PRSK4048: Summer 2017 Professional Skills Portfolio Assessment

This Professional Skills Portfolio, PRSK4048, completed in Summer 2017, focuses on self-assessment and professional development. It includes tasks such as defining a long-term vision, evaluating potential roles, and completing a Belbin test to understand team roles. The portfolio also covers practical skills like email communication, meeting participation, action planning, problem-solving, cross-cultural awareness, and presentation skills. Further, the portfolio incorporates a 360-degree review and a professional development plan. The final section is a written task summarizing and evaluating the professional skills developed throughout the semester. All tasks, except for the action plan and presentation plan, are individual assignments. The portfolio aims to enhance understanding of professional skills and continual awareness in a business environment, using appropriate technologies to facilitate self-analysis and reflection.

Summer 17
Professional Skills Portfolio (PRSK4048)
Name Student Number
Lecturer Name
Tutor Name
Presentation Group Members
GM1 DAFE ADJEDJE GM2 CHINYE UGBOKO
GM3 SYLVANUS NWAGU GM4 AYODEJI AGBOOLA
GM5 GM6
This is your Professional Skills Portfolio. Please save a copy on your computer and back it up regularly
(e.g. by saving it on your computer / in the cloud (e.g. Google Drive / emailing it to yourself. You will
receive a printed copy which you should bring to all lectures and tutorials. However, at the end of
the course, you need to submit a completed electronic copy via Turnitin. Please refer to suggested
word counts for each task included within this portfolio.
Assessed Learning Outcomes:
1. Understand and have knowledge of professional skills and continual awareness in a
business environment.
2. Use appropriate technologies to facilitate the completion of self-analysis/reflection.
3. To reflect, analyse and discuss strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities personally and
academically.
4. Understand, improve and reflect upon their own personal strengths in relation to the
professional environment.
Week Table of Contents Page Learning
outcomes

Section 1: Portfolio Evidence
(These tasks will often be drafted in class and are designed to inform the written task in
section 2. Suggested word counts are included in brackets.)
1 The Long-Term Vision (200-300 words) 3 LO2, LO3
1 Potential Roles and their Suitability (200-300 words) 4 LO2, LO3
2 Belbin Test (100-150 words) 5-8 LO2, LO3
3 Emails to Arrange Meetings (100-150 words) 9 LO1, LO2, LO3
4 Participating in Meetings (300-400 words) 10 LO1, LO2
5 Preparing an Action Plan (100 words approx.) 11 LO1, LO2
6 Resolving Problems and Conflict (300-400 words) 12 LO1, LO2
7 Cross-cultural awareness/negotiating (100-150 words) 13 LO1, LO3
8 Presentation Plan (100-150 words) 14 LO1, LO2
9 Post-Presentation Reflection (300-400 words) 15 LO2, LO3, LO4
10 360 Degree Review (100-150 words) 16-17 LO1, LO3
10 Professional Development Plan (PDP) (100-150 words) 18 LO1, LO2,
LO3, LO4
Section 2: Written Task
(This task should be developed throughout the semester but completed in weeks 9-11.)
N/A Professional Skills – Summary and Evaluation (to be
developed throughout the semester but completed in
weeks 9-11; 1200 words)
19 LO1, LO2,
LO3, LO4
Total Word Count: 1200 + 2400 (appendices) = 3600 words (+/- 10%)
Track your progress by ticking off each task as you complete it, in the weekly column.
All tasks must be completed individually, except for the ‘Action Plan’ (week 5) and
‘Presentation Plan’ (week 8) which should be completed in collaboration with your other
group members.
Section 1: Portfolio Evidence
Portfolio Evidence [Week 1] The Long-term vision
When discussing the types of roles you would like to apply for, it is useful to consider how these
might fit in with your long-term vision. Imagine yourself travelling approximately 5 or 10 years into
2

the future. This activity is not about laying down a rigid plan but to help you gain a sense of the type
of life you want, so you can make the right kinds of choices to achieve it (200-300 words).
Activity: The Long-term vision
Five/ten years from now, I see myself...
Aspect Write your own vision of this aspect below On a scale of 1-
10 how
important is it
to you?
I consider the most important
things in my life to be…
I work hard and I am an ambitious
individual with a positve mind. I always
try to learn new skills. I have a focus of
acheiving certain goals.
9
Living in which part of the
world and in what kind of
place?
I am palnning to settledown in United
Kingdom with my family. In addition, i
also want my children to grow up close to
the countryside as there is less crime and a
good environment to grow. Moreover, i
would prefer to live in Dubai after I
complete my degree.
7
Working for myself? Working
for a large company? Working
for a small company?
I prefer working in a large company as the
scope for employement is much high.
Also, there is much increase in salary and a
good work environment. Working for
myself can be frustating or sometimes
scary but it will give me a good time to
explore myself. In addition, working for a
small company can be demeaning as
higher work for a smaller salary can be
frustating sometimes.
7
Doing what kind of work?
Routine? Challenging?
In an office? In the field?
My job role is that of a gas engineer and I
consider myself to be self-employed. Part
of my job is to ensure the fulfilment of the
needs of my clients. I always remain
engaged in maintenance of the boiler and
material replacements of old boilers.
Sometimes, it is very difficult to get the
right materials for completing the task at
the site.
9
With what kind of work/life
balance (consider hours of
work/stress levels)?
It is difficult to give some time from my
work activities to my family members. As
such it can be a bit frustrating for both
myself and my family members. I work for
8 hours a day and the stress level for it is
preety high
6
Taking a lead? Taking
responsibility? Working
individually? Part of a team?
I am a self-employed gas engineer and i
work with 5 teams of 4 people each. I also
lead them in cases of assigning activities or
daily reporting.
5
Working with colleagues who I have colleagues at work who are practical 8
3

are… Artistic? Intellectual?
Practical? Caring?
Competitive?
and intellectual. Sometimes, the work calls
for hard decisions and some of my
employees suggest better ways which
comes from experience and hard-work.
I enjoy spending my time
outside work doing…
A great way to remove stress is spenidn
some time outside. It also helps me to
soothe up my mind so that i can resume
my work. I usually spend some of my time
surfing the internet, having a cup of coffee
or socializing with my colleagues.
10
Other important aspects of my
vision of the future are…
In the future, I would like to become the
Chief executive engineer of my company.
Additionally, after completing my
graduation with the practical knowledges, I
will apply it towards the betterments of the
company.
8
Section 1: Portfolio Evidence
Portfolio Evidence [Week 1] Potential roles and their suitability
Using one of the roles you discussed in your week 1 tutorial, complete the following table below (use
the following example to guide you; write 200-300 words):
EXAMPLE: My desired Role is: Retail Manager
Key Skills required My current experience in this skill
Effective Leadership Skills In my current job as a retail assistant, I have helped to manage the
store and train staff in the absence of my manager. However, this is
an area I need to gain more experience and confidence in.
The ability to plan and
prioritise workloads
My experience at GSM has helped me develop these skills, although
there is a still a little room for improvement as I need to start work
on my assignments earlier.
How does this role match my long term vision?
Advantages Disadvantages
I think I would enjoy the fast-paced and varied
nature of the work and wouldn’t mind taking
responsibility for different areas of the
business. ..(please continue)
Some retail manager positions may involve
working long hours and I would be worried that
I would not achieve a work-life balance…..
(please continue).
My desired Role is: Qualified domestic Gas Engineer.
Key Skills required My current experience in this skill –Use own words
Practical skills As I used to work as a gas engineer, I got a level 2 in my profession
due to which I attained practical skills in pipelining.
Communication,
organisation and Problem,
solving skill
Communication is very important in any organisations. A good
communication skill is required inform the clients regarding the
situation of the job and advise them for any other alternation.
The ability to follow
technical layout and
Once, I received a call from a client about a fault in their boiler
systems. I repaired the boiler by taking help from the instructions of
4

diagrams manufacturers fault finding.
The confidence to make
decision and accept
responsibility.
Due to my achievement of an ACS Engineering skills, I was able to
get more knowledge and awareness for the current regulations.
How does this role match my long term vision? – Use own words
Advantages Disadvantages
It is a well-recognised organisation with a great
opportunity to earn a good pay.
A gas engineer’s role involves driving around to
get the job done and sometime it takes time to
diagnose the fault in the system.
I also get the ability to meet different people
every day.
The need to follow instructions must be abided
by engineers otherwise it may lead to hazards.
Due to this, an investigation will be carried out
and the engineer can lose his/her operating
licence.
Section 1: Portfolio Evidence
Portfolio Evidence [Week 1] Belbin Test
Belbin (1996) outlines the different type of roles people may have within a team. Complete the
following questionnaire to identify your main role(s). You will discuss the results in your week 2
tutorial. To complete the questionnaire:
1. Tick in the far left hand columns the one, two or three sentences most applicable to
yourself.
2. Then in the column on the right, share 10 points between those sentences that
apply to you: one of which you feel sums you up well while the other only applies
some of the time.
E.g. You could give your first choice seven points and three points to your second choice. In some
instances you might decide that there are two sentences which apply to you equally – if this is the
case, award five points to each.
SECTION A: When involved in a project with other people:
Tick Points
☐ 1. I can be relied upon to see that work that needs to be done is organised.
☐ 2. I pick up slips and omissions that others fail to notice.
X☐ 3. I react strongly when meetings look like losing track of the main objective. 5
☐ 4. I produce original suggestions.
☐ 5. I analyse other people’s ideas objectively, for both merits and
5

failings.
☐ 6. I am keen to find out the latest ideas and developments.
☐ 7. I have an aptitude for organising people.
X☐ 8. I am always ready to support good suggestions that help to resolve a
problem.
5
SECTION B : When involved in a project with other people:
Tick Points
☐ 1. I like to have a strong influence on decisions.
☐ 2. I feel in my element where work requires a high degree of attention and
concentration.
X☐ 3. I am concerned to help colleagues with their problems. 3
☐ 4. I like to make critical discrimination between alternatives.
☐ 5. I tend to have a creative approach to problem solving.
☐ 6. I enjoy reconciling different points of view.
X☐ 7. I am always ready to support good suggestions that help to resolve a
problem.
7
☐ 8. I particularly enjoy exploring different views and techniques.
SECTION C
When the team is trying to solve a particularly complex problem:
Tick Points
X☐ 1. I keep a watching eye on areas where difficulty may arise. 4
☐ 2. I explore ideas that may have a wider application than in the
immediate task.
X☐ 3. I like to weight up and evaluate a range of suggestions thoroughly
before choosing.
2
☐ 4. I can co-ordinate and use productively other people’s abilities and
talents.
X☐ 5. I maintain a steady systematic approach, whatever the pressures. 4
☐ 6. I often produce a new approach to a long continuing problem.
☐ 7. I am ready to make my personal views known in a forceful way if
necessary.
☐ 8. I am ready to help whenever I can.
SECTION D
In carrying out my day-to-day work:
Tick Points
☐ 1. I am keen to see there is nothing vague about my task and objectives.
☐ 2. I am not reluctant to emphasise my own point of view in meetings.
X☐ 3. I can work with all sorts of people provided that they have got something
worthwhile to contribute.
5
☐ 4. I make a point of following up interesting ideas and/or people.
☐ 5. I can usually find the argument to refute unsound propositions.
☐ 6. I tend to see patterns where others would see items as unconnected.
6

X☐ 7. Being busy gives me real satisfaction. 5
☐ 8. I have a quiet interest in getting to know people better.
SECTION E
If I am suddenly given a difficult task with limited time and unfamiliar people:
Tick Points
☐ 1. I often find my imagination frustrated by working in a group.
X☐ 2. I find my personal skill particularly appropriate in achieving agreement. 3
☐ 3. My feelings seldom interfere with my judgment.
X☐ 4. I strive to build up an effective structure. 7
☐ 5. I can work with people who vary widely in their personal qualities and
outlook.
☐ 6. I feel it is sometimes worth incurring some temporary unpopularity if one
is to succeed in getting one’s views across in a group.
☐ 7. I usually know someone whose specialist knowledge is particularly apt.
☐ 8. I seem to develop a natural sense of urgency.
SECTION F: When suddenly asked to consider a new project:
Tick Points
☐ 1. I start to look around for possible ideas and openings.
☐ 2. I am concerned to finish and perfect current work before I start.
X☐ 3. I approach the problem in a carefully analytical way. 3
☐ 4. I am able to assert myself to get other people involved if necessary.
☐ 5. I am able to take an independent and innovative look at most situations.
☐ 6. I am happy to take the lead when action is required.
X☐ 7. I can respond positively to my colleagues and their initiatives. 7
☐ 8. I find it hard to give in a job where the goals are not clearly defined.
SECTION G: In contributing to group projects in general:
Tick Points
X☐ 1. I think I have a talent for sorting out the concrete steps that need to be
taken given a broad brief.
7
☐ 2. My considered judgement may take time but is usually near the mark.
☐ 3. A broad range of personal contacts is important to my style of working.
☐ 4. I have an eye for getting the details right.
☐ 5. I try to make my mark in group meetings.
☐ 6. I can see how ideas and techniques can be used in new relationships.
☐ 7. I see both sides of a problem and take a decision acceptable to all.
X☐ 8. I get on well with other and work hard for the team. 3
Scoring Key for Self-Perception Inventory
1. Transfer your point’s allocation from the seven sections of the Self-Perception Inventory
to the appropriate boxes below. The pre-printed numbers in the grid refer to the question
numbers (QN) of each section. For example if for Section A you scored seven points for
question 6 and three points for question 1, you would allocate them in the columns RI and
IMP respectively.
7

SH CO PL RI ME IMP TW CF
QN QN QN QN Q
N
QN QN QN
A 3. 5 7. 4. 6. 5. 1. 8. 5 2.
B 1. 6. 5. 8. 4. 7. 7 3. 3 2.
C 7. 4. 6. 2. 3. 2 5. 4 8. 1. 4
D 2. 3. 5 6. 4. 5. 1. 8. 7. 5
E 6. 5. 1. 7. 3. 4. 7 2. 3 8.
F 6. 4. 5. 1. 3. 3 8. 7. 7 2.
G 5. 7. 6. 3. 2. 1. 7 8. 3 4.
Total 5 5 5 25 21 9
2. Once you have allocated all your points, total each column. The highest two totals represent your
primary and secondary preferred team roles.
3. After your tutorial, comment briefly on your primary and secondary team roles, what they
represent and to what extent you agree with the outcome, using evidence of past
experiences to support your position (100-150 words):
8

My primary team role is that of an implementer. Implementers are those people who
are always proactive and get things done. The implementers are also responsible for
turning the theoretical considerations of a project into reality. According to my
experience as a gas engineer, my responsibility was to manage people. Sometimes, we
faced bad situations where using my colleagues we got the job done.
My second team role is that of a team worker. The team workers are responsible for
ensuring the work of the team in an efficient way. They are also responsible for
negotiating among the team members for getting more flexible decisions. As per my
experience, I along with my colleagues always used to get the job done by consulting
with each other and then implementing any decisions.
Portfolio Evidence [Week 3] Emails to arrange meetings
Write a second draft of the email you wrote in class to arrange a meeting with your group (75-100
words): Use gsmlondon student email address for examples.
9

To: [e-mail], [e-mail],
[e-mail]
[e-mail]
Subject: Group meeting arrangement.
Dear All,
I would like to meet every members of our team and discuss about the requirements of
the group presentation. This will help us to get familiar with each other and also allow us
to select a topic for the presentations. I am attaching the details of the meeting in this
mail.
The meeting details information are below :
- Tuesday 11/07/2017
- 1 -3pm
- Library
It is requested that everyone joins the meeting so that a topic can be discussed and the
assignment will be completed as soon as possible.
I would be very happy if everyone can confirm their presence by Sunday.
Kind Regards
Idris Akinkunmi
Write a second draft of the email responding to a meeting invitation to say you are unable to attend
(50-75 words): Use gsmlondon student email address for examples
To: [e-mail], [e-mail],
[e-mail]
[e-mail]
Subject: Unable to attend group meeting.
10

Dear All,
According to the recent email sent regarding our group presentation meeting on
11/07/2017, we were supposed to come for a meeting. However, due to the presence of
some unavoidable circumstances, I would not be able to attend the meeting. The reason
for this is that I will be attending an appointment at work.
So, please I am requesting a change in the meeting date as I will be available on
18/07/2017 between 2 to 3pm.
I am apologising for any inconvenience I might have caused.
Kinds Regards
Idris Akinkunmi
Evaluate your writing in these emails:
I need to
improve this
I have done
this OK
I have done
this very well
I have included the necessary information ☐ ☐ x☐
I have structured my emails clearly and logically ☐ x☐ ☐
I have used an appropriate level of formality ☐ ☐ x☐
I have proofread my writing carefully ☐ x☐ ☐
Portfolio Evidence [Week 4] Participating in meetings
Evaluate your meeting in your tutorial from the perspective of both your group and you as an
individual (if you did not attend in week 4, please use one of the follow-up meetings you will have in
class to complete this section; write 300-400 words).
The Group
11

Outcomes
(What did you
achieve/decide?)
On our first day in the group, we met with each other and
acquainted. We also exchanged our numbers and created a
common group to pass on necessary information like a
Whatsapp group or a hangout group. We also came to a
conclusion of choosing the oil and gas industry as the topic for
our presentation.
Time Management
(How effective was your use of
the time?)
The time management was efficiently done by the leader of our
group as he brought the agenda to be followed which
minimized the time.
Communication
(How well did you
communicate with each
other?)
The effectiveness of the group was reflected in the way
communication was going. Every opinion of each members
were listened and the use of non-verbal behaviours were
promoted. This helped them to clarify their thoughts regarding
the presentation. The agenda of the meeting was always set by
the leader of the group.
Dealing with Conflict
(How did you deal with any
disagreement?)
Conflicts were resolved in three steps. The first step was the
identification of a conflicting point. The second step taken was
to control the negative impacts of them. The third step that was
taken was keeping the communications open. This helped
minimizing the conflict.
Yourself
Participation
(How much did you participate
in the discussion? I gave my all in the participation and my ideas were also taken.
Contribution
(What ideas did you
contribute?) I contributed to the legal cases of the presentation like what
must be our strong points.
Communication
(How well did you explain
yourself and listen to others?)
My communication can be termed as good as everyone
including the group leader was focussed on what i have to say. I
also listened to what other people have to say and modified my
opinions accordingly.
Management of the Discussion
(How much did you help to
ensure the meeting was
productive?)
I decided to call my group members in case and thus helped to
ensure the commencement of the meeting.
Action Points
(what could you / your group do better in future meetings)
For our future meetings, the group leader will think about the dates before finalizing the meeting.
As we have created social groups, it might have been easier to discuss the possibility of a common
date before communicating via an email.
12