Reflective and Professional Development Action Plan in International Management - Personal Statement Example

Reflective ment Content Reflective ment Introduction 3 Experience 4 Thought 5 Feeling 6 Reflection 7 Putting theory into practice 8 1. Professional development action plan 9 Overall objective 10 Key area of focus 10 Breaking down of tasks 10 Time schedule 11 Resource identification and methodology 11 Measurement review 12 Reference 13 Reflective statement Introduction I have come from Georgia to UK for my Masters Degree in International Management. I have primarily opted for this stream of management because the study is highly relevant in the contemporary environment of rapid globalization. The world is fast moving towards a multicultural environment that has shrunk it into a small global village. So the degree in international business would be a great asset for people working in small or big business enterprises. Goldberg (1996) has emphasized the need for higher education and says that academic thinking is powerful and usable over long time frames. The study would provide the professionals with wider perspectives of the changing paradigms of the business environment. It would also help facilitate better options to address the emerging challenges in the dynamics of new global business equations. It is highly critical that to become successful international management professional, I must develop skills and competencies that would help me to face the challenges of highly competitive international business. Thus, working on the five major elements, that have significant impact on our understanding of socio-psychological dynamics of international management, becomes imperative. These criteria can be broadly enumerated as: experience; thoughts; feelings; reflections; and putting theory into practice. Experience Experience is a great teacher. When I had come to this country and taken admission in the university, I was all alone with no friends and no relatives! My English is also not very good and therefore, there was a huge problem in communication also. While there were many students from different countries, the students from European countries were quite fluent in English but it was only later that I realized that those coming from Asian countries were also facing the same communication problem as myself. Another major factor was the culture shock. The countries which have different languages and culture than one’s own, people are faced with the dilemma of adjusting in different environments. Though they are often prepared for some changes, the reality is often more harsh and unexpected. The differences in the socio-cultural values are responsible for the cultural shock that often results in depression and homesickness. Cultural shock can be broadly describes as the physical and emotional discomfort one suffers when coming to live in another country or a place different from the place of origin. Often, the way that we lived before, is not accepted or considered as normal, in the new place (Guanipa, 1998). There is also vast difference in the teaching methodology. While in Georgia, teaching methodology is confined to classroom teaching and reading of textbooks, followed by written annual exams. In UK, we have regular assignments that are critical part of teaching methodology and course curricula. Initially, these issues has greatly disturbed me but focused approach to the study curricula and understanding cross cultural values through social networking greatly facilitated my adjustment with the new environment. Thoughts I have realized that factors like social networking and learning the language and culture of their host country facilitates rapid adjustment. Initial loss of identity in the host country is gradually recovered by accepting the differences and adapting their own values according to the new environment. Globalization and increasing multicultural environment is a fact of life that is significantly becoming a key issue in the international business. With globalisation, the world today, is fast moving towards a multi cultural society. The corporate management as well as small business have people of mixed races and nationalities. The vast diversity of cultures that exist within the various working groups need not only diplomatic handling but also requires great sensitivity and innate presence of mind. In international business, I agree with Elashmawi that the successful global manager must adapt to the values of other cultures while at the same time maintaining his or her own set of values (Elashmawi, 2001). It has become imperative to develop and enhance cross cultural relationship that must go beyond the officialdom in order to win the trust of one’s colleagues and friends and build better relationship. Feelings I am a social animal and when I missed the first week of the classes, I was really devastated! The first week was crucial because there were just social events where students coming from different countries, culture and race got introduced. The social events provided the necessary platform for developing cross cultural understanding and building relationship in a foreign land. I felt really bad when I missed all those events. But luckily, later groups were made, both within the classroom and hostel, which helped me to make new friends from different culture. Interacting with people from cross cultural value system taught me the most valuable lesson of life that one should look beyond the physical appearance and look beneath the external veneer to understand the true nature of man. I also feel that the language is the biggest hurdle in a foreign land and therefore, one must make efforts to learn it on a priority basis so as to adjust in the new environment (Anne Wil.& Noorderhaven, 2008; Selmer, 2006; Thomas, 2008). Everyone needs to communicate with one other, in one way or the other but mastering it ensures that one is able to convey his thoughts and ideas to the other with clarity and with ease. Communication, therefore, becomes an important medium of expressing and explaining facts which may hitherto create unseen problems. I also feel that mastering it would also help me to improve and improvise my learning grades and make me more confident. Reflection Reflective practices are important self assessment criteria for enhancing one’s personal and professional competencies. Reflective practices help to identify our shortcoming and promote wider understanding of the various methodologies to become more articulate and become familiar with the emerging new paradigms in the social dynamics. The reflective practices also encourage confidence building so that they are better prepared to tackle critical situations and meet the challenges with more conviction and composure. As a foreign student in UK University, pursuing Masters Degree in International Management, the vastly different socio-cultural environment had made it very difficult for me to adjust. Looking back at my actions and interaction with professors, students and people at large and critically assessing them would provides me with the opportunity to improve my work techniques and communication. The self analysis thus persuades one to improve and improvise our actions so that our performance outcome is improved, leading to professional growth with safe practice for oneself and others. Indeed, it is true that language is highly detrimental to business negotiations and complicates coordination (Welch & Welch, 2007). So overcoming the hurdle of language barrier, which is English language, must become my priority. Putting theory into practice Though English is not my native language but looking at the cutting edge business environment, I have made especial effort to master the language so that I can masters the art of written communication. I have now become fairly adapt at expressing my thoughts and business plans in written English but have continued the process of learning and practicing the language to overcome difficult situations in the rapidly changing environment of globalization. Understanding the importance of cross cultural values, I make special efforts to understand the culture, traditions and value system of my host country and also that of my friends from different cultures. It has helped me to become not only confident but has also broadened my understanding of human nature and improved my communication skill. Professional development action plan Action plans are important steps for assessing and ensuring the self improvement processes for personal and professional growth. It is important to identify the core areas for development. To achieve the desired success, he must set his priorities and outline his short term and long term goals so that he is able to reach the pinnacle of success that he has defined for himself. Identifying and setting goals are not only important for personal success as an individual and a professional but the wider implications of having a mission in life, are much more meaningful and have widespread influence on his life. It is for these very reasons that I had identified certain goals and objectives for myself so that I would be able to acquire necessary knowledge and experience that would facilitate in my personal and professional growth. Therefore, once those goals were identified, I had set myself a timeframe within which to reach those goals. Initially I set myself four major goals which would help me acquire knowledge based education and help me in developing skills and professional expertise. These modules of personal growth are designed to add value to our personality helping us to evolve into better person and professional so that we would be able to meet the challenges of the time with equanimity and confidence. The following action plan was taken up for professional development 1 Overall Objective: Professional development with the objective of setting up a consultancy firm in the field of writing business plans in Georgia. 2 Key area of focus 1. Acquire proficiency in written and verbal English language. 2. Gaining experience in writing business plans and learning intricacies of international business which would help to start a successful business consultancy. 3. Breaking down of task 3.1 Focus area 1 To achieve the desire objective, it is important to breakdown the focus area into manageable task that is measurable, attainable, realistic and time-bound. Proficiency in English language has become crucial for successfully completing the university degree. It would also add value to my professional competencies. Thus learning the language would require skill development in two areas: written English and spoken English. 3.2 Focus area 2 I will participate in seminars and workshops related with international business. I would also prefer to work as part time worker or do volunteer work in some international organization or local consultancy firm. 4. Time schedule 4.1 Three months (focus area 1) 4.2 Eight months (focus area 2) 5. Resource identification and methodology 5.1 Focus area 1 Audio-visual aid, learner’s guide, English language coaching centre and reading of story books in English. Efforts would be made to learn at least twenty words and would use them in communication as well as in writing. I would also take help from my colleagues who would be requested to correct my spellings as well as my pronunciation. 5.2 Focus area 2 Membership of students club of the department of management of the university and strive for voluntary membership of regional business association who organize interactive seminars for business houses. I would be take active part in organizing seminars and interactive workshop on various business issues in the university campus. The interactive sessions of the workshop are great platform of learning various perspectives of issues, thereby facilitating professional development. I would try to get some part time work in business organization or consultancy firm to gain practical experience. I would like to make business plans for different business category and seek recommendations and corrections from the professors and my seniors in the consultancy firm. 6. Measurement criteria 6.1 Focus area 1 Increase in vocabulary and improvement in class assignments. 6.1 Focus area 2 Increase of social networking. Improved business plans with fewer corrections from the peer group. Reference Anne-Wil., & Noorderhaven, N. (2008). Headquarters-subsidiary relationships and the country-of-origin effect. In M. P. Feldman & G. D. Santangelo (Eds.). New perspectives in international business research, (pp. 13-40). Progress in International Business Research, 3. United Kingdom: Emerald Group Publishing Limited. Goldberg, Michael A. (1996). The case against Practicality” and “Relevance” as Gauges of Business Schools. University of British Columbia. Guanipa, Dr. Carmen. (1998). Culture Shock. Available from: [Accessed 22 January, 2009]. Elashmawi, Dr. Farid. (2001 ). Competing Globally, Mastering Multicultural Management and Negotiation. Kindle edition. Butterworth-Heinemann. Selmer, J. (2006). Language ability and adjustment: Western expatriates in China. Thunderbird International Business Review, 48 (3), 347-378. Thomas, D. C. (2008). Cross-cultural management: Essential concepts (2nd ed.). Los Angeles: Sage Publications, Inc. Welch, D. E., & Welch, L. S. (2007). The importance of language in international knowledge transfer. Management International Review, 48(3), 339-360. Read More