FdA Hospitality LT5W01: Work-Based Learning Project Business Report

This report details a work-based learning project focused on implementing chatbots at Arabica Borough Market, a London-based Middle Eastern restaurant. The project's planning, initiation, and lifecycle management are thoroughly discussed, highlighting the objectives of reducing employee costs, improving customer satisfaction, and automating tasks. The report outlines the project's various stages, from initiation to closure, emphasizing the importance of monitoring and evaluation throughout. It further evaluates the experience and learning gained at the workplace using frameworks like SWOT and PESTEL analysis, assessing the project's strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats, as well as the political, economic, social, technological, environmental, and legal factors impacting the business. The report concludes by emphasizing the benefits of each project stage in improving communication, providing structure, enabling progress tracking, and supporting governance.

Work-Based
Learning

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION ..........................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................1
Planned and initiated the project. Setting targets, aims and objectives for your project .......1
Managed, monitored and evaluated the progress of the project throughout the project life-
cycle from initiation to completion........................................................................................3
Benefits of each stage of aims and objectives for your project..............................................4
Evaluate your experience and learning at the workplace.......................................................5
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................8
REFERENCES ...............................................................................................................................9

INTRODUCTION
Work-based learning is an informative strategy which allows students to engage in real-
life work experiences where they can utilise their academic and technical skills and enhance their
abilities of getting employment. It is the practice of applying theory with practice which
acknowledges the integration of school or university curriculum with a workplace to provide a
different learning model. The organisation that is chosen to conduct this study is Arabica
Borough Market, a middle eastern restaurant situated in London, United Kingdom. In this
business report, we will discuss the planning and initiation of the project including its targets,
aims and objectives. Furthermore, the management, monitoring and evaluation of the project
throughout its life-cycle has also been discussed. It also includes the process of meeting
deadlines and how benefits are gained in each stage of aims and objectives of the project.
MAIN BODY
Planned and initiated the project. Setting targets, aims and objectives for your project .
The planning and initiation of the project started with the idea of introducing the concept
of chatbots in the organisation. A chatbot is a software application which simulates and processes
human-like conversations via text or text-to-speech , allowing humans to make direct contact
with digital devices as if they are interacting with a live human agent. Chatbots are easily one of
the most well known examples of artificial intelligence.
Objective :
The main objective of introducing chatbots is to save time and effort by allowing
automation of different prospects in customer support. It is also helpful in gathering information
about users which helps in organising meetings(Galarce-Miranda, 2021).
Aim :
The main aim of introducing chatbots in the organisation is to reduce employee costs
through handling consumer communications and enhancing customer satisfaction. In addition to
this, it ensures reduction in human errors because of its accuracy in its system. The organisation's
usage of chatbots allows it to collect necessary information in the way of feedback from
consumers. This information is useful in obtaining insights into the suggestions on the
improvement of products and services.
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Target:
The basic idea of adopting chatbots in the organisation's system is that it is much cheaper
and faster than hiring employees and train them. Besides, a chatbot can never get sick and
inefficient unlike an employee who sometimes are having mood swings and cannot handle
customer queries. Chatbots can play a significant role in expanding the dimensions of business
operations as they can be programmed to operate in numerous languages(Lower-Hoppe, et.al
2021).
Also, it can automatically detect language the customer is speaking at the moment and
adjust according to that. Chatbots can automate various processes and fasten the working of the
organisation. It is helpful in automating boring tasks like emailing, answering FAQs and also
payments along with HR tasks like granting leaves. Ultimately, customer experience and
satisfaction is what makes an organisation ahead of their competitors in the market. This is where
chatbots can prove to be an excellent assistance in excelling in providing consumers with
maximum satisfaction. The clients need understanding the procedure of ordering and suggestions
on the available alternatives.
Managed, monitored and evaluated the progress of the project throughout the project life-cycle
from initiation to completion
In order to achieve objectives and manage the Arbica Borough market, and its project
detail is to analyse and explore the role for managing and monitoring the progress for the
completion of project. For the completion of the project in an appropriate manner for learn the
concept and track the information in an effective and appropriate ways (5 Phases of Project
Management, 2021). Its stages are explain further: Project Initiation: This is the very first stage for identifying the idea and turn into the
meaningful goals and idea. In this stage, the need is to develop and complete working for
define the business case and accomplish the project at broad level. This involve the
starting of project within Arbica Borough market, and analyse the impact of chatbots and
its positive demand in the customers. The key stakeholders of Arbica Borough market,are
the employees, customers, suppliers and other people. With the clear goal and technical
details of the project are associated for completing sources and achieve wide range of
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applicable data in an effective and appropriate manner (Bamfo-Agyei, Thwala and
Aigbavboa, 2021). Project planning: This stage require the complete diligence of an effective roadmap and
use an effective methodology for the completion of project in an effective time period. It
is further provide the agile project management process. It further helps in analysing the
situation and complete working in more effective and appropriate ways. This project is
take almost half of the project and manage timespan for completing different process in
an effective ways. The main aim of the project is to identify the technical requirements,
used a detailed project schedule and communicate an effective plan for setting up the
goals. Project execution: This stage is related to completing team and manage the actual works
as a project manager and accomplish the need to established the efficient manner and
complete workflow to monitor the progress within the team. This plan is needed to make
project collaboration tools for using chatbot that stimulate the human conversation
through text or voice interaction to the customers. While executing the plan within the
Arbica Borough market, it is important to solve complexity and allow the developer to
build the network and interfaces through the third party business applications. Project monitoring: This stage is sequential in the nature of project planning, this allow
the customers for managing the project and monitor them for the ensuring the objectives
are met or not within the completion of project. During the completion of project
management, the project manager is responsible for established the critical success
factors and analyse the key performance indicator of the company (Fergusson and van der
Laan, 2021). The manager should track the working activities and manage to ensure the
task and complete basic activities in an effective and appropriate ways to learn and
manage the budget with more effective and important for the growth of future projects
and its management process.
 Project closing: This is the final phase of the project management team, to accomplish
the project and use closure of stage that indicate the project for make final delivery. The
use of effective contracts and management for completing all paperworks and responsible
for managing the project in an effective manner. This task is associated to complete the
entire project on time and complete the covers for completing different aspects for
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considering the wide range of applicable data to secure the place and being associated to
the project managers of the company (Flamand, Perret and Picq, 2021).
Benefits of each stage of aims and objectives for your project
There are various benefits of each stage in the project lifecycle starting from first stage to
last stage. All the stages of project lifecycle provides various benefits to the organisation.
 Improves communication between team members:
The stages of project life cycle helps in defining roles within project organisation as it
helps in providing framework which is clearly visible and understood by the team members of
the project. Communication makes it easy for team members to understand what they have to do
in each phase. It also helps the business to plan levels of resource requirements in order to avoid
wasted resources to ensure that sufficient resources are available(Malloch, et.al, 2021).
 Provides a structure for project delivery :
It provides a structured approach for the delivery of the project. It also allows the team
members to monitor and identify how the project is progressing and to identify issues with
particular aspects of the deliverables. In context to Arabic Bourogh Market, it helps in clearly
defining outputs and activities for the each phase and assigned responsibilities and providing a
common roadmap for each individual team member(Mohanna and et.al, 2021).
 Provides progressive evolution of project :
The phases in the project life cycle helps in providing an understanding of the evolution
of project in order to identify areas that need more attention at various times which involves risk
management in the early stages and project evaluation reviews during the implementation stage.
In context to Arabica Borough Market, with each stage, the project detail is elaborated in more
detail. The plans are refined in more detail and costs estimates are improved.
 Enables progress to be tracked across the organisation :
All stages in the project lifecycle allows the project manager to relate progress directly to
each phase which is basically the Concept Stage encompasses everything according to the
production of the business case. In context to Arabic Borough Market, the definition phase
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involves the management plan, production of the project and all subsidiary plans which involves
risk management plan, quality plan and implementation phase which covers the construction of
components which comprises the end phase which involves Build and Design stages.
 It enables structured reviews that support governance:
The project lifecycle helps in defining the gate reviews and Project Evaluation Reviews
that will take place. In context to Arabic Borough Market, it allows the project manager to plan
completion of reports to support the reviews. It also provides increased confidence for the
stakeholders in order to confirm early success(Nouwen and et.al, 2021).
Evaluate your experience and learning at the workplace
In order to evaluate the learning and experience there are various frameworks and tools
which are used by the organisation in order to evaluate the strategies for chatbots in the
organisation.
Swot Analysis :
It involves a tool or framework which is used in order to develop strategic planning and
evaluate a company's competitive position. In context to Arabica Borough Market, the
organisation uses this tool to analyse the external and internal factors that can affect the chatbots
implementation in the organisation(Osborne, Maitra and Uflewska, 2021).
 Strengths: It basically describes the various factors which make an organisation unique
among its competitors which basically involves loyal customer base, unique technology
etc. In context to Arabica Borough Market, the chatbots will help in enhancing the
customer satisfaction through quick feedbacks and 24 hours accessibility for solving
online order issues. This will act as a strength for the restaurant.
 Weakness : It involves the areas where there is a need of improvement. In context to the
organisation, poor customer service might act as a sign of weakness. In order to improve
customer service, the use of chatbots will help in enhancing customer satisfaction through
quick response and solving customers queries related to prices, orders and delivery.
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 Opportunities: It involves the various favourable factors that provides an organization a
competitive advantage. In context to restaurant, the new project of chatbot will help in
enhancing customer service and will act as a opportunity for the organisation to gain
competitive advantage(Perusso and Wagenaar, 2021).
 Threats: It refers to those factors that may harm the organization. In context to Arabica,
the opening of new restaurants and new competitor menu items might act as a threat to
the restaurant. The implementation of chatbots will help in standing out better among
competitors.
Pestel Analyis
It involves a tool which is used by marketers in order to monitor and analyze the external
marketing environment factors which have a impact on industry, organization and company. In
context to Arabica Borough, the restaurant uses this framework to analyse the various factors
which can affect the new project.
 Political Factors:
It involves factors such as government actions and policy which intervene in the economy
and that can affect the business. It involves factors such as Tariffs, Trade restrictions, tax policy
and Bureaucracy. In context to restaurant, the political factors have a great influence on its
business operations. The political factors such as health and safety guidelines and tax reforms
can affect the implementation of new project.
 Economic Factors:
It involves various aspects of the economy and its impact on the business operations. In
context to Arabica Borough, if the inflation rate increases in the economy where the restaurant is
currently operating then it will result in affecting the prices of the ingredients. In addition to that
consumer disposable income can affect the food industry.
 Social factors :
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It involves factors which are related to the demographic and cultural trends of society. It
involves health consciousness, cultural perceptions and aspects, population growth rates etc. In
context to Arabica Bourogh, there are various factors that can affect the business in a negative or
positive way. People being more health conscious will prefer more organic rather than junk food.
All these social factors might affect the restaurant menu.
 Technological Factors:
It involves technology changes and rapid technology advancement which can impact a
business. In context to Arabica Bourogh, it is important for the restaurant to be aware about the
latest trends which involves innovative technology, rate of change in technology, automation and
R&D activity.
 Environmental Factors :
It involves both the external and internal environment that have a ecological impact on
business. Due to weather extremes becoming more common, it is important to adapt these
changes. It involve factors such as pollution, natural disasters, temperature, weather conditions,
climate change etc. In context to Restaurant, it is important to take care of cleanliness on regular
basis and keeping external surrounding hassle free and clean.
 Legal Factors:
It involves all the legal factors that define what a business need to do and what is should
not do. It involves relationship among business and government. It involve factors such as labor
laws, licenses and permits, intellectual property and industry regulation(Thake, 2021).In context
to restaurant,the local and legal bodies can affect the restaurant business. These authorities
regularly visit the various areas such as stores and kitchen to check the quality of food items.
CONCLUSION
From the above report it had been concluded that work based learning plays an essential
role in the organisation. The work based learning helps students to engage in real life work
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experiences. It helps in utilising their technical and academic skills and enhances their abilities of
getting employment. It involved how the Arabica Borough Market uses chatbots to enhance
customer satisfaction. It includes proper planning and initiation of the project including its
targets, aims and objectives. Furthermore, how the management monitors and evaluates the
project throughout its life-cycle has also been discussed. It also includes the process of meeting
deadlines and how benefits are gained in each stage of aims and objectives of the project.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Bamfo-Agyei, E., Thwala, D.W. and Aigbavboa, C.O., 2021. Impact of Work-Based Conditions
on Labour Productivity of Construction Workers in Ghana. In Sustainable Education and
Development (pp. 120-130). Springer, Cham.
Fergusson, L. and van der Laan, L., 2021. Disciplinarity and Work: Work-Based Learning as an
Emergent Transdisciplinary Mode of Study. World Futures, 77(7), pp.508-531.
Flamand, G., Perret, V. and Picq, T., 2021. Working with the potential of arts-based learning:
Making sense and leaving ‘business as usual’behind in an art seminar. Management Learning,
p.1350507621990256.
Galarce-Miranda, C., 2021. Module Proposal in Mechanical Engineering Based on Project Based
Learning. In Educating Engineers for Future Industrial Revolutions: Proceedings of the 23rd
International Conference on Interactive Collaborative Learning (ICL2020), Volume 1 (Vol. 1, p.
349). Springer Nature.
Lower-Hoppe and et.al, 2021. Inquiry-Based Learning in Action: Theory and Practice in Higher
Education. Handbook of Research on Innovations in Non-Traditional Educational Practices.
pp.34-59.
Malloch, M and et.al , 2021. The SAGE Handbook of Learning and Work. SAGE.
Mohanna, K., and et.al, 2021. Adult learning and self-directed learners. In Key Tools and
Techniques in management and leadership of the Allied Health Professions (pp. 107-118). CRC
Press.
Nottingham, P. M., 2021. Designing Work-Based Learning Approaches for Gen Y, Gen Z, and
Beyond. In Applications of Work Integrated Learning Among Gen Z and Y Students (pp. 166-
187). IGI Global.
Nouwen, W., and et.al, 2021. The role of work-based learning for student engagement in
vocational education and training: an application of the self-system model of motivational
development. European Journal of Psychology of Education. pp.1-24.
Osborne, M., Maitra, S. and Uflewska, A., 2021. Smart learning cities: Promoting lifelong
learning through working lives. The SAGE Handbook of Learning and Work, London: SAGE
Publishing,. pp.376-389.
Perusso, A. and Wagenaar, R., 2021. The state of work-based learning development in EU higher
education: learnings from the WEXHE project. Studies in Higher Education, pp.1-17.
Thake, A. M., 2021. An evaluation of public policy student placements: outcomes of a Malta-
based study. Higher Education, Skills and Work-Based Learning.
Online
5 Phases of Project Management, 2021. [Online]. Available through:
<https://kissflow.com/project/five-phases-of-project-management/>
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