Derby University ePortfolio: Self-Reflection, SWOT, and TDI Analysis

This ePortfolio project reflects on a student's learning and development at the University of Derby. It begins with a self-assessment of English language skills and commitment to improvement, followed by a SWOT analysis to identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. The project includes reflections on the SWOT analysis, considering life in the UK, university experiences, and plans for the upcoming semester. Furthermore, it explores reflections before and after a TDI test, analyzing personal traits, decision-making processes, and work management styles. The ePortfolio highlights the student's self-awareness, commitment to personal and professional growth, and plans for skill development, including communication, leadership, and time management, demonstrating a proactive approach to academic and career success.

Section 0. Introduction
The purpose of ePortfolio is to assess the overall learning and development while pursuing
education in the university. Entire portfolio helps to examine the learning, knowledge and
development during the coursework. Further with the help of different types of activities, essay,
report, case study, presentation etc. helps to draw reflective report that what we have learned and
which type of skills were improved.
Section 1. Evidence of commitment to improving your English ability
Subsection 1.1
This section has main purpose to bring improvement in my communication skills with
main emphasis on English during my autumn semester. However, I have command over English
language as this is my first language. Also, I am living in UK since birth so I believe that my
ability of English was already acceptable at academic level. Owing to this, small exercise have
done as follow which consists of list of questions along with answers.
1. Why have you come to University?
For Greater knowledge and personal development
2. Why have you come to study in the UK/in Derby?
Academic and professional development
3. Have you set goals for yourself?
Yes
What do you expect to achieve…
4. …At end of semester?
Knowledge
5. …At end of year 1?
Learning, knowledge and talent
6. …When you finish your degree?
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What type of skills do you expect to develop?
7. …At end of semester?
Communication, leadership
8. …At the end of Year 1?
Communication, professional and managerial
9. …When you finish you degree?
Section 2. SWOT Analysis (seminar week 1)
Subsection 2.1
In first week of module we were asked to conduct own SWOT analysis so as to know that
what we desire to achieve by devoting time in University of Derby. Under this, strengthens and
weaknesses are highly by focusing on opportunities as well as threats. I perceive that lack of
patience can serve as obstacles through which I face issues in completing my task perfectly.
Further, I think that my skill of team work has improved after working in team. It is because of
previously I worked as team leader where I allocated task among team members and provided
immense support to them.
Subsection 2.2-SWOT analysis
The swot analysis has been done has follows which aid evaluate own strength and
weaknesses-
Strengths Weaknesses
 Good management in work
 Creativity
 Positive behaviour during
learning and at workplace
 Self motivated for learning
purpose
 I am good in English.
 My previous experience
regarding various subjects
helps in terms of assignments.
 I have proper knowledge
 Lack of perfectionism
 Unable in Self-analysis
 Lack of patience in specific situations
and conflict aspects.
 I am introvert that creates some
barriers for better future.
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regarding Harvard
referencing.
Opportunities Threats
 Good communication skills
aid to get good markers as
well as secure good position
in organization
 Effective managerial qualities
 Appropriate leadership
qualities
 I can attain knowledge
regarding diverse factors that
can amend my current
qualification aspects.
 I am also enhance my
cognitive skills in order to
overcome issues.
 I can focus on team work
practice and various
communication skills.
 Fail to achieve desire goals
 Low focus on work due to stress
 Challenges from other people working
with me.
 Improper information about work
management may impact my working
and influence the ability to attain best
possible outcome.
 Panic in workload situations may also
influence my grades.
Characteristic
I recognise the following characteristic
as true of me:
Yes,
a lot
Yes,
some
times
No I don’t
Know
Being late 
Not knowing where I supposed to be 
Delays because I can’t remember where I
put things

Missing appointments 
Rushing at the end of a task 
Missing deadlines 
Not being clear what I need to do next 
Taking too late a bus or train 
Getting caught up in interesting diversions 
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Finding it hard to get started 
Taking too long to complete a task 
Running out of time 
Not knowing how long it takes me to
complete a task

Dashing around all day 
Forgetting what I have to do 
Section 3. Reflection based on SWOT Analysis (seminar week 1)
Subsection 3.1
As per the consideration of SWOT analysis I am focusing on reflection report. It will
provide information that how I was accessing the concepts. Swot analysis provides detail
information related to strength and weakness as well as opportunities and threats that can
influence my profile. With an assistance of SWOT analysis the proper analysis and comparison
between modules and my skills has been accomplished. Lack of perfectionism and patience are
key weaknesses that impacts the effectiveness of the task. This findings facilitate to reflect the
scenario in right manner which in I can ensure my career growth. Also, it enables me to take
necessary action to overcome weaknesses. In addition to this, SWOT analysis will help me to
study in further modules because it will improve or overcome my mistakes
Subsection 3.2-Reflection on my SWOT analysis
Reflection on my SWOT analysis
(i) How you are finding life in the UK?
Life in UK is same as I was born here but I am moving to the nearest city of my
hometown. It provides enhanced level of experience. In initial I have faced few issues to
navigate in the city but now I am well settled which helps me to accomplish goals.
(ii) Your thoughts on University life so far
In the support of this, the University seems different as compared to my previous
university where I have completed the two years study. It is not big in area wise so we don't have
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much to do in our spare time. We can only access atrium and library. Education is more
interactive and now I am able to ask questions to my lecturer. It helps me to clear my quires in
appropriate manner.
(iii) Thoughts on your SWOT analysis – what is it that you need to try to work on? and
In order to overcome my weaknesses I should review work done by me and appraise
myself on the basis of pre-defined criteria. Also, I can ask one of my friends or tutors to check
work done by me on regular basis. It assists me to bring perfection in my work and get good
marks during learning cycle or in professional life.
(iv) Your thoughts on a study plan for the coming semester.
In coming semester I am planning to attend seminar and will give presentation so as to
explore my abilities to perform better. Also, I will try to work in team in order to encourage my
skills and abilities to work in team. Furthermore, during team work and seminar I will learn
regarding presentation skills which in turn I can effectively deliver presentation. Moreover, I also
believe to maintain dairy so that I can manage my task and work as per the dates and their
preferences. It will help me to accomplish task in desired manner.
Section 4. Reflection before TDI test (lecture week 1)
Subsection 4.1
Reflection before conducting TDI test facilitates me to understand specific aspects like
what attract me and energizes me. Also, I can come to know that how I perceive the world and
how I made decision. The following questionnaire is showing reflection before conducting TDI
test. It facilitates to get detail information related to motivational factors and sources through
which I make decision in particular situation. It helps to conduct test in right manner as this
reflection provide a bit information regarding myself. Furthermore, conducting test I will come
to know that what I think about me and where I actually am. Thus, it facilitates me to select the
best style of work management in order to accomplish my aim in an effectual manner.
Subsection 4.2
1. What attracts and energises you?
Introversion; Under this I assess my own skills and accordingly get self motivation to perform
work allocated to me. Moreover, I am also more focused towards activities that provides me
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practical knowledge. I am also attracted towards power point presentations that helps me to
communicate with others in easy manner.
2. How do you see the world?
Sensing-Different senses helps to me see and feel the world. I believe that with an improved
focus on various activities I can amend my abilities and opportunities. I can feel things in easy
manner.
3. How do you make decisions?
Feeling; I make decision in accordance with feeling and skills I possess related to particular
situation. For example, I want to complete my work of 4000 words in two days then I will write
3000 words in one day and remaining 1000 in another day. This is because I have good writing
skills.
4. The do you manage the world around us?
Judging-These are internal skills and abilities which assist me to judge the world as per the my
understanding. I focuses on various standards to observe the activities and create new ideas to
improve skills.
Section 5. Results of TDI test (seminar week 1)
Subsection 5.1
After conducting test I will come to know regarding my personalities that how work and
how effective I can perform better. It enables me to get detail information related to my
personalities so that accordingly I can bring improvement in the same. I think that after
completion of test I can effectively use my skills and working style which in turn I perform in
right manner. Further, I think that completion of TDI test proves to be effective in improving my
working styles. The following results are showing outcomes of Test and screen shot of the same
are presented-
Subsection 5.2
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Section 6. Reflection after TDI test (seminar week 1)
Section 6.1
After conducting TDI test I came to know regarding my strength and weaknesses so that
accordingly I can bring improvement in my personality. It facilitates me to ensure my own
development. After conducting the test of TDI, detail information related to person can be
known. As it is based on number of questions and accordingly a person will be liable to provide
answer for each questions. According to the given example it can be said that person' s
personality can be judged. It proves to be effective for corporations also so as ot get right kind of
candidate. Moreover, In my perception the results mirrored the same as per my expectations. It
has provided me information regarding my strengths and weaknesses. I can focus on various
situations to understand the key concepts of intuition, extroversion and perception. TDI test also
helps me to attain better future by providing an structure of activities that can boost future
possibilities.
Section 6.2
The results of TDI test depicts that I believe in living without any kind of tension and let
things happen. It shows that I behave in accordance with situations. However I found that there is
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huge difference in the thinking and feeling. Here, I focuses on thinking while preparing file or
report but while presenting the outcome I may behave in different manner that what people will
think of me. Further, I found that extraversion and intuition as dominant which is situation prior
to test. Overall results of test depicts that lack of patience may be issues which in turn
imperfection can be there in work. Owing to this, focus need to be laid on the same in order to
improve future performance.
Section 7. Evidence of brainstorming (seminar week 2)
Subsection 7.1
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During the second week of module we were looking to select a company on which report
or essay can be prepared. The topic selected was selected on the basis of fast growing
corporation. In this regard, I thought that selection of McDonald would be quite easier because
of its rapid expansion in number of countries. Also, it provides wide range of products and
services in affordable prices so I thought that it would be better to get detail information for the
same. At this juncture, I conducted brainstorming session where I put some ideas in order to
prepare report in structured format. It enables me to write report in good flow and show all the
related outcomes in an effectual manner. The following mentioned scenario is showing outcomes
of brainstorming session that accordingly I can incorporate information of selected corporation in
the report. Thus, brainstorming session contribute towards selecting right information to be
included in the report.
Findings:
 McDonald’s has more than 36000 restaurants in the world and serving their fast food in
116 countries of the world.
 In past five years company has opened 5000 restaurants.
 Offering of fast food as per the need, taste and preference of customers of particular
country.
 Standardization of their franchise
 Through globalization
 By following the culture of country
 Quality of food.
 Affordable price
 Better Service
 Brand value
In this respect, I can also say that the mind mapping strategy is also beneficial to attain
better future. In this, I can focus on creation of key ideas that could include in the essay. I can
also link various ideas so that work can be accomplished in appropriate manner. It will also
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facilitate me to understand various structure that relates with my academic writing. I can also
focus on meeting and discussion with colleagues to improve overall working
Section 8 Evidence of academic sources found (seminar week 2)
Subsection 8.1
After completion of brainstorming session I then noticed several sources of information I
accessed for collecting information. However, I found this task very difficult for collecting detail
information. Fortunately, I got access to some of the journals and books so that accordingly I can
include references in my report. Furthermore, I was not aware regarding mediums provided by
University of Derby. Owing to this, I thought that credible websites contribute towards including
right information in study.
Subsection 8.2-References
Library. 2015. [Online]. <Available through: http://www.derby.ac.uk/campus/library/>.
[Accessed on: 2 February, 2016].
Burke, K., 2004.The Mindful School: The Portfolio Connection. K-College.
Atkinson, A.P., 2004. Emotion perception from dynamic and static body expressions in point-
light and full-light displays. Perception. 33(6). pp.717-746.
Aaker, D., 2011. Marketing Research. John Wiley and Sons.
Blankson, C. and Kalafatis, P. S., 2007. Positioning strategies of international and multicultural-
oriented service brands. Journal of Services Marketing. 21(6). pp.435 – 450.
Ferdous, A. S. and Hossain, S., 2011. Profiling contemporary marketing practices. Journal of
Asia Business Studies. 5(2). pp.161 – 171.
Graham, H., 2008. Marketing Strategy and Competitive Positioning. Pearson Education.
Michman, R., 2006. The Affluent Consumer: Marketing and Selling the Luxury Lifestyle.
Greenwood Publishing Group.
Rangaswamy, S., 2013. Principles of Marketing Engineering. DecisionPro
Widmier, S., 2007. Reaching the international consumer: An assessment of the international
direct marketing environment. Direct Marketing: An International Journal. 1(1). pp.17 – 37.
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Section 9: Result of Plato test (task 1- seminar week 3)
Subsection 9.1
The test of PLATO is program which assists students to prepare report without
plagiarism. It facilitates to avoid such kind of issues and writing report in academic way along
with proper references and citation. It is done by focusing on two aspects such as do's and don'ts
with inclusion of authenticate material. Here, I come to know that sources for report should be
journals, books and television as well as magazines articles. In this regard test of PLATO make
this process simple for me by breaking overcome process into small points. Following section is
showing test conducted wherein I tried my best to give right answer. Thus, following table is
showing the results that which I obtained. However, I did not answer all the questions but this
test proves to be effective to enhance my knowledge.
Subsection 9.2
Kindly go to attachment. However screen shot of completion of test has been provided as
follows-
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Section 10. Quotations and paraphrasing (lecture & seminar week 3)
Subsection 10.1
This exercise assist me in avoiding situation of plagiarism because given example help
me in understand that which is acceptable work and which is not. Here, we were given a task to
assess that what is classed as acceptable and what plagiarised by looking at number of
statements. It was helpful for me in writing my report in an ethical manner.
The task is showing a paragraphs where I was given a task to assess that whether this
work is acceptable or not. At first I found it quite typical task because most of the part was
looking same but then with careful attention I noticed that there was not quotations and citation.
It depicts that there was plagiarism. It enables me to quote in the file and do the citation along
with references for presenting work in academic manner.
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