UNIT 3 Professional Practice Assignment Brief – A Training Event for an Identified Audience

BTEC Assignment

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Student Declaration

I certify that the assignment submission is entirely my own work, and I fully understand the consequences of plagiarism. I understand that making a false declaration is a form of malpractice.

Student signature:                                                             Date:

Assignment Brief

Submission Format

Individual Log Book – A log book is needed to be maintained from the beginning of the module until the final submission which reflects on the personal and professional development the learner has acquired along with continuous assessments and feedbacks obtained by the assessor of the module, and you may include components of CPD to enhance the log book, also the evidences of planning and organizing of the event.

Presentation – Section 1 should be submitted in a formal presentation after the sixth week from the inception of the module.

• The presentation should be focusing on the project proposal, and it should be executed as a group presentation.
• The duration of the presentation could be from 20 to 30 minutes.
• Project proposal should be delivered at the presentation including the role played by each member at the plan execution.

Individual Project report – At the end of the event, produce an individual report (with all necessary attachments as annexures e.g. – project proposal, additional evidence of each task, invoices for the event, evidence of effective communication and the feedback obtained from the audience and the assessor for the delivered event) by each member covering all the tasks also by including the individual logbook.

Unit Learning Outcomes

LO1 Demonstrate a range of interpersonal and transferable communication skills to a target audience.

LO2 Apply critical reasoning and thinking to a range of problem-solving scenarios.

LO3 Discuss the importance and dynamics of working within a team and the impact of team working in different environments.

LO4 Examine the need for Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and its role within the workplace and for higher-level learning.

Transferable skills and competencies developed

Computing-related cognitive skills

• Problem solving and critical analysis.
• Recognize and analyze criteria and specifications appropriate to specific problems and plan strategies for their solutions.
• Deploy appropriate theory, practices and tools for the design, implementation and evaluation of computer-based systems.
• Analyzing facts and circumstances to determine the cause of a problem and identifying and selecting appropriate solutions
• Research for evidence-based decision making.
• Conceptual and critical thinking, analysis, synthesis and evaluation
• Support, manage and communicate change by identifying barriers and overcoming them.
• Producing reports, providing management information based on the collation, analysis and interpretation of data.

Computing-related practical skills

• The ability to evaluate systems in terms of quality attributes and possible trade-offs presented with the given problem.
• The ability to plan and manage projects to deliver computing systems within constraints of requirements, timescale and budget.
• The ability to recognize any risks and safety aspects that may be involved in the deployment of computing systems within a given context.
• The ability to deploy effectively the tools used for the construction and documentation of computer applications, with particular emphasis on understanding the whole process involved in the effective deployment of computers to solve practical problems.
• The ability to critically evaluate and analyze complex problems, including those with incomplete information, and devise appropriate solutions within the constraints of a budget.

Generic skills for employability

• Effective teamworking and group communication, role development, capitalizing expertise of each member to inform good decision making.
• Time management, planning ahead and working cooperatively to assign tasks, assess progress and deliver on time.
• Contextual awareness, e.g. the ability to understand and meet the needs of individuals, business and the community, and to understand how workplaces and organizations are governed.

Vocational scenario

You have been hired as an event coordinator by a renowned training organization specializing in IT, Leadership and Soft-skills development courses. Your task is to plan and execute a real training event aimed at improving Leadership, IT or Soft skills to an identified audience. The training should include workshops, presentations, and interactive sessions.   You are required to complete the project within the duration of 2 months and the training plan and resources should be finalized as per the requirement of the audience. As the event coordinator, you are responsible for designing and delivering an impactful training program that caters to the diverse needs and preferences of the participants.

Assignment activity and guidance

You are required to form a group in order to carry out the event with the number of members guided by the unit assessor. You may utilize “Belbin’s Team Role Theory” to distribute tasks among team members effectively.  While designing and delivering the event,

• the skills required to make the event successful,
• challenges faced during the design/ delivery,
• critical evaluation of the problems, challenges faced, and the methods used to overcome them,
• the need for continuously develop in a professional environment need to be thoroughly considered.

At the end of the event, produce an individual project report (with all necessary attachments as annexures e.g. – project proposal, additional evidence of each task, invoices of the event, evidence of effective communication and the feedback obtained from the audience and the assessor for the delivered event) by each member covering the following tasks.

Section 1:

You are required to design and deliver a comprehensive training event that effectively addresses the IT/ Leadership or Soft-skills development needs of the target audience. Utilize different communication styles and formats to engage participants and ensure effective learning outcomes.  

The team members are expected to present a “Project Proposal Presentation” explaining the following key points for seeking approval from the unit assessor before the finalization of the event:

• Name of the event.
• Goals and objectives of the event.
• Team roles with each member introducing their role.
• The team’s plan to ensure effective communication. (e.g., team meetings)
• Proposed professional schedule of the event. (approximate)
• A contingency plan for the event
• Budget of the event.
• Gantt chart of the event

The presentation duration from 20 to 30 minutes and should be completed at the sixth week after commencing the module.

The below sections should be written as an individual project report on the event that you conduct as a group and need to be submitted after two weeks since the day of the event.

After obtaining the approval to your event/project, you should demonstrate how you are planning to effectively deliver the training event by designing a professional project plan with following details.

• Roles appointed to group members and an evaluation of interpersonal skills of each member that justifies the assigned role in the team.
• Goal and objectives of the project.
• Design a detailed schedule to support the planning of the training event. Include contingencies for potential delays or issues that may arise during the planning process. Justify the time allocated for each task and explain how it contributes to the overall success of the event.
• Demonstrate effective time-management skills in planning the training event. Develop a detailed timeline outlining key milestones, deadlines, and contingencies to ensure the event runs smoothly and stays within the allocated timeframe.
• Evaluate the effectiveness and application of interpersonal skills during the design and delivery of the training event. Reflect on your communication strategies, ability to engage participants, and address any conflicts or issues encountered during the planning and execution stages.
• Also include evidence (photos) of your actions/engagements during the design and the delivery of the training event.

Section 2:

Include the below discussion in the individual project report.

Your objective is to demonstrate the effective use of various problem-solving techniques throughout the planning and execution stages of the event. Utilize approaches such as brainstorming, root cause analysis, and SWOT analysis to address challenges and ensure smooth event delivery.

• • Apply critical reasoning skills to the design and delivery of the event. Evaluate different options, anticipate potential issues, and make informed decisions to optimize the event’s success.
  • Conduct research on different problem-solving techniques commonly used in event planning and execution. Explore the advantages and limitations of each technique and how they can be applied effectively in the context of organizing a conference.
  • Justify the selection and application of various methodologies in the design and delivery of the conference. Explain why certain problem-solving techniques were chosen over others and how they contributed to the overall success of the event.
  • Evaluate the overall success of the conference in terms of how well critical reasoning and problem-solving techniques were applied to achieve the end goal. Reflect on the effectiveness of the strategies implemented and identify areas for improvement in future events. (e.g. timescale, stages, resources, critical path analysis)

Section 3:

Include the below discussion in the individual project report.

Work in your team by contributing your skills and knowledge to meet the project goal.

• Discuss the significance of team dynamics in determining the outcome of group work. Explore how effective communication, collaboration, and leadership within the team can influence success, while poor coordination, and lack of cohesion can lead to failure.
• Analyse the team dynamics observed during the project, focusing on the roles played by each group member and their effectiveness in achieving shared goals. Evaluate how well the team functioned as a unit, identifying strengths and weaknesses in communication, leadership, and collaboration. You may choose various team roles as team leader, content writer, designer, communicating coordinator, presenters, etc.
• Critically evaluate your own role and contribution to the group scenario. Reflect on your strengths, weaknesses, and areas for improvement in terms of communication, teamwork, and leadership skills. Assess how your actions influenced the team dynamics and contributed to the overall success or failure of the project.

Section 4:

Include the below discussion in the individual project report.

• Discuss the significance of CPD in the context of continuous learning and personal development. Explore how engaging in CPD activities can enhance skills, knowledge, and motivation, leading to improved job performance and career advancement.
• Review various motivational theories such as Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, Herzberg’s Two-Factor Theory, and Expectancy Theory. Analyse the impact these theories can have on individual and team performance in the workplace, and how they can be applied to enhance motivation and productivity.

Note: Include the individual logbook at this point under section 4 and discuss the below points afterwards.

• Produce a development plan outlining your responsibilities, performance objectives, and required skills for achieving future career goals. Identify specific CPD activities, such as training programs, workshops, and mentorship opportunities that align with your development plan and contribute to your professional growth.
• Justify the role of CPD and development planning in building motivation. Explain how engaging in CPD activities and setting clear development goals can enhance job satisfaction, performance, and overall motivation in the workplace.
• Evaluate a range of evidence criteria used as measures for effective CPD such as peer reviews, skill audits and the logbook. Analyse factors such as relevance, credibility, and applicability of CPD activities in achieving learning objectives and professional development goals.
• Discuss on the individual logbook maintained by you from the beginning evaluating how CPD enhances your personal growth.

Recommended Resources

Please note that the resources listed are examples for you to use as a starting point in your research – the list is not definitive

Websites

https://aerospace.csis.org/ (2022) Spaceports of the World [online]. Available at:

https://aerospace.csis.org/data/spaceports-of-the-world/ [Accessed 10 June 2024]

https://asq.org/ (2022) WHAT IS PROJECT MANAGEMENT? [online]. Available at:

https://asq.org/quality-resources/project-management [Accessed 10 June 2024]

http://www.conferenceconsultants.com/ (n.d.) Conference Consultants Worldwide [online] Available at: http//www.conferenceconsultants.com/ [Accessed 10 June 2024]

https://fellow.app/ (2021) Team Roles and Responsibilities: How to Effectively Define Them [online]. Available at: https://fellow.app/blog/productivity/how-to-effectively-define-team-roles-and-responsibilities/ [Accessed 10 June 2024]

Scientific Conference examples (2022) The International Professional Development Association [online]. Available at: https://ipda.org.uk/ [Accessed 10 June 2024]

https://kissflow.com/ (2022) Dependencies in Project Management – A Complete Guide [online]. Available at: https://kissflow.com/project/dependencies-in-project-management/ [Accessed 10 June 2024].

https://www.peoplegoal.com/ (2022) 6 Reasons Why Development Planning is Important [online]. Available at: https://www.peoplegoal.com/blog/development-planning [Accessed 10 June 2024]

Scientific Conference example (2022) ACM Symposium on Principles of Distributed Computing [online]. Available at: https://www.podc.org/ [Accessed 10 June 2024]

https://www.projectmanager.com/ (2022) 25 Must-Have Project Management Excel Templates and Spreadsheets [online]. Available at: https://www.projectmanager.com/blog/8-must-pm-excel-templates [Accessed 10 June 2024]

Journals and articles

Imam, H. & Zaheer, M. (2021) Shared leadership and project success: The roles of knowledge sharing, cohesion and trust in the team. International Journal of Project Management, Volume 39, Issue 5, 2021, pp. 463-473, ISSN 0263-7863. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijproman.2021.02.006 [Accessed 10 June 2024]

Textbooks

Aspire Training and Consulting, (n.d.) E-book on Professional Development. Available at: https://aspire-solidus-production.s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/assets/CXPRP003/samples/CXPRP003.pdf  [Accessed 10 June 2024]

Cottrell, S. (2001) Critical Thinking Skills: Developing Effective Analysis and Argument. 2nd edn. Palgrave Macmillan.

Chris Croft (2022) Project Management QuickStart Guide: The Simplified Beginner’s Guide to Precise Planning, Strategic Resource Management, and Delivering World Class Results. QuickStart Guides™ – Business

Forde, C. et al (2006) Professional Development, Reflection and Enquiry. Sage Publications.

Megginson, D. and Whitaker, V. (2007) Continuing Professional Development. 2nd edn. Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.

MindTools Ltd (2014) E-book on Personal Development Plan. Available at: https://www.crowe-associates.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/MindTools-Career-PersonalDevelopmentPlanning.pdf  [Accessed 10 June 2024]

Winstanley, D. (2005) Personal Effectiveness: A guide to action. Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.

HN Global

Reading Lists. Available at: https://hnglobal.highernationals.com/learning-zone/reading-lists

Student Resource Library. Available at: https://hnglobal.highernationals.com/subjects/resource-libraries

Learning Outcomes and Assessment Criteria

Table 1: Interpersonal and Problem-Solving Skills

Table 2: Team Dynamics and CPD

Answer

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