Fairfield School of Business: Work Based Learning Reflective Report

This report is a Work Based Learning reflective report, developed using the Gibbs reflective model. It outlines the student's career aspirations as a Business Development Manager, detailing the required skills, responsibilities, and training needed to achieve this role. The report analyzes personal and professional development needs, including communication, interpersonal, and analytical skills. It includes a project plan with task scheduling, identifies organizational challenges like underperforming staff and poor communication, and proposes solutions to improve employee motivation, performance, and address grievances. The report emphasizes the importance of recognizing and rewarding employees, fostering a positive work environment, and developing effective communication strategies. The report concludes with a Gantt chart and network diagram to visualize the project plan.

Work based Learning

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................3
TASK 3 ...........................................................................................................................................4
TASK 4 ...........................................................................................................................................7
TASK 5 ...........................................................................................................................................8
TASK 6 ...........................................................................................................................................9
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................10
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................11

INTRODUCTION
Individual professional development plan is an effective report which helps in effectively
improving the desired abilities and knowledge of an individual which in turn helps in effectively
planning the future. Individual professional development plan is useful in effectively outlining
the career goals which in turn helps in attaining desired set of career objective within the set time
frame. This reflective report will highlight on demonstrating future career role and in turn will
also evaluate personal and professional activity which is required for the future career role.
Furthermore, this study also helps in determining and identifying personal and professional
learning and development needs which in turn is required for proposed future career role. This
study helps in gaining a proposed plan which in turn is necessary for evaluating how employee
motivation can be effectively improved. Furthermore, this study helps in determining
recommendable applicable solutions which in turn helps in resolving various issues which are
present within the workforce.
This reflective report will be carried out using Gibbs reflective model which helps
individual to think systematically about certain experiences during specific situation, activity and
event.
TASK 1
As per the Gibbs reflective model, Individual professional development plan is useful in
effectively outlining the career goals which in turn helps in attaining desired set of career
objectives by improving the desired abilities and knowledge of an individual. I want to work as a
Business development manager as an effective career role in the future (Husebø, O'Regan and
Nestel, 2015). The key role and responsibility of business development manager is mainly based
on project management and project strategy which in turn helps in attaining desired set of goals
and objectives. I have an effective training procedure where I need to undergo development of
various personal and professional skills.
As per the Gibbs reflective model, I intend to take responsibility of learning inventory
manual at the workplace which in turn is very useful in carrying out certain activities within set
rules and guidelines. This helps in me in analysing how the particular task will be carried out
which in turn results in higher sustainable growth of the business. I will also focus on seeking
feedback from the supervisors and colleagues which in turn helps in taking corrective action in
order to carry out certain task with utmost accuracy and efficiency. I will develop my skills by
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reading business times magazines which in turn will help me in gaining broader perspective on
the subject matter and will also help me to gain newer insight in order to effectively carry out
certain task (Brown, 2016). I also intend to take responsibility associated with the surveying of
customers which in turn leads to higher sustainable growth and efficiency of the business. I have
to also take responsibility to interview senior staff which in turn helps in gaining better insight on
how to perform certain task in an efficient and systematic manner. As per the Gibbs reflective
model, the key responsibility of mine at the workplace is to effectively contact potential clients
in order to establish rapport and also effectively arrange meetings. I intend to oversee new
marketing initiatives which in turn helps me in planning and develop an understanding on how to
effectively perform the specific task in a systematic and stipulated time frame. I have also
evaluated that the key responsibility of mine at the workplace is to effectively research the whole
organization which in turn helps in improving the working of the business and also finding new
opportunities for the business. I also intend to focus on increasing the value of the current
customers and also develop effective means to attract new ones. I intend to develop various
personal and professional development skills which in turn focuses on effectively creating long
term value for the business through customer, relationship and market. I must also intend to
focus on managing relationship with the employees and customers of the organization. This in
turn helps in reaching higher operational goal and sustainability which leads to long term
professional efficiency, performance and productivity. I must be responsible for scheduling
appointments, delivering presentations and preparing budget which in turn helps in effectively
carrying out various follow up activities (Okamoto and et.al., 2017). As per the Gibbs reflective
model, the key responsibility of mine at the workplace is to effectively create new leads for the
company which in turn helps in higher career growth and development. This in turn helps in
ultimately creating benefit for the business which in turn leads to long term growth and
efficiency of the business. I have learnt to keep my work aligned by meeting goals and objectives
of the company. I have to effectively provide guidance to the employees in order to perform all
the task which in turn leads to higher sustainable efficiency. I also ensure that inventory of the
company are effectively managed which is very useful for completing all the activities of the
company in a professional and systematic manner.
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TASK 2
As per the Gibbs reflective model, I need to have effective communication skills, good
interpersonal skills, development of good business knowledge, tactful and diplomacy skills,
negotiation skills, which in turn is necessary for the effective performance at the workplace. An
individual must also possess creativity and innovation skills, organizational skills, numerical
skills, tactfulness and diplomacy which in turn helps in higher performance and productivity at
the work place (Al-Jubouri and Al-Jubouri, 2019). I have to undergo training associated with the
data analysis which helps in interpreting how the particular business is performing in a
systematic and appropriate manner. I have to also understand technical management processes
and development activities which in turn is necessary for complying with the necessary standards
at work and also results in higher sustainable growth and efficiency of the individual. I need to
have effective sales, marketing and project management skills which in turn is useful in
delivering effective skills and in turn also results in higher operational performance and
productivity of the individual and business. I need to increase my research base and must also
focus on leveraging my own business intelligence in order to per form task within the stipulated
time frame (Kumar, 2016). I need to be self- aware, improve my influencing skills, persuasion
skills and must always be curious to learn and develop which in turn leads to long term
sustainable growth of the business.
As per the Gibbs reflective model, I need to keep client's business on the mind which
leads to attainment of higher operational efficiency and productivity. I need to effectively
develop analytical and technical skills to keep control over the task and activities. I need to
maintain strong relationship with the co- workers in order to add value and build trust in the
organization (Gibbs Reflective Cycle by Graham Gibbs, 2019). I need to focus on developing
skills associated with the quality assurance management. This in turn helps in finding the
deviations and loop wholes in order to perform specific task. I need to develop skills in order to
test the system errors in efficient manner. I also need to develop administrative functions which
helps in carrying out activities associated with the budgeting, planning, staffing, recruiting,
firing, accounting, report writing, competing, resources, etc. This in turn helps company to
function in a legalized manner which in turn leads to long term sustainable growth and efficiency
(Smith and Roberts, 2015). I also need to effectively develop skills associated with the team
staffing which in turn helps in maintaining the right number of staff at the right time with desired
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prospective skills. I need to effectively develop skills associated with the release management
which in turn is mainly responsible for scheduling, planning, controlling, testing, deploying and
enhancing the certain set of activities which in turn is very useful in protecting the integrity of
the existing set of services (Snowdon, 2018). I also need to develop knowledge in various areas
and must also focus on developing skills and knowledge to use specific technology. I have also
analysed that, in order to attain and reach the desired future career role, i.e., business
development manager. I need to develop professional skills associated with the process control
which in turn is very useful in keeping track on the things.
TASK 3
Task Mode Task Name Duration Start Finish Predecessors
Auto
Scheduled Project planning 7 days Mon
11/11/19
Tue
11/19/19
Auto
Scheduled
Identifying reason for
employee demotivation 3 days Mon
11/11/19
Wed
11/13/19
Auto
Scheduled
Identifying opportunities
for enhancing employee
motivation
4 days Thu
11/14/19 Tue 11/19/19 2
Auto
Scheduled Project execution 12 days Wed
11/20/19 Thu 12/5/19
Auto
Scheduled
Communication of roles
and responsibilities to
individual effectively
3 days Wed
11/20/19 Fri 11/22/19 2,3
Auto
Scheduled
Giving effective training
to employees to develop
their skills
7 days Mon
11/25/19 Tue 12/3/19 5
Auto
Scheduled
providing opportunities
to employees to self
manage their task
2 days Wed 12/4/19 Thu 12/5/19 6,3
4

Auto
Scheduled Project monitoring 8 days Mon
11/25/19 Wed 12/4/19
Auto
Scheduled
Addressing employee
concerns 2 days Mon
11/25/19 Tue 11/26/19 3,5
Auto
Scheduled
Giving effective solution
for specific employee
grievance or complaint
2 days Wed
11/27/19
Thu
11/28/19 9
Auto
Scheduled
Employee recognition
and awards 2 days Fri 11/29/19 Mon 12/2/19 9,10
Auto
Scheduled
Fostering better
employer and employee
relationship
4 days Fri 11/29/19 Wed 12/4/19 10
Auto
Scheduled Final closure 3 days Tue 12/3/19 Thu 12/5/19
Auto
Scheduled
Supervising activities of
employees 3 days Tue 12/3/19 Thu 12/5/19 10,11
Gantt chart
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Network Diagram
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TASK 4
As per the Gibbs reflective model, I have evaluated that the major issue faced by the
organization is mainly related with that organization is facing a major difficult time due to
underperformance of the staff. Poor communication is also considered to be a major challenge
which in turn affects quality (Cunningham and Dawes 2016). This also leads to losing loyal
customers to rivalry competitors and high employee turnover which in turn adversely affects the
operations of the business.
As per the Gibbs reflective model, in order to resolve all these issues at the workplace, I
need to focus on motivating employees in the organization to perform the task with higher
enthusiasm, performance and productivity (Schuh, and et.al., 2015). I also need to focus on
giving proper training to the workers which in turn helps in attainment of higher operational
goals and objectives. In order to effectively solve the issue associated with the underperformance
of the staff. I intend to focus on avoiding emotional confrontation and in turn must also focus on
effectively dealing with underperformance of the employees by effectively finding proper
solution for the grievance. I focus on asking questions with the employees whose performance is
declining. I intend to focus on effectively understanding what tends to motivate employees which
in turn results in higher operational performance and productivity. In order to improve the
performance of the employee, I need to focus on recognizing and rewarding employees who are
performing exceptionally well (Mumford, 2016). I need to focus on facts and in turn also focuses
on getting to the roots of the problem in order to resolve the issue from the scratch.
As per the Gibbs reflective model, in order to resolve issue associated with the poor
communication skills within the workplace is by effectively setting a foundation and using
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language which is well understood by both the parties (Gibbs Reflective Cycle by Graham Gibbs,
2019). I intend to avoid using slang and code language which in turn results in misunderstanding
and in turn also results in poor communication among the members. Developing effective
communication and listening skills at workplace tends to result in poor communication. I have
evaluated that, poor communication at workplace is mainly associated with the poor leadership,
unclear objectives, demoralized employees, personal issues, cultural diversity, challenges of
employees, etc. in turn act as a barrier in effective communication. I have sought to analyse the
fact that, improving positive work culture and booting up the morale of the employees leads to
effective communication at the work place (Helyer, 2015).
As per the Gibbs reflective model, in order to resolve issue associated with the losing
loyal customers to rivalry competitors and high employee turnover adversely affects the
operations of the business. In order to reduce the employee turnover at the workplace, I intend to
focus on hiring prospective customers who have desired skills to perform certain task with
utmost efficiency and accuracy. Motivating employees by appreciating them and recognizing
them in turn helps in retaining prospective employees at the workplace (Wall and et.al., 2017). I
also intend to focus on paying major attention to the employee engagement and prioritizing
employee happiness. In order to retain prospective customers, I focus on providing excelling
customer services by maintaining excellent customer support and services which in turn leads to
higher customer base. I also focus on keeping effective website content and promotion of
business through the social media platform sin turn helps in retaining old customers and creating
new which in turn tends to result in higher performance, productivity and profitability for the
business.
TASK 5
As per the Gibbs reflective model, I have evaluated that application of effective solution
to the problem at the workplace in turn helps in improving the performance, productivity,
operations and profitability for the business (Atkinson, 2016). I have evaluated that, application
of systematic professional development plan within the work context helps in resolving issues
associated with the poor communication skills, underperformance of the staff, losing loyal
customers to rivalry competitors and high employee turnover which in turn leads to higher
performance, productivity and profitability for the business. I have effectively monitored the
performance of the employees where they focus on attainment of higher goals and efficiency. I
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have monitored the work and task performed by each individuals. I have analysed and evaluated
that, every individual in the organization are performing task with utmost accuracy and have
clear set of communication in the organization. I have analysed that, company focuses on
developing new set of guidelines in order to carry out task with proper efficiency, accuracy and
sustainability (Rubens, and et.al., 2018). I have also analysed that, company intend to focus on
developing new range of products and focus on targeting customers through effective social
media platforms helps in improving the performance and efficiency of the business. I have also
monitored that all the task of the organization are carried out within prescribed guidelines, rules
and procedures. This in turn helps in reaching set goals of the company within set time frame.
TASK 6
As per the Gibbs reflective model, I have sought to analyse the fact that, I want to
develop my future career role as a Business development manager. I have established that the
key responsibility associated with this role is effective training procedure, learning inventory
manual, seeking feedback from the supervisors and colleagues, reading business times
magazines, surveying of customers and interview senior staff (Gibbs Reflective Cycle by Graham
Gibbs, 2019). I intend to develop various personal and professional development skills which in
turn focuses on effectively creating long term value for the business, scheduling appointments,
delivering presentations and preparing budget managing relationship with the employees and
customers, creating new leads for the company and providing guidance to the employees (Trorey
and Cullingford, 2017). I have also evaluated that, I intend to focus on developing necessary
skills such as effective communication skills, good interpersonal skills, development of good
business knowledge, tactful and diplomacy skills, negotiation skills, innovation skills,
organizational skills, numerical skills, data analysis, increase my research base, leveraging my
own business intelligence. I have to develop skills associated with scheduling, planning,
controlling, testing, deploying and enhancing the certain set of activities and also intend to
develop knowledge in various areas in order to perform all the task with utmost accuracy,
efficiency and productivity. I need to develop professional skills associated with the process
control which in turn is very useful in keeping track on the things.
As per the Gibbs reflective model, In order to improve motivation of employees in the
organization, I intend to focus on evaluating key factors which in turn leads to demotivation of
employees at the workplace. I effectively identify the opportunities for enhancing employee
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motivation which leads to higher performance and productivity at workplace. Communication of
roles and responsibilities to individual effectively helps to boost up the motivation level of
employees at workplace. Giving effective training to employees and providing opportunities to
employees to self manage their task is also an effective measure to boost up the motivation level
of employees at workplace (Cunningham and Dawes 2016). Effective solution for specific
employee grievance or complaint, employee recognition and awards, fostering better employer
and employee relationship in turn helps in enhancing employee motivation which leads to higher
performance and productivity at workplace.
As per the Gibbs reflective model, I have also evaluated major issues associated with the
poor communication skills, underperformance of the staff, losing loyal customers to rivalry
competitors and high employee turnover. In order to resolve such issues effectively, I intend to
focus on motivating employees in the organization, giving proper training to the workers,
avoiding emotional confrontation, finding proper solution for the grievance, recognizing and
rewarding employees, focuses on getting to the roots of the problem in turn results in higher
operational goals and objectives (Al-Jubouri and Al-Jubouri, 2019).
CONCLUSION
From the above study, it has been summarized that, individual professional development
plan helps in effectively improving the desired abilities and knowledge of an individual which
helps in attainment of higher career growth and development of an individual. This study has
helped me develop various personal and professional skills such as good interpersonal skills,
negotiation skills, innovation skills, development of good business knowledge, tactful and
diplomacy skills, organizational skills, numerical skills, data analysis, etc. which in turn helps in
attainment of higher sustainable growth and efficiency of the business. This reflective report also
helps in identifying ways to improve motivation of employees. This individual professional
development plan is useful in determining issues associated with the working of the business and
it helps in identifying recommendable solutions to the problem.
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