Individual Portfolio - Essay Example

Individual Portfolio Number Department Individual Portfolio Self-managed learning can pose significant challenges to almost every student, regardless of one’s brightness or level of motivation. As a way of improving the understanding about the practices involved in this approach to learning, there are four major components of independent learning: showing readiness to learn, establishing learning goals, taking part in the learning process, and assessing learning. I believe different skills and approaches towards education are necessary for effective independent study. Currently my readiness to learn is exemplary; my study habits are fine too, since I have allocated adequate time for my daily independent learning. Besides, my family and the institution of learning are providing me the necessary support I need to learn. In addition, I have learned best practices for individuals who have achieved the most from self-managed learning and I am currently observing my own independence, self-discipline, organization, and interpersonal skills towards success. I am also open for constructive criticisms, which I believe enables me to carry out balanced self-evaluation and reflection. Showing readiness to learn is one of the most important skills required of employees in all organizations. Despite the importance of readiness to learn, individual perceptions about oneself are often skewed in their favour. As Robins (2009) has said, the setting of learning objectives is another important approach to self-managed learning. This should involve the sharing of information between a learner and the responsible, advising member of the faculty. I do carry out constant communication along this line and it may give rise to a learning contract. A learning contract is a comprehensive document containing the course and objectives. Despite the significance of the exchange of communication between a student and the advising faculty, without the input of a lecturer, the much needed close direction will still be lacking and may pose problems in future, especially in an organization with strict supervision. In an effort to carry out effective self-managed learning, I do understand that as a learner I should be well aware of what is required of a student. Understanding that my needs encompass consulting with the advising faculty staff and using different facilities within the institution to my advantage is all that is required of me. These practices will enhance my independence and motivation to learn. Above all, it is important to carry out a self-evaluation and self-reflection of the learning activities to establish whether the set objectives have been met. Despite the importance of this approach to learning, it may be difficult to carry out an effective, balanced self-evaluation (Robins, 2009). My dream organization Owing to my burning ambition to scale up the business leadership ladder up to a managerial position at Walmart, I need organizational skills such as high motivation, outgoing qualities, and building and maintaining teamwork. Because there are adequate chances for entry-level job recruits, I need to possess skills which will enable me work cohesively within existing teams and make clear decisions. In addition, Walmart’s multinational status calls for the demonstration of professional attitudes in order to achieve its organizational goals, especially in multicultural environments: these qualities include: courtesy, amiable traits, positive and cheerful dispositions as well as accommodative traits. Walmart also needs individuals with proper leadership skills, organizational capacities, high level of discipline, and interpersonal skills to achieve adequate goals. I will also need to learn effective problem-solving capacities to serve in entry-level and supervisory positions in the company. As Robins (2009) has stated, courtesy and amiable traits demand mindfulness and interpersonal skills. Moreover, maintaining good moods; arranging tasks in order of their priority and solving simple ones first to avoid backlog of tasks are also handy traits. These skills require professionalism, patience, tolerance and application of reasonableness in the execution of tasks or in the solving of conflicts. Developmental opportunities such as the use of modern communications technologies will improve interpersonal communication and create a global village in which as a manager, I will be exposed to different cultural beliefs from across the world (Dransfield, 2004). In addition, with automated services the previous backlog of cases occasioned by hardcopies will be a thing of the past. In light of these technological leaps, it will be easier to communicate with colleagues, senior executives and subordinates via Skype, Instant messaging, attend webinars and learn global culture at the click of a button. I will therefore learn how to use as many of these technologies as possible for business purposes. Personal development plan Owing to the importance of personal development planning (PDP) to business opportunities that I want to explore in a systematic manner to realize my career goals, I would look into the following goals: a) to assume positions of leadership in major multinationals; b) to become a professional manager with good reputation and result-oriented status in a major business organization; c) to seek the constant support of my family, learning institution, prospective workmates, and the community in achieving these goals by being objective and amiable; d) pressing the right buttons to ascend to the highest positions in business leadership, by observing professionalism at work; and e) being responsible for my life and my studies by shunning destructive behaviours such as substance use or corruption, as these could impede my career development to result in my downfall. Whereas my own learning is aimed at achieving the most out of the PDP goals, time and financial constraints as well as lack of opportunities in the current competitive organizations could impede my wishes. This is especially true considering dynamism of business practices in the global market. In light of these uncertainties, the realization of the most of goals will depend mainly on my effort and to some extent on luck. My revised PDP would be seeking an entry-point position in any competitive multinationals; learn the organizational culture; be innovative and creative; embrace teamwork; enrol for part-time lessons; and embrace professionalism to scale up the corporate ladder. The main problem facing business executives serving in a number of multinationals in the current world is cultural conflict. People are divided along cultural lines such as sexual orientation, religion, language, and race. Exposing students to a multicultural environment during internship, especially if the class is not too diverse to equip them with the necessary skills to remain tolerant to diverse cultures and embrace the unique cultures for the sake of ensuring high productivity in the workplace. Time management is the most important of all activities in life. In my studies and prospective career, the following time management strategies are important: a) making a schedule of all weekly activities; b) spending half of my precious time on thoughts, events and discussions that generate most of the positive results, and c) eliminating distractions such as Facebook, unnecessary phone calls, and other social media when one is busy unless they help advance the business cause (Hopson, & Ledger, 2004). Out of these time management strategies, the most important of them all is to spend a substantial amount of one’s precious time doing meaningful business because it overrides schedules and other strategies. Once adequate time (50%) has been spent on meaningful activities, any more time wasted will not have any remarkable negative impact on one’s overall performance. References Dransfield, R. (2004). Business for Foundation Degrees and Higher Awards. New York: Heinemann. Hopson, B., & Ledger, K. (2004). And What Do You Do?: 10 Steps to Creating a Portfolio Career. London: A&C Black. Robins, M. (2009). Guide to Portfolios: Creating and Using Portfolios for Academic, Career, and Personal Success. New York: Pearson Education. Read More