Personal and Professional Development Report - Retail Sector

This report provides a detailed analysis of personal and professional development, focusing on self-managed learning and its benefits. It evaluates different approaches to self-managed learning, including Kolb's learning cycle and reflexive modernization theory, and proposes ways to encourage lifelong learning in both personal and professional contexts. The report assesses the author's current skills and competencies against professional standards and organizational objectives, using SWOT analysis to identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. It outlines future development needs and devises a personal and professional development plan, including planned development activities and critical reflection on learning outcomes. Additionally, it explores work-based problems, communication approaches, and time management strategies, offering a comprehensive view of professional growth within the context of a marketing career in the retail sector.

Personal and Professional
Development
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................4
TASK 1 ..........................................................................................................................................4
A. Evaluate approaches to self-managed learning.......................................................................4
B. Proposing the ways in which lifelong learning in personal and professional contexts could
be encouraged..............................................................................................................................6
C. Evaluating the benefits of self-managed learning to the individual and organization............7
TASK 2 ...........................................................................................................................................8
A. Evaluating own current skills and competencies against professional standards and
organizational objectives.............................................................................................................8
B. SWOT analysis skills along with their evaluation..................................................................9
C. Listing future development needs and..................................................................................11
identify specific ways of meeting them for my long term career growth.................................11
D. Devise a personal and professional development plan based on identified needs................12
TASK 3 .........................................................................................................................................13
A. Process and development activities required to implement the development plan...............13
B. Undertaking a range of planned development activities as per the short term learning
objectives...................................................................................................................................13
C. Reflect critically on own learning against original aims and objectives set in the
development plan.......................................................................................................................14
D. Revising a personal and professional development plan......................................................15
TASK 4 .........................................................................................................................................16
A. Work based problems and their solutions.............................................................................16
B. Evaluation of different approaches of communication.........................................................17
C. Evaluating different approaches related to time management .............................................17
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................17
REFERENCE ...............................................................................................................................18
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INTRODUCTION
Personal and professional development is termed important outcomes of individual
learning. It is also determined as a systematic process which is used by an individual for learning
of various new things with the help of different learning tools such as external training along
with personal experiences. It plays important role for professional growth and development. The
present study is going to discuss different elements of personal and professional development
(Alna, Haccoun and Belcount, 2010). In this context, this report carries out detail evaluation of
present set of skills and knowledge of an individual that are essential for marketing manager in
particular organization. It also carries out detail evaluation several tactics and approaches that
assist an individual in learning of various new tactics and assessment of professional knowledge
that plays important role in career growth and development. This report also carries out
comparison of certain set of skills and knowledge of with current standards in particular industry
so as an individual is able to improve skills and professional understanding of particular field for
attainment of career objectives.
TASK 1
A. Evaluate approaches to self-managed learning
In the contemporary era, Self managed learning has been identified as a great tool of
individual learning in which an individual adopts several strategies and tools to enhance personal
skills and knowledge as per the career goals. I have done my MBA in marketing field so as I
would like to become a marketing manager in a reputed retail organization such as Marks and
Spencer, Wal-Mart and various other online retail companies. In this regard, I have to increase
understanding of several concepts of marketing and need to acquire wide range of personality
related traits and skills with reference to professional goals or objectives through which I will be
able to perform wide range of duties and responsibilities as per the distinct business requirement.
As a marketing manager, I have to increase my understanding and professional knowledge about
current marketing trends and different promotional channels which are used by different
companies for promotion of different products and services (Fulton, 2009). In this context,
understanding of use of latest marketing tools such as social media, digital marketing and
marketing event plays important role for attainment of different career objectives. On the basis of
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these objectives, I need to improve my communication, analysis, technical skills, market research
skills, presentation skills etc. for performing different roles and responsibilities as a marketing
manager in retail sector. Therefore, it can be stated that self managed learning has been identified
as great tool through which I can improve my knowledge about different aspects of marketing
activities with a retail organization along with skills required for marketing manager for
managing different compliance as per the requirement of job position.
In order to increase professional expertise as well as learning of new skills, I have to
carry out detail evaluation of different learning approaches that would be found very effective for
personal and professional development of an individual. In this context, Kolb's learning cycle has
been identified as most effective approach through which I can enhance my professional
expertise (Types of learning styles, 2016). This approach is applied in the form of two level and
four stages cycle that increases the effectiveness of the self- managed learning. This approach is
mainly based the acquisition of abstract concept in which an individual applied his understanding
and knowledge in different situations that could be occurred in personal and professional life. It
includes a combination of four elements such as concrete experience, reflective observation,
abstract conceptualization as well as last active experimentation. The first stage of this approach
is concrete experience which is based on learning of an individual in different situation. In this
contest, an individual handles several situations that are occurred as a result of different factors
of social environment such as education and job. The second stage of present investigation is
identified as reflective observation that determines perception of an individual in different
situation and how an individual considers particular situation with reference to current personal
and professional gaols. The third stage of this approach is abstract conceptualization in which an
individual presents his new ideas and conclusion by conducting detail evaluation of situation and
experience (Clutterbuck and Hirst, 2012). The last stage of this theory is active experimentation
that influence to an individual for application of experience which has been gained from different
situations in order to meet career objectives.
Along with the Kolb's learning cycle, reflexive modernization theory is also identified as
important approach for managing different activities related to self-managed learning. This
approach is mainly deals with several changes that are occurred as a result of realisation of
modernity's ideals that includes alteration in education level and change in lifestyle of individual
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and other people (What is Continuous Professional Development?, 2016). These elements are
creating huge impact on the self managed learning process. With reference to both theories, I can
learn various skills and professional understanding about different concepts of marketing that
would help me in attainment of career goals. It also supports me for increasing my efficiency and
performance at particular job position within retail organization.
B. Proposing the ways in which lifelong learning in personal and professional contexts could be
encouraged
There are several techniques available through which an individual is able to manage
lifelong learning as per the distinct requirements of personal and professional gaols in the
modern retail business. In this process, an individual is mainly scheduled learning procedures
with the help of wide range of coaching canters as well as educational institution that provides
significant assistance to an individual in order to bring improvement in my professional skills
which are essential as per my qualification (Greenbank, 2011). This approach helps me to
increase my understanding about different elements such as accounting, management process
and marketing tactics which are playing important for performing several duties at different job
position in retail firm. This tactic has found very effective to boost up communication skills, time
management skills, understanding of social media to promote several products and services so as
I can achieve my career objectives as a marketing manager in a reputed retail company. By
mentoring through other individuals, I will be able to increase my presentation skills and close
monitoring of experts will be found very effective for improving my work quality and leadership
tactics. This method helps in learning of wide range of new computer software that is essential
for marketing manager.
On the other hand, different managerial conferences based on marketing and advertising
factor have been addressed as most effective elements related to personal and professional
development process. There are several conferences scheduled for application of latest
technology in promotion of different goods or services and use of creativity at workplace that
supports me for increasing my skills with reference to professional goals.
In now days, internet is determined as an important source of information. It provides a
verity of information related to current & creative marketing tactics, communication tools and
new techniques of presentation that will increase my efficiency (Davies, 2005). By using creative
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marketing tool in retail organization, business entity is able to increase awareness of different
products among target consumers. By conducting internet surfing, I can assess different kinds of
news related to changes in political situations, perception of top business men along with
changes in organizational system. This process increases my personal knowledge about current
business and political trend. In addition to that participation in different meeting and seminars
provides an opportunity to an individual to update himself (Nutley, 2008). It plays important role
while managing different operation in self managed learning process so as an organization
associated with retail industry is able to assess competitive edge by applying unique procedures
of business management.
C. Evaluating the benefits of self-managed learning to the individual and organization
An individual and organization could gain several benefits through self-managed learning
process. By arranging different practices with reference to self managed learning process, I can
attain different objectives related to continuous professional development. It helps me in
evaluation of my personal and professional skills with reference to current business standard for
marketing manager. This process supports me in identification of deviations in professional skills
so as I can select different approaches and tools for managing my learning as per my career goals
in marketing field. In this context, self- managed learning is addressed as a great approach
through which I can easily improve my personal traits that are associated with communication
and market research skills etc. that plays important role for managing career as marketing
professionals (Scharf and Bell, 2002.). By promoting self-managed learning, I will be able to link
my academic knowledge with reference to requirement of industry through which I will be
become a marketing head within a reputed retail companies.
In the contrary, self-managed is also providing several benefits to an organization. By
promoting self-managed learning among different employees who are working in different
department, business entity is able to improve their efficiency and productivity as per the current
market trends that lead positive impact on overall growth and profitability of business
(Boyadjieva and Petkova, 2005). Apart from that business entity can also consider self-managed
learning as important elements for planning for transfer and promotion that assists managers for
training and skills development activities of staff. It also reduces expenditures or cost of training
and development activities of company. By considering different business situation as important
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learning tools, a retail organization can motivate workforce towards different business operations
and management goals so as they can easily accept the changes among several business
operations as per the requirements of current market trends. This thing increases efficiency and
profitability of company.
TASK 2
A. Evaluating own current skills and competencies against professional standards and
organizational objectives
The evaluation of my current skills and competencies with reference to professional
standards and organizational objectives plays important role in order to assess current
proficiency level and improvement required as per the different career objectives.
In the field of marketing, communication skills of individual are termed as most
important personal traits. With reference to current norms of industry, I have good
communication skills in both forms that include written and verbal that enable me in handling of
different tasks related to negotiation and conversation with the clients of Retail Company with an
appropriate manner. This interpersonal skill assists me for presenting a range of organization
projects and objectives. In the contrary, lack of confidence leads negative impact on conversation
process with top managers and officials (Benefield and Joseph, 2010). Therefore, it can be stated
that my communication skills have attained the professional standards and objectives of
organization.
In order to perform different task as a marketing manager, I have to develop efficient
analytical skills. In this process, I have to increase understanding of different element of financial
planning and management tools that would assist me for keeping systematic record of different
operations and expenditure made on different activities (Dransfield, 2004). This understanding
helps me for developing of small budgets with reference to different strategies used in marketing
procedures. This efficiency is matching against organizational standards.
For the job position of marketing manager, market analyst skills is considered as most
crucial skills that are essential for attainment of long term goals and objectives in the context of
present market conditions. In this regard, I have efficient skills through which I can easily
evaluate needs of consumers, present marketing trends in the context of retail business,
competitor analysis, etc. All these practices help me to attain different objectives (Rose, 2008).
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But, lack of efficient knowledge of creative and latest marketing channels leads negative impact
on my performance on certain job position.
In addition to that Leadership skill is playing significant role for success of an individual.
In this regard, I have efficient knowledge of various leadership tactics so as I can manage my
subordinates effectively with proper motivation. This approach leads positive impact on the
productivity of followers. My leadership qualities have matched up with professional norms of
business entity.
Furthermore, I have addressed that the growth of career is highly dependent on various
other personal traits that include time management, situation analysis, problem solving etc. In
this context, I develop a proper plan to manage my data to day activities as per the predetermined
time period. So it gives me some spare time to complete other work. In this context, I have to
improve my time management by learning different time management tactics and understanding
the use of different tools of time management.
B. SWOT analysis skills along with their evaluation
With the help of SWOT analysis, we can conduct personal skills audit to identify
importance of self-managed leaning.
Table 1 SWOT analysis of skills
Strengths Weaknesses
 I have good leadership and
management skills
 By taking coaching from
different educational institution, I
have improved my technical
knowledge about different
software such as accounting and
management information system
 The proper budgeting of my
monthly expenses influences my
analytical skills
 I have faced some problems for
resolving various work related
issues ability.
 I have attended a range of
conferences and seminars for
improvement in listening skills
but these tactics have not
provided efficient benefits.
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 Regular participation in outdoor
games and events has played
important role for developing of
team management skills.
Opportunities Threats
 I am assessing personal
counseling to increase my
confidence level that will help me
for increasing the communication
skills and other interpersonal
skills as per current industry
trends
 I am analyzing the different
approaches related to time
management tactics to influence
my time management skills.
 I am also trying to assess new
marketing concepts by
conducting detail evaluation of
several marketing theories
 I am facing issues due to
frequent changes occurred in
technology that out-dates my
technological knowledge.
 New students have better
presentation skills.
Evaluation of my professional and Personal Skills of is done under the table:
Table 2 Evaluation of professional and personal skills
Professional Skills Current Level
5=strong
1 = weak
Best Current Example Ways to Improve
Communication Skills 4 Communication with
consumers, top managers and
staff member of company but
lack of confidence level
creates problems
Personal counseling will
be found very effective to
increase my confidence
level
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Leadership Skills
3
Management and handling of
different marketing events
within organization
Implementing wide range
of new and creative
approaches and strategies
to increase coordination
among various elements
(Passerini, 2012)
Presentation Skills 3 Developing power point
presentation in company
associated with description
of new product and market
planning
Studying on new tactics of
presentation with the help
of internet along with
analysis of presentation
skills of top managers
Problem Solving 2 I have addressed issues in
handling of various crucial
tasks in business
management
Case study
Team work 5 Participate in outdoor games
like-cricket and football
along with various other
activities
Use team working
approach for handling
different operations of
business entity
Market analyst 4 I can analysis behavior of
consumers, current market
trends along with supply and
demand of different product
and services
Self managed learning is
scheduled by me with the
help of different books to
assess relationship
between demand and
supply and application of
innovative marketing tools
(Pratt and Kaplan, 2004)
Technology Skills 3 Learning of new computer
software at coaching center
by mentoring with others
Put knowledge in practical
operations will support me
to improve my
technological
understanding
C. Listing future development needs and
Identify specific ways of meeting them for my long term career growth
Presently, I am working as a sales executive of retail and I would like to become head of
marketing department that is termed as a most important objective of my long term long career
goals. In this context, I have to gain various new skills and knowledge as per the long term career
objectives. Therefore, a list of important skills and professional knowledge is mentioned below
as per the future need of career goals:
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 Social media marketing skills: In the present era, social media has been emerged as
important marketing tools through which an organization is able to promote wide range
of products and services to large number of people within very low cost (Fulton, 2009).
As per the long term career goals, I have to develop appropriate skills related to social
media marketing. Online customer management: There has been significant growth addressed in online
retail business operation so as each organization makes efforts to expand business on
different online channels. Therefore, I need to learn various approaches for managing
customers on different digital platforms.
 Data base management: It is one of the most crucial and important skill which I required
to learn in future. These technical skills will support me to understand consumption
pattern and buying behaviour so as I can easily offer personalized services to my regular
and loyal consumers.
D. Devise a personal and professional development plan based on identified needs
A personal and professional development plan is mentioned below for attainment of
different objectives related personal learning and skills that are associated with short term,
medium term and long term goals.
Type of
objective
Personal Objectives Action Plan Required Time scale
Short term Market analyst skills Learning through different
books of economics to assess
relationship between supply
and demand along with
different approaches of pricing
(Alna, Haccoun and Belcount,
2010)
3 to 4 months
Short term Presentation skills Using different online videos
related to development of an
attractive power point present
and evaluating presentation
skills of top managers
4 to 6 month
Medium term Problem solving
skills
Evaluation of different
management cases and
business issues
6 to 8 moth
Medium term Communication skills Personal counseling with the
help of external individual to
7 to 9 months
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increase confidence level
Medium term Leadership skills Handling of different social and
professional events along with
detail evaluation of different
leadership theories and
approaches (Clutterbuck And
Hirst, 2012)
7 to 9 months
Long duration Technology Skills For attainment of long term
goals, I have to increased
understanding of different
technological tools such as
social media marketing, data
base management, etc.
1 year and more
TASK 3
A. Process and development activities required to implement the development plan
For attainment of learning objectives, a systematic plan is essential through which I can
manage different practices and learning operations as per the career objectives. In this context,
Honey and Mumford's Knowing your learning style approach is considered as most important
tool that would accelerate my learning by considering most important learning style which is
suitable for me. In this context, I can follow below mentioned strategies: Activists: By considering this approach, I can manage my learning through experience
problems and opportunities. In this context, working with others in problem solving,
games, role-playing exercises have played important role to improve my skills
(Greenbank, 2011). It is also carried out by reading, writing and thinking on their own
along with the analysing and interpreting lots of data. Reflectors: With the help of this strategy, I can manage learning by observing and
thinking about different activities according to career goals. In this process, I need to
consider all the possible angles and implications before coming to a considered opinion. Theorists: According to this approach, I can increase my learning by carrying out detail
investigation on different theories behind particular actions. In this process, I need to
manage my learning by understanding different models, concepts and facts for imporving
my skills as per career objectives (Davies, 2005).
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 Pragmatists: These kinds of learners are keen on trying things out. In this process, I have
to present new ideas to handle different work related issues. This approach has found
very effective to increase creativity of an individual along with its problem solving
capabilities.
B. Undertaking a range of planned development activities as per the short term learning
objectives
I have considered improvement in market analyst skills and presentation as short term
learning objectives. In this context, I have applied various strategies such as Learning through
different books of economics to assess relationship between supply and demand along with
different approaches of pricing to improve my understanding of different element of retail
market that influences marketing decisions of an individual. On the other hand, I have used
various online videos related to development of an attractive power point present and evaluating
presentation skills of top managers to increase my presentation skills.
In this context, I have addressed that understanding of current market trends such as
supply and demand of different products and their impact on pricing policies of company
through which I have helped to my superiors for taking appropriate pricing decision. This
approach has supported me to increase my understanding of current position of company in
market. Furthermore, I have got good response from my manager as a result of improvement in
presentation skills.
C. Reflect critically on own learning against original aims and objectives set in the development
plan
Original aims and
objectives
Own learning Areas requiring improvement
Problem Solving  I can easily understand
different work related issues
 I understand process of
solving problems.
 I have to improve my
mathematical skills
 Further learning is required
for effective implementation of
problem solving approach
Market analyst  I can easily understand
different aspects of supply and
 Further learning is essential
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demand.
 I am able to manage pricing
decisions.
for handling market completion
 Improvements need for
leading team.
Presentation skills  I can use body gesture to
make presentation attractive.
 I have increased my
understanding for answering the
cross question to increase
understanding of listeners.
 Use of latest technology in
form of power point
presentation.
Communication Skills  I have increased my
understanding about the formats
of non-verbal communication
 Understanding the interest of
audience
 Improvement in confidence
level required
 Advancement in quality of
language is required by
improving vocabulary
Leadership  I can easily attract my
followers and motivates with
reference to business objectives
 Theoretical knowledge of
leadership tactics
 Effective use of
motivational factors to increase
productivity.
 Involvement of subordinates
in decision making process.
Technological skills  I have learned an appropriate
process social media which has
been found very effective to
promote different products and
services
 Further learning is required
related to data base
management
D. Revising a personal and professional development plan
LEARNI
NG
OBJECT
CURREN
T
TARGET
PROFICIEN
DEVELOPME
NT
CRITERIA
FOR
TIME
SCALE
EVIDENC
E
14

IVE/GO
AL
PROFICI
ENCY
CY OPPORTUNITI
ES
JUDGING
SUCCESS
Communi
cation
skills
Good
I can manage
both verbal
and written
communicati
on with an
appropriate
manner.
I am assessing
personal
counseling for
improving my
confidence that
would increases
effectiveness of
verbal
communication.
Feedback
Understandin
g of listener
3 week Superiors
Subordinate
s, friends
and family
Technolo
gy
Word ,Exc
el and
project
manageme
nt software
To learn
difficult
software’s
such as data
base
management
By taking
Coaching classes
Tasks
Performance
6 month Superiors
Problem
Solving
Understan
ding
Technical
knowledge
is required
Proper
implementati
on of ideas
Management
of day to day
activities
Proper guidance
from Superiors
Reading articles
Learning of
different
mathematical and
statistical tools
Performance
Feedbacks
Time Limited
2 month Members
TASK 4
A. Work based problems and their solutions
Working as a sales executive in retail company like Marks and Spencer, I have has
addressed that company is facing various work related issues. In this context, there are two most
important work based problems addressed related to improper distribution system. In this
context, it is examined that Marks and Spencer has used online and offline tools for distribution
of different products and services (Nutley, 2008). Company is facing some issues in distribution
of different goods such as delivery of all the orders within predetermined time frame and the
situation of misplacement is also occurred.
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In order to resolve above mentioned issues, a systematic process of problem resolution
has been followed by company. Therefore, some most important stages of this process are
mentioned below:
 Assessment of work based issues
 Identification of reasons of problem
 Selection of appropriate tools to resolve the distribution related issue
 Application of solution
 Review and final assessment
As per the above stages, management of Marks and Spencer firstly carries out detail
assessment of causes such as lack of coordination. In the second stage, management measures
various kinds of alternatives to solve this problem and to improve overall performance of
organization (Scharf and Bell, 2002). After that manager develop like improvement in
communication as final solution with his skills and knowledge and put the plan in action. At last
organization evaluates impact of new communication system.
B. Evaluation of different approaches of communication
Presented in PPT.
C. Evaluating different approaches related to time management
Time management is considered as most important tool that helps an individual in
competition of different tasks as per the predetermined schedule. Proper time management
increases the flow of information and operational activity. In the context, evaluation of some
important strategies of time management is carried out below: Proper scheduling of different tasks: It plays important role in the process of time
management. In this context, an individual need to develop an appropriate schedule of
activities related to day to day personal and professional operation (Boyadjieva and
Petkova, 2005). It assists manager in completion of several activities with an appropriate
manner. Achieving the deadlines: By achieving deadlines, an individual can avoid issues related ti
time management during different work practices.
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 Reduction in wastage of time: It is also an important time management strategy in which
an individual requires to remove such activities that are playing important role for
increasing wastage of time (Benefield and Joseph, 2010).
 Assessment of priorities: By assessing priorities, manager within an organization is able
manage different job operations with an appropriate manner. This approach assists in
competition of important work with an appropriate manner.
CONCLUSION
As per the above assessment, it can be stated that the self managed learning plays most
crucial role in personal and professional development of an individual. This report has addressed
that Honey and Mumford's approach has found very effective for handling different strategies
related to individual learning as per the career goals. This investigation has found that SWOT
analysis of personal skills and attributes provides an opportunity to an individual in order to
develop an appropriate plan to enhance personal and professional skills.
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REFERENCE
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Alna, S., Haccoun, R. and Belcount, M., 2010. Managing Performance Through Training and
Development. Cengage Learning publises.
Boyadjieva, P. and Petkova, K. 2005. Towards a New Understanding of Education in the
Globalizing World: Life long Learning. Managerial Law. 47(4). pp.21-28.
Clutterbuck, D. And Hirst, S., 2012. Leadership communication: A status report. Journal of
Communication Management. 6(4). pp.351 – 354.
Davies, B. 2005. Educational Leadership – Personal Growth for Professional Development.
International Journal of Educational Management. 19(3). pp.269-270.
Dransfield, R. 2004. Business for Foundation Degrees and Higher Awards. Heinemann.
Fulton, C., 2009. The pleasure principle: the power of positive affect in information seeking.
Aslib Proceedings. 61(3). pp.245 – 261.
Greenbank, P., 2011. Improving the process of decision making: an action research approach.
Education + Training. 53 (4). pp.252 – 266.
Nutley, T., 2008. The Little Book of Personal Development. 2nd ed. Lulu. Rodrigues, M. J. 2006.
The Lisbon Strategy after the mid-term review: implications for innovation and life-long
learning. Corporate Governance. 6(4). pp.349-357.
Passerini, K. W. D., 2012. Uncovering knowledge-based time management practices:
Implications for project management. International Journal of Managing Projects in
Business. 6(2). pp.332 – 348.
Pratt, K. and Kaplan, A. 2004. Professional sustainability in facility management. Journal of
Facilities Management. 3(1). pp.83-91.
Scharf, F. and Bell, J. 2002. Developing export management competencies and skills among
undergraduate business students. Journal of European Industrial Training. 26(7). pp.327-
332.
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