Level 5 Foundation in Business (FdA): Skills Audit and Report

This report presents an individual professional development plan and reflective portfolio, focusing on a self-assessed skills audit. The audit, based on the concept of 'the Graduate,' evaluates skills and attributes relevant to employability. It uses a five-point scale to assess various competencies, including critical thinking, teamwork, problem-solving, communication, planning, independent learning, and IT literacy. The report includes a detailed skills audit form with self-assessment ratings and identifies areas for improvement. The project aims to demonstrate the student's ability to develop and showcase their skills and knowledge through a work-based project, providing a foundation for future career development. References are provided to support the findings.

LEVEL 5
FOUNDATION IN
BUSINESS (FdA)

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................3
Self-Assessed Skills Audit.....................................................................................................3
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................9
Personal Development Plan....................................................................................................9
TASK 3..........................................................................................................................................14
TASK 4..........................................................................................................................................16
Reflection.............................................................................................................................16
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................18

INTRODUCTION
This project is a report required to develop and demonstrate my skills and knowledge on
the field using an Individual Professional Development Plan and Reflective Portfolio on work-
based project.
TASK 1
Self-Assessed Skills Audit
Introduction
The following audit is based on the concept of ‘the Graduate’, summarising the skills and
attributes with the overall aim of capturing the ‘Learning Experience’. The skills audit is a tool
designed to be adapted to suit different programmes and is not meant to be prescriptive. Its
usefulness for students will be considerably enhanced if it is context specific (Sun and et. al.,
2017).
The skills audit statements have been interpreted to meet employability criteria, so
students are able to use their experiences for the purposes of completing CVs, application forms
and personal statements.
Students are asked to self-assess their skills on a five-point scale:
1 = wide experience 3 = a little experience 5 = don’t know
2 = some experience 4 = no experience
The resulting self-assessment can be also used as a basis for students’ discussions with
tutors where gaps in understanding and knowledge can be identified.
Self-Assessed Skills Audit Form
a critical, analytical and creative thinker
1 2 3 4 5
relate and compare data from different sources, identify
issues and obtain relevant information
*
reason and apply decision making processes and consider
how to find solutions to problems
*
identify appropriate data sources *

review a range of different points of view and select the
most appropriate conclusion
*
distinguish between different types of information to
inform conclusions
*
capture key information from written or verbal sources *
identify significant opportunities and be pro-active in
putting forward ideas for problem solving.
*
a flexible team worker
1 2 3 4 5
build and develop working relationships with academic
staff, peers and colleagues
*
work effectively with others to complete tasks and
achieve results
*
empower others to work together as part of a team or
group
*
recognise and understand when compromise and
accommodating others is necessary
*
interact well with others and work co-operatively as a
team member
*
understand how to gain the attention of others in a team
or group when required
*
understand how to contribute effectively and
cooperatively with others even if they do not share the
same ideas and ways of working
*
express self effectively in a group and in one to one
situation
*
have an understanding of team roles *
a problem solver

1 2 3 4 5
use an appropriate approach to questioning in order to
gain information from which to draw conclusions
*
use an objective approach to relate to others in order to
achieve goals
*
make good use of verbal reasoning skills, able to handle
complex data and make selective use of information
*
explore more than one solution in order to solve a
problem
*
consider the ideas of others to help solve problems *
manage the process of problem solving over a period of
time
*
demonstrate resilience and lateral thinking abilities when
applied to problem solving
*

an accomplished communicator
1 2 3 4 5
understand the differences in presenting types of
documents, e.g. reports, essays, dissertations, summaries
*
check written work for errors before submission *
use a range of ICT packages to support work *
express and convey ideas appropriately and accurately in
writing
*
successfully give a presentation or demonstration *
demonstrate that information being received is
understood by using a range of verbal and non-verbal
signals
*
understand when people have taken account of your
views and you of theirs
*
professional and adaptable
1 2 3 4 5
recognise and develop skills and competencies required
for learning and future employment
*
develop opportunities for learning activities through
current and future roles
*
recognise the importance and value of activities outside
the curriculum, e.g. work experience, sports, clubs
*
identify when extra support and help may be useful *
understand the importance of actively reviewing and
maintaining your own development plan in order to set
appropriate learning targets
*
maintain positive attitudes to work and understand when
a task has not been completed well and identify changes
for the future
*

understand how to gain feedback on work or
performance
*
an efficient planner and time manager
1 2 3 4 5
aspire to and maintain a results-driven approach where
appropriate
*
plan day in order to manage time more effectively *
apply suitable approaches and put in extra effort if
required in order to meet tight deadlines
*
prioritise own and others’ work *
identify resources required to complete a set task *
harness motivation and hard work to assist in the
completion of work objectives
*
*an independent learner and researcher
1 2 3 4 5
work without supervision and use own initiative *
maintain effectiveness in changing environments *
make appropriate adjustments when undertaking tasks *
keep track of work schedules and deadlines by applying
multi-tasking abilities
*
able to devise own approaches to projects *
able to set own questions and work alongside colleagues
in different environments
*
reflective, self-aware and self-motivated
1 2 3 4 5

establish a course of action for self and evaluate own
performance
*
recognise personal successes *
set own goals and review these systematically *
review any gaps in understanding and knowledge *
find opportunities to enhance and develop transferable
skills within and outside of the curriculum
*
adjust to meet different work styles *
knowledgeable in their subject area
1 2 3 4 5
generate and recognise best practice and apply
imaginative ideas to different situations
*
work out a preferred course of action *
think laterally and encourage others to do so and consider
how they approach an unconventional task
*
present complex and unusual ideas to friends and
colleagues
*

information literate and IT literate
1 2 3 4 5
comfortable using computers, including different
applications in context
*
knowing where to use information and how to cite and
reference
*
understanding how to use different software effectively *
able to keep up to date with current IT applications and how
they can be used to enhance work within and outside
university
*
able to evaluate the effectiveness of different information
sources
*
able to make effective use of the library and internet
resources
*
understand how to present information within their
academic context
*
competent in applying their knowledge and skills
1 2 3 4 5
 able to apply their knowledge in everyday situations *
 develop key communication skills to help apply
knowledge
*
 work towards developing ‘fitness to practice’ and
professional competencies
*
 able to apply theory to practice where appropriate *
Adapted from: www.sheffield.ac.uk/sheffieldgraduate

TASK 2
Personal Development Plan
Name: Jess RINGUET
Part 1 – Personal Analysis
Strengths Areas for further development
I keep focus on my goal and climb through
any situation. Proud to keen more
knowledge and to be able to study harder
each year to reach the top. I can work under
pressure.
I need to improve my timekeeping and
concentration. My speaking, writing and
reading need to improve for the future.
The research skill needs to be developed. My
knowledge need to develop to the mastery on
the field.
Opportunities Threats
The knowledge and to learn more about the
field in Business and marketing. To
establish my own business.
Time management and self-confidence.
Loose hope under immeasurable pressure.
Part 2 - Setting goals
What do I want to
learn?
What do I have to
do?
How will I measure
success?
Target date for
review?
I want to learn about
the market and their
structure. Be able to
know how to sell the
product and how to
find the potential
client
Attend all the
courses and
Study harder to
reach. Doing my
work placement
following the
instruction from my
supervisor.
The success will be
measured and known
at the time of
practical
implementation of
the knowledge
gained through
classes.
16/05/2020

I want to learn about
the Accounting
Information System.
Doing more
research on each
topic so as to get
full knowledge
about these topics.
The success will be
measured from the
level of good
outcome received
from the application
of theoretical work
performed.
16/05/2021
I want to learn how to
run a business.
I must read more
books and watch
documentary in
Business and also
the help of teachers,
friends and family
will also be taken so
as to get more
knowledge about
business.
When my business
will be successfully
established and I
will be able to earn
sufficient profits and
make and maintain
sufficient number of
customers.
16/05/22
I’d like to know learn
how to invest in
business
I must read
newspapers on
World Street market
and other articles
related to
investment that
could help me in
making investment
decisions.
Before making an
investment, it could
be done to make
some guess
decisions about the
investments done in
the market and on
the basis of those
guess decisions, the
success of the
knowledge will be
measured.
Additionally, the
16/05/23

knowledge about the
different businesses
could also be taken
so that this
knowledge may
prove to be helpful
in future.
I want to learn about
Marketing, i.e., Direct
Marketing.
In order to learn
about this topic, the
knowledge will be
gathered from
various sources
such as online,
books, articles and
many other sources.
The success
measurement will be
ensured by the
increase in the
ability of influence
the customers by
direct interacting
with the customers
to buy the products
and services sold by
the business.
16/05/24
I want to learn about
Sales Management
Techniques.
The knowledge
about this topic also
will be gained by
making the use of
books, journals,
teachers, online
sources and some
more sources so
that proper and
relevant knowledge
can be gained.
Success
measurement will be
done by the
application of these
techniques in the
real life situation.
The measurement
will be done by the
degree of positive
outcomes received
from the application
of sales management
techniques.
16/05/25