MSc Management: Reflective Portfolio on Learning and Practice

This professional development portfolio reflects on critical learning events experienced during a placement at Pizza Hut, analyzed through Gibb's reflective model. The portfolio identifies key employability skills developed, such as emotional intelligence, teamwork, and communication, and discusses specific instances where these skills were crucial. The analysis includes descriptions of the events, feelings, evaluations, conclusions, and actionable plans for future improvement. The portfolio emphasizes the importance of continuous professional development and self-reflection in enhancing career growth and achieving organizational objectives. This document is available on Desklib, a platform offering a wide range of study tools and solved assignments for students.

PROFESSIONAL
DEVELOPMENT AND
PRACTICE

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND....................................................................................1
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................2
1. Critical learning events according to Gibb's reflective model............................................2
2. Linked to learning and graduate job description................................................................9
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................10
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................12
Appendix........................................................................................................................................14

INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND
Professional development is a kind of learning in order to earn or hold over occupational
group written documents such as academic degrees to ceremonial coursework, ministering
association and casual learning possibilities situated in exercise. The major purpose of
professional development is to provide professionals the opportunities in order to learn and
apply advanced skills that can enables them to use it in their job profile and further in their
career as well (González and Skultety, 2018). Professional development plan is highly useful in
identifying lacking areas which can be helpful in improving the performance. It provides
opportunities to make modification via identifying weakness which are are required to eliminate
in order to cope up with changing external circumstances of industry. Employability skills are a
part of skill that has been developed with the professional development of an individual. The
employability skills are termed as the conveyable ability required by an individual to make them
employable within an organization. These kinds of skills will help an individual to reduce errors
and enables an individual to handle the business activities in most efficient manner. Moreover,
the academic practices are defined as the process of completing the work independently,
honestly and in appropriate academic ways (Mohamad and et.al., 2018). Achievement of best
practices involves the development of own independent evaluation and identification of
challenges in skills improvement.
This study will describe the analysis of learning events through placement and identify the
developments that are required in various employability skills. Learning events will be taken
from my personal experiences when I was placed through professional development plan team
in Pizza Hut. It is one of the international organization that has large target segment toe ran
higher profitability & sustainability. This is part of American multinational restaurant chainnad
internation franchise that has found success on global platform. Pizza Hut is concerned with
offering different taste of products as compared to similar organizations in industry. The reason
behind success of company is effective marketing and advertising strategy that is based on
developing interactive methodology. I had been placed over there as staff manager in which my
major responsibilities are identify potential markets, create plan accordingly, supervise and
coordinate business activities with top management as well as my subordinate people. This is
one of the best opportunity that has been achieved by me and given chance to conduct the
professional development plan. I have been delegated certain authorities as well which can help
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in accomplishing my roles & responsibilities in effective manner. It has helped me to certain
extent to effectively manage my work to match with standards that can contribute in
accomplishing organizational objectives. The report will highlight the concept of critical
analysis on the various kinds of professional learning events which means enhancement of
professional development opportunities. With the help of Gibbs reflective cycle the study will
describe the specific professional skills that have been developed during the course of action
(Bridgstock, 2019). Gibbs model will provide assistance in making proper evaluation via
focusing on steps like description, feelings, evaluation, analysis, conclusion, and action plan.
Ways to improve the lacking areas will be involved for providing deeper insights regarding
making modifications. The main reason behind providing this particular model is to give proper
knowledge regarding functioning . this provides asssitance in deriving significant knowledge
which can share in having deeper information of particular program. Moreover, it will expound
the critical evaluation of employability skills as consider as learning events on the basis of
discussion.
MAIN BODY
1. Critical learning events according to Gibb's reflective model
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Description
What happened?
Feelings
What were you thinking?
Evaluation
What was good and bad?
Conclusion
What else could you
have done?
Action Plan
If it rose again what

Gibbs Reflective Cycle
Emotional intelligence
Description: The entire experience could favor me to develop certain skills that could allow me
to enhance my overall growth and development at an individual level. I have undertaken the
experience which could direct me in a right direction. The whole experience was very valuable
for me as it could precisely support me to identify different positive and negative skill set being
a professional I should own. It is described that different activities could favor me to understand
my areas belong to strength. The activities like motivation session, playing games could favor
me to know about all my key strengths that could improve my overall personality.
Feeling: I have a strong feeling that all this activities attended by me would support me in
enhancing the overall growth and development possibilities in my career. I have noticed that this
is a key part of the description that the experience could certainly empowered me in developing
the skill set along with certain strengths. I have a strong feeling over the fact that skill is an
important part of the personality development practice and with support of the right practices I
could certainly work over my emotional intelligence ability as an individual.
Evaluation: I have evaluated the fact that overall growth of the individual and professional is
highly influenced with the skill set that needed to develop by the individual. IT is notice that this
is an important parameter which require to grow as a professional that it become necessary for
me to approach the career in the more professional manner. The role of the different personality
development tactic is effectively empower me to approach the overall growth in professional life
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Analysis
What else can you make?

in the best way possible. This is a fundamental part of the overall skill development activity
entertained by me as a professional.
Analysis: I have analyses that my different skill set such as communication skill, interaction
skill, social abilities could favor m at the grass hood level to grow and develop my various skill
and abilities. This is an important part of the overall growth and development opportunities I can
entertain in future is to upgrade my abilities to perform various responsibilities. I have precisely
analyses that the emotional intelligence skill that I have developed could favor me precisely to
enhance the overall career growth opportunities possibly I would entertain in future.
Conclusion: This is concluded that I have developed the emotional intelligence skill that would
possibly support me in my future operations and functions. I have identified that different career
growth opportunities would be attracted in against to this ability I have grown up. I have been
concluded that the skill development would be the best possible approach to support the overall
career growth and professional development.
Action Plan
Skill Strategies Resources TIME FRAME
Emotional intelligence Playing mind games,
reading books,
analysis and such like
strategies.
Books, journals,
internet sources will
utilise.
4 months
Communication skill Regular interaction,
inter personal ability
and such like
strategies.
Internet sources and
books.
3 months
1. Team Work
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 Description: Within the Pizza Hut as Staff manager, my major responsibility was to
research and analyse recent market trends and the company competitors in order to
prepare strategies accordingly. I had a team of 20 members under my supervision in
which I have to give proper directions to them in order to complete the task in given
stipulated time frame. When we were in the middle of our assignment, our top
management had decided to appoint one more person who is at the similar position
because of the over burden of the work. Initially I felt quite disappointed while working
with him along with my subordinates who previously considered as my team members
but now I have to divide them accordingly. But as I have to manage, I tried my level best
to cope up with the situations. But one day when adverse situation arises in which we
have to prepare presentation for the project and I have to go for some urgent personal
work. During that time I started panicked and restless but that colleague helped me to
complete my presentation within give time frame. Feelings and Evaluation: With the completion of the task, I realised that it was a
tremendous experience for me to work in a team with that new guy along with my other
colleagues as it becomes easy to discuss and resolve problems while working in a team
rather than go for completion of the task in whole and sole manner. Initially, my
preferences were to lead the assignments independently which becomes very stressful for
me to complete tasks under adverse conditions. The situations was good and under
controlled when I were complete the assignments independently according to my own
planning but when anything comes up suddenly or adverse situations arises, I was getting
panicked and worried about the situation when anything comes up suddenly and
urgently. Analysis and Conclusion: According to the above situation, my colleague helped me
that time to complete my assignment which was related to preparation of report. That day
I realised that we can help each other when we face lots of load regarding the work that
needs to be completed within short span of time duration. That feeling I discussed with
my other team members as well in order to make them also aware about the benefits of
doing the task in collaborative manner. Apart from this, I have also make them aware
about the facts related to the poor usage of team work which cause wastage of time and
ended the task without any positive solution. From that day, we decided to distribute our
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work according to our talent and abilities to complete the task along with the urgency of
work which also helps in order to reduce our workloads.
 Action Plan: From that event, I have learnt that the problems can be easily identifiable
and resolved with the help of team mates apart from finding the solutions in solely
manner. I will definitely apply my learning in my future terms in order to make myself
successful in each and every aspect of work.
2. Communication Description: The position at which I was placed within the Pizza Hut requires tracking
effectiveness of marketing campaigns and according to that prepares reports about the
findings after taking feedbacks from the staff members so that my team members are
able to evaluate their performances in effectual manner. All the tasks I had to do with
proper planning so that nothing can be missed out from my end because after my
planning, I have to communicate it with my colleagues in written as well as verbal
format with my subordinates who are doing work upon it and any small error makes the
whole task in just a waste of time. From certain analysis, I have realised that I was
lacking behind in effectively communicate my part in front of my colleagues and my
subordinates due to which certain confusions arises among ourselves(Wales, 2018). As
there were many incidences occur under which I communicate something else and my
subordinates get some other information according to their understanding. Feeling and Evaluation: The whole experience had taught me to think upon enhancing
my communication part with taking some important decisions and activities which are
effectively able to enhance my communication part in verbal as well as written format in
front of others so that I will be able to illustrate my part in most effectual and detailed
manner in front of others. Before starting the practices, I felt so much stressed to
complete the learning exercise according to the stepwise manner. But that incident
enables me to judge myself regarding doing my tasks in that particular manner in most
efficient way. From that day, I decided to take necessary communication sessions in
order to improve my part of working as well as my communication skills. Analysis and Conclusion: From that situation, I got to learn that proper communicate
with others is an essential ability through which I am able to finish my task in most
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appropriate and through effectual ways. After realising this thing, I discussed my
weakness with my colleagues and they also suggests me some good exercises in order to
increase my communication ability. That particular day, my colleague had suggested me
a great suggestion which will definitely help me during rest of my professional life. With
the inclusion of activities such as verbal sessions on the effective communication, debate
and group discussion activities and various others similar exercises enhances my abilities
towards proper communication with others as well as with my colleagues and
subordinates. Previously I was unable to communicate in public gatherings without
feeling nervous but certain activities enhances my confidence level so that I will be able
to describe my points in most effectual way. In order to further enhance my
communication skills, I will definitely go for some tutorials which will become very
helpful for me in my future professional terms. This will enable me to fight with realistic
adverse conditions and thus also enhances my abilities to handle the situations with
proper communication ability.
 Action Plan: Desired results always come across with properly communicate with others
and thus I will definitely utilise it to make my job experiences more successful in nature.
With the help of effective communication ability, I will be able to express my feelings
and my thoughts in front of others in most fruitful ways. This skill will definitely help
me to finish my work in professional as well as personal life both in proper structured
manner. During that specific course of time, I felt myself lacking behind in effective
communication ability but with timely realisation and colleague advice, I was able to
improve my communication ability delegate in a way so that I will be able to finish my
tasks efficiently.
3. Leadership and management skills Description: While working within the Pizza Hut as a shift manager I have to work upon
various projects which are related to the introduction of new products and services into
the market place. One day when I and my top management people of marketing
department had to present a presentation regarding the new project on which we as a
team are working. I have to lead the whole presentation activity and responsible for the
preparation of the whole display after collection of data with proper evaluation of facts
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and figures related to the project. At the very initial stage I felt nervous and not that
much confident in order to finish the task because there are so many seniors involved
within the activity and I was the leader of that activity so I have to lead them all
regarding the task. Feelings and Evaluation: At the primary stage of the activity, I was not at all confident
about the task but as I started my work I am able to gain the confidence within me to
guide my seniors as well and segregate the task accordingly. Although I felt really vary
nervous at the time of giving instructions to them all. But with the ongoing task I realised
that it does not matter whether you are working with your juniors or seniors, what
matters the most is the level of understanding and knowledge in order to get any
assignment completed (Кudarova and et.al., 2019). Thus this activity helps me in order to
enhance my leadership abilities even in front of my seniors as well. Analysis and Conclusion: With the proper delegation of work, I got to collect my
confidence level back and analyse that the work is the primary function due to which one
can considerable within the organization irrespective of their position. A leader is always
a leader whether one can work with their seniors or juniors. Leading abilities are always
works as same.
 Action Plan: After that situation, I found myself highly confident enough to lead any
activity no matter who are my co-partners within the task. It enhances my leadership
abilities and it will definitely help in me in my long term future career as well. I will
definitely follow and keep this kind of attitude within me in my any job by considering
future perspective. From this learning event, I was able to understand the importance of
leadership skills and that they are only be enhanced with such kind of situations.
4. Professionalism skill
Description: Once I received a random phone call from somebody and she asked me to provide
certain information’s regarding a candidate who is working within our firm. Initially I also feel
awkward about the situation but after certain point of time I was mistakenly share the asked
details without even taking permission of that candidate and without asking for any much of the
information I had shared details along with her. The whole activity was noticed by the director
of my company. He was very nice at that moment but explained serious negative consequences
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to me of sharing such kind of personal details and information’s from the person to whom I was
completely unknown (Campbell and Taylor, 2019). I should have asked her some questions or
tell her details after taking permission of that candidate will definitely handles the whole
situation in effective manner with huge amount of professionalism.
 Feelings and Evaluation: When my director makes me aware about my mistake, I
felt delighted as it was a new experience for me in the firm because I have never been
encountered with such kind of situation there before that day. Just because of the
authority that I have received with my job responsibility I get to know that I do not
share any kind of personal information of any candidate is also my primary
responsibility as well as my duty. Because of this situation I was able to learn great
lessons about the whole procedure of doing my work and maintain professionalism
while working within any organization. Although I realized that even after
understand the whole procedure, I was unable to use my own critical understanding
regarding that urgent situation. I was very much aware that the situation left very bad
impression in the mind of my director which is not needed for me. As a employee I
have to maintain my professionalism while doing my tasks.
 Analysis and conclusion: Basically, everybody is aware about the facts that personal
information’s of any candidate are allowed to transfer at any cost to others without
their own permission. During that particular point of time I was unable to utilize my
common sense and experience of professionalism at that particular point of time. If I
could realize my duties and follows my professional behavior, I would have never
shared the information with that stranger.
 Action plan: After that particular day, when anybody asks about my or even any
others personal details whether face to face or on phone call, I completely follow the
procedure that has been learned by my director (Johnson and Hammond, 2018). After
all it was a critical learning for me to understand certain limitations that comes under
the concept of professionalism.
5. Problem solving skill
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 Description: Once my manager told me guide my team members to find out effective
solutions for increasing the sales through proper evaluation of social media
engagement. I started panic during that particular period of time. But somehow I
instruct to my team members to start doing research on the problems and certain
modifications in order to enhance the sales volume with new and innovative actions
(Puccio and et.al., 2020). The team mates effectively collect the strategies through
which we are able to get appropriate results and analyzed what some of our top
competitors. Although I was hugely confused among different strategies to adopt best
out of many. I took help of my managers in order to get me resolve my problems
because I am not really good at solving problems and issues as I started panicking
and for which I am still doing certain exercises in order to development or increase
my problem solving skills and abilities within me.
 Feelings and evaluation: At that particular point of time, my managers helped me a
lot in order to decide about the chosen strategy after that I was able to come up with
exact blueprint which we have to follow this year to emulate our best competitors
along with stand put and develop a unique voice as a brand. With that particular
situation, I felt that doing work on my problem solving abilities should be my next
prior task in order to get success and in front of my other competitors who are also
my colleagues. With certain exercises now I am able use my logic and data in
appropriate manner to solve problems effectively.
 Analysis and conclusion: With the solutions that had been provided by my manager
to me, during that point of time I was able to resolve my issue and fulfill my task in
most appropriate manner. Apart from this, it also raises a sense within me that I have
to keep myself focused towards the enhancement of this ability within me so that
from next time I am able to finish the task without any kind of extra tension and
efforts (Pitan, O.S., 2017).
 Action plan: With the complete situation, I was able to learn the ways through which
I am able to resolve my issues on my own. I also able to evaluate practices through
which I can enhance my problem solving abilities for the betterment of my future
which helps me in my further career terms as well.
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