Reflective Journal on Employability Skills and Organisational Practices

This reflective journal evaluates employability skills and organisational practices in the context of the construction industry. It includes an analysis of principles of organisational theory against organisational practices and the contribution of individual work performance to the achievement of organisational goals.

Reflective Journal

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION ..........................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY ..................................................................................................................................1
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................7
REFERENCES ..............................................................................................................................8

INTRODUCTION
The reflective journal is an essential process or technique in context to the analysis of
individual work progress and learning experience (Van Wyk, 2017). This involves the
evaluation of the employment skills in context to their work role and performance, In order to
make the proper understanding of the skills strengths and weakness. Which can be further use to
focus on the skills improvement through different career development mechanisms. In this report
at reflective journal is developed in context to the employability skills and professional
performance. Analysis of principles of organisational theory is also done against organisational
practices in order to analyses the work based performance in organisational goal achievements.
MAIN BODY
Construction industry is the biggest filled of business and job opportunities, this involves
the development and building of the engineering projects, such as bridges and roads, this also
involves the department of Labour, who are important work the industry (Hazari, Chari and
Brewe, 2020). I am working in the filed of construction industry, At Danny Sullivan
organisational. This organisational is dealing with the business practices of labour supply in
order to support the clients in construction projects . I am Dumper driver in this organisational
associated with the job role of moving muck and materials on site. During the time of my
placement that was my specialization in diving and the communication skills which helped me to
got selected in the job role of Dumper driver. My performance is continuously improving and I
am giving my best at the organisational goal accomplishment, but in some area I face the
difficulty to effectively manage my work role and make good results. Below is the brief
evaluation of my work role and performance.
Work role activities
 Unload material – In relation to the construction industry as Dumper driver that is my
task role to load and unload the construction material carefully at correct time in correct
location. From the starting of my job I always given my best in this task, through my
driving and time management skills.
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 Supervising the loading – Another most important job role and task which should be
effectively accomplish and manage by Dumper driver is supervising the systematic and
careful loading. In that task of my job role I always try to give my best, but this task is
involving the application of effective leadership skills and I analysed that I am not good
in the leadership. Due to which my performance is not good in this area, but in order to
reduce the mistakes and accomplish the goal at any condition, I use my effective
communication skill and supervise the labours to conduct careful loading.
 Inspecting the truck – In context to the smooth flow of the work without any error that
is important to regularly inspect the trucks (Kuechler, and Stedham, 2018). Such as any
complication in the truck motor or in the loading system will lead to the huge risk of
material damage or accident. This task is also my responsibility and I always accomplish
this with proper checking of the truck, but in context to the removal of any analysed error
or issues, I face huge difficulty because my problem solving skills are not good. So in
order to solve this situation I use my team work skills and take help of the other team
members.
Skills require
In context to my job role and work place performance evaluation and improvement that is
important to make the analysis of employability skills strengths and weakness, because these
skills are associated with the level of performance. analysis of employability skills further use for
improvement of the performance along with skills and commercial awareness.
Specialization- In context to the professional life one of the most important
employability skill is individual specialization in the particular area of related to the job role they
apply for (Shinozaki, 2017). Such as in context to my job role the specialization skill is driving,
in which I am very good and I am continuously improving it with work experience.
Good communication skills- That is one of the most important employability skill which
is essential in all job role. Because conversation or the transfer of information from one person to
other should have to be clear, understanding and interactive, which lead to the success of task
associated with that (Mohammed, 2021). This involves the skills like, written, verbal, non
verbal, understanding and listening skills. In my work place, I use all these skills to accomplish
various task such as the supervising labours, writing the material transporting report and
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coordinating with the construction area owner. All these task accomplish with best outcomes
hence these are the evidence of my effective communication skills.
Commitment to safety- In the work place context commitment is one of the most
essential skill or quality, which should be posses by the employees of the organisational. This is
the level of interest and enthusiasm an employee have towards their task and job role
accomplishment. So in relation to my job role the most important task or mission is
transportation of the material to the construction site in best condition by avoiding the damage
and any lose. My commitment towards the job role is very strong and I always accomplish the
task of safe transportation effectively with strong enthusiasm. My commitment skills and
qualities are improving with the experience of effective management.
Critical thinking and problem solving- For the effective professional performance that
is important to have effective critical thinking and problem solving skills. These skills are
involving the abilities of effective application of knowledge, data, and facts for effective problem
solving. In my job role there is the huge importance of the critical thinking and problem solving
skills, because in order to effectively manage the Dumper driver role, such as inspecting the
truck requires best critical thinking skills and solve the error it requirement effective problem
solving sills (Diepeveen and Van Laar, 2021). On the basis of my performance in that task and
experience I have evaluated that I am not good in the problem solving skills because I cant
manage this task individually.
Leadership skills- That is most important skill in context to the workplace and job role
management. Such as in the task of supervising the labours for loading, that is essential to lead
them for systematic work and performance, with grate influence. But I am not effective in that
skill because, I am not good in commanding and leading, due to which that become difficult for
me to service the loading.
Skill audit
Skills 1 2 3 4 5
Specialization *
Communicati
on skills
*
Commitment *
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to safety
Critical
thinking and
problem
solving
*
Leadership
skills
*
Area of improvement
From the above reflective analysis it has been evaluated that I am not good in some
employability skills and in order to give best at the organisation with effective performance I
need to work on that for improvement. Such as I have to improve my Leadership and Problem
solving skills thorough best personal and professional development techniques. Such as job
training, Conferences, perform extra responsibility and task.
How the PPD will impact work performance
The impact of personal professional development on work performance is very is very
effective and crucial (Farrell, 2017). Because the PPD possess positive impact on workplace
performance, by helping in the management of performance barriers, new skills development.
This encourage the self awareness regarding skills, performance and area of improvement.
Provide the structure of skills development and improvement. Encourage the development of
profession goal and planing of improvement, measurement and timing. By the help of PPD I can
effectively work on the my employability skills improvement and my commercial awareness.
Because in context to the systematic learning, development and measurement of the skills with in
the selected period of time PPD is providing the best structure.
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What do I want to
learn
What do I have to
do
Resource required Measurement
techniques
Time
Leadership skills I will take more
projects and
training for the
development of
my leadership
skills.
Online training,
books, real time
feedback, blogs
and websites.
I can measure my
progress in the
area of leadership
skills by
evaluating my
influence on
subordinates. I
can also evaluate
my performance
in supervising of
the loading to
measure my
leadership skills.
3 months
Problem solving
skills
In order to
develop my
Idea Journal,
books and task.
I can measure
improvement in
2 months
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problem solving
skills I have to
start with the task
of small problem
solving and
feedback
collection in order
to improve that
effectively.
my problem skills
by evaluating my
performance in
the inspecting
task and my
individual
performance.
Principles of organisational theory against organisational practices
Rationalization theory- This theory is given by Max Weber and according to this
theory maximum goals should be achieved with limited or minimum efforts (Impedovo, 2021).
the important principles of this theory in context to the workplace practices is increase the
production, reduce the cost, eliminate waste, assure the stability. Such in my workplace
organisation objective is to provide higher labour or driving services to the construction company
in effective cost and at the right time in context to which that is my responsibility to effectively
implement by experience and skills for goal accomplishment.
Bureaucracy theory- Theory is given by the Max Weber on the basis of which
organization should have fixed structure and clear rules, regulation and authority. In context to
the work based practices the most important principle of this theory is “up-focused” or “in-
focused” mission and systematic filling. So according to this theory organisation main goal
related to the work based practices are effective and systematic filling for accomplishment of
organisation mission. In elation to these organisation practices by role is management of my own
service record, which further aid the organisation to manage the systematic filling.
Contribution to the achievement of organisational goal
In context to the organisation theory or its principles of the organisation practices, such as
effective productivity at limited cost, mission focused and systematic learning, my contribution
through work based performance is very important and helpful in the achievement of various
goals and objectives (Bakker, 2018). Such as with the aid of my effective communication skills,
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I helped the organisation in systematic filling of each transportation task and driving services
provided to the different construction company. And in context to the principles such as
increase the production, reduce the cost, eliminate waste, assure the stability I had given my best
contribution in low cost and sustainable transportation goal accomplishment. Through my
effective specialization, communication, critical thinking and problem solving skills. Because
with the aid of PPD I used the learning mechanisms like training and improved my leadership
and problem solving skills with in the selected period of time (5 months)
CONCLUSION
From the above study and evaluation it has been concluded that in context to the
continuous development and improvement of the individual Career that is important to maintain
reflective journal of work performance and improvements. This support the effective self
reflection and aid to the evaluation of self performance, skills in terms of strengths and
weakness, which can be further use in the development plan. In context to the every job profile
some of the important employability skills are communication, commitment, problem solving
and leadership. I find out that I am not good enough in leadership and problem solving skills and
in context to that personal and professional development plan will be the best tool or mechanisms
because this aid to focus on the each area of improvement with effective development and
measurement strategies. There are the different types of the organisational theory such as
classical, modern etc. principles of which in context to the organisational practices is effective
team, task and change management, and in all these practices employee play important role
through their effective contribution in task accomplishment and change management.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Van Wyk, M.M., 2017. Student teachers’ views regarding the usefulness of reflective journal
writing as an ePortfolio alternative assessment strategy: An interpretive
phenomenological analysis. Gender and Behaviour, 15(4), pp.10208-10219.
Hazari, Z., Chari, D., Potvin, G. and Brewe, E., 2020. The context dependence of physics
identity: Examining the role of performance/competence, recognition, interest, and sense
of belonging for lower and upper female physics undergraduates. Journal of Research in
Science Teaching, 57(10), pp.1583-1607.
Kuechler, W. and Stedham, Y., 2018. Management education and transformational learning: The
integration of mindfulness in an MBA course. Journal of Management Education, 42(1),
pp.8-33.
Shinozaki, K., 2017. Gender and citizenship in academic career progression: An intersectional,
meso-scale analysis in German higher education institutions. Journal of Ethnic and
Migration Studies, 43(8), pp.1325-1346.
Mohammed, P.D.M.S., 2021. PA Dr. Munir Shaker Mohammed" Auditors’ Professional
Experience and its Effect in Reducing the Impact of Audit Problems–An Empirical Study
in the Private Offices of Audit in Iraq. International Journal of Science and Management
Studies (IJSMS), 4, p.I3.
Diepeveen, L. and Van Laar, T., 2021. Shiny Things: Reflective Surfaces and Their Mixed
Meanings. Intellect Books.
Farrell, T.S., 2017. Research on reflective practice in TESOL. Routledge.
Impedovo, M.A., 2021. Identity and Teacher Professional Development: A Reflective,
Collaborative and Agentive Learning Journey. Springer Nature.
Bakker, A., 2018. What is design research in education? 1 (pp. 3-22). Routledge.
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