Personal Professional and Academic Effectiveness - Coursework Example

WEEK 1: UNDERSTANDING YOUR EMPLOYABILITY (SWOT analysis) Strengths I have good communication and interaction skills that can work as a strong foundation for positive employee relationships. The client and employee connections will ensure constant communication with the superiors that will aid in making rational decisions. Communication will also enhance bonds with clients leading to collection of feedbacks. I am also very creative; hence will impress the clients at first sight. The creativity will also assist me in answering questions raised by the customers that are aimed at brand quality. I also have qualities in asking the right questions and analyzing the answers to assist me in adopting the perfect approach to market the firm’s brand to the customer. Weaknesses I have an extra motivating factor that includes the need to finish the allocated work faster than in the allocated time. As a result, the quality of the final work may not be to the expected standards. However, in the case of extended deadlines, I can recover from my setbacks. Moreover, the need to complete all jobs at the same time also builds up stress in me without my knowledge and affects my assignments. I also get nervous especially when presenting ideas to new clients or to the senior management. Making presentations in large populations also makes me nervous; hence taking aware my perfection and focus on the assigned job. Opportunities I will be attending a management conference that will assist me in laying out ideas and approaches that will contribute positively to the firm. It will also help in my social and networking skills that will build perfect teamwork skills. One of our rival firms has started treating some of the low class employees poorly and threatening their positions. That will reduce their productivity and also act as an opportunity for our firm to increase production and quality. The firm’s sales assistant manager will leave for a business meeting abroad for one month. Taking over his duties will assist me to develop my career and enhance my experience in the sales and marketing field. It will also assist me to learn leadership skills and different ways of bonding with the junior employees. Threats Due to the recent strategy to retrench some of the workers, I feel overworked since I have to attend to more activities. The extra work leads to a lack of motivation and affects my creativity and work quality. The harsh economic trends have resulted to change in the firms approaches to ensure its profit maximization. The changes may lead the firm to adopt more cutback strategies such as retrenchment to reduce operational costs. WEEK 2: THINKING SKILLS (compare and contrast) The fist article focuses more on globalization and technological advancement and its impact on U.K universities. Competition from other advanced universities should lead varsities to embrace online education. The writer also stipulates that online education should be approached as a threat and opportunity. Lack of diversity in U.K top universities may affect the quality of education compared to other global universities offering online courses. Opportunities will be in various forms to both the school and the students. The universities will maximize their profits due to increased coverage while the students will advance in their courses without the need to attend classes directly. The author has also presented complacency and timidity as the main threats that are preventing diversity in the educational sector. Varsity leaders are satisfied with the current learning trends and lack courage to venture in online programs. The second article highlights the current universities and refers to them as ‘traditional’ due to their resistance to change. The author wants British universities to invest in online education and get recognized globally. All universities are victims despite their influential levels and profit accumulation from the students. It also stipulates that competition originates from U.S universities that have programs of presenting free online courses. The author has provided models that should be adopted by British Universities. They include the mass university, the elite institution, and the local university dealing with educating mature learners. WEEK 3 & 4: RESEARCH SKILLS Topic: technological impacts in the society Source 1 (Journal): – it was found through searching the key words in Google Scholar that offers a range of articles from books and journals. Ferreira, Jorge Brantes, Angela Da Rocha, and Jorge Ferreira Da Silva. "Impacts of Technology Readiness on Emotions and Cognition in Brazil." Journal of Business Research 67.5: 865–873. Print. The article explores the acceptance of technology in Brazil by consumers. The model shows the relationship between cognitive behaviors and the readiness to adopt technology in Brazil due to the different impacts in the society. Source 2 (Book) – it was found through access of the school’s library Hutchby, Ian, and Jo Moran-Ellis. Children, Technology and Culture: The Impacts of Technologies in Children's Everyday Lives. U.K: Routledge, 2013. Print. It has in-depth data on the effects of technology on modern day children. It also provides data on the current trends on how children adopt and respond to technological gadgets in their homes. Technology has caused various changes in cultural bonds. Source 3 (Book) – it was also found in the school library under the business department. Marshall, Kimball, and William Piper. Government Policy and Program Impacts on Technology Development Transfer and Commercialization: International Perspectives. U.K: Routledge, 2013. Print. The book provides information on ways that the government has responded to technology through policies and programs. The policies ensure that technology is used to increase production. Source 4 (Website) – it was found through Google search of various key words in the topic Richardson, Bill. "Clean Power Plan a Win All-Around." The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 9 Dec. 2014. Web. 10 Dec. 2014. . It presents information on ways that technology can be adopted to provide clean energy and avoid pollution. The article explains different approaches of technology in the provision of clean power that does not include carbon dioxide emissions. Source 5 (Website) – it was also accessed through a Google search of major words. Rowan, Cris. "The Impact of Technology on the Developing Child." The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 29 May 2013. Web. 10 Dec. 2014. . The article provides in-depth information on the impacts of technology on the modern day child. Most children in developed countries are brought up in technologically advanced homes. Technology affects their social and personal relationships. WEEK 6: CROSS CULTURAL RELATIONSHIPS Social and cultural relations are part of the modern day society. They have been caused by globalization and advancement in technology whereby individuals can freely relate and move to different geographical locations. The cross-cultural relationships have taught me that there are different impacts that arise from the relations. However, most relationships have positive impacts that include exchange of cultural values and beliefs; hence causing changes in individuals. Interactions lead to formations of groups and teams in social places such as schools. I have gained knowledge on the benefits of group formations at school whereby I can access more knowledge from friends in different cultures. The exchange of cultural knowledge leads to acumen and rational judgment of different situations. For example, one culture may naturally acquire qualities that lead to its success in education. Interacting with such as culture will assist me in learning more ways for the improvement school performance. Additionally, the feeding habits vary depending on cultures. Cross-cultural relationships will assist in exploring other diets that have positive effects. For example, a certain culture may have healthy diet that lead to their improved health standards. Interacting with such societies will enhance health in the present societies. Cross-cultural relationships at work places have positive impacts. Research explains that working in a culturally diversified workplace has a high possibility for increased production. The different cultures bond well leading to group and interpersonal relationships. Some cultures have values that call for hard work and are naturally known to have motivations that increase their productivity. Interacting with these cultures will serve as motivational factors at the workplace whereby I can cooperate with them and increase my output. Interaction between cultures promotes equality; hence creating a feeling of satisfaction. Social institutions such as schools and workplaces should embrace cultural interactions since it will boost personal confidence. A school that adopts cultural integration has higher rates of self-confidence because the smaller culture does not feel left out. I have also gained skills in the peaceful impacts of cross-cultural relationships. A society that embraces cultural interaction is more peaceful than in single cultured societies. The interaction between various cultures causes the individuals to forget their cultural backgrounds and start adopting new styles. The adoption process acts as a peaceful approach whereby individuals embrace love rather than hatred. Notably, the interactions reduce personal differences and assume the group mentality. Cultural interactions lead to exchanges in social activities. The activities can be embraced by students during their free time. They include reading, engaging in income generating activities and physical fitness. The activities will reduce the crime rates and other social ills that are caused by peer pressure. However, the interaction process should be approached carefully since some cultures are known for their bad behaviors. Cross-cultural interactions also assist in globalization and social integration. It occurs when developed cultures interact with radical cultures. For example, interaction will assist in transferring technological advances to other cultures with the aim of better and healthy lives. Developed cultures interact with those from third world countries causing changes in the health and other social amenities. As a result, the interactions have positive influences on mankind. Finally, the interaction processes should be approached in the right styles without the aim of erasing some cultural beliefs. For example, some cultures have deep backgrounds that act as their identity. Interaction with these cultures should not affect their ways of life. WEEK 7 & 8: WRITING SKILLS Essay plan Thesis statement: The advancement in technology has led to both negative and positive impacts in the society. Key points: Society: Technology has been adopted in almost all societies through various methods. It has led to social connection and integration through the use of various devices. It has also facilitated the use of social platforms such as Twitter and Facebook through internet connectivity. Business and infrastructure: Technology has contributed to the industrial and production sectors leading to increased productivity. The advances have also assisted in the transport and communication sectors leading to globalization. The presence of fast and sophisticated planes has facilitated transportation between continents. Adoption of technology in production sector has led to perfection and improvement of quality and quantity. Education: Technology has transformed the education sector through simplifying learning approaches. Most institutions offer online programs that facilitate students from different areas to gain knowledge without attending classes. There are also online platforms and libraries that can be accessed by students despite their locations. However, it has also led to lack of interest in students due to laziness instilled by the use of gadgets during learning. Healthcare: This sector has benefited from technological advances. Medical research has been enhanced through adoption of technology. There has been introduction of lifesaving machines and other devices used during medical procedures. Hospital records and management have also been transformed by technology. Online tools have also been adopted to track individual health and provide information on various diseases. WEEK 9: PREPARATION FOR EXAMS The exam, being end of semester, will take two hours. It will contain seven questions and I am required to answer only three. It should cover all the course work from the semester’s first to the last week. The course outline will provide more information on the areas of exam coverage. The seven questions will be from various chapters covered in the classroom. The exam will be a ‘closed book’ meaning that we will not be allowed to enter the exam room with any learning material. This will require more preparation since there will be no revision in the exam room. The exam will begin at nine o’clock; hence I will sleep early to ensure I have a good night’s sleep. It will assist in refreshing my mind and make me feel relaxed while sitting for the exam. It will also reduce cases of anxiety that may reduce self-confidence. Creating more time before the exam and avoiding morning discussions will enhance my self-esteem. The weather forecast will also help in analyzing the time I will take to get to school. In the case of rain, I will be forced to leave home earlier to compensate for any lost time. It will also prevent the last minute rush and fear of missing the exam. After arriving at school, I will have to look for the exam room or as my classmates where it is located. Before entering the exam room, I will make certain that I have the required tools for the examination. A pen, pencil and a calculator will come in handy during the exam. I will also carry extra tools to prevent tension in case the others fail to work as expected. WEEK 10: WORK EXPERIENCE AND ACTION PLANNING Target Expected goal Actions/resources Success criteria Application Deadline Speaking in public Overcome nervousness Train and practice with friends and relatives Being able to speak to a large crowd Presentation of projects in class and in public 31-12-2014 Physical vitality To enhance work performance Exercising and attending gym sessions three days a week Being able to handle twice or more of my current workload Personal accomplishment of work assignment 01-02-2015 Team work skills Interaction and bonding with members Make more friends and join various groups to increase my ability Forming and joining successful groups that will assist in my work Gain more knowledge from members to help me in my responsibilities 01-02-2015 Leadership skills To gain confidence and gain monitoring skills Assuming various positions in social groups Gaining courage to monitor allocated positions Becoming a group leader at school and workplace 15-01-2015 Motivation in school To achieve a good grade Attend all lectures Study during my free time Carry out researches Achieving good grades in my course units Attain the right knowledge to assist in getting my dream job End of semester Works Cited Murdock, Alexander, and Carol N. Scutt. Personal Effectiveness. U.K: Routledge, 2007. Print. Read More