A Professional Learning Network - Case Study Example

Professional Development Plan

Kathy Lenard

Walden University

Professional Development Plan

In addition to a Professional Learning Network (PLN), it is important to ensure that one develops a suitable approach to facilitate the acquisition of the planned goals through the development of a Professional Development Plan (PDP). The creation of a Professional Development Plan (PDP) is crucial to my development since it will facilitate the acquisition and access to expansive resources geared at promoting my career and personal goals. It is important to note that a Professional Development Plan (PDP) will play an imperative role in promoting the attainment of my propose goals, which were mentioned earlier. The acquisition of different personal and professional goals demands cooperation and coordination between individuals that have similar goals and ambitions.

This paper presents a Professional Development Plan (PDN) that I will employ in the acquisition of my individual goals. It is important to note that I aim at developing my communication skills through the constant communication and use of resources that I will gain in my immediate Professional Learning Network (PLN). Consequently, it is evident that my PDP will play an important role in the promotion of my acquisition of communication skills in the current setting. This can be used in advancing my career and personal goals. Seeking knowledge and socialization have been identified as important aspects in the maintenance of optimal brain health (Nussbaum, 2016). Consequently, constant learning and socialization through the PLN will boost my brain health. In addition, I aim at getting a greater understanding of the various formatting styles that are available, particularly for use in academic and professional communication and writing. This is bound to help me express my ideas in a manner that different individuals can understand and contribute to the advancement of the theoretical concepts that are available in my academic area of focus.

Goal 1: Gain a deeper understanding of business administration

Businesses administration presents a broad area of focus in the academic field. Consequently, it is imperative to develop an open-minded approach in the exploration of different business administration concepts.

Goal 1

The degree that is associated with a Doctor in Business Administration (DBA) presents the highest academic attainment in the business administration field. It is imperative to note that DBA demands the proper and extensive understanding of advanced business administration coursework and research, which exceeds the acquisition of knowledge on the master’s level. Consequently, I aim at advancing my knowledge and skills in business administration through seeking information and research on business administration at the Ph.D. level.

The acquisition of DBA is aimed at the development of business administration knowledge through applied research in contrast to theoretical research, particularly in the phase that demands the development of a thesis. I wish to advance my knowledge and skills in business administration through increasing my knowledge and influencing my approach in business administration. Casse (2014) acknowledges the importance of increasing knowledge in the development of a proper business approach in any setting. The acquisition of a DBA will give me proper applied business administration skills that I can employ in the business administration setting. I wish to contribute to the development of knowledge through conducting extensive research in the field.

In order to attain this goal, I will seek information on different concepts in the business administration field through conducting proper research in the area. In addition, I will also interact with professional players in the field, including tutors and professionals that will play an integral role in the advancement of my professional area of focus, in reference to my proposed research in the field. I will utilize various online and offline databases to seek information and scholarly perspectives in business administration, including social media sites such as Facebook that have proven to be interactive platforms in the contemporary world.

Social media presents a platform for professionals and contributors in the business administration field to interact and share ideas. I will use different social media platforms such as Facebook, Linked Inn and Twitter to communicate with professionals in my PLN. In addition, I will also be on the lookout the identify the carious trends in the business administration field to enhance the selection of my area of focus with regard to research in business administration.

One of my strengths is my ability to be flexible in different scenarios. Social media will enhance my flexibility since I can access various social media platforms at any geographical location. In addition, I will be able to communicate freely with different individuals all over the world. One of my significant weaknesses, fear, will be solved since I do not have to meet with individuals in person, which may limit my ability to communicate. Hence, I can counter other people’s opinions after much consideration and thinking in contrast to meeting with individuals in person.

Timeline

September to November: Research on suitable technological platforms and social media platforms

October: Identify members of my PLN

November: Contact members of my PLN

November: Join suitable social media platforms

November to completion of my DBA: Maintain constant contact with members of my PLN and remain active on different communication platforms.

Goal 2: Acquire better communication skills

The development of proper communication skills is imperative in the advancement of my ability to convey my ideas among my peers. The primary limitation in reference to my communication skills is my lack of confidence in my communication skills. Bartley (2013) notes the importance of a cross-cultural interaction in optimizing the communication skills of an individual. Consequently, I aim at advancing my communication skills to enable me to develop a suitable level of confidence that I can then employ to share ideas and develop my professional and personal life. It is important to note that the advancement of my communication skills will ensure that I am able to share different ideas that are associated with business administration. Consequently, I will be able to express my hypotheses for different proposed studies to my peers and different stakeholders in the business administration field.

Goal 2 Narrative

The development of proper communication skills presents one of my most important goals during the acquisition of my DBA. I will seek to advance both my written and spoken communication through constant interaction with individuals in my PLN. This will ensure that I am able to articulate various issues and perspectives in my academic area of focus with both professionals and laymen in the field.

My primary motivation to improve my communication skills is to enhance my ability to express my ideas and explain various concepts in business administration. My primary career goal is to advance the knowledge that is available in the field and transform into an educator that can assist various individuals develop their knowledge and skills in business administration. Consequently, proper communication skills will be imperative in ensuring that there is minimal miscommunication and proper articulation of my ideas in the business administration field.

The main strategy that will help me advance my communication skills is the constant written and spoken communication with individuals in my PLN. Kim, Heo, Lee, Suh, & Kim (2014) observes that cross-cultural associations that are demonstrated between members of varying ethnicities and races optimizes intergroup associations. I will seek to constantly communicate with my peers and individuals in my PLN through written and spoken word, despite the presence of errors. I hope to gradually decrease my errors in my spoken and written communication to enhance the advancement of the articulation of my ideas in the business administration field.

Technology is imperative in the advancement of my communication skills. I will utilize technology to communicate with individuals in my PLN through various channels such as email and social media. In addition, I will seek information on advice on the appropriate communication approach when I face conflicting scenarios such as confusion on the proper spelling of a certain word.

I acknowledge that I have good listening skills, hence, I will be willing and ready to employ the various modifications that are suggested by individuals in my PLN in reference to my communication skills. However, I am limited by my poor time management skills that may cause loss of valuable time through deviating from my major goals, particularly when I access social media sites.

Timeline

September to November: Research on suitable technological platforms and social media platforms

October: Identify members of my PLN

November: Contact members of my PLN

November: Join suitable social media platforms

November to completion of my DBA: Maintain constant contact with members of my PLN and remain active on different communication platforms.

Goal 3: Gain excellent researching skills that involve citing and referencing in all the appropriate format

The development of proper researching skills is imperative in any professional discourse. Business administration presents a unique field that encompasses different fields and academic research areas in the contemporary world. Therefore, I will aim at advancing my research skills through seeking more information and assistance in reference to the acquisition of proper referencing styles and proper citing of information. This will ensure that I acknowledge different contributors to the business administration field, particularly the development of my thesis and research for the proposed area of study.

Goal 3 Narrative

The development of suitable researching skills is imperative in any profession, particularly at advanced levels such as at the Ph.D. level. Proper referencing and formatting skills are important in the advancement of professional and personal goals since various platforms such as conferences demand scholarly writing.

Pablo-Lerchundi, Núñez-del-Río, & González-Tirados (2015) notes the satisfaction that is derived from contributing knowledge to one’s field in any career. My primary motivation to seek advancement of my research skills is to ensure optimal communication of my research findings in different areas of focus in the business administration field. The development of proper researching skills will ensure that I deliver my findings in an understandable and suitable manner, which can enhance interpretation of my work by different stakeholders in the business administration field.

In order to enhance my researching skills, I will seek information and guidelines from various websites and platforms. I will utilize my PLN to facilitate consultation on appropriate researching approaches, including the different formatting styles available. Technological tools such as YouTube will prove imperative in the advancement of my researching skills through offering a platform where I can seek professional guidance through tutorials on various researching skills that I may wish to perfect

Technological tools will help me communicate with different advanced researchers that have vast experience in research. This will help me develop my research skills that may be limited I comparison to those of various advanced researchers. Social media provides an imperative platform where people can share ideas and seek answers to questions. Consequently, I will utilize various social media platforms to seek information and answers on researching approaches such as appropriate referencing through joining the relevant groups and social media platforms.

My flexibility presents one of my primary strengths, consequently, technology enhances my ability to access information and share ideas from different geographical locations. I will seek to remain focused considering my poor time management skills to avoid deviation from my primary area of focus, particularly when accessing social media sites.

Timeline

September to November: Research on suitable technological platforms and social media platforms

October: Identify members of my PLN

November: Contact members of my PLN

November: Join suitable social media platforms

November to completion of my DBA: Maintain constant contact with members of my PLN and remain active on different communication platforms.

Conclusion

The paper proposes the mechanism that can be employed to utilize the acquired PLN in the advancement of my professional and personal goals. The identification of my professional and personal goal is imperative in the development of a suitable approach and selection of individuals that I can include in my PLN. The individuals that were identified in my week 4 assignment will remain imperative in the advancement of my professional and personal goals. However, I will seek to advance my researching and communication skills through sharing resources and constantly communicating with individuals in my PLN.

My primary goal, in the development of my PLN, is the advancement of my knowledge on business administration. Consequently, all the individuals that have been identified as potential candidates of my PLN present significant players that will help me attain my goals through constant communication and sharing of ideas, sharing of different resources on the subject, research and communication skills and consultation. This will assist me to advance my professional and personal development through the acquisition of the proposed skills rendering me more marketable and suitable as an academic scholar in the business administration discourse.