Graduate Challenge Report: Reflective Analysis of Business Skills

This report is a reflective analysis of a student's participation in various graduate challenges, including Tesco, LSST, and a T-shirt design challenge. It explores the development of essential business skills such as communication, teamwork, and time management. The report delves into how these skills were honed through presentations and practical exercises, examining their impact on branding, finance, and operational aspects of a business. Additionally, it includes an action plan for continuous skill development and concludes with a comprehensive overview of the challenges and their significance in shaping the student's professional capabilities. The report also provides insights into business functions, including branding, finance, and operations, and how these were addressed within the context of the challenges.

Graduate Challenge

Table of Contents
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY.............................................................................................................1
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................1
Aspects covering in report..........................................................................................................1
Reflective writing about the challenges along with skills gained through their performance....2
Critically analyse other business functions under these challenges ...........................................4
Action plan..................................................................................................................................4
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................5
REFERENCES ...............................................................................................................................6

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This report is associated with detailed description regarding various exercises in which I had
taken active participation such as Tesco, LSST and T-shirt challenge. This is a reflective report
that involves facts of presentation and various aspects related to business and the challenges
which can be faced within business as well. These challenges are essential to be undertaken in
order to develop personalities of an individual. This is being concluded after completion of these
challenges that these could impact branding, operations and profitability of the business in direct
manner.
INTRODUCTION
Graduate challenge can be defined as the programs in which numerous aspects are
undertaken within period of graduation and in this every individual is required to shoe their
capabilities and knowledge in respect of collected various information in prominent manner.
There are numerous challenges and competitions which are going to take place during graduation
period and these are associated with numerous own learning persisted within individual. These
are going to help an individual in their process of learning which would lead in enhancing overall
abilities and capabilities within their graduation program (Firth, 2017)). Electronic portfolio is
being maintained for these challenges as this is going to help in keeping various records in safe
manner and to manage evidence of the given assignment as well. This report is covering four
types of challenges such as apprentice challenge, presentation challenge, T-shirt challenge and
hotel challenge.
MAIN BODY
Aspects covering in report
This report is associated with reflective writing related to different activities and
approaches that has performed in past time. These aspects are majorly linked with three
challenges that are Tesco, LSST and t-shirt challenge. This is demonstrated in such a manner that
high edge knowledge can be gained throughout. Knowledge can be developed in two manner for
instance, attaining business knowledge by performing various challenges and by examining
different business angles as well. Another is by executing diversified tasks during performing
challenges. There are numerous skills which were leaned such as communication, team work,
business skills and time management skills. All these skills are very significant and essential for
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an individual and for their life as well. These may be helpful for attaining future benefits and to
grab success for longer period of time. Besides this in order to gain success within future new
things are required to be learned so that to remain different from people.
Reflective writing about the challenges along with skills gained through their performance
There are numerous challenges which are undertaken as the part of this learning program
and these are elaborated as under:
Communication skills in LSST Presentation
This is defined as the skill in which new opportunities for career enhancement can be
undertaken. Besides this in order to explore new career opportunities communication skills are
playing vital role. Under LSST presentation I have learnt regarding framing of sentences in such
a manner that effective communication skills can be enhanced. These institutions are helpful in
enhancing career opportunities and career enhancement as well. Under this I have learnt
regarding need of effective communication along with managing communication aspects with
people. These institutions are assisting in respect of trainings and other skills which are required
to be considered (Mohammad and Rashid, 2020).
Communication Skills in TESCO Presentation
At the time of demonstrating presentation effective communication skills are one of the
prominent tool which is required to deliver appropriate presentation in effective manner. Under
this I demonstrated a lot of presentations I my professional career and besides this I have
attended various seminars as well due to which assistance is received for developing
communication skills. This helped me in improving communication and through this I can
connect with my team mates in prominent manner. Under this I have learnt regarding effectual
communication skills by which proper information can be delivered to the respondents.
Communication skills are helpful for Tesco in order to render appropriate trainings to their
employees so that they can attain various opportunities in their career.
Communication Skills in T-Shirt Challenge
At the time of executing this challenge language is the major aspect through which
planning regarding budget within T-shirt challenge can be made. In T-shirt challenge in order to
elaborate regarding product via T-shirt communication skills are the prior which could be helpful
for the business and individual in order to attain objective of performing the same task.
Communication in hotel challenge
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At the time of executing hotel challenge various aspects were undertaken such as
defining objectives of the hotel and dealing with differentiated clients. This is helpful in
enhancing communication skills and confidence as well so that the same could be helpful in
leading future career perspective.
Business skills and competencies in LSST Presentation
Business skills were developed during my academic courses and the same are
advantageous for developing my professional career. In current scenario business skills are one
of the prominent skills which are required to be considered in professional career.
Business skills and competencies in TESCO Presentation
I have demonstrated various presentations and seminars due to which effectiveness of
presentation can be enhanced. This helped me in developing clarity on various topics due to
which business skills get increased. This could lead me in attaining confidence while delivering
any presentation in my professional career.
Business skills and competencies in T-Shirt Challenge
Business skills are helpful in convincing people to make their purchase decision in favour
of the business. T-shirt challenge is effective in persuading customer and explaining them
regarding benefits of the products. This is helpful in enhancing business skills for longer duration
of time (Chen and Yur-Austin, 2016).
Business skills and competencies in Hotel challenge
At the time of conducting hotel challenge this is imperative that all the technical aspects
existed within a hotel is being examined and the same are carried forward to future and career
establishment. At the time of conducting hotel challenge various tiny things related to hotel
business were examined and the same are helpful to be undertaken in future so that career
opportunities can be enlightened.
Teamwork
Tuckman’s theory for teamwork Forming: This is regarded as the first stage in which leader is required to develop their
teams in a way that skills and knowledge of employees can be considered. Under this step
I analysed those team members those are wholly dependent on me and by classifying
overall working I divided the whole population into smaller groups so that to recognise
roles and responsibilities of individual.
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 Storming: Under this effective relationship within teams are undertaken and in order to
perform various activities these relationships are holding high degree of prominence.
Under this various strategies were used by me and in order to focus on various aspects
emotional issues are to be neglected.
 Norming: According to this stage I took small decisions and under this small delegation
were given to team mates. This step in helpful in enlightening enhancing work
classification and coordination between individual. Performing: Under this the major challenge faced were associated with executing
various strategies. Under this members of the teams are associated with different
discussions and decisions in prominent manner (Gallagher, Nordberg and Dibley, 2017).
Time management skills
This skill is associated with all the four challenges demonstrated above as time is one of
the crucial element which is required in order to complete all the tasks or challenges within given
time limit. This is regarded as the prominent dimension within every challenge so by utilising
time management skills at appropriate manner efficacy within all the challenges were attained.
Critically analyse other business functions under these challenges
Branding: I have understood the major challenge in respective manner which is highly useful in
order to address business functions for enhancing branding of the organisation. Under T-shirt
challenge my team members have prepared numerous brand logo for T-shirts and this is helpful
in promoting and deciding for pricing strategies. Along with this effective participation of staff
members are essential to be considered while marketing a product or service. Branding is
associated with high creativity and through T-shirts planning of actions can be conducted in
effective manner (Stout and et. al., 2018).
Finance: This is regarded as the other function in which pillars are established which are related
with budget and cost. These functions are highly useful in order to attain goals and objectives in
respect of financing efficacy in prominent manner. In T-shirt challenge budget related constraints
are undertaken so this is useful in terms of deciding financial needs within business in future
aspects.
Operations: T-shirt challenge is related with demonstrating different aspects related to business
functions on T-shirt so this is highly useful in order to learn new business insights. For managers
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T-shirt challenge may lead them to manage different internal activities in proficient manner. This
function is assisting in attaining prominent results in respect of product and services.
Action plan Specific: Major objective is to develop various skills and capabilities in which caliber to
get appropriate marks can be enlightened. Measurable: In the respect of attaining good marks I am required to improvise my
communication skills by undertaking lessons to improve grammatical potential in group
activities. Achievable: For enhancing various skills I am required to apply suitable theories by
which considerable results can be obtained within the project. Relevant: This is represented by the factor in which those skills which are significant for
career are required to be attained in such a manner that objectives can be attained within
appropriate time boundations.
 Time bound: Within the time period of 9 months I am planning to attain potential and
skills as well.
CONCLUSION
By undertaking above discussion this is being identified that apprenticeship challenge is
helpful in developing appropriate competencies in order to get better knowledge and degree
within course. Presentation challenges is helpful in empowering proper understanding those
skills which are required to demonstrate presentation in effective manner. Besides this
identifying appropriate approaches which are suitable to enhance developmental opportunities
and capacities as well.
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REFERENCES
books and journals
Chen, X. and Yur-Austin, J., 2016. College challenge to ensure “timely graduation”:
Understanding college students’ mindsets during the financial crisis. Journal of
Education for Business. 91(1). pp.32-37.
Firth, N.C., 2017. Communication and Teamwork. Routledge.
Gallagher, J.R., Nordberg, A. and Dibley, A.R., 2017. Improving graduation rates for African
Americans in drug court: Importance of human relationships and barriers to gaining and
sustaining employment. Journal of ethnicity in substance abuse.
Mohammad, M. and Rashid, A.M., 2020. Relationship between Learning Environment and
Teamwork Skills among Final Year Students of Vocational Colleges. Universal Journal
of Educational Research. 8(1A). pp.104-111.
Stout, R., Archie, C., Cross, D. and Carman, C.A., 2018. The relationship between faculty
diversity and graduation rates in higher education. Intercultural Education. 29(3).
pp.399-417.
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