Academic and Research Skills Report: Personal Development Planning

This report delves into the critical aspects of academic and research skills, examining the importance of individual skills in a professional context. It highlights the significance of effective communication and the role of personal development plans in enhancing these skills. The report includes a self-assessment of strengths and weaknesses, with a focus on problem-solving, innovation, and time management. It also explores the use of note-taking and reading as tools for gathering and analyzing information, and discusses various research methods, including primary and secondary research. Furthermore, the report outlines a personal development plan with short-term and long-term goals, detailing specific actions, timelines, and the required support for improving skills such as time management and communication. The report emphasizes the importance of continuous improvement and adaptability in achieving career objectives.

Academic and
Research Skills

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................2
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................3
TASK 4............................................................................................................................................1
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................5
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................6

INTRODUCTION
Large number of individuals work in a business enterprise and perform their job roles
which support entity in achieve its set goals and objectives. It is very essential that individual
should have some specific skills and knowledge so he can perform his job role in effective
manner. This also support individuals to achieve a balance and manage the activities of routine
life (Borich, 2016). Effective communication skills help an individual to communication with
others and support in present his views behind others. Strengths and weakness of an individual
and how a person can utilise personal development plan in order to improve his skills is all given
in this report.
TASK 1
Every individual have different set of skills and knowledge that help him in manage the
activities of daily life and support in achieve the career objective. It is very important for an
individual to have knowledge about strengths and weakness as this help in achieve career goal
and for this an individual can go through a personal assessment. With this a person can identify
the areas of improvement and for deal with the identified weakness an individuals can take help
of personal development plan. One of the main benefit of this is that it add a speed in career
growth. Research also help an individual to collect relevant information through which a person
can get desired outcome. Collect and examine the data is very essential for an individual as this
help in determine the ways through which skills can be improved and individual can achieve
career objective (Calhoun, 2014). For achieve my career objective and desired outcome, it is
very essential for me to carry out personal assessment and identify my strengths and weakness.
With this I can identify the areas of improvement.
Strengths: My major strength is that I am an effective problem solver I have ability to deal with
complex problem in cool and effective manner. All this help me in identify and examine the
relevant issues related to a particular situation and through this I can identify effective solution.
I love to explore new things and concepts and this support me in present my work in best
manner. I always remain innovative and creative during whole study and this make me different
from other employees working on the same topic. My creativity help me to be adaptive to the
dynamic environment. My education and experience are my major resource that help me to get
competitive benefit and support me to achieve personal success.
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Weakness: One of my weakness is my time management skill due to lack of understanding of
my various tasks I fail to manage all activities in proper time. All this make the whole process
time consuming and costly. Further my communication skills are not that effective and due to
this I find it difficult to present my views and ideas before others. Due to this is face various
problem while interact with others.
TASK 2
Note Taking: It is identify as an effective process to analysis and record the information
captured from large number of sources. This techniques assist in collect relevant parts related
with a particular topic and matter. It is essential for a single person to have accurate data
regarding what needs to be gathered and evaluated in order to acquire proper data considered
with a particular matters (Castelli and et. al., 2014.). As this also support in order to take an
effective decision about business operations and activities.
I needed to have an effective listening quality as this support in identifies opinions and
views of others and maximise performance of communication activity. This will also assist in
take an appropriate decision as well as render relevant data to interact with other peoples. For
enhance listening quality I needs to be captive during entire activity.
Reading is identify as an another important quality which play essential role and
responsibility in the development and growth of career. In this I can outset read newspapers,
journals and many other relevant books (Wilson, 2017). One of the main advantages of this
reading quality that support in development of an innovative plans via which I can easily
enhance my planning power. With the help of this skills I am easily plan about business
development and success. It also assist in different situation to maximise sales and revenues
within predetermined period of time.
It is very essential for a person to have paraphrased quality thus in this information. It is
more essential and beneficial for me to save my cost as well as time also (Krueger, 2014). Thus,
it is important for the each and every person to complete all tasks and activities in given time
period.
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TASK 3
Research is consider as way through which individual or person can observe and analyse
all the data and information related to particular topic and market situation and on the basis of
such observation valid and relevant conclusion has been made on the basis of which company
can get the perfect solutions related to particular problem (McConville, 2017). Various types of
task and activities has been conducted by individual in order to finally wind up the overall
research in stated time period and apart from it, research can develop the whole research plan
and that will help in identifying the available resources in order to complete all the task at proper
time period. Various types of research has been conducted by investigator who know properly
about all the market conditions and circumstances. Generally the two main famous methods has
been used by company in order to get the relevant outcomes from their research which stated
below:- Primary research:- Under this type of research investigator collect all the data and
information for the first time and it cannot be copied from any external sources (Segal,
Chipman and Glaser, 2014). Further various modes like questionnaire and schedule
through which set of questions has been asked from target customers regarding the
products and services for which investigator investing and on the basis of overall
feedback regarding the experiences and satisfaction they get from products and also
suggest the major changes that company need to made in order to strengthen the product
value which facilitate higher sales.
 Secondary research:- This research is conducted majorly on learning all the current
dynamic changes in market (Miller, 2014). For this investigator collect all the data and
information from published newspaper, magazines and social media which allow them to
formulate such policies and tactics through which they can increase standard quality and
enhance growth development. It is very costlier and suitable to meet current challenges.
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There are different approaches which are used by investigator in order to complete investigation
which is entirely depends on the nature and topic of research as well as funds and time. It is more
important for the investigator to finished complete research in an effective and efficient manner.
In this manager develop a research plan which help them to recognise basic wants and
requirements of people (Neuman, 2016). There are different factors which are highly needed by
the researcher before executing research, these are shown as below:
 Find out research topic
 Create aims and objectives
 Develop strategy
 Determine the resources need to complete the research
 Time scale
 Conclusion
All these are entirely important and valuable for the investigator in order to implement research
plan of action. It help about giving accurate direction and guidance to finished research in an
appropriate manner. There are certain process which are includes in this research are determine
as below: Identify the topic: It is first process in which research identify the actual topic of research
which help them to identify different sources to complete investigation appropriately
(O'Sullivan and Dallas, 2017). Determination of issues related with the topic: In this research determine the problem
related to research which is useful for them to overcome all issues in an effective and
efficient manner. Formulate the plan: In this process researcher formulate all plan which support to
maximise productivity and effectiveness of business.
 Review the plan: It is important for the company to review the entire success and
progress of research about specific matter or topic (O'Neil, 2014).
TASK 4
For deal with my weakness, I require to increase my participation in events, groups,
activities and events. In this I can improve my communication process and at the same time can
learn how to manage time. For improve my skills I need support of my top managers. In this way
I can improve my weakness and can easily achieve my career goal and objective.

My personal
developmen
t
targets?
Short or
long term
target?
How will I
achieve my
targets?
What
activities do I
need to
undertake to
achieve my
objectives?
What support
do I need?
Date of
review
Progress
made
towards
target
Further
action
required
Actual date
of
achieving
target
Improve my
time
management
skills
Short term
goal
I can
participate in
various
activities as
in this will
enhance my
understandin
g about
manage
various tasks
at a time. I
can learn to
develop a
time
management
plan through
which I can
ensure that I
am
completing
20 June I proved my
time
management
skills by
50%
I need to
develop plans
for complete
project in this
way I can
identify that I
have all the
resources and
skills to
complete the
task. In this
way I can
complete all
tasks in given
time.
20 August
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all the tasks
in given
time. For
achieve this I
require
support of
top
management.
Improve my
communicat
ion skills
Long term For improve
my
communicati
on skills and
in order to
interact with
others in
effective
manner I can
participate in
seminars,
lectures and
presentation.
In this way I
can identify
various and
better ways
to
communicate
with others.
Further, I can
watch
videos,
1st July I improve
my skills by
20%.
For interact
others in
effective
manner I can
increase my
participation
in group
activities,
events and
debates. This
will improve
my
confidence
and will help
me in achieve
my career
objective.
1 year
3

movies and
can start
reading
different
books and
novels. In
this way I
can
communicate
with others
in effective
and better
manner.
To enhance
my
knowledge
related with
various
tools and
techniques
Long term I can take in
part in
various
technical
activities and
programmes.
I require to
collect and
analyse the
information
related with
major
technical
tools use by
firms to
execute their
business
operations.
1st August I improve
my skills by
60%
I need to
utilise new
and updated
technology
for perform
my job roles.
1 year
4

For attain my
this
objective, I
require
support of
technical
experts and
top
management.
CONCLUSION
From the given project report, it can be summarised that for improve the skills an
individual can utilise or take help of personal development plan. With this a person can perform
a specific job role at workplace and can attain its career goal. An individual can increase his
participation in various learning activities in order to deal with his weakness. In this way an
individual can improve his presentation skills and can present his views before others.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Borich, G.D., 2016. Observation skills for effective teaching: research-based practice.
Routledge.
Calhoun, C., 2014. Using Wikipedia in information literacy instruction: Tips for developing
research skills. College & Research Libraries News. 75(1). pp.32-33.
Castelli, D. M. and et. al., 2014. VII. The history of physical activity and academic performance
research: informing the future. Monographs of the Society for Research in Child
Development. 79(4). pp.119-148.
Krueger, R. A., 2014. Focus groups: A practical guide for applied research. Sage publications.
McConville, M. ed., 2017. Research methods for law. Edinburgh University Press.
Miller, J., 2014. Building academic literacy and research skills by contributing to Wikipedia: A
case study at an Australian university. Journal of Academic Language and
Learning. 8(2). pp.A72-A86.
Neuman, W. L., 2016. Understanding research. Pearson.
O'Neil, H. F. ed., 2014. Learning strategies. Academic Press.
O'Sullivan, M. K. and Dallas, K. B., 2017. A collaborative approach to implementing 21st
century skills in a high school senior research class. Education Libraries. 33(1). pp.3-9.
Segal, J. W., Chipman, S.F. and Glaser, R., 2014. Thinking and learning skills: Volume 1:
relating instruction to research. Routledge.
Wilson, E. ed., 2017. School-based research: a guide for education students. Sage.
Online
Personal Development. 2018. [Online]. Available
through:<https://www.skillsyouneed.com/ps/personal-development.html>.
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