MG408 The Graduate Challenge: Apprenticeship, Presentation, T-Shirt Challenges

The report covers discussion about three compulsory challenges in order to help in terms of developing the skills required for success at university level and these challenges are named as apprenticeship, presentation and T-shirt challenges. Evaluate Tuckman's theory for teamwork and create an action plan.

The Graduate Challenge

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION ..........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................3
Explain about different kinds of challenges and also describe about each challenge in order to
perform these challenges into appropriate manner.................................................................3
Presentation ...........................................................................................................................4
Evaluating Tuckman's theory for teamwork .........................................................................5
Action Plan.............................................................................................................................6
CONCLUSION ...............................................................................................................................8
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................9

INTRODUCTION
Graduate challenge refers to those challenges where it has been developed to ensure that
students get actively involved in every kind of challenge(Adams and et.al., 2020). In the present
report, the report will cover discussion about three compulsory challenges in order to help in
terms of developing the skills required for success at university level and these challenges are
named as apprenticeship, presentation and T-shirt challenges. Under apprenticeship which
basically involves activities related to academic career for purpose of supporting students at their
time of studies. In addition to this, the report will cover analysis about reflection and portfolio
which is based on the presentation challenge Moreover, the report will cover analysis about an
action plan which is required in order to develop these skills.
MAIN BODY
Explain about different kinds of challenges and also describe about each challenge in order to
perform these challenges into appropriate manner
For developing professional career and growth of a student, there are majorly three
challenges that are used in order to enhance learning skills of a student. The University also
offers a master program that helps in developing skills and professional career of students.
Following are the three challenges that has been explained into following manner:
Apprentice Challenge
It is a challenge which improves communication, inspires for creativity, innovative
thinking, budget control time management, team spirit and sense of achievement as well.
Under this challenge, I have focused towards team building activity that put the team into its true
apprentice style. In this challenge I have aimed towards bringing out the core business attributes
within the group. Apprentice challenge is a challenge through which I was able to improve my
communication skills, time management skills, business skills and other different kinds of skills
for achieving my objectives (Allen., 2021). This challenge also supported me in terms of
enhancing skills that are related to communication and also help in terms of developing creative
ideas in an organisation.

Teamwork: This is basically help me in terms of interacting with other team members in
order to achieve objectives in an effective manner. It is also one of the important skill and that
supports me in terms of facing challenges by working within a team (Nachmias and Walmsley.,
2015). Teamwork also support me in terms of understanding my task into appropriate manner for
achieving my goals and objectives as well. The institute has to face challenges in order to
motivate and encourage team members for enhancing the team spirit.
Communication Skills: This skill helps me in terms of communicating into effective
manner and exchanging ideas with my team members. At the organisational level, this skill is
very important because it helps me in terms of my learning aspect for the career in terms of
exploring new opportunities. For improving my communication skills, I need to interact with lots
of people and team members and should have focus on formation of sentences as well. The
institute supports me in terms of providing proper training that is essential for my growth and
development as well.
Business Skills: This skill helped me in terms of running an organisation into smoother
manner and help professionals to understand the internal and external factors which impact an
organisation's success.
Presentation
Under this challenge, the organisation aims towards analysing the situation of market
along with consideration of Asda's performance through comparing its performance by their
competitors(Najdowski and et.al.,2021).In terms of challenge and business purpose it basically
focused towards operations of Asda for undertaking certain recommendations which are required
by the company in order to enhance performance of market.
Business Skills: This is focused towards on increasing the effectiveness and level of
creativity in my presentations as well
Communication Skills: Communication skills allows me to understand other people into
effective manner. This kind of skill is also helpful for me in terms of discussing my ideas with
other people and team members as well. This skill also act as support system for me in terms of
creating strong bond with my team members and other people of organisation as well
(Popenici.,2015). This skill is also supportive in terms of improving my presentation pattern as
well so that I can confidently face large number of people. Communication skills is also

important at organisational level because it creates good impression in front of seniors as well so
that team members can discuss challenges into effective manner.
Team work: For the effective team work it is important to discuss ideas with proper
planning and strategy with my team members so that a proper execution can be done through
presentation.
T-Shirt challenge
Team work: Team work not only helps me in terms of executing the task into successful
manner but also help in terms of solving difficult problems as well.
Communication skills:. During this T-shirt challenge it is important for me to
communicate with my own ideas in order to present my thoughts into result oriented manner
with other people.
Business Skills: This skill plays an important role in terms of effective planning for the
budget of T-shirt(Read and Garcia., 2015). It was easy for effective planning of the budget for
T-shirt with support of marketing, finance and operations as well.
Evaluating Tuckman's theory for teamwork
This theory focuses on the way in which a team tackles a task from the initial formation
of the team through to the completion of project.
Forming: It is the initial stage for leaders to lead into effective manner and also consist
of overall knowledge and skills of employees. This stage helps me in allocating task to others
which is relative to the particular skill set. In context to T-shirt challenge, while deciding type of
t-shirt according to the qualities and skills of team members. I have allocated this task to
particular team members according to their expertise.
Storming: This stage allows the leader to develop positive relationship with other team
members. This stage can be utilised in order to improve the overall performance and productivity
as well. In context to this challenge, I have to ensure that task has been executed into appropriate
manner so that overall results can be achieved into the positive framework.
Norming: This stage supports me in terms of overcoming and completing challenges as
well within the team by taking valuable decisions into effective manner. In context to T-shirt
challenge, during this task several challenges has to face by the team members so I have taken
the decision that senior person in the team will take the responsibility for it.

Performing: This stage is helpful for me to measure performance into effective manner
and also develop suitable strategies (Stollenwerk., 2019). It is also effective in terms of handling
negative issues and performance suitable activities with consideration of interpersonal
development for team members. In context to this T-shirt challenge, I have measured the
performance through the performance of each department of an organisation because t-shirts
have been allocated according to the qualities and skills.
Adjourning: Under this stage, the team goals have been accomplished and emphasis is
more on the wrapping up the tasks. In context to this challenge, the t-shirts have been
successfully allocated to particular team member. The purpose of this stage into this challenge is
to document the efforts and results as well.
Action Plan
Basis Specific
How do I
intend to
achieve the
goals?
Measurable
The ways to
prove that
certain goal
has been
achieved.
Achievable
What
achieving of
these goals by
provide.
Relevant
Why do these
skills need
development
Timely
What is the
target time to
achieve these
goals?
Team work By working
within group
assignments
and classroom
assignments
Result
oriented
working
without any
kind of
conflict
With proper
communicatio
n within team
members in
order to
enhance
performance
This skill is
effective in
terms of
enhancing the
professional
career path
Two Months
Communicati
on
Through
academic
courses verbal
and non-verbal
skills can be
improved(Win
Communicatio
n process with
no barriers
Effective
communicatio
n support in
terms of
eliminating
barriers for
It will help in
providing
order to other
in an effective
manner
without
Two Months

kle, and
Farrell., 2017).
understand
and perceiving
knowledge
misunderstand
ing
Presentation
skills
In the course
of academic
performance
by
participation
in presentation
assignments
Effective
presentation
By focusing
on techniques
of
presentation,
the goals can
be achieved
In context to
professional
manner,
effective
presentation
skills allows in
attaining
confidence
level
One Month
Time
management
Through
development
of time table
This skill can
be achieved
through
effective
allocation of
time related
activities
Goals can be
achieved by
effective
attendance of
webinars on
time
management
They provide
assistance for
timely
finishing the
tasks within
the deadlines
20 Days

CONCLUSION
The above stated report concludes that their various types of graduate challenges and
these need to be overcome within a set period of time. It has been concluded that these
challenges can be overcome through certain skills and competencies of students. It has been
determined that an action plan is required in order to overcoming these challenges. It has been
analysed that a student should develop certain skills for their personal and professional
development so that they can perform into out of box manner into this professional world. It is
necessary that to have a proper action plan so that results can be achieved into result-oriented
manner.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Adams and et.al., 2020. Crossing divides: Engaging extracurricular writing practices in graduate
education and professionalization. Graduate writing across the disciplines: Identifying,
teaching, and supporting. The WAC Clearinghouse.
Allen, T. E., 2021, July. WIP: Integration of Computational Modeling Active Learning
Activities Within a Core Graduate Organ Systems Physiology Course. In 2021 ASEE
Virtual Annual Conference Content Access.
Nachmias, S. and Walmsley, A., 2015. Making career decisions in a changing graduate labour
market: A hospitality perspective. Journal of Hospitality, Leisure, Sport & Tourism
Education, 17, pp.50-58.
Najdowski and et.al., 2021. Toward the development of antiracist and multicultural graduate
training programs in behavior analysis. Behavior Analysis in Practice, pp.1-16.
Popenici, S., 2015. How universities can nurture creativity for graduate employability. The
International HETL Review, 5, p.9.
Read, L. and Garcia, M., 2015. Water diplomacy: Perspectives from a group of interdisciplinary
graduate students. Journal of Contemporary Water research & education, 155(1),
pp.11-18.
Stollenwerk, A., 2019. An Embedded Graduate Lab Course with Spirit. In Cyber Physical
Systems. Model-Based Design (pp. 247-263). Springer, Cham.
Winkle, C. A. and Farrell, J. B., 2017. Mindfully Journeying toward Researcher Reflexivity in
Dissertation Advising and Graduate Education: A Visual Narrative Inquiry.