ASSIGNMENT 1 INFORMATION CPD 1102 Semester 2 2017   • Assignment 1: “There are a variety of skills that are important for today’s professional manager. They are too numerous to include in a report. You will be allocated one skill and your assessment is to discuss the role of that skill for today’s professional manager in making a positive difference to your career.” Word Limit – 1500 words. A sample of Table of Contents is listed below; Introduction –this should be no more than 150 words. Include definitions of your allocated skills and what are competencies? Make sure you can distinguish what is a skill and what is a competence. At the end of the paragraph, what do you think they are? There should be a minimum of three references in this section. In addition, introduce to the reader the field or role of the manager you would like to be in. Literature Review: Why is your allocated skill important for today’s managers? You will need to undertake further research to accomplish this section. You have already decided the career you would like undertake, now find peer reviewed journal articles or other credible sources that link your skills to the position you would like to undertake. (For example: If you want to be an accountant, why is your allocated skill important to be a professional accountant?). This is the basis of your literature review. I would expect 8 references in for this section and between 800 words in length. Remember to include headings and sub-headings in this section as it will make it easier to write. Critical Analysis of Literature Review: This is the section where you will explain why you believe your allocated skill or competences are the most important for your desired position. In this section explain why the skill is important to the position you have chosen. For example, one of these could be something about the various types of skills (communication, or managerial, generic or soft skills) that you find. This could be undertaken by citing examples and references. You may have been allocated a skill, but this is part of a larger competence (a group of skills). What is the competence that the skill is part of? You need to explain why and use some references to support this. (400 words) Conclusion: Do you believe you have mastered this skill and why? Do you have any evidence to supports this? How will they help you in your managerial aspirations? It will also include which skills do you need to improve and how will you do this. This paragraph should be about 150 -200 words. You need to include AT LEAST three academic references in the main body as well as one (1) academic reference for each of the skills you have discussed. Bibliography: All essays require a bibliography at the end in the APA format as shown in the class exercises. These words are not counted in the word limit.   PLEASE NOTE: Included in the assignment, you will need to highlight 10 joining words which are in your notes, evidence of the use of 70 useful sentences (5 sentences that are illustrated in the text which will be highlighted), the use of the suggested format as shown in the handouts. Your thoughts which are supported by relevant examples and references. There are to be two paragraphs according to the handouts (in colour).to show the writer understands the correct structure of a paragraph Please highlight the paragraph as shown in the following text. “The first sentence describes what the paragraph is going to discuss. The next sentences just explain the first sentence. They give the reader more information on what you are going to discuss. The writer then adds some examples to support what his point of view. These could also be references or paraphrases of a journal article if you wish. The author expands his point, but is still relevant to the first sentence, and uses a reference to support this. The last sentence is a concluding sentence that summarises the paragraph. Ideally, there should be another sentence that links to the next paragraph.”   Marking Rubric: CPD 1102 HD (80-100%) D (75-84%) CR (65-74%) P (64-50%) F (>.50%) Criteria1: Definition of skill, competences and own interpretation /10 Has addressed the question of the assignment comprehensively and imaginatively. Has addressed the question of the assignment coherently and with some attempt to demonstrate imagination. Has addressed the main question of the assignment Some of the work is focused on the aims and themes of the question Fails to address the task set. Criteria 2: Literature Review Identified important skill of a manager an explanation of it /25 Has addressed the question of the assignment comprehensively and imaginatively. Has addressed the question of the assignment coherently and with some attempt to demonstrate imagination. Has addressed the main question of the assignment Some of the work is focused on the aims and themes of the question Fails to address the task set. Criteria 3: Identified, explained skill that are relevant to desired career /10 Has addressed the question of the assignment comprehensively and imaginatively. Has addressed the question of the assignment coherently and with some attempt to demonstrate imagination. Has addressed the main question of the assignment Some of the work is focused on the aims and themes of the question Fails to address the task set. Criteria 4: Critical analysis of skill sets of them /10 Has addressed the question of the assignment comprehensively and imaginatively. Has addressed the question of the assignment coherently and with some attempt to demonstrate imagination. Has addressed the main question of the assignment Some of the work is focused on the aims and themes of the question Fails to address the task set. Criteria 5: The assignment has demonstrated sufficient knowledge of academic referencing, sourcing, quoting and paraphrasing /25 Has addressed the question of the assignment comprehensively and imaginatively including joining words, sentence and paragraph structure Has addressed the question of the assignment coherently and with some attempt to demonstrate imagination including joining words, sentence and paragraph structure Has addressed the main question of the assignment without explanations Some of the work is focused on the aims and themes of the question Fails to address the task set. Criteria 6: Conclusion and Recommendation /10 Has addressed the question of the assignment comprehensively and imaginatively. Has addressed the question of the assignment coherently and with some attempt to demonstrate imagination. Has addressed the main question of the assignment Some of the work is focused on the aims and themes of the question Fails to address the task set. Criteria 7 Use of joining words and demonstrated paragraph structure /10 Has addressed the question of the assignment comprehensively. Has addressed the question of the assignment coherently and with some attempt to demonstrate Has addressed the main question of the assignment Some of the work is focused on the aims and themes of the question Fails to address the task set.   No. Skill Description 1 Analytical skills Good reasoning in analysing the problem and developing a solution to solve it 2 Change management skills transitioning individuals, teams, and organizations using methods intended to re-direct the use of resources, business process, budget allocations, or other modes of operation that significantly reshape a company or organization. 3 Creative thinking skills A method of looking at problems or situations from a fresh perspective that suggests unorthodox solutions (which may look unsettling at first). 4 Critical thinking skills Intellectually disciplined process of actively and skilfully conceptualizing, applying, analysing, synthesizing, and/or evaluating information, as a guide to belief and action 5 Decision making skills A process of making choices among possible alternatives. The skills considered important to effective decision making are based on a normative model of decision making, which prescribes how decisions should be made 6 Financial skills is the ability to use knowledge and skills to manage financial resources effectively for a lifetime of financial well-being 7 Interpersonal skills These skills are designed to produce and action such as delegation, influence, conflict resolutions and motivation of others 9 Leadership skills The essential component in positioning executives to make thoughtful decisions about their organization's mission and goals, and properly allocate resources to achieve those directives 10 Management skills To direct, plan, organise and co-ordinate work done by others 11 Negotiation Resolving differences between two or more parties whose objectives and values are based on different ideas 12 Building Relationships A process of building long-term relationships with people in a mutually beneficial way. 13 Planning Skills that allow you to look ahead and accomplish goals or avoid emotional, financial, physical or social hardship. These skills let you make and implement decisions. 14 Problem Solving skills Problem to reach a solution. Problem solving may include mathematical or systematic operations and can be a gauge of an individual's critical thinking skills 15 Project Management As the application of knowledge, skills, tools, and techniques to project activities to meet the project requirements 16 Team As the application of knowledge, skills, tools, and techniques to project activities to meet the project requirements 17 Time Management Using their time more effectively and practicing good time management skills. It requires the investment of a little time upfront to prioritise and organise yourself. 18 Verbal communication To exchange of messages to achieve mutual understanding via verbal medium such that the message is understood 19 Written communication Transfer of message from an information sources to an information receiver so both parties understand the meaning and context of message