Nelson College London

ASSIGNMENT BRIEF
Qualification

Unit number, Code and Title

Pearson BTEC Level 5 HND Diploma

Business

Unit 13, T/601/0943, Personal and Professional Development

Module Leader:

Distribution date

Lecturers:
Abimbola Taiwo, Alfred Mbeteh, Chuma Osuchukwu, Vedna
Gavaloo.
Submission deadline

W/C 18/05/2015

09/08/2015

Abimbola Taiwo

Assignment title

Personal and Professional Development

Learner declaration
I certify that the work submitted for this assignment is my own and research sources are fully
acknowledged.

Student signature:

Date:

Introduction
The aim of this unit is to enable and improve learner ability to understand what and
how they are learning, and to review, plan and take responsibility for their own learning
and learning styles. It will help learners to get the most out of student experience by
helping them to take responsibility for their development and raising awareness of the
variety of opportunities for development. It also aims to develop learners ability to
organise, manage and practise a range of approaches to improve their performance as
self-directed learners in preparation for work or further career development.
The unit emphasises the needs of the individual but within the context of how the
development of self-management corresponds with effective team management in
Page 1 of 10

Nelson College London

meeting objectives.

Page 2 of 10

SCENARIO
Employees are constantly being assessed on their knowledge and skills. So how can you stay on top of the game?

Nelson College London

Do you remember leaving school or university and thinking that exams and assessments would be a thing of the past?
It doesn't take long to realise that the workplace can be an equally intense and competitive learning environment.
Whether we like it or not, employees are constantly being judged on their capabilities and benchmarked against their
peers. And, unlike studying for a qualification, the goalposts in the workplace keep moving. This might be because of
new technology, customer demand, legislation or simply because there is a new chief executive with a different
vision. All these changes invariably have implications for the staff.
Some organisations are good at providing learning opportunities when they can see a direct benefit to the
organisation. What's offered, however, may not always be in line with what you really want or need for your career.
So, if you want to protect your employability, you need to take charge of your personal development.
According to the 2012 Learning Survey by Niace, the adult learning organisation, there's a strong correlation between
learning and sustained employment. Staffs who undertake learning activities are more able to adapt to the changing
requirements of an organisation and gain a competitive edge in the job market. Candidates who demonstrate that
they're conscientious about their personal development are likely to be seen as highly motivated and engaged. Their
openness to learning also suggests they're flexible, adaptable and will bring a continuous improvement ethos to the
workplace all of which is appealing to an employer.
So, with this in mind, here are some ways to start thinking about your own learning and development.
Enhancing your performance
What areas of your job do you find most difficult or want to improve? For ideas, look at past performance reviews or
talk to your manager, colleagues or HR department. Seek advice from those whose skills or career you wish to
emulate.
Improving the areas you identify may mean going on a course or workshop, or you may find that mentoring, guided
reading, work-shadowing, or online study is more relevant. For instance, if you know that negotiation skills are an
increasingly important part of your job, perhaps your manager could arrange for you to shadow someone with
exceptional skills in this area, or even coach you themselves through your next negotiation skills project.
Benchmarking the job market
When you're busy at work it's easy to lose sight of the changing needs of the job market. Periodically check out
adverts and person specifications for roles that are either similar to yours or are in line with the role you're looking for
next. Do you have everything they're looking for? For instance, are your IT skills up to scratch? Could the lack of a
professional qualification be an issue if every employer seems to be asking for it?
Knowledge updating
Some professions require a certain amount of professional development every year to retain your status. Whether this
is a requirement or not, make sure you're up-to-date with what's happening in your field, or you could lose credibility
Page 3 of 10
and potentially expose your company to risks. You can keep updated by reading professional journals or trade press,
attending industry events, conferences, workshops or your own research. The rise of webinars, e-newsletters and

Nelson College London

To achieve a pass in this unit you must successfully address the following tasks (P1P13):
Task

Tasks

No

Task
(AC)

PART 1
Part 1 assignment should be presented in an essay form
1
2
3
4
5

7
8

In relation to the article, evaluate different approaches you

may consider to self-manage your learning.
In your own view propose ways in which lifelong learning in
personal and professional contexts could be encouraged
Evaluate the benefits of self-managed learning to the
individual and organisation
Discuss the processes and activities required to implement the
development plan
Reflect critically on own learning against original aims and
objectives set in the development plan
Identify solutions to work-based problems e: g high employee
turnover, job allocation, work related accidents and team
building.
Communicate the solutions in a variety of styles and
appropriate manner at various levels
Evaluate and use effective time management strategies

P1(1.1)
P2(1.2)
P3(1.3)
P8(3.1)
P10(3.3
)
P12(4.1
)
P13(4.2
)
P14
(4.3)

PART 2
You are expected to produce a personal portfolio in this section. Please note that
individual research on your skills and competencies are required.
9
10
11

12

Evaluate own current skills and competencies against

professional standards and organisational objectives
Identify your own development needs and the activities
required to meet them
Identify development opportunities to meet current and future
needs
Devise a personal and professional development plan based
on your current performance and identified future needs and

P4(2.1)
P5 (2.2)
P6 (2.3)

P7(2.4)

opportunities
13

Undertake and document development activities as planned

P9(3.2)

Page 4 of 10

Nelson College London

14

Update the development plan based on feedback and

evaluation

Evidence
checklist

Summary of evidence required by student

Task 1

Essay on understanding how self-managed learning can enhance

lifelong development.

Task 2

Portfolio on taking responsibility for own personal and professional

development.

Task 3

Essay and portfolio on how to organise a typical production process.

Task 4

Report to demonstrate acquired interpersonal and transferable

skills.

P11(3.4
)

Evidence
presented

Page 5 of 10

Nelson College London

Grade Descriptor

Indicative characteristic/s

M1 Identify and apply

Effective judgements have been made.

strategies to find

An effective approach to study and research has

appropriate solutions
M2 Select / design and

been applied.

apply appropriate methods /

techniques
M3 Present and
communicate appropriate
findings
D1 Use critical reflection to
evaluate own work and
justify valid conclusions

Contextualisation
To achieve M1, you will find appropriate solutions in evaluating
approaches to self-managed learning. (1.1)

been applied.

To achieve M2, you will apply appropriate methods/techniques in

producing a personal portfolio and a personal presentation for LO2
(2.1,2.2,2.3 and 2.4)

Communication is appropriate for familiar and

unfamiliar audiences and appropriate media have
been used.

To achieve M3, your findings and research should be well presented

and communicated within the report. Also you will have met the
deadline to submit the tasks and achieve the unit assessment criteria.

Appropriate learning methods/techniques have

Conclusions have been arrived at through

synthesis of ideas and have been justified.
Realistic improvements have been proposed

To achieve D1 you will have to justify your critical reflection on own

learning against original aims and objectives set in the development
plan (3.4)

against defined characteristics for success.

D2 Take responsibility for
managing and organising
activities
D3 Demonstrate
convergent /lateral /
creative thinking

Activities have been managed.

To achieve D2 you will have demonstrated an effective approach to

independent research as evidenced from the citations and reference list
New ideas have been generated
and study and will have met the deadline to submit the tasks and
Good referencing and arrangement (Harvard style) achieve the unit assessment criteria. (P1-P13)
Effective thinking has taken place in unfamiliar To achieve D3, you will have to creatively justify your answers in Task
4.
contexts.

Page 8 of 10

Nelson College London

Submission Instructions:

This assignment must be completed by all the candidates undertaking Edexcel

HNC/HND Diploma in Business.
Referencing should be provided in Harvard Style Referencing (both in-text and
bibliography).
Header with the students ID number and full name as well as footer with the page
number should be present throughout the assignment.
Comprehensive reading list can be found in the Unit Handbook (UHB).
The authenticity statement must be signed and dated by all students and presented to
a lecturer or a Student Support Adviser.
Appendix A: Plagiarism and Collusion:
Any act of plagiarism and collusion will be seriously dealt with according to the
regulations. In this context the definition and scope of plagiarism are presented below:
Using the work of others without acknowledging source of information or inspiration,
although you may paraphrase, the result is still plagiarism (Cortell, 2003). Please
ensure you apply in-text referencing within your assignment to support all
information extracted from any published work.
Collusion is when two or more people combine to produce a piece of work for an
assessment that is passed off as the work of one alone. For example, one student has
copied the work of another, or where a joint effort has taken place in producing what
should have been an individual effort.
Appendix B: Harvard Referencing System (HRS):
Any information that is not of your own needs to be referenced, Plagiarising from
someone elses work can be unintentional if you are unaware of the rules of
acknowledging and referencing direct quotations.
The Harvard system requires you to acknowledge certain information which are mainly
the surname and the year of publication within the text, for example:
According to Bell (1999) as you write up your assignment you will use a citation to
indicate in your text the source of information provided.
The authors and publication information cited within the main body of your work must
be listed in the reference list (This will be at the end of your assignment) for
example:
Bell, J. (1999) Doing your research project. (3rd Edition) Buckingham: Open University
Press.
Detailed guidance on the Harvard Referencing System (HRS) will be made
available on Moodle (VLE)

Failure to submit on time will lead to penalisation (Capping of grades). Reasonable

consideration will be given, in the case of failure to submit the assignments by the deadline
period (exemption will be given to those being granted extenuating circumstances
provided they submit the relevant documents to support claim).
Appendix C: Learning Outcome for Personal and Professional Development

9 Assignment brief- Personal and Professional Development

Nelson College London

Learning
Outcome Learning
outcome

L01

Understand
how self
managed
learning can
enhance
lifelong
development

Assessment
Criteria

In this assessment you will have the

opportunity to present evidence that
shows you are able to:

1.1

Evaluate approaches to self-managed

learning.

1.2

Propose ways in which lifelong learning in

personal and professional contexts could
be encouraged.

1.3

Be able to take
responsibility 2.1
for own
personal and
professional
development 2.2
LO2

LO3

LO4

Evaluate the benefits of self-managed

learning to the individual and
organisation.

Evaluate own current skills and

competencies against professional
standards and organisational objectives.

Identify own development needs and the 2

activities required to meet them.

2.3

Identify development opportunities to

meet current and future defined needs.

2.4

Devise a Personal and Professional

Development plan based on identified
needs.

Discuss the processes and activities

required to implement the development
plan.

Be able to
implement and 3.1
continually
review own
personal and
3.2
professional
development
plan
3.3

Be able to
demonstrate
acquired
interpersonal
and
transferable
skills.

Task
no.

Undertake and document development

activities as planned.
Reflect critically on own learning against
original aims and objectives set in the
development plan.

3.4

Update the development plan based on

feedback and evaluation.

4.1

Select solutions to work-based problems. 4

4.2

Communicate in a variety of styles and

appropriate manner at various levels.

4.3

Evaluate and use effective time

management strategies.

10 Assignment brief- Personal and Professional Development

Evidence
(Page no)