Improving Decision Making Skills

This assignment provides a comprehensive plan for improving decision making skills through work-based learning. It includes a mention report that suggests personal and professional development plans can be effective in enhancing skills within a specific time frame. The plan also highlights the importance of utilizing learned knowledge to become a well-known employee at a workstation, which can motivate others and help achieve company goals. References to academic journals and books are included for further reading.

Reflective Report

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
Skill auditing...............................................................................................................................1
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................6
Professional Development Plan..................................................................................................6
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................9
Work-Based Project....................................................................................................................9
TASK 4..........................................................................................................................................11
Reflective Report......................................................................................................................11
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................12
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................13
.......................................................................................................................................................14

INTRODUCTION
Work-Based learning refers to an educational strategy which provides individuals
with real-life work experience. While working in an organisation, learners can apply their
academic and technical skills for developing employability. In context with career
development in a particular field, it is essential for a person to conduct skill auditing.
This would aid in analysing own capabilities as well as areas where development is
essential, for attaining competencies (Cunningham and Dawes, 2016). This assignment
is going to demonstrate the concept of work-based learning, which entails skills and
knowledge requires for working in an industry.
For identifying areas of improvement and finding competencies, skill audit plan is
undertaken. Further to bridge gap between current and actual performance, a personal
development plan is also produced. It will describe activities and resource to conduct
the same, within a proper time duration, to achieve competencies. Along with this, a
mini study is made that demonstrates procedures for employee motivation and solutions
for resolving issues related to underperforming workers. At last, reflection on work
based roles and contribution of an individual is highlighted by using Gibbs reflective
model.
TASK 1
Skill auditing
Work-based learning is considered as a way of test-drive a career. Individuals
that are associated with an organisation get chance to develop their competencies and
skills by working under vision of their supervisors. Here, by assigning different roles and
responsibilities to employees give opportunity to employers to reduce training cost. As
this process leads workers to sharpen and improve their weaknesses and increase
productivity also (Smith, 2016). Therefore, it is essential for every individual who is
working in a company, to evaluate own capabilities for identifying further areas of
improvement. In this regard, as currently I am in a garage named by dbs, for fixing
cars , where main responsibilities of mine is to conduct day to day operational activities.
It includes ordering spare car parts which needs to be fixed, finding right price of the
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same, analysing costs for repairs, making invoices for suppliers and customers, finding
best solutions and offers to customers etc. Therefore, for performing all such roles, it is
essential for me to possess effective analytical and technical skills, problem solving
abilities, good communication and more (Thompson, Bates and Bates, 2016). For this
purpose, I have conduct skill auditing process to check my capabilities in following
manner:-
1. a critical, analytical and creative thinker
1 2 3 4 5
 relate and compare price rates of spare car parts
from different sources and obtain relevant
information
✔
 Identify issues with reason then develop and execute
decision making processes
✔
 identify authenticate sources for finding right price of
car parts
✔
 review a range of different price rates of car parts
and select the best suppliers with most appropriate
conclusion
✔
 distinguish between different price rates and
evaluate reason
✔
 Obtain relevant key information from verbal or written
sources
✔
 be pro-active in putting ideas for offering best
solutions to customers for maintenance of their
vehicles
✔
2. a flexible team worker
1 2 3 4 5
 build and develop effective relationships with ✔
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employees, colleagues and peers at workplace
 work in collaboration with team-members for
completing tasks to achieve higher outcomes
✔
 empower colleagues to work efficiently and share
their skills with others as a part of team
✔
 recognise other contribution and understand when
compromise is necessary
✔
 Interact through effective communication with peers
to develop collaborative skills in them to engage
with in a group-task
✔
 understand how to gain the attention of others in a
team or group when required
✔
 understand roles and responsibilities to give high
contribution for team development
✔
 express self effectively in a group and in one to one
situations
✔
 Encourage team members to be a part of
team when they resist to share the same ideas
and ways of working with others through
motivations
✔
3. a problem solver
1 2 3 4 5
 Implement an appropriate approach to frame
questioning for obtaining information to identify
cause behind a problem
✔
 use an objective and technical approach to identify
cause for car repairs and offer best solutions to
customers
✔
 Develop effective use of verbal reasoning skills, for ✔
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handling complex data related to different price rates
of spare car parts and make selective use of
information
 explore a range of solution for car related issues and
offer options to customers
✔
 consider the ideas of team-members and peers for
solving issues
✔
 manage the process of problem solving over a
period of time
✔
 demonstrate analytical thinking abilities and
resilience when solution is applied to problem solving
✔
4. an accomplished communicator
1 2 3 4 5
 Make interaction with suppliers for purchasing spare
car parts on affordable rates
✔
 check written work to identify errors before
submission
✔
 use a range of ICT packages for finding best price
rates of car parts
✔
 express and convey ideas to peers and customers
for car solution
✔
 Impressively give a demonstration to team-members
how to repair damaging vehicles in appropriate way
✔
 demonstrate that information being received is
understood by using a range of verbal and non-
verbal signals
✔
 Take suggestions of peers who share account of
views for providing best services
✔
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5. an independent learner and researcher
1 2 3 4 5
 work without taking vision of superiors and use own
initiative
✔
 maintain effectiveness in changing environments ✔
 make appropriate adjustments to execute
approaches for car repairing undertaking solutions
✔
 keep track of entire repair schedules and meet
deadlines by applying academic skills and multi-
tasking abilities
✔
 able to devise effective approaches based on own
ideas to projects
✔
 able to set appropriate questions for finding cause
behind a work-related issue
✔
6. information literate and IT literate
1 2 3 4 5
 comfortable using technologies and various
applications in work-related context
✔
 Knowledge how to apply information, cite and
reference
✔
 understanding how to work on different software for
making budget related to all consumables of months
such as salaries, rent of space, gas and electricity
etc.
✔
 keep up to date peers and colleagues with current IT
applications and entail them how they can be used
for completing assign duties
✔
 able to evaluate the effectiveness of different ✔
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information sources
 able to make effective use of internet resources for
finding different price rates
✔
 Use IT applications making invoices for customers
and suppliers
✔
7. competent in applying their knowledge and skills
1 2 3 4 5
 able to apply knowledge in handling day to day
operations
✔
 develop key communication skills for applying
knowledge
✔
 work for developing skills and knowledge, fitness
to practice, including professional competencies
 able to apply theory to practice where appropriate ✔
Evaluation on skills and competencies:
As per above skill auditing, it has been evaluated the areas where I have shown
my full competencies are- ability to apply knowledge and skills in different-different
situations, effective researcher and independent learner and a flexible worker (Major,
2016) . These skills make me able to complete undersigned duties in dbs garbage for
providing best customer services. But areas where I need to make improvement and
develop at personal level are- analytical and technical skills. Along with this, to make
negotiations with suppliers in order to purchase spare parts of less price rates, I have to
work on my communication abilities and problem solving skills also.
TASK 2
Professional Development Plan
For developing competencies, it is essential for an individual to frame personal
development plan. It includes entire guidelines related to activities, resources and time
duration required for developing the same. Here, for developing such type of plan,
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individuals need to focus on three main stages that includes- Personal Analysis, Setting
Goals and Personal Objectives (Kaider, Hains-Wesson and Young, 2017). Here, first
stage assist to skill audit for identifying own strengths and weaknesses. While, second
stage is designed to define goals which are measurable and attainable in a specified
period of time. Finally the last stage involves setting up the personal objectives for
reinforcing the value. In this regard, through skill auditing, I have evaluated that I need
to work on developing my skills and knowledge in some relatable areas. It includes
analytical skills, communicating abilities, problem solving and technical knowledge
(Evans and et. al., 2016). This would help me to perform assign duties in dbs garage
more effectively. Therefore, further process of framing personal development plan is
given as below:
Stage 1: Personal Analysis
Strength Areas for further improvement
 I am a good at make collaboration
within team-members and influence
them to share skills with each other
for completing a task.
 As main work of mine is to identify
sources from where spare or car
related parts can be purchased on
cheap rates. Therefore, for
conducting operation I good at work
independently without supervision
of peers one because I have
effective researching skills that
makes me able to work
independently.
 Able to apply knowledge in handling
day to day activities in garage
related to car repair and other
 It was sometime difficult for me to
collect, analyse the information by
taking data from different websites.
This would lead to delay in making
decisions for solving company's
problems on time, as well as impact
upon overall productivity and
success of outcomes also (Garnett,
Abraham and Abraham, 2016).
 For performing special tasks related
to mechanical, IT, budget making,
using software for preparing invoice
and more, I need to enhance my
technical skills.
 In order to influence suppliers for
bringing resources like spare parts
on time and appropriate price rates,
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maintenance services. I need to develop my
communication abilities also. This
would also help in engaging
customers with company's services
for longer period of time
Opportunities Threats
To take guidance of my seniors and their
support for personal development, as well
as, flexibility in working hours give
opportunity to improve my weaknesses
and develop competencies.
Work-life balance and personal
commitment can arise barriers
Stage 2: Setting Goals
What do I want
to learn?
What do I have
to do?
What support
and resources
will I need?
How will I
measure
success?
Target Date for
review?
Skills: Problem
solving
I need to read
journals and
books where
some case
studies have
been that
describes how
professionals
have taken
actions to
resolve business
related issues
Work with
seniors to
observe how
they perform
and I need to
gain support of
my seniors for
developing
problem
solving skills
Self-Appraisal Post 31 May
report
Abilities: Play brain Better Line manager Post 31 June
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Analytics games that
develop
analytical skill
and mind to take
actions for
resolving an
issue
understanding
of different
situations is
vital in
stimulating the
analytical
skills.
appraisal report report
Knowledge: IT
or Technical
I need to take
training for
developing
technical skills
Regional
training Centre
of IT skills
Mentoring and
performance
appraisals during
developing
abilities
Quarterly
Skills:
Communication
Build confidence
to make
interaction with
peers,
customers and
suppliers
Join
communication
classes, attend
reading and
writing lectures
and get
feedback from
peers
Senior
colleagues
Quarterly
Stage 3: Personal Objectives
Short-term goals (next 12 months)
Develop accountability for completing significant multi-tasking projects at work.
Medium-term goals (next 2-3 years)
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Take responsibilities for building a team and leading them to achieve certain goals on
time, in order to become most successful leader
Longer term goals (beyond 3 years)
Take responsibility for managing entire work related to repair damage car in cost-
efficient manner. This would give me a chance to attain good position in management
department.
Progression: (Mumford, 2016) (Phungsuk, Viriyavejakul and Ratanaolarn, 2017)
Reflection:
TASK 3
Work-Based Project
In order to run business effectively, it is essential for every worker and associated
people to work at their level best. By getting high contribution of employees in
completing every assigned duties on time, employers get chance to deliver best
services to customers (Jones, Woods and Guillaume, 2016). This would help in
retaining them for longer periods as well as engaging with business more efficiently. In
context with dbs garage, as main goal of this organisation is to repair car on affordable
rates within short period of time. Therefore, it wants from its workers to work more
efficiently. Here, managers should have possessed effective skills to make negotiation
with business partners (investors and suppliers) and gain their support for reducing cost
of production. But, currently employers have got a numerous of complaints of
customers, related to repair of cars. They have complained that after repairing, vehicles
are not working as appropriately as required. Along with this, staff members also fail to
deliver services on time. All these things put negatively on its business image and
reduce customer engagement also. This would lead to reduce its customer base also
that affect directly the profitability ratio (McRae and Johnston, 2016).
At this stage, as a team-leader, I have received responsibility to identify cause
related to increase in customer complaints and delay in repairing their vehicles. For this
assistance, I have analysed the entire process and performance of workers to identify
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reasons behind reducing customer engagement. In this regard, I have evaluated that
most of the workers are underperforming, which was the major cause that compromise
on quality and increase service-related complaints. It also increase fear of losing
esteemed clients also. Therefore, by taking feedback of peers and organise some
business meetings with seniors and staff members, I have identified that there is a poor
communication between all these members. This miscommunication between seniors
and mechanics, affect entire process of repairing that results in delay to meet deadlines
(Gibson, Kitto and Bruza, 2016). Along with this, due to less recognising performance of
workers, their morale has become much low that leads to increase high labour turnover
and main cause behind poor performance.
Therefore, to resolve such an issue and drive employee performance and
motivation I have strive to develop a congenial and team-based atmosphere. Here, all
associated members, their team-leader and seniors are required to work in collaboration
and share their issues, for giving out best performance. As employees having no
information about business goals, will be naturally aimless (Young, James and Noy,
2016). Therefore, I have provided them information about clear achievable goals and
procedures for attainment of the same. I also ensure that there will be appropriate
measurable standards at workplace, through which seniors can evaluate performance
of staff members, who are working under their guidance. Further, to get feedback of
workers for finding appropriate solutions related to improve their performances, I have
adopted the concept of Victor Vroom’s expectancy theory. This supports me to
understand that employees should possess information related to what action
employers are expected to take. This will yield workers to contribute desired
performance. This theory mainly describes that employees must understand what they
are expected to do, including the procedure for completing the same and performance
of them will be judged (Sachs, Rowe and Wilson, 2016). Along with this, for improving
workers' performance, I have taken continuous feedback of employees, which lets them
understand that actions carried out have affected the company. Therefore, through
adopting the concept of Goal-setting theory, I have predicted that employees are
generally motivated through setting goals and receiving continuous feedback by
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seniors. This would let them know about how they are performing and can measure
their progress as well.
TASK 4
Reflective Report
Description:
I am working in a dbs garage which deals in fixing cars. Herein, I am analysing
the daily business operations such as ordering cars spare parts, identifying he
appropriate price, measuring the repair costs, creating invoices for consumers as well
as suppliers, identifying the strategic solutions, offers for clients, budgets for whole
expendable of months, employees payment, rents for electricity, gas, area and so on.
Feelings:
I felt extremely good while working in the garage. As there I an learning various
things such as developing the invoices for the supplier and consumers, evaluating the
cost of repairs, budgets of whole months and many more. Also, I am not fully satisfied
with my leaders or mentors as they do not much focused to help me out from any
problems. Sometimes the situation is in not my favour so I feel stressed as well as
nervous how to perform at that time.
Evaluation:
In some situations it has been seen that problems of fixing spare parts into cars
are not properly done. Repeatedly this is increasing, this happens due to
underperformance workers. So, it is decided to provide training as well as some
motivational programs for them so that their employees get encouraged and give their
best in order to meet the level of the organisational performance.
Analysis:
After evaluation I have analyse that situation are under control as all workers
skills, knowledge as well as potentials enhance and get motivated and performing
effectively. I put full efforts to meet the performance level of dbs garage.
Conclusion:
It have been concluded that my skills of problem solving, dealing with issues,
building relationship with colleagues as well as the knowledge about preparation of
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invoices, evaluation of repair costs, fixing the spare parts properly and so on get
enhanced which is beneficial for both me and garage.
Action plan:
In future, I will assure that I do not hinder of Foster my own working and
personal life through to maintaining relationships with employer and employees
(colleagues) so that I do not face any sort of issues. I will also take help from appears at
the time when I I am going to face any sort of issues or problems. In present context, a
detailed Action Plan with smart objectives has been developed underneath which will
help up in pulling out favourable outcomes in specific time frame and this will help me
out in becoming more successful at work station.
Goal Why is this goal
important
Behaviour change Make your goal
SMART
Improvisation of IT
(software) related
skills.
For me this goal is
important because
without IT skills I
won’t be able to
survive in the
business
organisation for a
longer period of
time does it is
important for me to
focus on this so
that I can become
an effective and
efficient IT
employee for the
company.
In previous time, at
work station I was
less attentive which
impacted upon my
learning skills and
whenever I had the
opportunity to learn
new thing about
software, I never
showed interest on
the same. Thus, it
will be required for
me to change my
behaviour related to
IT system, so that I
can gain effective
knowledge.
To learn about ERP
system in 2 Months
so that I can
improve IT Skill by
20%.
Decision making
skills related to
For me this type of
skill is pretty much
Initially, I used to
lose hope that I
To improvise
decision making
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secondary data. essential to learn or
to improve so that I
can become a
much more efficient
Worker for the
organisation
might not improvise
myself under this
kind of square but
now behaviour that
I am going to
change is that I will
not lose hope even
if I am going to face
failures and this not
to lose attitude will
help me out in
reaching to another
level at workstation.
skills by 30% in 3
months through
taking help of
employees that are
good at it.
CONCLUSION
With the help of a mention report, it can be concluded that personal and
professional Development Plan could help an individual in any case when it
comes to improve own skills in specific time frame. Along with this, it has
also been summarise that not just with learning but with utilising the learnt
knowledge can easily help a person in becoming a well known employee
at work station this can also motivate others at the same time. With the
help of this, a company could effectively e attain its desired goals and
objectives in set time frame considering motivated and efficient staff
members, because without motivation for hard working staff members no
organisation can gain competitive advantages at both national or at
international level.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Cunningham, I. and Dawes, G., 2016. The handbook of work based learning.
Routledge.
Smith, A., 2016. Experiential learning. Edward Elgar Publishing Limited.
Sachs, J., Rowe, A. and Wilson, M., 2016. 2016 Good Practice Report-Work Integrated
Learning (WIL). Department of Education and Training.
Mumford, J., 2016. Understanding work-based learning. CRC Press.
Phungsuk, R., Viriyavejakul, C. and Ratanaolarn, T., 2017. Development of a problem-
based learning model via a virtual learning environment. Kasetsart Journal of
Social Sciences. 38(3). pp.297-306.
Garnett, J., Abraham, S. and Abraham, P., 2016. Using work-based and work-applied
learning to enhance the intellectual capital of organisations. Journal of Work-
Applied Management. 8(1). pp.56-64.
Evans, S. and et. al., 2016. “Refreshed… reinforced… reflective”: A qualitative
exploration of interprofessional education facilitators’ own interprofessional
learning and collaborative practice. Journal of interprofessional care. 30(6).
pp.702-709.
Major, D., 2016. Models of work-based learning, examples and reflections. Journal of
Work-Applied Management. 8(1). pp.17-28.
McRae, N. and Johnston, N., 2016. The Development of a Proposed Global Work-
Integrated Learning Framework. Asia-Pacific Journal of Cooperative Education.
17(4). pp.337-348.
Young, K., James, K. and Noy, S., 2016. Exploration of a Reflective Practice
Rubric. Asia-Pacific Journal of Cooperative Education. 17(2). pp.135-147.
Gibson, A., Kitto, K. and Bruza, P., 2016. Towards the discovery of learner
metacognition from reflective writing. Journal of Learning Analytics. 3(2). pp.22-
36.
Jones, R. J., Woods, S. A. and Guillaume, Y. R., 2016. The effectiveness of workplace
coaching: A meta‐analysis of learning and performance outcomes from
coaching. Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology. 89(2).
pp.249-277.
Kaider, F., Hains-Wesson, R. and Young, K., 2017. Practical Typology of Authentic
Work-Integrated Learning Activities and Assessments. Asia-Pacific Journal of
Cooperative Education. 18(2). pp.153-165.
Thompson, C. M., Bates, L. and Bates, M., 2016. Are Students Who Do Not Participate
in Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) Disadvantaged? Differences in Work Self-
Efficacy between WIL and Non-WIL Students. Asia-Pacific Journal of
Cooperative Education. 17(1). pp.9-20.
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