Applied Business Challenge for Business in System Management Course

This assignment is a comprehensive analysis of an applied business challenge, focusing on three key tasks. Task 1 involves a values audit, where the student identifies and explains five personal values crucial for career management, such as honesty, kindness, and creativity, in the context of pursuing...Read More

Running Head: APPLIED BUSINESS CHALLENGE
APPLIED BUSINESS CHALLENGE

2APPLIED BUSINESS CHALLENGE
TASK 1: Values Audit
Being an undergraduate student of bachelor of business in system management, I believe the
following 5 personal values are most important to career management:
 Being honest: Any long term business relationship is influenced (Hurrell, 2016).
 Being kind: This helps me in building a strong relationship with real people.
 Being empathetic: This value is crucial since I can feel the problem of the customer by
feeling their condition.
 Listening skills: I can understand the needs of the business clients and customer very
clearly (Lang et al. 2015).
 Creativity skills: I can bring innovative ideas and values to any business field.
2. I intend to pursue my career as information systems analysts and then as a manager. From the
undergraduate course the five hard skills which I have learnt technology management, project
management, an expert in information analytics, operating various business software and
expertise over excel. These skills will be helpful for me to perform as an information system
analytics.

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References
Hurrell, S.A., 2016. Rethinking the soft skills deficit blame game: Employers, skills withdrawal
and the reporting of soft skills gaps. Human Relations, 69(3), pp.605-628.
Lang, G., Jones, K. and Leonard, L.N., 2015. IN THE KNOW: DESIRED SKILLS FOR
ENTRY-LEVEL SYSTEMS ANALYST POSITIONS. Issues in Information Systems, 16(1).

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TASK 2: Capability audit
2a.
In the 21st Century, the introduction and advancement of technology have got its impact
on the skills that employers are seeking from the graduates. There has been a shift from the
industrial economy to the information society, as a result, many jobs now demand
communication, integrity and flexibility (Robles, 2012). So the skills that are actually demanded
by the employers are mentioned as follows:
 Capacity to communicate effectively: It is a social skill that facilitates interaction and
communication with each other and also helps in building relationships. Robles (2012)
stated in the corporate world the employees need to have good communication skills in
order to bond with other team members or the customers. Positive interpersonal skills
such as active listening, persuasion, delegation etc. will help in the development of the
career of the graduate employees (Robles, 2012). In other terms it is also called soft skills
that is the personal attributes that enable him or her to interact effectively with others also
plays a very important role in the career development of employees.
 Well-developed customer service skills: Customers are considered to be the primary
stakeholder in all business, as a result, the needs and demands are needed to be well
understood. Customer service skills such as clear communication skills, attentiveness,
time management and proper knowledge of the products are very important (Australian
Public Service, 2014). To interact with the customers the employees need to have people
knowing that is the ability to communicate with other people and maintaining a proper
relationship with them.
 Ability to manage projects: Finishing projects within the stipulated period of time as well
as managing several projects at the same time is very important to develop in an
organization (Hinchliffe and Jolly, 2011). As a result, the employees need to have
leadership qualities to manage the team so as to achieve a common goal. It is also
important that they should know risk management and must not crumble under pressure.
 Teamwork skills: Most of the tasks in an organization cannot be completed by a single
individual so the employees are generally divided into teams and are assigned with the
tasks. So for a graduate who is willing to start up a job has to be a team player. The

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employers give more preferences to those candidates who can work in a team and achieve
the target. So having teamwork skills basically means the willingness to work in a group
and help each other to achieve the common goal (Smart, 2004). Teamwork needs
collaboration and understanding among the members in order to work together.
 Good administrative and organization skills: It is the ability for an individual to properly
guide the team members in the path of success. The majority of the employers before
hiring wants the employees to have these administrative skills such as self-motivating,
research skills etc which will help them to lead the organization to a new dimension of
success (Monash University, 2013). Good organizational management helps in
accomplishing targets within a stipulated period of time which gives the organization
other scopes to expand the business and make more profits. Other organizational skills
include maintaining a proper work environment and encouraging new ideas among the
employees.
2b.
Among the skills that are mentioned above that are required for getting a job I feel it is
the customer service skills that need to be developed. So in order to develop the skill, the
following steps can be followed:
 Clear communication: It is utmost important to be clear and fluent while
communicating with the customers.
 Empathy: It is very important to feel the problem of the customer by being in their
shoe. This will help me to provide a better solution to the customers.
 Product knowledge: It is very important to have the deep product knowledge to solve
any kind of queries of the customers.
 Good listener: To be efficient in customer service skills it is very important to be a
patient and a good listener to understand the problem of the customers and solve
them.

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References
2013 Monash University, Sample Interview questions, viewed November 16 2013
<http://www.monash.edu.au/careers/students-grads/apply-for-a-job/interviews-sample-
questions.html >
Australian Public Service, Fact Sheet 5 Addressing selection criteria, viewed November 16 2014
<http://www.apsc.gov.au/publications-and-media/current-publications/cracking-the-code/
factsheet5 >
Hinchliffe, G.W. and Jolly, A., 2011. Graduate identity and employability. British Educational
Research Journal, 37(4), pp.563-584.
Robles, M.M., 2012. Executive perceptions of the top 10 soft skills needed in today’s
workplace. Business Communication Quarterly, 75(4), pp.453-465.
Smart, K.L., 2004. Articulating skills in the job search: Proving by example. Business
Communication Quarterly, 67(2), pp.198-205.

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TASK 3: Graduate ‘Elevator Pitch’
My name is XYZ and I am currently pursuing my bachelors in business with a
specialisation in system management. As an industrial trainee, I worked as system analytics of
Woolworths and assisted them in maintaining data that are required for operating various
functions in their business. Throughout the graduation course, I have gained hard skills in project
management, technology management, an expert in information analytics, operating different
business software and expertise over excel. My characteristics as an individual I am kind, honest,
empathetic, and acquire good listening skills and creativity skills. Creativity skills helped me in
introducing new and innovative ideas to different projects where I was involved. Also being
empathetic and having good listening skills it is a strength for me connect with the customers
effectively.
As the technology is advancing and influencing the 21st-century business environment I
got acquainted with the latest business strategy for performing effectively and fulfil the employer
demands. I am good at communication and I am attentive towards every detail which helps me in
managing people efficiently. Also, finishing a project within a given stipulated time is my
strength and my natural leadership qualities help me in managing team to achieve a common
goal. Being a fresher graduate I am looking forward to producing my skills for the benefit of an
organization and help them reach business goals. I believe it is important for me to learn in every
aspect during my employment period to enhance my existing skills and knowledge in order to
develop my personality and progress in my career.