Educational Experience - Coursework Example

1. Reflections on Educational Experience How satisfied are you with your performance on the degree so far? (110 WORDS) While I believe that I am going fine at the moment, I also realize that there are several areas in which I could find myself in a better position. For example, although my verbal communication skills are strong, I feel that further development of these skills could help me professionally as well as in terms of my education. I am also quite aware of some gaps in my ability to communicate well verbally which means I have to work on writing better reports and developing these skills as well. One last area in which I need to work on is my issue of procrastination and leaving things to the last minute for which I believe I need to learn better time management. How do you explain your overall performance so far? ( 80 WORDS ) In terms of overall performance, I feel that I have done quite well and my overall performance has been satisfactory for me. I do not feel that I have been treated unfairly or that I have met with more than the usual difficulties which helps me realize that the improvements I need have to come from within rather than from outside sources. This is a great motivator for my performance because I feel that I have all the resources within me and just need to bring them up to use when the moment comes for it. What do you want to STOP doing that will help or maintain your performance? ( 100 WORDS ) In one word, procrastination. Leaving things to the last minute makes me feel stressed but at the same time, I perform better under stress rather than knowing that there is still plenty of time remaining to complete a given project. I need to stop letting time slip out of my hands and start working on whatever I need to do without creating artificial delays. Further, I feel that I should stop putting too much time on my entertainment and relaxation needs since I find that time often melts away if I am too engaged in a good book or listening to music wash over me. What do you want to CONTINUE to do that will help or maintain your performance? (Select no more than two things and explain why you think these are critical).(80 WORDS) My ability to work under stress and give excellent output in bursts of creativity is something I would want to continue as a natural skill that has developed within me. Secondly, I believe that my ability to comprehend difficult material by slowly reading through it and creating my own examples in my mind is something which would certainly help me maintain my performance levels. These are the two elements which I certainly want to continue with as I progress through my studies and further in my career. What do you want to START doing that will help or maintain your performance? (Select no more than two things and explain why you think these are critical). (110 WORDS) The first thing that I feel I need to start doing is learning how to use time management skills and set mental alarms for myself which are based on time and date that allow me to set my own deadlines for the completion of certain phases of my schoolwork. While I know this must be done, I am perhaps unable to understand how it should be done. Secondly, I believe that if I start using my friends and close circles to help me being better prepared to handle my procrastination, it might help my cause and bring me closer to my objective of not letting things rest till the last minute. Indicate what kind of jobs or courses you hope to take up within 6 months of graduating (80 words) Since my pathway is Business Management/Small Business I feel that finance and management related courses would be essential for me in the next six months. Even after I graduate, I plan to continue my educational qualifications in terms of certificates and training courses since I believe that the field is developing rapidly and new mechanisms for dealing with old problems can be quite beneficial to those who know them. Thus, I plan to keep learning how money matters and management issues impact the small business world since the lessons learnt from small business can certainly be applied to big corporations and giant companies as well. Explain why you have made the choices you have indicated above. (170 WORDS) The choice of studying about small businesses and the management of business in general was made because I had always been interested in it and I understand that it can be a very good career choice. The reason I would want to continue my education through training and other courses is that I want to be very aware of the positive developments that are taking place in the business world. Even the current financial crisis has real world business implications that effect both small and large businesses and this means that those who understand the financial world are at a much better position in terms of dealing with financial crises. Those who do not have a deeper understanding of why we have a crisis and what could be done to get out of it would have to rely on what they are told rather than fully understanding what is happening in the market. In terms of management, as the field develops, it is certain to bring out new theories which allow for better management practices and let managers obtain more productivity and performance out of the people they are managing. Therefore, I feel it is essential for a true professional to continue learning as long as s/he is alive. Are you intending to take the Project module next semester? YES/NO Yes Table 1. What is the topic of your research project? (In not more than 15 words). Lessons for Big Business from Small Companies. What is your research question? (In not more than 20 words). What techniques used by small companies can serve as business tactics for larger organizations. What are your research objectives? (70 words in all the 5 objectives) Find out what makes small companies behave in a more agile manner than their larger counterparts Discover what lessons small companies can teach larger organizations See what happens when large companies behave like smaller organizations. Analyze the business benefits of this behavior Suggest means by which the techniques and practices used by small companies can be translated to big business Table 2. Personal objectives for the next 12 months that will help you in your career. State only 3. Objective 1: (20 words) Start looking for a permanent position in the field of management with a company that is dynamic and growing. Action(s) to be taken to achieve this objective: (20 words) I will need to contact recruiters and start sending out my CV to ensure that I have visibility with those looking to hire. When will you do these actions? (30 words) These Actions are already underway since my resume is being written and worked upon by me. However, I feel that I still need to polish it a little before I am comfortable enough to start sending it to companies that I am interested in. Objective 2: (30 words) Once I have obtained a permanent position, I need to find some relevant educational services and training providers in the region so that I can continue to develop my management related skills. Action(s) to be taken to achieve this objective: (30 words) I need to find a job close to an urban centre since it is likely that the urban centres would have training institutes of repute while not being too far from the place where I intent to work. When will you do these actions? As soon as I have accepted a position with a company. Objective 3: ( 20 words) Revaluate my position with the company I have worked at for six months and make a reasonable judgement as to continue working for it or look for a change in my situation. Action(s) to be taken to achieve this objective: (20 words) I need to make sure that my performance at the company is not lacking and that I am giving a 100 percent at work. When will you do these actions? I need to have at least two or three performance appraisals to be sure if my continued presence at the company is valuable and beneficial for all concerned parties. This could that six months or more in terms of time. Read More