Personal Development Plan for the Master's Skills - Admission/Application Essay Example

 REPORT ABOUT PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN (P.D.P) FOR THE MASTERS SKILLS Introduction It is important to highlight that this paper delves in the discussion of the personal development plan for the masters’ skill. A plan is an arrangement in advance that is conducted to ensure that the set targets are achieved. It is quite in order to work with some kind of schedule so as to ensure that all the right steps are followed to the latter for the effectiveness of the project in question. In this paper, it is very much clear that it would envisage most of the discussion in personal terms owing to the fact that it is based on personal plans for better development in the skills in masters (Becker, 2004, page 523). There are various skills that many employees or institutions put into consideration. These are therefore well discussed in the paper concerning the ideal as that would assist me in the development of masters’ plan. In this therefore, it is important to note that for the planning to be more effective, I would therefore prepare a well outlined schedule for my schedules. Owing to the fact that all factors and actions must be carried out within a span of time, it is therefore very much important to plan and have a schedule that will follow during the masters to enable me acquire all the required skill at different times for the outcome of my second degree to be productive and of some quality value attached (Cryer, 2007,page 672) It is important to highlight that time management is a vital skill that most of the people tend to be conversant with because of the need. There are various skills that are considered to be effective in respect to the management of time. In this situation therefore, it is in order that I prioritize and make a list of all the plans of the day that in which I will find myself undertaking. I will as well manage my time by avoiding carrying forward activities in the name of procrastination (McCormack, & Slaght, 2005, page 271). This is actually the thief of time and can seriously lead to me wasting much time and not doing what would have been done. This therefore will call for the need for me to concentrate on one task at a time to avoid being exhausted that would probably make you to push for various activities. It will as well be in order that I set targets and deadlines for all the matters plans that I have o undertake. I will therefore be stimulated and work towards the achievement of these (Whisker, 2008, page 391). It is important to highlight that it would not be an undermining as well as understatement if it is said that I developed passion for business management when I was at the at the age of 10 years, though at that age I certainly did not perceive it that way as I come from a long ancestral line of merchants and entrepreneurs. The family lineage is a very important step and a motivational factor in any move one would prefer to take (Davies, 2011,page 281). This is so because of two reasons. If the family was strong and made of various industrious and full of ambitious and wealthy people who are at the same time rich motivates a lot. This is because as the young children grow, they see the wealth and the background as a strong foundation thereby making them work o sustain or to be much better that where the family is (Lowes, Peters, and Turner, 2004, page 729). This is what motivated me in my plan for the development of the masters’ plan. The other category is those who work hard to help in the eradication of the poverty that has engulfed the family lineage. They would therefore work harder to make the family be of some average status. To us, the Arabs, business or trade is something we have been attached to or associated with for more than decades and even centuries. In the Arabian Peninsula the art of trading has been passed down the generations (Bryman, & Bell, 2010, page 193). My family was no different. My father, in addition to owning his own business, used to work as a business consultant for another firm as well. Keeping up this family 'tradition' was my father's pride and joy. It clearly motivated me as well as to make sure that the family businesses are as well kept on top by making them quite successful as the father had wanted them to be. This is a traditional way of passing the whole initiative from one generation to another (Clough, & Nutbrown, 2002) On the view of this, I on the other hand, loathed the idea of dealing with deals which has to do with the family business. This is primarily because it kept me from playing video games! Further, I also had to help in my uncles' business as well, which meant that I was a busy child. Now that I think about it, I did nothing more than a kid my age would have done if they were in my position. Yet in those days accompanying my father to the docks to receive imports, making sure all the items on paper were on board (and in good condition), stocking up the shelves, listening to my father's long lectures about the trade and so on were mind numbing (Creswell, 2003, page 562). It is important to reiterate that at the age of 14, I genuinely started to develop and feel some affinity with managing a business. Of course I was nowhere near to be able managing a business, however as my father and sometimes my uncle started taking me to different countries in order to buy goods and export them back to home, I started, though I did not want to admit it then, to really enjoyed it (Cooper, & Schindler, 2003,page 572) I saw it as an adventure. India, Bangladesh, Morocco, China, I was mesmerized and astonished at the range of cultures I came across and the various goods we were buying. I started thinking of myself as a mini-entrepreneur. This instilled in me the fascination of trade, commerce, and finance and led me to spend my free time on the internet trying to learn more about the business world I once hated. The business knowledge that was posted in the various business websites in the internet similarly made me to develop more interest in the business field and I found myself being in the business industry. This was a great joy that was seen in the family based on the tradition that was kind of hereditary for the case or Arabians (Denzin, & Lincoln, 2000, page 981). Having developed the full interest in the business world, in my late teens I was fully engaged in the family business, and because I was the oldest of my siblings, it was my responsibility with the fact that my father was no longer there. After high school, having widely consulted with some my teachers, I decided to study finance for my first degree before completing Masters in Business Administration for my second degree (Ghauri, & Gronhaug, 2010, page 142). Needless to say, my father's eyes lit up with joy knowing now that I will eventually be taking over the family business. But I had other plans; to start my own business from scratch before thinking of taking over the family business. My father agreed, may be because he did not want me to retire early. Hence I enrolled to London Metropolitan University to study Finance (Grix, 2004, page 420). I had a terrible first year in my studies in London Metropolitan University. New city, people, curriculum and to top them all my English skills was appalling for the university level. The awful weather also did not help. However, as Confucius says, "Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but on getting up every time we do" so I kept getting up after every fall. I spent hours in the library learning new words from my business dictionary (Robson, 2002, page 173). I also started to read books in order to improve my command over the English language and I had to read and re-read the pages of the books recommended in my module booklets to make sure that I fully understood them. Needless to say, in my second and third year I was reaping the fruits of my labor (Easterby-Smith, Thorpe, & Lowe, 2002, 283). Those final two years, though academically a lot more challenging than the first, were the best years. I was enjoying university life and life in London in general, except the weather of course! I started seeing Finance (and the world of business as a whole) in a different light; a world full of theories, formulas and assumptions. A world completely different from the one I envisioned being a part of when I decided to enter the business sector in university as an adolescent, but one I thoroughly enjoyed (Brewerton , & Millward, 2001, page 820) I believe that my first hand experience and academic track record of first degree can propel me to do well in my second degree. The fact that I thoroughly enjoyed completing the first degree and aim to do the same in the second is also an axle of my motivation. Furthermore, I believe that in completing Masters in Business Administration I will not only have the foundation but also an advanced knowledge of the 'powers' that work in business (Blaxter, Hughes, and Tight, 2006, page 912). As I write this personal statement and look back at how far I have come from, I think it is more appropriate to say that I am writing a mini-personal history. In retrospect of the challenges I faced during the completion of my Businesses Administration Finance, I firmly believe that I can triumph over whatever a Masters degree in Business Administration has in store for me. It is important to highlight that I am a very industrious person who can help in the transformation of a business enterprise positively with double digits (Rees, & Porter, 2001, page 457). Lowes, R., Peters, H. and Turner, M. (2004), The international student’s guide: Studying in English at university, the book delves on equipping the students with better communication skills especially in linguistics for better understanding. Communication is a very vital technique in sales and marketing bearing in mind that all interactions in mind possess some kind of marketing. The table below clear illustrates the various abilities that I possess up to this far (Seely, 2005, page 326). Skills and definitions 1 2 3 4 5 1. Self motivation Having energy and enthusiasm in pursuing goals I am good in motivating myself by not losing hope or giving up no matter the situation 2. Flexibility/adaptability Being able to respond willingly to changing plans and modifying behavior to new situations. I am a very flexible individual who respond and adapt quickly to changes to meet any demand or need. 3. Communication (verbal) Using speech to express ideas and give information or explanations effectively. Listening skills I am very clear in my speech and fluent in language and speech delivery 4. Teamwork Working well with others in order to achieve a common objective I am a strong advocate for integration for the total realization of the mission and set targets 5. Initiative Having the vision to see opportunities and to set and achieve goals independently. I am a very ambitious fellow who focuses, sees opportunities and plan to maximize and optimize from the gap 6. Numeracy Competence and understanding of numerical data, statistics and graphs I am competent in the interpretation and presentation of statistical works and figures 7. Literacy The ability to read, write, listen and comprehend. Understanding of grammar and use of vocabulary I am an educated person who is literate and can clearly read and wrtite 8. Communication (written) Being able to produce grammatical, well expressed, easily understood and interesting text. I am confident in the linguistics area as I can effectively communicate without grammatical errors 9. Commitment to learning A willingness to continue learning in order to update relevant knowledge and further develop skills I am dedicatyed to learning to enable me progress o the knowledge related to the achieving the set mission 10. Commercial awareness An understanding of how businesses operate to achieve corporate goals successfully I am always very active in the business world and tend to be informed in all the ways concerning the contemporary market trends and finding ways to meet them. 11. Time management Ability to manage tasks effectively and meet deadlines I am confident in this as I am ever time conscious owing tithe fact that I value time and consider it precious 12. Leadership Able to motivate and encourage others, whilst taking the lead I am good at appreciating others and motivating them to lead for the better of the organization 13. Problem solving Thinking things through in a logical way in order to determine key issues and solutions. I possess good problem solving skills by carefully identifying the problems from the cause tio the way of coming up with remedies 14. Personal presentation/self promotion Knowing your strengths and skills and having the confidence to put these across. Self awareness. My strength is the creativity by either improving the quality of products or using very unique sales methods to attract and retain clients 15. Analytical skills The ability to identify and critically evaluate and interpret a wide range of data from a variety of sources I possess good analytical skills, interpret and then come up with the best possible way for the data. 16. Independence Having the ability and confidence to make decisions for ones self. I am very good in this area especially in the cases that quick measures are needed 17. Negotiating and influencing skills The ability to hold a discussion to reach a position of mutual satisfaction and agreement. I am very much confident in this area as I have done it I several times in and it was very effective in the success of my business enterprise. 18. Decision making Identifying options, evaluating them and then choosing the most appropriate I am a very diligent person in decision making based on the fact that I critically think, consult and then make appropriate decision. 19. Innovation Confidence in introducing new ideas and practices. Taking informed risks. Creative. As an entrepreneur, one must be very creative and innovative in coming up with new projects concepts in the business world thereby making you to be very conspicuous. This is a good skill that I developed especially through the internet. 20. IT skills Understanding and being able to use a range of software such as word processing, databases and spreadsheets I am well equipped with the IT skills owing to the fact that I had pursued a course in computer during my holidays way back in high school 21. Presentation skills Formally present information to large and small audiences using a range of media I am reasonably confident in this area and I can effectively make the intended message be passed and reach the audience as desired. 22. Office skills Familiar with office practices and cultures. Telephone, keyboard and effective interpersonal skills I am fully conversant with how to operate these office equipments and i have good interpersonal skills. 23. Foreign Languages written and oral expertise Satisfactory in the that I feel I have some limited experience in this area but would feel more confident if my level of ability was higher It is therefore very much in order that I get all the relevant skills to enable me grow positively for the better of the dream. Davies, L. (2011) in his book, Study Skills for International Post Graduates discusses on the effective ways that can be employed in the development of the masters’ skills. Another skill that is discussed clearly in the book is the interpersonal relationship during the masters. This is because there will be several projects that would require sharing of knowledge for them to be realized (Lee, & Bailey, 2007, page 34) Analysis and evaluation of the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) In this analysis, it is important to reiterate that my strength is in the strict follow up of all the schedules that I have in place have programs and my activities are guided by that I stick to them. One factor that is always treat as my weakness is that I am very much slow to changes that are not in my interest but are scheduled by other. This is because they can clash with the other schedules that I have in place. I am very aggressive for opportunities and always try to find any possible gap in any situation and get resources necessary to produce what can be used in satisfying the gap in the market or knowledge. The factor that again I pay a lot of concern over is competition and that is the threat that I try to use as a stepping stone in ensuring quality delivery(Bryman, & Bell, 2010, page 191). Conclusion In conclusion, it can be said that the masters skills can help me in the getting of further knowledge that I can use in the making of the businesses that I run with the right skills and knowledge so that I continue delivering quality products to the consumers to satisfy their wants and needs (Easterby-Smith, Thorpe, & Lowe, 2002, 423). References Becker, L. (2004) How to manage your post graduate course. Basingstoke: Palgrave. Blaxter L., Hughes, C. and Tight, M. (2006) How to research, 3rd ed., Maidenhead: Open University Press. Bryman A. & Bell E. (2010) Business Research Methods, London: Oxford University Press Brewerton P. & Millward L. 2001, Organizational Research methods. A Guide for Students and Researchers, London: Sage Clough P. & Nutbrown, C. (2002), A Student’s Guide to Methodology, London: Sage, page, 23. Cooper, D. & Schindler, P.S. (2003) Business research methods. 8th ed., London: McGraw-Hill/Irwin, page 432. Creswell, J. W. (2003) Research design: qualitative, quantitative and mixed method approaches. 2nd ed., London: Sage, page 214. Cryer, P. (2007) The research student’s guide to success. 3rd ed., Maidenhead: Open University Press, page 534. Denzin, N.K. & Lincoln, Y.S. (eds.) (2000) Handbook of qualitative research. 2nd ed., London: Sage., page 291. Lee D., L. & Bailey, S. (2007) Developing work and study skills. London: Thomson, page 324. Rees, W.D. & Porter C. (2001) The skills of management. 5th ed., London: Thomson, Learning. page 43. Seely J. (2005) The Oxford guide to effective writing and speaking. 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press, page 687. Swales, J. M. & Feak C.B. (2004) Academic writing for graduate students, essential skills and tasks. 2nd ed., Ann Arbor Michigan: University of Michigan Press, page 325. Wisker, G. (2008) The Postgraduate research handbook.2nd ed., London: Palgrave, page 903. Davies, L. (2011) Study Skills for International Post Graduates, London: Palgrave, page 576. Easterby-Smith, M., Thorpe, R. & Lowe, A. (2002) Management research. London: Sage, page 492. Ghauri, P.N. & Gronhaug, K. (2010). Research methods in business studies: a practical guide. 4th ed., Harlow: Pearson Education, page 142. Grix, J. (2004) The foundations of research. London: Palgrave, page 459. Lowes, R., Peters, H. and Turner, M. (2004) The international student’s guide. Studying in English at university. London: Sage, page 934. McCormack J. & Slaght J. (2005) English for academic study: extended writing and research skills. London: Garnett Education, page 339. Robson, C. (2002) Real world research: a resource for social scientists and practitioner-researchers. 2nd ed., Oxford: Blackwell, page 221. Read More