The Importance of Personal and Professional Development - Research Proposal Example

Personal & Professional Development College: CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION 1 Introduction Personal and professional development is among the most essential concepts in the modern world not just for long-term career development, but also for personal life. In simple terms, personal and professional development (PPD) is defined as the process of setting up aims and goals in life (Throop and Castellucci, 2009, p.105). This is achieved by setting a clear and concise personal and development plan that enables one in identifying the skills he or she requires for his long-term development in life. Some of the important elements that an individual requires to identify are knowledge and skills that are acquired in the initial stages of life like in education particularly higher education. The acquired skills and knowledge are then applied in the professional life stage, a very crucial stage in life that also helps people in enhancing their already existing skills and knowledge. Development of a personal and professional plan is highly commendable to persons particularly in the early stages in life and more precisely before a person leaves the academic sectors. Doing so increases chances of having a continuous improvement on students’ performance particularly students pursuing studies in the institutions of higher learning. Personal and professional is therefore a very instrumental tool for students who want to plan and reflect on their performance (Tomlinson, 2004, p.81). The plan is also plays a major role in enabling one to make a sound decision while in school and in the profession. 1.2 Research Objectives The aim of this research proposal is to meet the following research objectives 1. To establish the employment possibilities in the production designing industry 2. To the establish the expected qualification (skills and knowledge) and performance in the production and designing industry 3. To ascertain the effects of using a personal and professional development plan as a student and as an employee in the design industry 4. To establish the techniques that one can apply in this industry that would make him/her competitive and productive in the job market 1.3 Research questions 1. What are the employment possibilities in the production designer industry?  2. What is the expected performance and qualification in the production and designing firms? 3. What are the effects of using a personal and professional development plan as a student and as an employee in the production and design industry? 4. Which techniques should an individual apply in the industry that would make him/her competitive and productive in the job market? CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW 2.0 Literature Review The concept of personal and professional development has been discussed in an intensive way in many recent and popular presses even though only a few studies have focused on personal and professional development with respect to the designing and production industry. Most of the studies have focused on other areas thus creating a major research gap on the topic. Designing and production industry is one of the major areas that students strive to get an opportunity to pursue in the institutions of higher learning (Tomlinson, 2004, p.81). It is a field that has never been exploited and has numerous opportunities both for persons looking for employment after completion of their studies, as well as for persons who want to engage in self-employment. Studies have shown the design and the production sector is one of the major sources of employment in most countries particularly the developed nations. The sector also contributes significantly towards the economic growth of most states as it attributes a significant percentage in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Employees and self-employed persons in the industry also have greater chances of climbing the ladder of success at a high rate particularly those who develop clear and concise personal and professional plans or else those who set SMART goals (Sweitzer and King, 2009, p.42). According to the past related materials and studies relating to personal and professional development, there are certain crucial skills that an individual who wants to excel in this industry must possess. Development of a personal and professional plan (PPP) is one of the most crucial elements that many experts believe to be playing a major role in this profession. According to experts, development plan should be prepared in the initial stages of life especially when one is still in the institutions of higher learning. Studies have shown that, there is a major difference between persons who set clear and realist goals of what they want to pursue and how they can achieve it from the early stage (Sweitzer and King, 2009, p.62). This does not only apply in this sector alone, it also applies in all aspects of life. Having a clear plan pushes one to working extra harder in order to meet the set targets. As mentioned in the introduction of the ‘Literature review’, there is a major research gap on this topic since very little research has been done in relation to personal and professional development in the design and production industry. There is a lot that has to be explored now and in the future. The proposed research will deeply explore this area and establish crucial elements such as establishing the employment possibilities in the industry and evaluating the expected qualifications or rather, the skills and knowledge that a student is required by the employer to possess. The researcher will also examine the possible techniques that can make one have an upper hand in the job market with relation to the design and production industry. CHAPTER THREE: METHODOLOGY 3.2 Research Design The proposed research study will be conducted using both quantitative and qualitative research methods, meaning that the researcher will use qualitative and quantitative research concepts. The researcher will use quantitative tactics in collecting data relating to how an individual can develop an effective personal and professional plan particularly in the production and design industry using data collection instruments like questionnaire. The qualitative research methods that the researcher will use in collection of data include researching from secondary data sources and interviews. The targeted respondents in this case include 10 persons who have excelled in the industry and 10 consultants. Using a hybrid of these two research methods will significantly reduce the cost of data collection and analysis as well as ensure that the collected data is well detailed, reliable, and quantifiable so that a general conclusion can be drawn from the research. Application of these methods will also give the researcher an opportunity to interact with the respondents thus able to verify the obtained data in an easy way. However, the main disadvantage of these methodologies is the fact that collecting and analyzing data is likely to be time consuming and tiresome. 4.4 Data collection a) Personal Interview The researcher will also apply this method of data collection in collecting data from the respondents. This will preferably involve live interviews, phone call interviews video calls interviews using Skype. The researcher will interview the relevant key players as mentioned there above (under research design). The main advantage of this method is that the researcher will be able to get reliable information since direct interactions give room for verifying the credibility of the respondent. However, the method could be a bit expensive since it involves travelling a lot or making lengthy phone calls. b) Questionnaire Under this method of data collection, more than 20 questionnaire forms inclosing sets of questions relating to the personal and professional development in the production and design industry. All the questions used will be open (responders will be free express themselves without limitations). Moreover, the questionnaire forms will only be disbursed to relevant parties as listed under the subheading ‘Research design’. The main benefit of using this method of data collection is that it provides reliable data. However, this method is likely to be relatively expensive due to the high costs of printing questionnaires as well as other costs like delivery costs. The questionnaires can also be sent using electronic digital means like via emails. c) Secondary methods of data collection Secondary methods of data collection like researching in the internet (researching in the websites and reading other online materials discussing the topic like blogs case studies and articles), reading written books, reading journals, as well as going through previously carried out studies about the topic. The researcher will ensure that the collected data is from reliable and credible sources so that the conclusion of the research can be used for future reference or can be cited on matters relating to this topic. The cost incurred while using this method is likely to be relatively low though it is likely to be time consuming and exhaustive. 3.5 Data analysis Immediately the data is collected, the researcher will edited it while removing possible errors, check the consistency and the completeness of the data, and then code and cross it then tabulated any statistical figures for easy analysis. The researcher will use descriptive statistics in in describing the overall performances of various employees who are role models in the production and design industry. Statistical figures like the improvement of performance of the various respondents who will be interviewed will be analyzed using percentages and weighted mean. Appendix I: Time schedule inform of a Gantt chart The time frame for this proposed research study is three months as shown in the time schedule below and the research will strictly adhere to the time table. (You can edit the timetable depending on the given time frame by your lecturer) Task to be performed May 12th -May 20th May 20th -June 26th June 26th -July 14th July 14th-Aug 7th Aug 7th-Aug 15th 1. Finalized research Proposal 3.Data collection (Conduct Field Survey) 4. Prepare for data entry 5. Data cleaning and preliminary analysis 5. Data analysis and report writing 7. Discuss recommendations/ plan of action 6. Finalize report 7. Presentation and dissemination BibliographyTop of Form Bottom of Form Top of Form Bottom of Form Top of Form Bottom of Form Top of Form Bottom of Form Top of Form Bottom of Form Top of Form Bottom of Form Top of Form Bottom of Form Top of Form Bottom of Form Top of Form Bottom of Form Top of Form Sweitzer, H. F., & King, M. A. 2009. The successful internship: Personal, professional, and civic development. Brooks/Cole. Belmont, CA. Throop, R. K., & Castellucci, Marion B. 2009. Reaching your potential: Personal and professional development. Wadsworth Cengage Learning. Boston, MA Tomlinson, H. 2004. Educational leadership: Personal growth for professional development. Sage Publications. London. Tomlinson, H. (2004). Educational leadership: Personal growth for professional development. London: Sage Publications. Tomlinson, H. (2004). Educational leadership: Personal growth for professional development. London: Sage Publications. Bottom of Form Top of Form Bottom of Form Top of Form Bottom of Form Top of Form Bottom of Form Top of Form Bottom of Form Top of Form Bottom of Form Top of Form Bottom of Form Top of Form Bottom of Form Read More