Technology, International Development, and Sustainability in Sales - Research Paper Example

Sales Team Research Define technology, international development, and sustainability, in your own words. Technology refers to the application, alteration, development and understanding of devices, appliances, methods and structures of organization for purposes of addressing a problem, enhancing a prevailing course or attaining a definite goal (Potts & Murphie, 2003). Technology is a wide term that encompasses a number of parameters and consideration in the sense that it is a discipline on its own. Sustainability refers to the ability to preserve, hold and endure (Holling, 2000). Therefore, sustainability may be used to refer to the ability of a system or parameter to prevail or endure. With regard to sales, sustainability covers the capacity for a sales approach to last for a long time with continuous success. International development is the creation of enhanced excellence of life for people. The term is comprehensively used in the vast field of human resource development through which the quality of personnel is achieved (Kates & Leiserowitz, 2005). Provide background information about your worksite and its mission. Sales team research is a holistic endeavor to evaluate the operations of sales team in the process of achieving its objectives. In essence, the mission of the worksite is comprehensive in nature as denoted by the various objectives that have been set for achievement. At a basic level, the task endeavors to develop a greater lead base for purposes of underscoring the application of the inherent processes. Conducting research on potential clients is at the centre of this worksite whereby all potential clients will be studied to discover their inclinations, tastes and overall relationship to the sales endeavor. Data obtained from the process of the research will be organized in a tabulated format for ease in evaluation, understanding and application. These three objectives underscore the essence and mission of my worksite along with what it aims to achieve. Briefly describe what you did while you were at the worksite. Describe your own thinking, understanding, and learning as your project evolved. During my experience at the worksite I involved in a number of activities in the process of achieving the set objectives of the entire task. Therefore, I took part in processes that revolved around understanding the sales team along with its operations. Developing a base for my understanding involved working with the team to know what their job is like. I had to carry out the process of sales team members and cooperate with them. Interacting with potential customers took much of my time as I had to understand their orientation as well as how they influence the sales process. Compiling data was quite involving as I had to focus on the tabulation of refined data for use, storage and evaluation. Identify what was puzzling, problematic, engaging, exciting, etc. about your project. My project was quite demanding in the sense that all the processes involved were time and concentration intensive. I had to focus so much and invest a lot of time and energy in achieving the objectives of the mission. Therefore, it is obvious that there were several hitches, challenges and hindrances. The most puzzling part of the task was the practical interaction with people, I had to work with sales team members and this proved to be very hectic as I am not used to such environments. Additionally, potential customers were not easy to handle because getting their attention and cooperation was not easy. Tabulating the data was quite involving owing to the minute details involved and how each had to be accounted for. I liked the interaction part because it gave me an opportunity to apply my interpersonal skills. How well did I listen to others and share my own thoughts and concepts during this project? The project represented a tight balancing act involving listening and sharing. Though I was required to share my thoughts with others, it was quite imperative that I listen to what others had to say. This was because it was an interactive process whereby each individual had a role to play in the entire development of outcomes. I shared my thoughts very well with others in the course of the process through interaction and other formal processes where each person was required to offer his contribution. I realized that my colleagues appreciated my contribution giving me the much needed motivation to continue sharing. There were matters where the team relied on me and I grabbed the opportunity to share with them. Nonetheless, listening was an influential tool that I applied in the whole process because it was the only way to understand the contribution of others which were quite important owing to the diversity of the team. I specialized in listening especially in areas that I knew little about and there were people with great experience and understanding in the same. Therefore, both sharing and listening were required for the successful completion of this project and I took keen interest in applying the two discriminately as time and occasion demanded. Eventually, the process was a success since each person was satisfied having given their contribution and also heard from others. This taught me a lot as I learned to offer my opinion on any subject when required as well as appreciate the opinion of others when they offered it. I gained a lot from this part of the task. What steps may I take to help improve my communication skills? This task has offered me an opportunity to test my communication skills. As a result, I have realized the need to boost my communication skills in order to be good at communication. The process of interacting with team members especially during the sharing and listening to the opinions of others made me realize my frailties as regards the holistic process of communication. For instance, when communicating in public it is important to gauge the attentiveness of others as well as obtain their interests in whatever you are sharing (Ellis, 2009). I had a tough time trying to understand the way of approaching communication. Moreover, interacting with potential customers proved a difficult task because of the challenging nature of communicating to strangers. I learnt to develop my communication skills through approaching people in the right way as well as choosing what to say with great care. The importance of body language also dawned to me as an imperative communication skills. To boost my ability to communicate effectively I learnt to embrace the dynamics governing communication, interaction and the importance of listening. Discuss how technology impacts different cultures and sub-cultures within a society. Technology has an immense impact on cultures and sub-cultures within society in the sense that technology determines how people live and articulate themselves. Basically, technology elevates the ability of a society to pursue its ideals as enhanced technology improves the chances of success and survival for any culture (Potts & Murphie, 2003). Culture is the way of life and the way people live is highly influenced by technology owing to the fact that technology makes peoples live more easier and convenient. Therefore, cultures that have better technology tend to be more successful in the society as compared to those cultures with poor technology. Technology is the conduit through which life is applied and the quality of life of a given culture in society is directly related to their level of technology. As a result, in all perspectives, technology significantly affects cultures and subcultures in the society. Address the issue of sustainability: what will be enduring for everyone affected, addressing their differences and areas of shared interest. The permanence of the impact of technology on culture in a given society is the exact implication technology exerts on the lives of people. One particular effect that could be enduring is the survival index of a given culture over another. Cultures with great technological advancement will definitely have a higher survival rate than the others in the sense that through technology they can device newer ways of surviving and adapting to life. In general, technology will provide the necessary skills, ability and innovation required for life. Technology has an immense impact on health, knowledge and understanding of people which in essence has a very towering implication on the ability of a society to thrive, procreate and live through generations. With respect to sustainability, what have I done in my past and what would I do differently in the future, if anything, knowing what I know after taking this course? This course has an immense effect on my understanding of sustainability to the extent that I now understand how I can do things differently than I have done in the past. At this point, it is important for me to note the importance of interpersonal relationship and interaction that I have been involved since I was a child. Having undertaken this course, I will approach interaction and communication in a different way through the application of the knowledge, skills and abilities that I have learnt. Perhaps, I will pay more attention to body language, approach and interest of people along with their attitudes and orientation (Best & Goffman, 2005). Such parameters will guide my process of communicating and interacting. References Best, J. & Goffman, E. (2005). Interaction Ritual: Essays In Face To Face Behavior. London: Aldine Transaction. Ellis, R. (2009). Communication Skills: Stepladders to Success for Professional. Washington: Intellect Books. Holling, C. S. (2000). "Theories for Sustainable Futures" Conservation Ecology 4(2): 7. Retrieved on: 2009-02-24. Kates, R., Parris, T. & Leiserowitz, A. (2005). "What is Sustainable Development?" Environment 47(3): 8–21. Retrieved on: 2009-04-14. Potts, J. & Murphie, A. (2003). Culture and Technology. Washington: Palgrave Macmillan. Read More