Skills for Business and Management

https://faroutpodcast.com/embo0q6c7q Contents Acknowledgements Chapter 1: The Distinctive Learning Journey on a Business and Management Degree Independent learning Time management Academic reading Academic writing Group working How to best use this book Activity Answers Activity 1.1 Part I: Self-management Chapter 2: Believe in Yourself Identifying your unique set of personal capabilities The importance of reflection in life, work and study Why reflect at all? Continuous professional development (CPD) Why keep a reflective journal? The individual nature of reflection How to use your journal Overcoming ‘writer’s block’ Self-efficacy Managing the challenging times at university Initial self-confidence Unfamiliar learning environment Disappointing grades Cumulative negativity Emotional challenges Developing success strategies Expanding subject knowledge Assessment successes Peer support Growing familiarity Ambition and determination Self-acceptance University support services Chapter 3: Effective Time Management Weekly and daily scheduling Blocking off essential commitments Scheduling regular independent learning sessions Managing perfectionism Overcoming procrastination Top tips for overcoming procrastination Self-motivation Aligning your daily time management to longer-term aspirations Applying the Place Mat in your daily life Developing achievable ‘to-do’ lists Realism Part II: Academic Research Chapter 4: Searching for Relevant Texts The challenges of independent research Time management issues Stage 1: establish your reading purpose Stage 2: find the texts that directly address your reading purpose Starting your research trail with the basic set of core texts Developing your research beyond core texts Matching different types of sources to business and management subjects Library resources Sources of factual data Activity Answers Activity 4.1: Critically analysing an essay question Activity 4.2: Choosing texts by their titles Activity 4.3: Choosing texts by key extracts Activity 4.4: Choosing relevant sources for different business subjects Activity 4.5: Matching reading purpose to relevant sources Chapter 5: Efficient Reading Strategies Stage 3: selective reading to find the relevant ideas within a text Reading for note-making Researching an assignment question Activity Answers Activity 5.1: Scan reading to find key points in a journal article Activity 5.2: Detailed reading of highlighted points for deeper understanding Part III: Academic Writing Chapter 6: Essentials of Academic Writing Academic writing style Be objective Reflecting your own experience Be cautious Use formal language Be clear, specific and concise Sentence structure Accurate sentence structure Paragraph structure Essay structure Coherence Writing conclusions and introductions Evaluating and editing your draft writing Improving your assignment’s coherence Further editing procedures Activity Answers Activity 6.1: Appropriate sentence length Activity 6.2: Shortening sentences Activity 6.3: Identifying Subject Verb Object (SVO) structure in sentences Activity 6.4: Clear sentence structure with Subject Verb Object Activity 6.5: Evaluating paragraph structure Paragraph Paragraph Activity 6.6: Coherence through paragraphs Chapter 7: Understanding Referencing How to produce citations (in the Harvard style) Starting a sentence with a citation Ending a sentence with a citation Showing page numbers in a citation Citing sources which do not have identified authors How to produce references (in the Harvard style) Learning how to format your full references References or bibliography? When to provide citations Avoiding plagiarism Checking for plagiarism Turnitin originality reports What does a Turnitin report show? Sample Report Similarity Index Sources Extract from full essay reproduced in the Turnitin report How would a tutor interpret Report 1? Sample Report Similarity Index Sources Extract from full essay reproduced in the Turnitin report Competitive positioning Corporate level How would a tutor interpret Report 2? Activity Answers Activity 7.1: Citing ideas from other authors Activity 7.2: Avoiding plagiarism Chapter 8: Critically Analytical Writing What is critical analysis anyway? Sample essay How is critical thinking useful for your future career? Activity Answers Chapter 9: Reflective Writing What is meant by reflective writing? Reflective writing embraces both success and ‘failure’ The reflective writing style is quite different from traditional academic writing How to write reflectively The linear approach to reflective writing A cyclical approach to reflective writing Reflective writing as an employability skill Reflecting on personal experiences from a theoretical perspective Applying all the principles of reflective writing in a management assignment Sample reflective essay Activity Answers Activity 9.1: Matching reflective prompts and answers Activity 9.2: Identifying answers to reflective questions Activity 9.3: Using the STAR technique to show positive reflection Activity 9.4: In the tutor’s shoes – what’s the grade? Part IV: Communication Chapter 10: Getting Started with  Group Work Personal responsibility: group work starts with you Gathering commitment to a shared goal Everyone has a voice How to enable everyone to ‘stake their claim’ in the group Assigning team roles by personality type What does your Myers–Briggs type suggest about your ideal team role? How can personality types help your group work? Are you the group leader? The positive potential of group work Activity Answers Activity 10.2: Helpful objectives for a first group meeting Chapter 11: Managing Challenges in Group Work An emotional challenge Case study: recognising and managing intercultural conflict Empowering yourself to be an effective group member Reframe your perceptions of others The self-empowerment model in practice Possible turnarounds Taking responsibility for your experience Take charge of the way that you feel, think and act in meetings Focus on tangible objectives you would like the group to achieve Establish a realistic personal commitment to those group objectives Activity Answers Activity 11.1: Possible sources of group conflict Activity 11.2: Who is responsible for what? Activity 11.3: Taking personal responsibility Chapter 12: Delivering Effective Presentations Prepare for success Establish how much information you can present Identify a precise focus to your presentation Know your topic ‘inside out’ Rehearse your knowledge of the topic Successful performance on the day One-minute impact Visual Vocal Verbal Be calm Activity Answers Activity 12.1: Key principles of effective presentations Activity 12.2: Defining the presentation focus Activity 12.3: Creating impact with presentation slides Activity 12.6: Speaking slowly, clearly and emphatically Part V: Personal Development Planning Chapter 13: Make the Most of Your Learning Journey What do you really want to experience? Your primary question Articulating your mission Well-formed outcomes Plan backwards from your goal Recognise all that you are Strengths Worries Opportunities Tendencies Apply your personal SWOT analysis to fulfilling your purpose You are already enough (strengths) Step-by-step progression (opportunities) You’ll see it when you believe it (worries) Change what does not work (tendencies) References Index