fitness of the

employee.

Cherry, K. (2010) Practical Ways to Apply Psychology in Everyday Life http://psychology.about.com/od/psychology101/tp/applying-psychology.htm (Accessed on 29th march 2011)

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Task-02

Personal skills audit

2.1a: skills audit

The personal skills audit carried out to improve the personal and professional skills of the

individual. The different learning styles were use by different people to improve their skills. The

following diagram clearly explains the skills audit and how to improve the skills through

learning.

SKILLS LEARNING

Time Management Provide deadlines in an on job working time

Communication

skills

Written essays, reports, minutes, letters, personal statements,

posters and email writing in the on job and off the job for

different purposes

Verbal Informal talking with gatherings, organisation of social

events (different method of convocation among different

people), formal talking in presentations to the meetings/

clubs/ societies and so on.

Nonverbal Listening and understanding body language of others in

may time.

Working with

others

Cooperation Collaborate within a team or a group in the organization,

participate in group activities.

Negotiation taking satisfactory outcome with dealing with different

people, try to deal with different people

Sensitivity respond to the individuals who need extra help

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Leadership ability to organize something and lead others to a correct

direction

Problem Solving Creativity Try to generate new innovations and ideas within the

working schedule

Organising &

planning

completing work with systematically

Research gathers information and use to improve particular section

Analysis understands and summarise the gathered information

initiative takes correct decisions from that

Information

technology

File

management

system

Improve the ability to store and take out the information

if required, learning can be done in on job training

presentation Working with power point and make meaningful

presentations, not too long & boring ones

word processing Working with word and produce different documents as

required

spreadsheets Ability to work with functions and so on, off the job

learning

databases Working with data base and understand the security

purposes and so on.

Information &

communication

Working with internet and email was essential

Application the

number

Calculation Ability to calculate without errors in the on job

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Interpretation Ability to analyse the calculations

application Ability to organise the data to the daily operations

Own learning &

performance

Self awareness Identify own weakness and strengths

Effective

learning

Learn form different working practices and situations

Reflection Reflect own abilities according to the situation

Reasoning skills Argue about something with evidence and knowledge

The above mention skills can be ranking using the following rating scale. The rating will provide

idea about the profession, if required more training, or required deep knowledge about the skills

or not required. The ranks were,

Highly proficient

Fairly proficient

Adequate

Not very proficient

Unskilled

The personal audit document is provided to the superior, head of other departments, pears,

subordinates and any individual of the organisation to fill out and get the feedback. As the marks

received in the audit document, can be able to understand the current position and performance

of my self. After the programme identified weakness points help to improve the performance, in

order to improve the organisational quality work.

Know & grow yourself with your own personal development plan http://www.higherawareness.com/indexa.html

(Accessed on 30th March 2011)

2.2b: preferred learning style

8

The preferred Learning style of my organisation was effectiveness of learning by Kirkpatrick.

The four symptoms (Reaction, Learning, Behaviour, Results) will helps to improve the personal

skills. This learning method does not shown a big different from the current working practice.

Therefore I was confident to improve my performance after the personal skills audit. This

learning style was very practical.

Reaction- identified reactions about (like, relevant to the job, timing, usage, comfort and my

learning experience) the programme.

Learning- identified abilities (what they taught or experience) of my own self and improvement

in the job role in the Organisation.

Behaviour- I have continued the improved behaviour (level of knowledge, skill level and etc.)

without any effort.

Results-then I have reflected actual performance (values, number of complaints, time scales,

investments and etc.) after the program.

(Kirkpatrick, 1959)

After the personal skills audit the training and development programmes was carried out by my

organisation to improve the skills of the employees. I was also one employee who had

participated in the training and development programme. I hope to improve my performance

after the series of training programmes carried out by my organisation. Through the improve

skills lead to increase the performance of the organisation.

(Source: kirkpatrick's (1959) learning and training evaluation theory [Online] Available from:http://www.businessballs.com/kirkpatricklearningevaluationmodel.htm[Accessed 25th March 2011]

Strengths

The superior had identified the individual interested areas and abilities. Then he will

decide the suitable place for to perform well in the future.

The pears have clear idea about the job role and the work load and expected behaviour

with them and the contribution towards the work schedules. The pears are sensitive with

other personal skill. So the peers may not be bias.

Head of other department were also participated to evaluation process. Third party

evaluation is very effective and unbiased method. They have the knowledge about

individual’s boss and the subordinates. And they know the level of professional 9

relationship with them and my contribution towards others. Therefore the third party has

unbiased information about me.

The subordinates know the actual performance and leadership of their superior. How

much of contribution towards the work load? Therefore their evaluation may not be bias

towards in my personal skill.

The biasness or un-biasness was depending on the selected person and his position for the

skills audit. But use of the different individual to the organisation to evaluate is un-bias.

After the evaluation receive job rotations, promotions, bonuses and other incentives from

the organisation. These will motivate the employee through incentives.

The managers will identify hidden abilities of the individual own life and eliminate the

misunderstandings and its problems after the skills audit.

As the results of the personal skills audit document the boss identify the training and

development needs of the individual to improve the skills.

Weaknesses

Superior may be bias in the personal audit.

Some conflicts with the other employees will (as example: may be due to pour

knowledge about new communication & technology) influence to the personal skills

audit.

Skills audit were lead to de-motivation of the job role in the organisation.

The superior may be fear for loosing his position from the performance due to

subordinate performance. Therefore protect his position he continue to provide lower

marks to his particular subordinates audit skill sheet.

(Source: Griffin, R.W. (2011) Fundamentals of Management Cengage Learning)

Task-03

Personal Development Plan

3.1a personal development plan

The personal development plan must have specific objectives. (SMART)

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Specific- the achievements were clearly established in the plan

Measurable- the achievement were measured through different accesses

Action oriented- express the required actions

Realistic-the achievement were capable to and under control

Timely- time scale was also developed credibly

How do I produce a personal development plan http://www.docstoc.com/docs/2427790/How-do-I-produce-a-

Personal-Development-Plan-(PDP)-Objectives (Accessed on 28th March 2011)

Personal Development Plan

Learning and

development need

How to support to the

organizational goals

Resources required to

activate the needs

Date for

achievement/

review

Time management Completing the work on

required dates

Use of diary and help from

friends, family and

colleagues

Every day

Communication skills Quality verbal, non verbal

and written materials

Journals, newspapers,

books, magazines and other

reading materials and help

form friends and family

Every day

Working with others Successful team working in

the organization

Friends and colleagues Every day

Problem Solving Improvement of analytical

skills easily obtain the

decisions to the critical

problems

Friends, colleagues Every day

Own learning &

performance

Improved personal and

professional skills improve

the performance of the

organization

Personal audits

Support from friends,

colleagues, boss,

subordinates

Ever day

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Personal SWOT analysis

STREGNTHS

Specific knowledge about information and

communication technology

My number working and its analysis were in a

very good standard.

Problem solving ability of using quantitative

and qualitative data was in the higher place.

I am very responsible to the working place.

Like to negotiate with others in the group

assignments and team working.

Always try to finish work load on or before the

deadlines and manage the time.

I have ability to negotiate with others and come

in to the decisions with them.

I have identified my own personal abilities and

weaknesses as well.

Most of the times I am influencing others to

work, building teams in the working place for

certain events as a leader.

WEAKNESSES

Writing skills of creative writing and other report

writing are not in a very good position.

Sometimes lacking in research carrying out

skills for a specific reason.

Most of the times I do not listening to others and

their ideas very much.

Still was not comfortable in some of the

leadership skills.

Carrying out planned activities, as planned on

time is not very good.

OPPERTUNITIES THREATS

(Source: BTEC short courses, (online), Available from; http://www.edexcel.com/migrationdocuments/BTEC

%20specialist%20and%20short%20course%20qualifications/

302934_BTEC_L5_Advanced_Professional_ACD__in_Management_Studies_TSM.pdf (Accessed on 2nd April

2011)

3.2b monitoring and evaluation of the plan

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Evaluate the work completion deadlines, check if how many deadlines were missed

out and how many were finished on time. And also check whether past data and after

implementation of data of the personal development plan.

Access the quality of the written materials and so on. How many business discussions

were successful after the improvement of verbal and non verbal communication?

The employee relationships, their attitudes towards others, respect to the seniors,

responsible work and so on improved after the personal development plan.

The quality of the decisions taken by the managers must be improved through this,

therefore assessment of quality of the decision making process is also one of the

monitoring method of personal development plan.

Evaluation of overall performance of the organization is also a one way of monitoring

the plan.

(Source: Cullen, B. (1994) A programme in the making: a review of the Community Development Programme Combat) 

3.3c impact of own learning against the strategic goals

Sometimes the own learning may not be applicable to the situation. That means the own learning

was done in an incorrect way. Therefore the own learning was negatively impact on the

achievement of strategic goals (Griffin, 2011)

On the other hand the own learning is the way of understanding whole process very clearly about

the situation and clearly identify the learning issues, conditions, implications and so on. The own

learning will create a more experience and able to gather vast knowledge about the particular

learning materials. Clear identification of the strategic goals, its limitations and so on.

Conclusion

Personal and professional skills are very important in the organization. Making presentation,

running meeting, leadership skills, stress management, time management and so on are important

among other skills. Workshops, self assessments, extra activities, reading, daily practicing of

weak activities like communication, outdoor activities are will improve the personal and

professional life of the individual.

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The time management, communication skills, analytical skills, information technology,

application of number, own learning and performance and using other skills the personal skills

audit were carried out. Then identify the preferred learning style as a Kirkpatrick learning style

to improve the strategic skills of the manager. The four actions of reaction, learning, behavior

and results are use to improve the learning of an individual. And also discuss about the strengths

and weakness of personal skills audit as well. That means there were limitations in the personal

skills audit as well.

The personal development plan was created to improve the required personal and professional

skills of the individual. With the plan the monitoring and evaluation processes of activities were

also carrying out. The own learning through these activities will impact on the achievement of

strategic goals of the organization.

Reference

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Cullen, B. (1994) A programme in the making: a review of the Community Development Programme Combat Poverty Agency.

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competencies.15

Laurie, J.Mullins, (2007), Management and Organization Behavior, Seventh edition,

Dorling Kindersey (India), Pearson education.

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Web Reference

BTEC short courses [Online] Available from:http://www.edexcel.com/migrationdocuments/BTEC%20specialist%20and%20short%20course%20qualifications/302934_BTEC_L5_Advanced_Professional_ACD__in_Management_Studies_TSM.pdf[Accessed 25th February 2011]

How do I produce a personal development plan [Online] Available from: http://www.docstoc.com/docs/2427790/How-do-I-produce-a-Personal-Development-Plan-(PDP)-Objectives[Accessed 25th February 2011]

Importance of stress management [Online] Available from: http://www.womenover40health.com/importance-of-stress-management.html[Accessed 25th February 2011]

Kendra Cherry, Practical Ways to Apply Psychology in Everyday Life [Online] Available from:http://psychology.about.com/od/psychology101/tp/applying-psychology.htm[Accessed 25th February 2011]

kirkpatrick's learning and training evaluation theory [Online] Available from:http://www.businessballs.com/kirkpatricklearningevaluationmodel.htm[Accessed 25th

February 2011]

Know & grow yourself with your own personal development plan [Online] Available from: http://www.higherawareness.com/indexa.html[Accessed 25th February 2011]

Lillian Bowie and Jacinta Bronte (Dec 2006) THE IMPORTANCE OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR YOUTH WORKERS [Online] Available

16

from: http://www.childtrends.org/Files//Child_Trends-2007_06_15_RB_ProDevel.pdf[Accessed 25th February 2011]

Skills audit and training need analysis [Online] Available from: http://www.peoplepulse.com.au/staff_skills_audit.htm[Accessed 25th February 2011]

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