Academic and Professional Development - Literature review Example

Academic and Professional Development. Name: Tutor: Course: Date: Academic and Professional Development In the world today, education is the key to all successful undertakings. All and sundry is doing all that they can to ensure that they acquire the knowledge that they require in the fields of their own choice. Each seeks information in line with their career. This ensures that they attain the necessary knowledge in order to be take part in the industry that corresponds to their course pursued at tertiary level. Business management is a course pursued in tertiary institutions in order to be able to participate in the business world. This is such that learners who graduate in the field are able to gain the skills of management. This makes them viable to being part of management in businesses or in other enterprises or firms. Management basically refers to the act and attitude of being in charge of responsibilities of controlling other people or activities. Management comprises of planning, organizing, staffing, directing and controlling an organization with the aim of accomplishing a set of common goals. Management can also be expressed as an activity that controls and monitors workers in any organization with the target of achieving some desired goals set by the firm. With the changing time, management has also evolved. This is as a result of decentralization in the model of the organization where management has evolved resulting in some alterations, in the duty of management. Nowadays, management mainly focuses on facilitating the activities of the workers rather than controlling them as was the norm in earlier days. Proper management is best tool to ensure productivity in an organization or a company. In any organization, there are leaders who are incorporated in the management of the firm. They have the responsibility to carry out the managerial functions effectively and efficiently. They should be in a position to implement their leadership skills in performance of their duties and responsibilities. Leadership and management may appear to have the same meaning, but this is not the case. For effective management, one requires leadership skills in order to gain confidence and trust from the people served. As the proverbs goes, unity is strength”, the same applies to people working together in achieving the same goal. Going through the whole university experience has been awesome. The studying part has helped me realize how to cooperate with others. This has been achieved though the process of cooperative learning. Cooperative learning seeks to ensure that all the students in the various teams benefit from each other. It enhances the capabilities of each of the student. This is because they are able to share all the information that they are acquitted with at a particular time. Studies carried in institutions that have implemented cooperative learning have proven that this method of teaching results in better and enhanced productivity of the students. (Jollife, 2007). She also said that students develop a grounded and strong friendship when students learn with one goal and also students with disabilities are easily accepted by their classmates. Additional research has also shown that students’ self esteem can be improved by their cooperation in learning. This is because it increases students’ capacity to be productively involved in the group and their overall attendance. It was also evident that efficiency of supportive studying in primary and secondary stage is upheld when personal and the class’ objectives are put in supportive education methods. (Williams, 2002). Williams (2002) also confirmed that joint students’ education surroundings increases learner enthusiasm and advance group skills. In addition to this, cluster education is valuable to all students. This is greatly attributed to the fact that they have the chance to be taught from every one and swap the information, thoughts, and experience. All of these direct to amplify their information, and understanding. Studies show that a learner who is under sufficient can profit from joint situation by getting explanations from over the top sufficient learner. Though, when under-skilled individual gives enlightenment to a over-skilled individual, it serves to change his personal familiarity and thoughts rather than facilitate him. Vygotsky says that supportive education is helpful to under-skilled learners since they are educated by the over-skilled learners who have comprehended the materials. Also Piagetian says that joint studying is useful to all learners since it gives the chances to all learners to be educated from one another by getting and giving information. Cooperative learning is extremely beneficial to poor students. This is because they are in a position to learn from their colleagues. This is easier since they are at ease while they explain to each other. Slavin (1995) notes that they are especially able to learn about certain procedures in details and in a clearer way than in the classroom. Cooperative learning is successful if the students are properly guided. This implies that teachers have a responsibility to ensure that these students have the necessary skills to enhance knowledge sharing. This could be achieved through continued evaluation at the group level. Teachers could also involve the students in the construction of classroom structures. These would be helpful in ensuring that they get the necessary skills that they require. (Gordon, 2005) While doing this, we have also learnt how to work in groups. This ensures that we are able to share information. As for the teachers, it is hard to tell whether all the students contributed to their group activities. Sometimes, students do not share their own responsibility; so if other students still want to perform well and get high marks, they will do more things for their team because of the group grades. Unless reported, it would be hard for the teachers to realize this fact. Therefore, using individual grades is one measure to reduce this problem. Moreover, it is difficult for teachers to balance the members in each group. If the students are mandated to form their own groups, they are likely to divide themselves according to their social ties. Eventually, the antisocial students will be singled out (Brandler & Roman, 1999). In regards to future employment, we have learnt the role of managers in organization. Understanding the expectations of our positions in society is valued for the sake of employment in our fields of specialties. A manager’s functions include; planning, organizing, staffing, directing and controlling. Planning is the first component of management and it involves the development of goals and objections in an organization. Before planning, a manager needs to be aware of the on goings in the external and internal business environment. It is also mandatory that he forecast likely future conditions. This help in ensuring that the plan put in place is sufficient to cover all the organizations needs. Next, a strategy is put in place on how those objectives will be accomplished. The objectives usually originate from the organization’s visions and future aspirations. The planning process should be well coordinated and requires the contribution and participation of everyone in the organization. Finally, planners should review the success of their plans to ensure everything is working well. A good and successful leader should also be decisive in his entire decision making process. This goes hand in hand with self confidence even in the most difficult situations. This helps to instill confidence in the subordinates even when things are tough. A leader should also exercise humility and should occasionally take some time off to socialize with his followers in order to maintain a good working relationship with them. He should be able to work under pressure as showing any signs of weakness to his competitors would negatively impact the progress of the firm. A good leader will have some interest in the happenings both inside and outside so that they can effectively analyze the competition. Organizing on the other hand is the second component after planning is complete. It generally involves providing capital, staff and resources for the running of the organization. It not only refers to people but also it involves the available resources and ensuring they are well distributed throughout the relevant sectors in the organization. Managers need to decide the best way of utilizing the available resources. Moreover, it involves the most effective way to departmentalize jobs into their respective departments for efficiency. Generally, the organizational structure fully depends on the number of employees in an organization. Staffing involves the recruitment, hiring and training of personnel. It aims at ensuring that all the fields in the organization are filled and with people who are qualified. It is also responsible for ensuring that workers have favorable working conditions for all workers in the organization. Directing involves making decisions pertaining to the running of the business and issuing orders directives to employees. It also involves channeling the workers energy and expertise into achieving the business objectives and at the same time assisting them to achieve their own personal career objectives. Controlling is the last duty in management. It does not refer to managers manipulating the behavior of their employees; rather it refers to work related activities. It therefore involves looking out for errors and weaknesses in the system of the organization by monitoring and controlling feedback. This is done to ensure all activities conform to the plans policies and directives as set up by the management. It is also done to ensure performance does not deviate from the organizations standards. Organization also involves monitoring the progress of the firm and ensuring that the goals set are being met. And where an error is identified, corrective and preventive measures should be implemented. For a manager to effectively control, he requires the have a clear understanding of the organizations plans that highlight the organizations standards and objectives. In order to be successful in business, it is important that there is proper management. The management is vital as it is concerned with decision making and the general running of the business. The management is central to all business operations. There are various schools of any business needs to determine the school of thought that it chooses to follow. Throughout the course we have been learning how to face the hurdles that we may be faced with during our practice. The whole duration of the course we have learnt how to make decisions regarding the choices that we may have to choose. Through the internships and review of current managers in organizations, we have learnt how to put our learnt skills into practice. This ensures that we gain the skills necessary so as to be good leaders in the future. References Joliffe, W. 2007. Cooperative learning in the classroom: putting it into practice. Paul Chapman, Michigan. Williams, B. 2002. Cooperative Learning: A Standard for High Achievement. Corwin Press, London. Slavin, R. 1999. Cooperative learning: theory, research, and practice. Allyn and Bacon, New York. Gordon, E. 2005. Peer tutoring: a teacher's resource guide. R&L Education, Boston. Brandler, S. 1999. Group work: skills and strategies for effective interventions. Routledge, London. Read More