Description
This module is assessed by coursework alone. You are required to submit a portfolio containing two parts, as detailed below, which together count for 100% of the module assessment. The report comprises no more than 2000 words. The assignment will be marked by the module leader and you will receive formal feedback on your submission following the completion of this process.
The purpose of the portfolio is for you to explore and reflect upon your own learning and development.
PART 1: Continuing Professional Development Action Plan
This part of your portfolio should contain two elements:
1.1 A continuing professional development action plan for the 12 months following completion of this module
1.2 A discussion and commentary on your previous development experiences and the challenges you will face in undertaking your professional development plan.
Your continuing professional development action plan (1.1) should focus on the specific areas of development that you want to address. You are responsible for identifying the area of focus for your action plan.
It is recommended, however, that your plan should, fall into ONE of three broad areas for development:
• PERSONAL SKILLS aimed at improving self-awareness, self-reliance and personal effectiveness; for example, managing time or stress, creativity, emotional intelligence, presentation skills, foreign language skills.
• PEOPLE SKILLS focused on building effective working relationships; for example, handling conflict, leadership, coaching, cross-cultural skills, team working, negotiation, feedback.
• CAREER MANAGEMENT SKILLS for maximising opportunities arising from the changing environment and job marketplace, taking responsibility for your career and managing the relationship with work and learning throughout your career; for example, CV development, interviews, networking, assessment centre preparation.
This action plan should include the following features:
• It needs to express your purpose and intended outcomes; there is a strong link between your motivation and the likelihood of success.
• It should include both progress goals, which act as milestones, and outcome goals, to achieve your ultimate purpose. Progress goals may be priority sub-skills. For example, you could identify voice projection as a skill which contributes to the overall goal of improved presentation skills.
• An indication of how you would monitor each activity or progress goal and ensure it contributes to the final outcome stated.
• It should not rely solely upon one course of action. If you have a range of options available, you will be less likely to be deterred by unexpected challenges or obstacles.
• It needs to be written in precise terms, following a rigorous and systematic analysis.
It is expected that your action plan will be presented as a table and as such will not contribute to the word count of the assignment.
Your commentary (1.2) is expected to discuss the impact of and lessons learned from prior learning activities and the challenges and barriers you might face (personally and professionally) in undertaking your action plan and identify how these may be minimised. The focus throughout should be on critical consideration of your development activities and the learning from these.
PART 2: Reflective Account (50% of overall module mark)
This should address the experience of studying on your MSc in general, this module and the business simulation in particular. The intention is to consider your experiences of engaging in this developmental activity.
The reflective account is your opportunity to demonstrate your ability to learn from experience through analysis and look ahead to consider how it may be useful to you in the future.
This should be a personal account and therefore written in the first person (‘I’). A good reflective account will link to the content of Part 1 of this assessment in a considered and detailed way.
