Report: Analysing Skills and Creating a Personal Development Plan

This report details a student's personal development plan, focusing on the analysis and improvement of both personal and academic skills. The report begins with an evaluation of the student's strengths and weaknesses in areas such as technical competency, problem-solving, determination, critical thinking, communication, research, note-taking, summarization, and paraphrasing. The student then sets specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) targets to improve these skills, outlining activities and support needed to achieve each target. The report provides examples of how the student has applied skills like active listening, reading strategies, paraphrasing, and summarization. Furthermore, it describes the student's approach to conducting academic research for a marketing project, including research methods, challenges, and the process of collecting data through surveys and questionnaires. The report concludes with a summary of findings, providing a comprehensive overview of the student's self-assessment, skill development strategies, and research methodology.

ACADEMIC AND
RESEARCH SKILLS

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
a). Analysing my personal and academic skills......................................................................1
b). Setting up of Target ..........................................................................................................2
SMART analysis of target:..............................................................................................................4
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................5
Provide examples....................................................................................................................5
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................6
Conduct academic research for the project............................................................................6
M1. Feedback from tutor on draft work.................................................................................7
M2. Include Evidence.............................................................................................................7
TASK 4............................................................................................................................................7
Write the findings on personal Development Plan.................................................................7
Develop an Action Plan..........................................................................................................8
M3. To get Feedback and Reviews........................................................................................9
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................9
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................1

INTRODUCTION
Personal skills' evaluation refers to analysing the strength and weakness of individual and
developing them in order to perform a given task effectively. The report shows how I developed
my personal skills by conducting a Personal Development Plan and took up an action strategy for
further improvement in my skills.
TASK 1
a). Analysing my personal and academic skills
Personal Skills:
It refers to skills required by individual to perform a given task or work (Huss, Jhileek
and Butler, 2017). To formulate a personal Development Plan, I have decided to analyse my
Personal Skills, strength and weakness of each skills. There is a list of following skills I have:
Strength: Technical competency: I have done various technical courses which assit me on how to
use them on a daily basis. These courses helped me to improve my technical knowledge
and how to utilise them in various areas related to my job (Weldy, 2017). Problem Solving: I can easily address the given problem and try to find out a better
solution to resolve it. I challenged myself to be able tio solve my problems in more
effective way. Determination & Persistence: Determination is the key to success and help individual in
attaining its goals (Miller, 2018). I have developed skill to determinately performed each
task with determination and be persistence in my work.
Weaknesses Critical Thinking: I lack critical thinking skill in my behaviour and not able to find
creative solution for my issues and problems. Communication skills: It is essential for an individual to have effective communication
skill but I lack this and hesitate in communicating my feelings and issues to other person.
1

Academic: Research: It refers to how effectively you conduct a search for a given task (Harley and
et.al., 2018). My research skills are improved with passage of time. I have focused on
topic and properly analyse it by researching on various sites. Note Taking: I lack the skill of properly forming the notes for my work due to my slow
speed of writing. I wish to developed this skill and to be competent. Summarising: The task of summarising any work or project is effectively done by me. I
summarised them by listing its advantages, demerits and provide solution for it.
 Paraphrasing: It is the skill of rephrasing the given question or paragraph I have
developed my skills in paraphrasing through proper and deep analysis of task or question.
The English language is the essential form of communication in the corporate field
(Griggs and et.al., 2018). I have taken up certain courses to improve my vocabulary and
command over English. Further, I have joined training sessions to improvise my pronunciation
skills and able to develop my ascent.
b). Setting up of Target
To improvise my certain skills I have set up following targets:
My Personnel
development
targets?
Short
or
Long
Term
Target
s
How will I
achieve My
Targets?
Activities to
improve them.
What support do
I need?
Date of
Revie
w
Progress
made
towards
Target
Further
action
required.
Actual
Date of
achieving
Develop my
Critical thinking.
It is a
long
term
target
as it
require
To achieve
Critical thinking, I
need to analyse
importance and
relevance of
arguments or
After 3
months
I have
achieved
my goal,
but needed
to improve
it more.
To be more
effective I can
perform
Jigsaw and
training to
develop my
21st
Novembe
r, 2018.
2

s time
to
develo
p this
skill.
ideas. Approach
given problem in
a consistent and
systematic way. I
will perform
Attribute learning
and Barometer
test to improve
critical thinking.
critical
thinking skill.
Communication. It is a
short
term
goal.
To improve
communication
skill, I have
decided to check
my Tone, way of
speaking and most
importantly I will
check my body
language while
speaking.
I will perform
activities like
Active listening,
improving my
clarity and build
up confidence to
speak.
After 1
month
I have
successfull
y improved
my
communica
tion skill
and able to
apply it
when I
address my
friends. .
There is
need to
build more
effective
communica
tion skill
while
addressing
my
Seniors.
To be efficient
while talking
to my Senior
at office and
school I have
decided to take
up 10 days’
class for
learning better
communicatio
n skill.
20th
Septembe
r 2018.
3

Note making It is a
short
term
target.
To be effective in
making notes
while performing
various tasks I
have determined
myself to build
effective listening
skill and improve
my speed by
practising through
writing articles
and research
reports.
2
months
My writing
speed is
improved
and I am
able to
make more
effective
notes in
proper
manner.
To improvise
my note taking
skill I have
decided to
practice it by
writing notes
from different
textbooks and
articles
5th
October
2018.
SMART analysis of target:
Target to
improve
following
Specific Measurable Attainable Relevant Timely
Critical
thinking
I want to
achieve this
goal to build
creative aspect
for solving my
issues and
problems.
To measure
this goal, I
have set up
review date
and analyse
my
performance
through
applying it in
real situation.
Yes, I am
capable of
achieving this
goal.
It will help me
to address
problems in
more effective
way.
To accomplish
this, I have set
up a deadline
for 6 months.
Communicatio I have decided Tools like Yes. By improving To be effective
4

n skill to accomplish
this goal by
improvising
my skills and
body language
while
communicatin
g.
group
discussion,
informal
communicatio
n with
teachers and
friends that are
used to
measure my
performance.
communicatio
n skill, I can
perform each
task
effectively.
in
communicatio
n skill I have
set up deadline
for 2 months.
Note making To improvise
note making
skill I have
decided to
practice it at
home.
Note taking
skill will be
improved
through
practice and
building speed
in writing.
Yes, I am
capable.
This will help
me to make
notes for each
subject and
task.
It will be
accomplished
in 2 months.
TASK 2
Provide examples
I have mastered my art of note taking and prepared all my notes effectively by actively
listening to given presentation, classroom demos for various subjects taught in my university
(Activities to encourage critical thinking in the classroom.2018).
Examples of Active listening skills:
It is essential to take all the key points while writing down any notes as it helps in
knowing important topics that will help in addressing particular lesson (Ferguson, Campbell and
Neal, 2018). I practice active listening skill during my boardroom lectures where my Teachers
give notes with regard to topic. Further, I practiced this skill and formed notes during
Presentation Slides used for explaining topic.
Examples of reading Strategies:
5

To be effective in note making I have practice by making notes out of articles and
textbooks. I did it through by reading each paragraph and analyse it key points that will be used
in drafting notes.
Examples of Paraphrased and Summarising:
I have paraphrased the report information given to me for my assignment and I did this
by properly analysing idea and then described it in my own words without changing given data.
Summarising is different as while writing summary I focused over showing main idea of the text.
I did summarising of text book paragraphs and power point slides (Cai and et.al., 2015).
TASK 3
Conduct academic research for the project
I have decided to conduct a research for my marketing project where my findings will
include target market for my product i.e. Shampoo. To conduct research, I have drafted a plan
which includes following things:
 The research will be conducted at different places which will include; Malls,
Supermarkets, Departmental stores, School campus and with residents of my locality.
 Challenges for promoting the product are, Tight budget for marketing activities,
Identifying correct target audience, Social media marketing issues, etc.
 Drafting some survey questions that needs to be asked while conducting research. Preparing rough and final draft of my research work.
Process of Carrying research:
To carry out my research for the marketing project I have used various primary and
secondary methods. I have conducted my research tasks through surveys as well analysing the
journals and books.
List of Sources for collecting information
Different Primary methods used by me are as follows: Conducting Surveys: I have conducted survey for my product with large group of people
which includes both men and women. Further, all age group people were included
starting from age 15 to 65 years.
6

 Questionnaire: I have used questionnaire to address the feedback of people for my
product as they filled up certain quries. My questionnaire contains open-end and few
basic questions like; What type of Shampoo is prefered by them? Do they want to switch
for new product? Which brand is being preferred most Garnier or Pantene?, etc.
Secondary Methods are: Books and Journals: To know about consumer buying behaviour I have read certain
Books written by top psychologists and management philosophers (Ain, Sabir and
Willison, 2018). Articles: I have read articles which are published in trade journals on how to build up
strong marketing techniques and strategies for the product.
 Case studies: These case studies prove to be supportive element in my research project as
it helps me to analyse what pros and cons can be there for following marketing strategies
(Blanchard and Artino, 2015).
M1. Feedback from tutor on draft work
My tutor has guided me through his feedback and helped me to know what are my
weaknesses in this research project. She told me that I need to address my research in more
systematic way.
M2. Include Evidence
I have improved my first draft by adding more steps in my research plan and formulated
it by making it more systematic.
TASK 4
Write the findings on personal Development Plan.
The Personal development Plan was made for setting targets to improve my personal and
Academic Skills in a given time period. This plan helps me to get my vision clear and set goals
to achieve what I desired in life. Personal Development Plan helped me to analyse my weakness
and provided me with the source of improving it.
After, setting up the plan I evaluateed it to find out what things I have achieved and what
still needs to be focused.
Findings from My plan:
7

In my evaluation I found that plan made by me has helped me in the following ways:
 It helped me to analyse my weaknesses and set up target for it as I have set three targets
which includes; Improvement of Critical Thinking, Note taking and Communication
skills.
 I have found that my Communication skills have improved a lot with the passage of time
and I have achieved command over my vocabulary. Further, the activities I have chosen
proves to beneficial in accomplishing my goals.
 Further, my skills for making notes out of lectures and PowerPoint slides has improved a
lot from the practice sessions which I did every day for 2 months.
Limitations of Plan:
The plan proves to be very beneficial in improving my two skills i.e. Note taking and
Communication but the plan didn't work in addressing my third skill i.e. Critical Thinking. The
activities chosen by me do not prove to be effective in developing my critical Thinking.
Develop an Action Plan
To improvised my Critical Thinking I have decided to make an action plan for the same.
The plan will include following things.:
Target Measurable Attainable Timely Activities
The aim is to
improve my
Critical thinking
and develop
creative approach
for resolving my
problems.
I will practice
critical thinking
on answering the
questions and
research topics.
To evaluate my
performance
through various
sources like
taking feedbacks
from Teachers,
friends and peer
groups. Further,
self-evaluation
will be the tool to
check my critical
thinking skill.
I will achieve my
target in next 3
months and
measure it by
reviewing myself
after every 10
days gap.
Further I will
challenge myself
through different
activities which
includes
Barometer, Body-
sculpting, etc.
I will energise
myself through
practising
meditation and
yoga which will
8

help me to be
more focused and
build
concentration.
M3. To get Feedback and Reviews
My friend and I have compared our performances by developing Personal Development
Plan for our personal and academic skills. After, completing set deadlines we evaluated our
performances and came up with some reviews. My friend was not able to achieve all the goals he
has set up. He failed in attaining technical and communication skill. My recommendations are;
Use better activities to achieve target, be determined and persistent in accomplishing the goal,
etc.
CONCLUSION
The report concludes that Personal evaluation is essential for success in life. Individual
can challenge his/her ability through determining targets and setting goals in life. Personal
development Plan made by me helped me to challenge my weaknesses and build up my
academic and personal skills.
9

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Ain, C. T., Sabir, F. and Willison, J., 2018. Research skills that men and women developed at
university and then used in workplaces. Studies in Higher Education. pp.1-13.
Blanchard, R. D. and Artino, A. R., 2015. Applying clinical research skills to education research:
Important recommendations for success. Cultivating medical education research
mentorship as a pathway towards high quality medical education research. JGIM. 30(9).
pp.1359-62.
Cai, Z., and et. al., 2015. Self-esteem and proactive personality as predictors of future work self
and career adaptability: An examination of mediating and moderating processes. Journal
of Vocational Behavior. 86. pp.86-94.
Ferguson, S., Campbell, L. and Neal, D., 2018. Original Public Health Practice Research
Community Engagement Approach: Developing an Active Living Plan in Rural Texas.
Texas Public Health Journal. 70(2).
Griggs, D. M., and et. al., 2018. Investigating the benefits of a school/industry partnership
focused on overcoming the skills gap and fostering student success. Southern Regional
Council of Educational Administration. 17(2).
Harley, D., and et. al., 2018. Perceptions of Success and Self-Sustainability Among Women
Participating in an Entrepreneurial Skills Development and Empowerment Program
Through Photovoice. Journal of Ethnic & Cultural Diversity in Social Work, pp.1-19.
Huss, R., Jhileek, T. and Butler, J., 2017. Mock Interviews in the Workplace: Giving Interns the
Skills They Need for Success. Journal of Effective Teaching. 17(3).
Miller, A., 2018. It's a Matter of Fact: Teaching Students Research Skills in Today's
Information-Packed World. Routledge.
Weldy, T. G., 2017. Facilitating Process and Practice for Improving Business Writing Skills.
American Journal of Management. 17(5). pp.60-66.
Online
Activities to encourage critical thinking in the classroom.2018. [Online]. Available Through.
<https://www.educationdive.com/news/3-activities-to-encourage-critical-thinking-in-the-
classroom/250270/>