Graduate Challenge Portfolio: Analysis of Skills and Problem Solving

This document presents a comprehensive Graduate Challenge Portfolio, reflecting on three distinct challenges: a presentation challenge based on TESCO, a T-shirt design and budgeting challenge, and a hotel simulation challenge. The portfolio includes detailed analyses of each challenge, outlining the objectives, required skills, and the student's performance. Key skills discussed include presentation skills, research abilities, teamwork, communication, time management, and critical thinking. The student identifies strengths and weaknesses in each challenge and proposes specific action plans for skill development, such as taking training sessions and workshops. The portfolio concludes with references to relevant academic sources and offers insights into personal and professional growth. The T-Shirt challenge focuses on branding and financial planning, while the hotel challenge simulates business operations and decision-making. This portfolio provides a valuable case study for understanding leadership, management, and skill development in a practical context.

The Graduate
Challenge

Table of Contents
PRESENTATION CHALLENGE...................................................................................................3
INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................................................3
ANALYSIS OF CHALLENGE..................................................................................................3
DISCUSSION OF SKILLS.........................................................................................................3
ACTION PLAN..........................................................................................................................3
CONCLUSION...........................................................................................................................4
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................4
T-SHIRT CHALLENGE.................................................................................................................1
INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................................................1
ANALYSIS OF CHALLENGE..................................................................................................1
DISCUSSION OF SKILLS.........................................................................................................1
ACTION PLAN..........................................................................................................................2
CONCLUSION...........................................................................................................................2
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................2
HOTEL CHALLENGE...................................................................................................................3
INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................................................3
ANALYSIS OF CHALLENGE..................................................................................................3
DISCUSSION OF SKILLS.........................................................................................................3
ACTION PLAN..........................................................................................................................3
CONCLUSION...........................................................................................................................3
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................4

PRESENTATION CHALLENGE
INTRODUCTION
The challenge that has been reflected hereby with the help of portfolio is acknowledged
to be associated with Presentation Challenge. This challenge needed students to make a
presentation based on TESCO, the market leading retail firm operating within United Kingdom.
Thus, the reflection upon the same is presented as follows.
ANALYSIS OF CHALLENGE
This Presentation Challenge required the company to effectively conduct the analysis of
market situations prevailing within the confines of supermarket and retail industry together with
the examination of performance delivered by TESCO as opposed to rival firms within the same
sector. The biggest rivals of this company are recognised to be LIDL and ALDI. This challenge
focussed upon existent business operations of respective retail firm. Also, it included certain
suggestions devised for the purpose of facilitating improvements within the market performance
of TESCO at international scale.
DISCUSSION OF SKILLS
The focal point of this challenge was upon executing and inflating my presentation skills
as the task was concerned with development of a presentation together with communication
about the same to my mates in classroom. Yet another skill that was acknowledged to be
important for conducting this task was researching skills. I recognised that there were several
positives as well as negatives related to this whole challenge. In this regard, my research skills
were quite effective thereby providing assistance to me in collecting relevant and reliable data
related to the subject matter. Further, I identified that my communication skills were very strong
with the usage of which I was able to exhibit the thoughts in my mind in front of the audience
effectively. On the contrary, there were some shortcomings also that were recognised by me.
They create hurdles for me in completing the task within due course of time. In this regard, one
of my biggest weaknesses was presentation skills. I found it quite difficult to make a presentation
in accordance with the data collected about TESCO.
ACTION PLAN
It is important for me to inflate my competencies in relation to the skills in which I have
shortcomings in order to effectively complete this challenge when encountered in future course

of time. Thus, I have decided to inflate my existing level of presentation skills within the time
span of next 3 years at University. In this relation, I will take training sessions which will
provide assistance to me in dealing with different types of presentation software. This will aid
me in giving presentations in future in class and professional career.
CONCLUSION
On the basis of above discussion, it can be inferred that presentation challenge enabled
me to provide a detailed insight into the skills that are essential for development of an appealing
presentation. In addition to this, this analysis provided assistance to me in ascertaining my
strengths as well as weaknesses in terms of the skills and competencies. This assisted in inflating
the scope of incorporating improvements within my personality.
REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Cathro, V., O’Kane, P. and Gilbertson, D., 2017. Assessing reflection: Understanding skill
development through reflective learning journals. Education+ Training. 59(4). pp.427-
442.
Cutrer, W.B., and et. al., 2017. Fostering the development of master adaptive learners: a
conceptual model to guide skill acquisition in medical education. Academic Medicine.
92(1). pp.70-75.
Jackson, D., 2015. Employability skill development in work-integrated learning: Barriers and
best practice. Studies in Higher Education. 40(2). pp.350-367.
Sorsa, M.A., Kiikkala, I. and Åstedt-Kurki, P., 2015. Bracketing as a skill in conducting
unstructured qualitative interviews. Nurse researcher. 22(4).
Zelazo, P.D., 2015. Executive function: Reflection, iterative reprocessing, complexity, and the
developing brain. Developmental Review. 38. pp.55-68.

T-SHIRT CHALLENGE
INTRODUCTION
T-Shirt Challenge is termed as an activity which is mainly related to formulation of a
logo of a T-Shirt brand in addition with certain form of financial prevision for same (Bonrath,
and et. al., 2015). In this report formative discussion has been made on analysis of challenge and
discussion of skills. Further this report include action plan as to duly overcome the challenge.
ANALYSIS OF CHALLENGE
T-Shirt Challenge is mainly related to evaluation of logo. It is mainly for a brand name
Allstar Allistair. Overall challenge must be fulfil in budget of $200. In addition with this
evaluation of organisation target market is required (Schubert, E., 2016). This challenge turn out
be very effective as it provide proper insight about finance and branding which is required be
effectively consider by an entity. Further with the help of this challenge learning related to
determining target market and the manner in which branding effectively helps in attracting large
base of customers can be ensured. For example, organisation target market include young
individuals those who mainly tend towards environment. In order to effectively accomplish this
purpose and to attract young individuals towards organisation product flower is being undertaken
as logo. This will duly aid in attracting these individual environment friendly products of entity.
In addition with this, with the help of MS Excel proper framework of budget has been prepared
as to ensure logo development in well defined manner under stipulated budget.
DISCUSSION OF SKILLS
There are number of skills with the help of which whole challenge can be duly
undertaken as to accomplish whole challenge (Geithner and Menzel, 2016). In this, teamwork
turn out to be first skill in which with the formative integration of different individuals common
objectives can be duly fulfilled. I was an active member and have prominent responsibilities
towards accomplishing challenges in best effective manner. Further it has been determined that
my soft skills are very much enhanced with the help of which I can effectively able to integrate
individuals towards logo development.
Time management was another effective skill that was utilised within the same as a
deadline was required to be met in context of developing a budget as well as produce a logo. It

was very much challenging as I was unable to prioritise activities, which contributed to more
time and efforts to complete the challenge (Schubert, 2016).
2

While if in case of MS Excel, I duly lack is preparing and drafting budget and separating costs as
to make sure that all the possible resources get accumulated in order to develop logo in effective
manner. Apart from that, it is basically challenging and time consuming activity. It has been
determined that I am effective in software basics but there is a wide scope for me to make
significant improvement in this.
ACTION PLAN
As to duly fulfil and increase efficiency of my time management skills in the time period
of 3 years, I will take proper feedbacks from assessors as to duly evaluated the aspects within
which I lack in (Davis and et. al., 2015). In addition to this, training programmes, MS Excel and
workshops undertaken by me as to increase my skills and efficiency to work with this software.
CONCLUSION
As per the above mentioned report, it has been concluded that T-Shirt challenge aid in
increasing acquisition and branding skill of target market. Further with the help of MS Excel
proper guide to accomplish budget requirement has been ensured in order to fulfil budget in vest
effective manner as to duly fulfil operations in economical and feasible manner.
REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Bonrath, E.M., and et. al., 2015. Comprehensive surgical coaching enhances surgical skill in the
operating room. Annals of surgery. 262(2). pp.205-212.
Davis, M.L., and et. al., 2015. A measurable impact of a self‐practice/self‐reflection programme
on the therapeutic skills of experienced cognitive‐behavioural therapists. Clinical
Psychology & Psychotherapy. 22(2). pp.176-184.
Geithner, S. and Menzel, D., 2016. Effectiveness of learning through experience and reflection in
a project management simulation. Simulation & Gaming. 47(2). pp.228-256.
Gess-Newsome, J., 2015. A model of teacher professional knowledge and skill including PCK:
Results of the thinking from the PCK Summit. In Re-examining pedagogical content
knowledge in science education (pp. 38-52). Routledge.
Schubert, E., 2016. Examining moderators of response to executive function reflection training:
initial skill and socioeconomic status.
3

HOTEL CHALLENGE
INTRODUCTION
The challenge which is reflected herein through the assistance of portfolio is regarding
the hotel challenge. Hereby, the task was to exhibit business skills and work with the
spreadsheets and finance in order to do the necessary calculations related to a hotel. The task was
a simulation task upon which reflection has been presented as underneath.
ANALYSIS OF CHALLENGE
The Hotel Challenge required the execution of a number of tasks that needed me to apply
several skills and competencies for effective analysis. The task was simulation of a hotel which
consisted of 4 sites for which tenders were given by a number of individuals. The challenge
required me to make use of some skills and improve the others for professional development.
DISCUSSION OF SKILLS
It has been analysed that there are different types of skills that are required to be
developed as to fulfil overall challenge. Within this, critical thinking is first skill in which
effective decisions are required to be undertaken as per according to situation. In addition to this
time management skill turn out to be another skill in which I duly lack. In addition to this, it has
been determined that communication skill is my strength with the help of which I perform my
activities and functions in best effective manner. Further it has been identified that it is essential
for me to develop these skills in best effective manner as to accomplish my roles in well defined
manner.
ACTION PLAN
It is essential for me enhance my time management and critical thinking skills so as to
ensure that the activities of the hotel challenge are completed in a timely manner. For this
purpose, I will take meeting with my supervisors and take time management classes.
CONCLUSION
As per the above discussion, it is analysed that the hotel challenge is effective to be
undergone by me to facilitate personal and professional development. This provided aid to me in
inflating the existing level of time management and critical thinking skills possessed by me.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Badenhorst, C., and et. al., 2015. Beyond deficit: Graduate student research-writing pedagogies.
Teaching in Higher Education. 20(1). pp.1-11.
Crapanzano, K. and Vath, R.J., 2015. Observations: Confronting Physician Attitudes Toward the
Mentally Ill: A Challenge to Medical Educators. Journal of Graduate Medical
Education. 7(4). pp.686-686.
Mwenje, S., 2016. The challenge of graduate unemployment: A case of university graduates in
the city of Mutare-Zimbabwe. International Journal of Innovative Social Sciences and
Humanities Research. 4(4). pp.50-57.
Payne, M. and Askeland, G.A., 2016. Globalization and international social work: Postmodern
change and challenge. Routledge.
Zakaria, S., and et. al., 2015. Graduate medical education in the Freddie Gray era. New England
Journal of Medicine. 373(21). pp.1998-2000.