Assessment Workbook: BSBWOR501 Manage personal work priorities and professional development

This assessment workbook includes short answer questions related to managing personal work priorities and professional development. It covers topics such as work-life balance, personal career plan, feedback, and personal learning style.

Assessment Workbook: BSBWOR501
Manage personal work priorities and
professional development

Short Answer Questions
Assessment 1
Question 1
List six characteristics you have that enable you to act as a positive role model in the workplace.
➢Uncompromising integrity – staying power and getting outside of yourself
➢High energy – the ability to keep going with seemingly unending energy
➢Good at working priorities – includes setting, actioning and accomplishing priorities
➢Courageous – not afraid to tackle new challenges or push the boundaries of thinking and Practice
➢A committed and dedicated hard worker – a passion for their work
➢Unorthodox and creative – unconventional and innovative
➢Goal orientation – strong and defined goals
➢Inspired and contagious enthusiasm - a natural, infectious energy that makes others want to join
in
Question 2
How would you ensure that your personal work goals reflect the organisation’s plans, and your own
responsibilities and accountabilities? (180 to 200 words)
Our personal work goals do overlap with our professional goals in a subconscious way. We have to
make sure to plan, prioritise and organise our responsibilities in a work context.
It stands out to be important to make pesronal actions be in line with personal set goals and on the
other hand make the personal goals be in line with the obejectives of the organization.
Firstly, for the organisation’s future you have to be a positive role model. As a leader you have to
inspire and encourage people that you work with. SMART goals is a way to help setting goals.
The second thing is that a person needs to understand the following:
1. The vision of the company – this is the important goal set for the organization and it states
where the organization would like to be in future.
2. The mission of the organization – this is an important statement which derives the purpose of
the organization.
3. Understand the maJor believes of the organization – this will tell a person what behavior and
which values the company recommends.
4. The plan of the organization – each organization usually has multiple level plans which
include the strategic plan which divide down an organization into team plans and personal
goals.

Question 3
List five strategies you can use to measure and maintain your personal performance, and provide a
brief (120 to 150 words) description of each strategy. (Ensure you include when contingencies occur)
1. Ensure you take a look at the bigger picture – step back and listen to everyone before
making a decision. This will help one make the best decision.
2. Establish your priorities – know what is more important and plan doing it first hence make
priorities.
3. Manage your emails – prioritise your emails in the morning you will have more time. Read
through the emails in the morning and make a plan fo what to do.
4. Minimise distractions and Interruptions - Avoid unnecessary meetings and learn to say no.
Avoid interruptions such as unnecessary phone calls and unnecessary movements.This will
help one manage and use their time effectively. Once time is used effectively it means that
the perfomance level will go high.
5. Keep your workspace clean and organised – this will keep you more motivated and
concentrate on your work and keep you happy. The motivation will be when the other
employees mention how organized you are and maybe the manager notices that you are
always organized.
Question 4
A member of your team has presented you with their work goals for the next quarter. You are
surprised to see that they all focus on this person pursuing a particular project that they raised with
you last month. You need to have this person working on the new product launch and you cannot
see how they will have time to spend on a project that does not contribute in any way to the new
product getting to market.
What strategies could you use to help the team member understand the goals of the organisation
and the team, and realign their work goals to reflect the organisation’s plans and goals? (180 to 200
words)
Firstly, you make sure if the goal is realistic and achievable. Secondly priorities which task is more
important and need to spend time to achieve it and have a deadline. I will explain the organisations
mission, vision, plans and goals so they are in the right direction. Then they need to be aware of
their project fit into the overall organizational framework and how their specific contributions
impact company goals. They need to be aligned on their companies' larger goals, and those goals
need to be broken down to a smaller scale to ensure that people remain engaged in day-to-day
operations. I will make them know it is important to fisrt select the goals which will make a
difference in the organizational goals. This is beacuse making so many goals can be make the team
unproductive. I will make the person to understand the importance of agreeing to do similar thing as
a team. This will help the team to measure its perfomance and also to achive the organizational
goals. The other thing is that I can measure the perfomance of the team and show the person visible
and simple results which the team faces.

Question 5
What technology can be used to efficiently and effectively manage priorities and commitments? (50–
75 words)
Below are the applications that when used correctly it will improve the effectiveness and
efficiency. Firstly,
Database Applications,
A database is the way in which information can be reduced so that the amount of information
generated is minimised. Data is reduced by grouping and categorising that data so it fits one
program.
Word Processing Applications,
Word processing documents such as Lotus and Microsoft Word are an important program for
business and individuals. Word processing documents that are created to reflect the organisation’s
image must be professional-looking and visually appealing. The beauty of word processing programs
is that they can demonstrate information in tables, graphs and other formats.
Project Management Applications,
To manage your personal work priorities and professional development you may consider using
project management. Project planning tools are an excellent way in which you can meet your goals
and objectives and ensure that you are meeting your personal goals.
Electronic diary and Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) -
Personal Information Managers (PIMS) such as electronic diaries and PDAs are used more and more
to assist in the effective and efficient running of their business or position.
Question 6
List ten strategies to help ensure technology is used effectively.
Find out which is the relevant adavantage
Design an instructional strategies
Ensure that the goals you set are realistic
Prioritise tasks/ objectives in terms of usable results—purpose
Include a time-based safety margin in your list
Delegate effectively
Plan time for yourself
Leave the office or the factory floor at lunchtime
Manage papers and paperwork
Determine the objectives

Come up with instructional environment
Analyze the outcomes and make corrections
Question 7
What is work-life balance? (50-100 words)
A comfortable state of equilibrium achieved between an employee's primary priorities of their
employment position and their private lifestyle. Most psychologists would agree that the demands
of an employee's career should not overwhelm the individual's ability to enjoy a satisfying personal
life outside of the business environment.
Question 8
List and describe (80 to 100 words each) three strategies that will help you maintain a healthy work-
life balance and ensure stress is effectively managed and health is attended to.
Using flexible work hours can meet competing needs without reducing the amount of time you
work. In this century, technology has made things easier. Employees can work remotely or from
home and they can be able to share files, communicate effectively, plan meetings and even
collaborate on projects without having necessarily to be at work place. Being in office does not
necessarily make an employee productive. Working in flexible hours then has several benefit.
One of the benefits is that the employees producitivity will increase because they are working
freely and they are relaxed.
Working from home on a regular basis. By doing this, employees will be happy and will turn out
to be motivated. Motivated and ahppy employees are likely to increase in productivity than
bored and stressed employees.Working flexibly will make employees minimize the input needed
from the manager. This is because they do have many disruptions as it is in work place. Felxible
working place can be a morale booster to the employees and this will improve their physical and
menatl well-being. If employees work from home, they are likely to be less tired, and have
bettter rest. This will reduce fatigue and also work stress.
Job-sharing dividing the workload of a full-time position between two people. This will allow two
staff members to share responsibilities of one fulltime position. This helps the two employees to
reason together a job that would have required onne person to reason alone. It therefore minimizes
the work of each person since they divide the work into two. Two people working in one position are
likely to be more producetive because they will combine their skills and abilities to give output. This
will also be stress free to the employees because they share a job.
Part-time arrangement enables you to work fewer hours. A pesron can work just for few hours and
then decide to go to other places. This will help employees to avoid stress since after job a person
can go to have some fun and free time. During the free time, they can talk about their places of work
and share with friends their experiences at different places of work. This keeps the employees health
because they have time to think about their own goals.

Time in lieu there are times when increased work hours or overtime is unavoidable. This is time in
lieu comes in. To arrange time in lieu, employers can agree with employees in a signed
document. When they employees work extra hours they will be paid time of lieu instead of
overtime. This will encouarge employees and make them feel motivated. Motivated employees
are not stressed employees. This is because they have energy to work more and they love their
working place.Therefore, the produvctivity is likely to improve.
Question 9
Describe how you can assess your personal knowledge and skills against the competency standards
for a position (50 – 80 words).
Personal knowledge and skills required are Communicate with wide range of people, computer skills
will need to be variety of software programs such as Word, Excel, Powerpoint as well as able to learn
quickly need to keep up with the new changes and be organised. As a competency standard is a
bachelor degree that would help to know the structure of the company.
Question 10
Describe how you might create a personal career plan to prioritise and meet your development
needs (250 to 300 words)
Drawing up a career plan will help you identify various pathways that are open to you, pick out
markers along the way, and help you to recognise options open to you as they emerge. Identify any
transferable knowledge and skills.
Think about your goals and objectives—both work-based and personal. Identify the skills you need
now and those you need to develop for the future.
Jot down the things you want to achieve next year (short term), in two to five years (medium term),
and in 10 years (long term).
Identify what you will need to do to achieve your goals. It might be that you need to learn new skills,
gain experience of a different area/ role, take on more responsibility etc.
Prioritise. Determine Consider which things need to be done before you can start on others, or
which items are more important or time-bound (some opportunities will only arise at certain times).
Establish timeframes.
Set objectives. Look at the first three or four items on your list and turn them into SMART objectives.
To do this each one must have a Specific target, be Measurable (you must be able to recognise when
you have achieved it), be Achievable, Realistic and Time-bound (have a deadline).
Consider the best ways to achieve your objectives. Determine whether they will require formal
learning (such as a training course- with an RTO, university or TAFE) or will you need to ask a
colleague to teach you new skills – coaching or mentoring). Document your plan. This will make you
more committed to making it happen. Finish by setting a date when you will review your plan. A.
Regularly review your progress and reassess the skills you hold and need to develop.
Question 11
List seven forms of feedback or information that might be useful for identifying and developing ways
to improve competence

The effective forms of feedback from your workplace can be:
Formal and informal performance appraisals
Verbal and informal feedback from supervisors and colleagues or suppliers
Feedback from internal and external clients/ customers
Personal reflection and self-assessment
Data derived from organisational monitoring and control processes
Observation and measurement of end products
Measurements related to mistakes, rework and was
Question 12
How does feedback contribute to improvement of competence? (150-200 words)
Improving your competencies involves learning. Learning comprises the internalisation of
behaviourally anchored new knowledge, ideas, and attitudes. This results in observable behavioural
change.
Feedback is an essential element of learning. It is a tool which informs people when they are doing
the right or the wrong things. Right means they continue learning and improving. Wrong means they
make adjustments and corrections. If the feedback given is effective, it has benefits to the receiver,
the giver and the entire organization. The following reasons states the importance of feedback and
how it can cotribute to improvement of competence.
Feedback acts as effective listening- even if the feedback is verbal or is done via the feedback survey,
the giver needs to know that they have been undrestood and needs to know the value their
feedback provides.
Feedback is motivative – it motivates the employees to perfom better than before. This happens
when the employees are motivated and appreciated they feel motivated. When empoloyees are
motivated, they are likely to improve their perfomance.
Through feedback, people are able to learn continously. This can involve asking other people how
they feel working in the organization. Learning continously is the main key to improvement.
Question 13
Explain how understanding your personal learning style can assist you when identifying, evaluating
and selecting development opportunities. (150–200 words)
Understanding of learning style preference is valuable in determining your own learning pathways..

No preferential style is better or more important than another. Preferences simply point to the
styles people find most comfortable.
Although people can learn in all situations, they will learn more effectively if the learning situation
accommodates their preferred style, and/or a combination of styles.
Some people learn best by doing things, others learn by watching experts perform, others prefer to
read and assess the theories behind activities before applying their knowledge, and others like to
experiment.
By understanding your own personal learning style you can determine the best type of learning
situation and the most effective type of learning delivery for your own personal needs.
You need to identify your learning needs and select and use appropriate development opportunities
that suit your own personal learning style and will result in the development of the required
competencies.
Question 14
How can you establish and nurture networking opportunities to enhance personal knowledge, skills
and work relationships? (250 to 300 words).
Work-based networks can be developed through phone or email interactions or via face-to-face
contact. The internet is a formidable tool. Through it you can contact people virtually anywhere in
the world. You can converse via chat or conferencing lines and can build substantial relationships
with people and organisations throughout the business world. The internet is also an amazing tool in
terms of information gathering. You have, at your fingertips, a wealth of information related to
people, organisations, business practice, statistics and general data that will support business
operations.
Communication is another strategy to nurture and develop networks. It is important to maintain
regualr and consistnce communication with other employees and other people. This will succeed if a
person is nice to other people. Being nice to people is very important in etablishing strong networks
and maintaining them.
It has been discovered that a lot of people know less on how to network effectively. Networking
requires more than just meeting people and talking to them. The best way to network successfully is
to make plans and adhere to those plans. To come up with a working plan one must learn more
networking skills and more networking strategies.
Joining a proffesional group of associates is another strategy for networking. This will help a person
to stay updated on the trending issues in the organization and other organizations.
Sheduling is very important. They say that what gets scheduled eventually it gets done. Therefore, it
is important to schedule to reach out to friends and other close people and to attend the
professional groups of associates. All the above mentioned strategies can be used to develop good
and long lasting networks and help also to nurture them.

Question 15
Explain how developing new skills can contribute to the development of a competitive edge. (300
words)
To maintain a competitive edge, the following questions should be asked:
What are you providing and to whom?
Who else is trying to do the same thing?
What are their strengths and weaknesses?
What are their strategies and goals?
What, if anything, makes them stand out from the pack?
How can you do what they are doing better?
Organisations also need to identify/forecast and assist the challenges, hurdles and changes they face
in the future. This includes threats that are on the near horizon, those in the medium term and those
that will take effect over a longer period of time. Managers must make it their business to find out
what is going on in the world around them and pay attention to changes that will impact, either
directly or indirectly, on their work.
As a result, they can ensure that day and the employees in the organisation have the skills to cope.
To maintain a competitive edge in your industry, leaders need to make sure that they continuously
update their skills and knowledge to ensure that they are reactive to the needs of the organisation.
We have already established that two ways in which to improve your skills is by:
1. Using your job description, duty statement or statement of conduct to identify whether you are
meeting the organisation’s standards.
2. Using feedback from work colleagues, peers, clients and associates to identify weaknesses in your
behaviour, skills or knowledge.
In both instances, where you identify behavioural, leadership knowledge and skills, you arrange to
ensure that you bridge the gaps between the organisations standards or your personal goals.
Inorder to maintain the competetive edge, it is good to move with the change. If there is a new
introduced technology, it is good to move with it. This acts the same as being upto date interms of
what is happening around.
Question 16A
Identify and list below three (3) types of learning styles and a brief description of each.
The three learning styles are:
 Learning by feeling – taking time to be in that workplace and co-workers.
 Learning by watching – Observing the environment.
 Learning by doing – by making mistakes and try not to do it.

Question 16B
Looking at each learning style, which learning style suits you best and why?
I learn by taking an action and doing myself and along the way make a mistake so I will be more
conscious of what I am doing and double checking everything to not make a mistake.
Case Study
Part A
Seek Feedback from two or more of the following:
 Employees
 Colleagues
 Customers
 People from a wide range of social, cultural and ethnic backgrounds
 Team members

Feedback Questionnaire for Self-development
Name of person to feedback is
about: Jessica Smith
Name of person completing the
feedback:
David Lawrence
What is your relationship to this
individual:
o Employee
o Employer
o Colleague
o Customer
o Team member
o Other
How long have you known this
individual:
4 years 2 months
What would you say are this
person’s strength? List three (3)
1. Teamwork
2. Dedicated
3. Honesty
What would you say are this
person’s weaknesses? List three (3)
1. Time Management
2. Takes blames for others
3. Shy
When this person is under stress,
do they react/ behave differently?
If so, provide details:
*Please attached additional pages if
required
She panics a lot and takes longer to do her duties.
What opportunity/ies do you see
for this individual
If she can be more organised and not shy when asking other
staff members to do she can improve herself. Even can
become a supervisor.
Is there any other information you
think would be helpful to this
person?
*Please attached additional pages if
required
Priorities her duties to finish it on time.
Signature:
Date: 15.08.2018

Feedback Questionnaire for Self-development
Name of person to feedback is
about: Greg Kay
Name of person completing the
feedback:
Sarah Millsy
What is your relationship to this
individual:
o Employee
o Employer
o Colleague
o Customer
o Team member
o Other
How long have you known this
individual:
1 years 3 month
What would you say are this
person’s strength? List three (3)
1. Excellent written communication
2. Creativity
3. Thinking outside the box
What would you say are this
person’s weaknesses? List three (3)
4. Perfectionist
5. Has trouble working with others
6. Unrealistic
When this person is under stress,
do they react/ behave differently?
If so, provide details:
*Please attached additional pages if
required
He gets aggressive and does not concentrate on his job this
causes of him making a poor decisions.
What opportunity/ies do you see
for this individual
Because of his creativity and other strength after gaining
more knowledge of the company he can use his skills to
move into the marketing department.
Is there any other information you
think would be helpful to this
person?
*Please attached additional pages if
required
He needs to gain more verbal communications skills to work
with other employees and understand them and he does
not have to be perfect. We are human being and everyone
can make mistake.
Signature:
Date: 15.09.2018
Part B
Develop a Personal Development Plan

Please ensure all the following areas are included;
 Career objectives;
 Personal Goals;
 Performance Measurement;
 Action Plan; (including feedback provided in Part A to be analysed and applied)
 Time frames;
Personal Development Plan Template PART B
Personal Development Plan
Feriha Uzun
Date: 2018/1/19
A personal development plan will help you improve or maintain your current level of success
and prepare for future opportunities. You can include both personal and career goals in a
single plan, or create a separate plan for each of the key areas of your life. Either way, be
sure to revisit your plan(s) at least once every six months to ensure your goals are aligned
with the changes in the world around you.
This template includes sections for the following process:
1. Assess your current state.
2. Identify areas of opportunities.
3. Skills and experience needs.
4. Develop your action plan.
Assess Your Current State
List your top five skills (things that you do well):
Examples—Knowledge of your vocation or Organisation
1. Communication skill
2. Patience
3. Active listening skill
4. Interpersonal skills
5. Good at sports
List the five values most important to you:
Examples—Trust or Feeling what I do is important
1. Compassion towards other is important
2. Gratitude for the work done is important
3. Cooperation among each other is important
4. Dedication to work is important
5. Commitment is important
List your top five strengths:
(To validate your list, refer to your feedback forms from your family, friends or coworkers)

Examples—Good listener—family and friends tell me or Thinking strategically—noted on annual
performance review
1. Active listener family and peers tell me that I listen carefully and provide feedback
2. Good communicator – peers and supervisor tells me that I have excellent presentation and
negotiation skill
3. Patience – peers tell me that I do not jump to conclusion and I patiently analyze the situation
before taking any action
4. Dedicated – family tells me that I do not leave any activity incomplete and passionately
complete the work that I am assigned
5. Trustworthy – family and friends tell me that I can be trusted with any secrets
List your five areas that most need improvement:
(To validate your list, refer to your feedback forms from your family, friends or coworkers)
Examples—Staying focused—coworkers tell me I often digress or Meeting deadlines—manager
worries about my timeliness
1. Emotional – colleagues tell me that I get touched by small thing
2. Too honest – colleagues tell me I cannot lie no matter what which creates problem in many
situations
3. Work too many hours – family tells me that I spend much time working and does not give
time to my personal life
4. Criticizer – coworker tells me that I am too critical of other people’s work
5. Lack humor – coworker tells me that I am not amusing person
List five priority interests:
Examples—Social media or Cooking
1. Reading books
2. Music
3. Travelling
4. Spending time with family and friends
5. Career
List five priority wants:
Examples—Increased salary or More time to read
1. Promotion in job
2. Paid vacation
3. Travelling opportunity
4. Best employee award
5. Learn guitar
Identify Areas of Opportunities
Where is your department headed?
Example—Greater efficiency, accomplish more with less effort
Accurate planning to reach goals, good direction

Where is your company headed?
Example—Product line expansion to increase growth
Introduction of new product in product line and increase in profitability
What areas do your friends and colleagues see as opportunities?
Examples —Product management—Jerry Jones, similar position as you or Exercise—Join a fitness
club or group
1. Sports center – Join sports center
2. Research and development – Michael Bennett
3. Sales management – John Smith
4. Marketing – Sophia Brown
5. Human Resources Management –Olivia Johnson
What jobs or areas of interest look exciting and/or filled with potential?
How can you learn more?
Examples—Sales—Job shadow Jane Doe, Sales Manager to learn more about sales or Book club—
Talk to Jill Smith, who has experience with book clubs.
1. Sports center – Talk with Jack Smith, who is working is sports center
2. Human resources management – Became assistant to Jacob Smith HR manager to learn
about HR
3. Marketing – Talks with Billy Brown, who is experienced marketer
4. Research and development – Talks with Nathan Jones, who is very experienced in R & D
5. Product Management – Take advice from Noah Williams, experienced person in product
management
Skills and Experience Needs
Based on the previous sections, which skills would be most helpful to my personal and career
growth?
Examples—Sales skills or Learning more about how to bake
1. Communication skills
2. Interpersonal skills
3. Marketing skills
4. Conflict management skill
5. Production skill
Develop Your Action Plan
Based on the previous sections, list five key goals. Goals are longer-term aims, more general than
objectives. They may take a year or more to achieve. Rather than limit yourself with narrow goals
like moving from Salesperson to Sales Manager, expand the possibilities and make your goal moving

from Salesperson to management—either in sales or elsewhere.
(If you’re unsure which area(s) you want to pursue, use the previous sections with blanks or general
responses, to create your list. In this case, your goals are to gain greater clarity about which areas of
potential opportunities or interests you want to focus on in the next year or two.)
List five key goals:
Examples—Move into management or Become physically fit
1. Become sport coach
2. Become part of HR management team
3. Become sales manager
4. Lead R & D team
Objectives are specific actions that support your larger goals. Choose objectives that will have the
greatest impact on achieving your goals. Use the SMART system to define them:
 Specific—can you clearly define the objective you want to accomplish?
 Measurable—how will you know when it’s complete?
 Attainable—is it realistic, based on your current skills and experience?
 Relevant—how does it directly contribute to the goal you’re pursuing?
 Time frame—can you accomplish it within a reasonable time period?
Complete the plan below. Upload to the LMS. You could also print, and post it in a prominent
place. Review regularly to maintain progress on achieving your goals.
INSERT YOUR NAME HERE – PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN
Specific Objective Measurement Attainable Relevance Time Frame Achieved?
Y/N
Example:
Take a Project
Management
Fundamentals Class.
Attend all
sessions and
complete all
assignments.
Receive
certificate.
Yes, with the
support of
family members
to be away for
evening classes.
PM Certificate
directly supports
my goal of being
qualified for a
job in
management.
5-week class,
May/June time
frame
Example:
Job shadow Jane Doe,
Sales Manager for a day.
Follow a full day
of Jane’s
activities.
Yes, with
permission from
my boss to
spend a day
away from my
regular work.
Gain insight into
what a sales
manager does
and what skills
are needed.
Set up a day
this week.
Complete next
week.
Example:
Define and begin an
exercise program.
Track duration
and frequency of
exercise
program.
Yes, need to
check with my
doctor to ensure
my plan is
appropriate.
Adjust plan as
advised.
Supports goal to
become
physically fit.
First month,
work up to
steady routine.
Maintain every
month
thereafter.
Learn about different
sports
Take lessons
from Jack
Smith and
follow his
every
instruction
Yes, it is
attainable
with the help
of family,
instructor and
regular
It supports the
goal to
become a
sports coach. First-month
training and
practicing it
on regular

practices
basis.
Take human
resources
management class
Attend all the
class and
completes the
assignment.
Receive
certificate.
Yes, it is
attainable
with the help
of professor
and family.
HRM
certificates
support to me
be at HRM
field.
5-week class,
July time
frame.
Take marketing
classes
Attend all the
class and
completes the
assignment.
Receive
certificate.
Yes, it is
attainable
with the help
of professor
and family.
Marketing
certificates
will help me to
be in the
marketing
sector.
5-week class,
July time
frame.
Take research and
development classes
Be regular in
class and
completes all
given
assignment.
Receive
certificate.
Yes, with the
continuous
pursuance
and support
of professor
and family.
Get
knowledge
about R & D,
skills needed
to become a
researcher and
R & D
certificates
will help me to
be in this
sector.
5-week class,
July time
frame.
Develop purchasing
skill
Follow full day
routine of
purchase
expert
Yes, with the
support of
employer by
providing
permission to
spend one day
with
purchasing
expert.
Get insight
into
purchasing
skill.
5-week class,
July time
frame.

Part C
Using outlook or equivalent on your computer, complete and upload to the LMS a week of diary
entries which to organise and priorities tasks and commitments.
On a different attachment as pdf.