Personal & Professional Development Essay

1.1  Cunningham1 has defined self-managed learning as â€Å"†¦idealised adult action learning†. Therefore, self learning is a process where the learner develops their learning goals, decides on strategies to make it happen, identifies resources needed to achieve it and adopts the process to evaluate their achievement. Self managed learning can only be effective if a person has the ability to independently decide about their learning and can manage this without much institutional support. However, anecdotal evidence suggests that most people, though understanding the need for such learning approach, are unable to identify and manage their learning without guidance and support from an institution. Hence, people go to an institution to learn. However, It is the responsibility of the learner to take charge of their learning. In an adult learning environment, where most learners have been out of touch with learning for a while, it is important that the tutors initially provide hands on approach to guide the learners. Gradually, ‘tutor dependency’ reduces and the learner becomes more self dependent, starting to manage their learning more effectively. Self learning process can be facilitated through research, using online tools such as web logs, wikis, search engine facilities, use of social software and other multimedia tools such as audio and video equipment. 1.2  Lifelong learning is a process that takes place throughout an individual’s life based on their life experiences, interaction with others and range of different circumstances which are used to acquire knowledge. It is, defined as the â€Å"ongoing, voluntary, and self-motivated pursuit of knowledge for either personal or professional reasons’’[2). There are various methods of learning, which can be termed as ‘life long learning’. These are: †¢ Home schooling : People learning at home rather than at an institute. †¢ Adult education : Enrolling in an adult learning course to gain formal qualifications for work or leisure. †¢ Continuing education : Courses to gain further knowledge without getting any formal qualification. †¢ Knowledge work : On-the-job training but can also include practical courses for professional development. †¢ Personal learning environment: Using a range of sources and tools including online applications. Lifelong learning is the most effective way to enhance personal and professional development. Therefore, all the above methods should be encouraged and used to gain relevant knowledge in relation to an individual’s goals and aspirations. A method used by a person depends on what their personal learning goals are, and on the answers to the key questions of what, when, where, how and why. 1.3  The benefits of self managed learning to individuals and organisations are many fold. The key benefits are : †¢ Ability to choose the content :Allows people to pick and choose what they are going to learn, and who they are going to learn from, depending on personal level of knowledge and preferences. †¢ Determining the schedule : Allows people to adapt learning process to their personal agenda, without depending on time schedules imposed by others. †¢ Learning with passion : Topic is chosen based on what the learner wants to learn, making the learner more engaged and the learning process more enjoyable. †¢ Sense of accomplishment and satisfaction : As the learner has chosen the topic, it provides greater degree of satisfaction and a sense of accomplishment within learners. †¢ More productive life : As it is a learner guided process, there is more passion and commitment within the learner about their learning, enhancing their chances of securing more expertise in the area. †¢ Develop expertise and skill : After gaining skill and expertise in the chosen field, a person is more likely to become an expert in the area, with others seeking their expertise and be willing to pay for it. 2.1 Since leaving school, I have worked within the catering sector all my working life, initially as a General Assistant in the kitchen, helping cook and chef. However, through my competence and performance, I was able to gradually rise to the position of Head Chef, with people working under my supervision. This allowed me to have experience of managing people effectively in a challenging fast moving environment. In addition, I was able to gain adequate knowledge and understanding about various health & safety guidelines through relevant training, including gaining relevant qualifications. I was able to comply with the professional standards for a Chef through the training I received. Also, working closely with the management, I was able to understand fully the key aims and objectives of the business and focused on ensuring that through my work, I help the business to fulfil them. It is important for a restaurant to provide good quality food and customer service – the two key aspect for such business. Unless the quality of the food and the level of customer service is to their satisfaction, customers will not come back, which is vital for a business. So, my role as a Head Chef is crucial to the success of the company. Since the restaurant is doing well, I feel confident that I have contributed towards the achievement of the company’s aims and objectives, complying with the professional standards required for my job. 2.2  Having worked in the kitchen all my working life, I would now like to have a change of career and move to management, where I would like to manage the whole business, either by setting up my own restaurant or be employed in a restaurant owned by others. In order to help me achieve my aim, I would need proper qualification, understanding and knowledge about how to manage a restaurant efficiently. Therefore, my development needs are as follows : †¢ How to devise an effective business plan †¢ How to prepare a comprehensive sales and marketing strategy †¢ How to be a competent business manager †¢ How to manage a business efficiently and profitably In order to acquire the knowledge required to achieve those aims, I need to enrol in a business course which will not only allow me to have the relevant knowledge but would also enable me to have thorough understanding of these areas, resulting in a qualification. In addition to the areas mentioned above, I also need to focus on some other areas, such as enhancing my literacy and numeracy skills as it would be necessary if I am to manage to restaurant. I also need to improve my social and communication skills too, which is vital for a business within the hospitality sector. 2.3 Since I don’t currently have any formal qualification other than GCSE, the only way for me to achieve my goal of enrolling in a course to acquire relevant knowledge and gain qualification would be to enrol in a course that does not have an entry requirement of any formal qualification and would accept someone with only GCSE. So, I started researching about various courses available that is relevant to me and is available for people who only have GCSE. I have identified that the Business Management HND is the best course for me as it offers all relevant aspects to help me achieve my developmental needs while allowing people with only GCSE to enrol. Therefore, I have enrolled in this course. However, I am seriously considering taking this further and go into further studies on business management, either through university or an informal course in continuing education, which may not result in a formal qualification but would provide me with the knowledge I need to achieve my goals. I feel that enrolling in the Business management HND is the first step towards achieving my aim of acquiring all relevant information and gain relevant qualifications regarding running a successful restaurant business. I also researched about courses to facilitate my aim of enhancing my literacy, numeracy, social and communication skills and have identified some of the courses that will be relevant to me and would assist me in achieving my goals.

Basic Economic Question

Through market research and analysis it has been found out that there are several economic choices that every firm must face. This is in line with the core objective of the firm which basically entails producing standardized product to meet the customers demand and making profits for the firm.Research from surveys and focus groups have indicated that our investment bank needs to develop a product which best suits the clients establishing good consumer behaviour and meeting the impacts of government policies.No longer are banks interested in their own interest of making profits but what is of fundamental concern is whether the customer is satisfied. Our investment bank is not an exceptional one. We need to address the issues of developing a product that will make the bank outstand despite its rivals in the market. Development of product Economic choices imply that the forces of demand and supply need to be put into consideration when choosing a particular product for the firm.The cent ral question therefore that I considered in developing this product was the ease at which the customers will learn on the use and the reliability of the product when it’s introduced into the market. As an investment bank, a structured deposit is one of the products which is fundamental in the bank. This is because they allow customers to attain higher yields and also be able to take market risks upto a certain degree will be set by the bank.The bank through this product will be able to meet the needs and expectations of the consumers and the management team of the bank too. The product is introduced into the market just like any other products which have been introduced before. The customer is taken into an orientation so that he gets to learn that this product involves saving just like any other saving accounts. They will be informed that this service provides more services beyond the traditional savings such as mutual funds.Reasons for choosing this product One of the reaso ns why a structured deposit would be important in our investment bank is that it provides cash to the customer ant time he needs it. The customer does not need to wait upto a certain maturity date or pay a penalty for withdrawal of the money in his account. Another important issue which is fundamental is that through this product the bank can get more profits by soliciting so much money at a specific time so that it can invest at a go and get maximum returns.The customer will also benefit in that incase he requires some loan, then he will be granted since the pool from the other investors in this type of fund will have contributed. Another major reason that is important is that a structured deposit is a very good method of investment of ones money. An individual who has an account with a structured fund will find it easier in the future to get his money in a lumpsum amount. This therefore is a good investment solution to an individual. ConclusionFor our bank to achieve the demands o f the product there is need for awareness to be created to customers so that they can be in apposition to get the products and benefit from it. Reference: California Institute of Technology (2008, February 16). Insights on Economic Choices and challenges facing banks, an article pp. 35-56. Products of investment banks Retrieved on 8th April 2009 from http://www. citibank. ro/romania/corporate. Sample memo for business executives retrieved on 8th April 2009 from http//www. purdue. edu/owl/resource

Article 9 - Must-Have Job Skills in 2013 Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

9 - Must-Have Job Skills in 2013 - Article Example Personal branding will be of importance in 2013. In the wake of social networking, human resource personnel are scouting employees in twitter and other social networks and hence how one has branded himself or herself there is of essence. Attractive personal branding will come in handy especially when the employer requires using the sites for business. According to Mr. Handal, the CEO of Carnegie Training in New York, employees need to be more flexible and adapt to changes and this is only possible if they can be able to get out of their comfort zones. 2013 will require employees who can respond quickly to the ever changing needs of their employers. Lastly, productivity improvement is of essence as far as job skills in 2013 are concerned. Research by Corporate Executive Board in Virginia has shown than the productivity of employees needs to improve by at least 20% if they are to keep their jobs. Other than that, they are required to show creativity at the workplace as this will differentiate themselves from others and also ensure they remain

Apple Corporation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Apple Corporation - Essay Example But there comes a stage of stagnation in every industry; electronics industry is not an exception to it, considering how the leading electronics company, Apple Corp. and its former CEO Steve Job have been striving hard to maintain the competitive edge through cost-cutting made possible only by launching of better versions of their electronic products. Title Page Former CEO, Jobs, led Apple on the path of innovation. Although still the Company has been working with the same batch of product innovation people, but things are not happening like when Jobs was at the helm of Apple’s functions. The bungling of Apple Maps is a proof of the fact that after the death of Jobs, the product innovation team at Apple has caused losses than just not succeeding in innovating new products. Cohan has enumerated many reasons for the approaching doom for Apple, disagreeing with Blodget for presenting Apple as a buy. It is a wrong notion that stock of Apple is cheap while traded as a P/E of 9, whi ch is below the market average of 15. Actually, Apple is becoming costlier with its income reducing at the rate of 17% in the first quarter of 2013; it is heading for a reduction of 1% in overall for the whole year of 2013. Product innovation had been boosting and sustaining Apple amid competition but lately, innovation has taken the back seat, as there are no new products in the offing. Samsung has been giving tough time, inspiring customers to go for new products of Samsung rather than buying latest versions of iPhone 5S and iPad Mini. At the times of Jobs, innovation was used as a strategic tool to develop a better version of the products, helping at the same time in reducing cost. Product differentiation was the key during the management of Jobs; products were either cheaper than leading competitors or better than what the market offered, such as Apple’s MP3 players, smart phones, and tablets, resulting in investors and customers lining up for its products – that created Apple’s appeal for investors and customers soaring (Cohan â€Å"7 Reasons Apple is More Doomed Than You Think† 1-2). Apple Corp. needs to position itself strategically because of not launching any new product and remaining for too long with its super-premium pricing strategy. Apple led the market under the command of Jobs through differentiation in product offering, which is evident from the fact that customers were willing to buy iPhone4 at 44% premium, ensuring a gross profit of 71% (Cohan â€Å"7 Reasons Apple is M ore Doomed Than You Think† 2). In the present scenario, if Apple is to remain and lead in competition, it has to cut down on cost, relatively lower to the competitors’ product offerings. It is also true at the same time that former CEO, Jobs charisma was the leading force behind the brilliant performance of Apple Corp. for developing products like iPhone and iPad. Competition is presently causing reduction in profits due to competition, as gross margins have come down in the latest quarter from 47.4% to 37.5% year-on-year along with shrinking net profits for the first time in the past 10 years from $11.6

In a culturally diverse word, the universality of human rights remains Assignment - 1

In a culturally diverse word, the universality of human rights remains unsettled. Discuss - Assignment Example All people should not be denied their rights unless in a situation that demands legal action against them. For example, the right to liberty can be withdrawn when a person becomes guilty and gets convicted of an offence. International human rights law in the form of treaties, international law, general principles, and other international law sources are factors that determine Human rights. International law seeks to achieve the universality of human rights; however, it faces challenges resulting from the current cultural diversity. Culture is the people’s way of life and contributes much to aspects of their lives. The different cultures that exist in the world are a challenge to trying to implement human rights law. Some cultures would not allow some actions as they differ with them. This work seeks to discuss how the diverse culture in the world contributes to the efforts put towards achieving or settling universality of human rights. It will discuss how the culture relates t o human rights and how it contributes either negatively or positively towards achieving the universality of human rights. It will also focus on different organizations formed to protect and educate the public on understanding their culture and human rights, and how their progress is at present. Background Information Although there have been developments in evolution of human rights, the process is under serious challenge. From 1945, more development of international human rights standards has occurred as compared to previous years (Forsythe, 2009: xviii). However, international issues like Chinese development as a world power, and the United States’ efforts to maintain national security after the September 2001 attack challenge these developments on human rights. As much as the international community talks of human rights and rights laws, there is a violation of the rights as a result of these developments. People did not know about human rights until 1945, but the United S tates and France practiced ‘rights of man’ although no human rights treaties existed until the period of United Nations. The treaties that existed were rights of foreigners. According to Forsythe, it is D. Roosevelt and others who pushed for inclusion of human rights in the United Nations charter. They believed that human rights contributed to international security and peace and that it was human rights’ violation that led to the origin of World War II (Forsythe, 2009: xviii). The quest to adoption of human rights to the UN charter became the origin of their development. Universality of Human Rights Universality is the quality of being dominant or available. Human rights universality is thus the ability to the existence of human rights to every human being. Universality is rather the ability of a society or state to allow its citizens to enjoy the availability of human rights. The diversity in culture, in the present world, affects the universality of human righ ts in various ways. Different cultures affect how their citizens enjoy the provision of human rights. According to Osiatyn?ski, the African take on human rights was not on an individual basis; it focused on the community. This is an indication that culture has a relative impact on human rights universality. In most tribes, in Africa, for example, the decision to marry does not come from a girl, but it is a decision made by the family and clan or the community, depending on the family status (Osiatyn?ski, 2009:128). This practice

UK employment law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

UK employment law - Essay Example The new employment law in UK suggests that incase an employer violate the employment rights there will be a financial penalty. On the employment area, individuals would involve themselves in any action so that they can preserve a chance for their employment. It would take individuals who are looking for work so much of making lies to their bosses so that they can obtain chance in a working place. They would pretend to be the best individuals before the employer. These individuals may hide much about their health and character for the purpose of obtaining the chance in an organization. Employees may hide their weaknesses of health so that they are not fired from work. This may bring a dangerous outcome when everything reveals itself and it is no longer a secret. The essay is about is about an employee who misbehaved after drinking alcohol in company party. He sat on the copier naked and begun making copies. During this incident, the copier glass broke due to his heavy weight. The mana ging director dismissed him immediately without investigations. The director could have launched an investigation to know the cause of his misconduct. I believe John had reason or cause behind his actions. If he was to face any disciplinary action that would be replacing the copier glass ne broke. Schizophrenic This mental illness affects one during either adulthood or adolescence. The symptoms of the disease are as follows; disorganized speech, delusions, negative personality, hallucinations and bizarre behavior. People suffering from schizophrenic have a low level of functioning and are unable to withstand working pressure in an organization. Every person with the illness is different and each individual behaves in a different way (French 2006, p 20). The cause of john’s misconduct was under influence of alcohol hence this case or condition cannot be handled as an illness. Rights of employee If john was suffering from this disease Schizophrenic, he should not have been dism issed. His condition could have been caused by too much pressure, which he was unable to handle. There are laws that protect employee who are sick or suffering from a chronic illness or disability. No employer is allowed to dismiss, sack or discipline employees because of ill health. There two acts under Health and Safety at Work (HSWA) that protects employees. The two acts are; 1. Employment Rights Act 1996 which deals with ensuring fair procedures in case there is an issue of employee dismissal reason being absent at work because of an illness. 2. Employment 202(Dispute regulation) 2004 this act was adopted to decrease employee dismissal, and govern grievances and disciplinary procedures (Health and safety Executive 2012). John’s behavior on grounds of the mental illness is protected by the UK employment act. The dismissal attracts fine penalties and John should receive his salary and job reinstatement (Lewis & Malcolm, 2004). The disciplinary action should be charging John or ask him to replace the broken photocopier glass and the papers he wasted. The managing director did not bother to know his cause of misconduct but dismissed him without investigating. Employees may suffer from schizophrenia and fail to reveal this to their employers for the fear of shame or they could be fired or denied the job. Schizophrenia becomes a no more secret when the employee behaves in a funny way after certain duration of working in an organization ( A.D.A.M. , 2012). An alcoholic as a consequence of taking prescription drugs There is an act that

Report Dance of Life Popular Culture and Music in the Modern World Essay

Report Dance of Life Popular Culture and Music in the Modern World - Essay Example In so far as music is the focus f this study, it is the contents f popular songs that structure the main arguments, specifically, the political motivations reflected in, and further generated by these songs as they are created, performed, and consumed in varying ways by different social agents. The first chapter is exemplary in its theoretical breadth, incorporating varying discursive modes from Frankfurt theorists, Birmingham School f Cultural Studies, ethnomusicology, media, and popular music' studies. Lockard drawls on different ethnographic examples to substantiate his discussion f the popular culture phenomenon in the contexts f modernity, post-imperialism, and technological mediation. He defines "popular music" as a musical phenomenon that is "disseminated largely by the mass media", and that functions as a social commodity, the production and distribution f which depends on "a clientele able and willing to purchase the commodity" (pp. 18-19). This chapter explores the current situation f popular music studies and examines the significance f such studies (or the lack f it). More importantly, it summarizes the prevailing academic trends in popular music and popular culture research, and serves as an excellent introduction to this field f cultural studies. Book's first chapter is a survey f a variety f philosophical approaches to popular music. Lockard views popular culture as an arena f contradiction and struggle, and potentially, f resistance; he rejects the Frankfurt School's view that it is too standardized and degraded to be f value. The first chapter alone has 212 notes. This density f documentation at times makes for choppy reading, especially in paragraphs that career through several disjointed subjects. Though Lockard has taken pains to discover all f the English-language academic studies f the region's music, he also relies on many journalistic accounts from newspapers, weekly news magazines, and consumer guides to world music. These sources are uneven in quality and often anecdotal in their coverage, and they lack detailed documentation. Further, the nature f the Western press is to seek subjects that are interesting (i.e., outlandish or confrontational) but have a glimmer f familiarity to their audience--topics like teenager rebellion or a third-world Dylan. Lockard provides a well-informed social context in each chapter, and illuminates the historical and contemporary political junctures that have characterized each country from approximately the 1940s to the present. With this rich contextual background, he then proceeds to trace the historical significance f various popular music forms, such as the Kroncong and Dangdut in Indonesia, Pinoy in the Philippines. He pays particular attention to the emergence f the mass media and state control f the media in each country, and also explores various political movements in which musicians played decisive roles. In the process, Lockard examines the social complex created by the intersection f popular music, dictatorship, regionalism, nationalism, religion, mass mediation, and cultural imperialism. Lockard's narrative analyses popular music in local and transnational contexts,