ASSIGNMENT BRIEF AND GUIDANCE

The submission is in the form of a completed individual portfolio folder, including the tasks set out in the Assignment Brief. This assignment involves group work but each student should submit an individual portfolio folder.

Part 1. Covers LO1 (P1, P2, M1, D1): Should include a set of examples of communication that you use during the planning and organisation of the event (emails, letters, etc.) and a training schedule (using project management software) for the two-day event and a training pack to include a range of activities, seminars, workshops, team-building activities and break-out sessions.

Part 2. Covers LO2 (P3, P4, M2, M3, D2): A report that demonstrate the use of different problemsolving techniques in the design, planning and delivery of the event and how you applied critical reasoning to their solutions. This report should include a short discussion of the importance of team dynamics and a written evaluation of your performance in the group task (part 3) and your contribution to the team. You are required to make use of headings, paragraphs, subsections and illustrations as appropriate, and all work must be supported with research and referenced using the Harvard referencing system. The recommended word limit is 500-1,000 words, although you will not
be penalised for exceeding the total word limit.

Part 3. Covers LO3 (P5, P6, M4, D3): Ten-minute Microsoft® PowerPoint® style presentation on "Team dynamics" including interactive links to suitable sites and an activity sheet. The presentation slides for the findings should be submitted with speaker notes. You are required to make effective use of headings, bullet points and subsections as appropriate. Your research should be referenced using the Harvard referencing system. The recommended word limit is 500 words, including speaker notes, although you will not be penalised for exceeding the total word limit.

Part 4. Covers LO 4 (P7, P8, M5, D4): Write your complete CPD plan and include its relevance and contribution to your own learning.

CASE STUDY

LO1, LO2 AND LO3: Planning a Training Event

You have been asked to support your training and development manager with the planning and implementation of a professional development event targeted at internal employees within the organisation that you work in. It is for a group of 40 employees. There is a large auditorium that will seat 60, and the outdoor centre can accommodate 15 at any one time for activities. In addition, there are three breakout rooms, one with computers for up to 20 and two other seminar rooms that seat up to 30.

The training event is scheduled over a two-day period at a nearby residential centre, and will include a number of workshops, coaching sessions and team-building activities. The centre requires a schedule of the types of activities proposed so that plans can be finalised. In addition, any guest speakers or motivational coaches will also require a minimum of three weeks' notice for all bookings.You have also been asked to design and deliver a workshop as part of the training event based on the dynamics of team working.

PART 1

Working individually:

1. Demonstrate, using a range of different communication styles and formats, that you can design, organise and deliver the two-day training event [P1]

2. Produce a professional schedule (using project management software) that identifies planning and resourcing prior to the two-day event. In addition, design a training pack to include a range of activities, seminars, workshops, team-building activities and breakout sessions. [P2]

To achieve M1 you must present your schedule in a professional way by using for example a Gantt chart to support the planning of an event, to include contingencies and justifications of time allocated.

To achieve D1 you must demonstrate you have applied interpersonal skills during the design and delivery of the training event and assess the effectiveness of this set of skills.

PART 2

Following the event, your training and development manager has asked you to provide some feedback.

3. In your report you should also demonstrates how you used or applied problem solving and discuss its importance in planning and running an event. [P3]

To achieve M2, you must demonstrate a good research and include a discussion of the theory of problem-solving by using a range of different techniques during the design and delivery of your event. Justify the solution methodologies used during your project

4. You should also give an example of the application of critical reasoning and your experiences of it when working on a solution [P4]

To achieve M3, you must explain a range of solution methodology and justify its use and application during the preparation of the event.

To achieve D2, you must give a detailed judgement of the process of applying critical reasoning to a given task or to the event in general.

PART 3

Working in small groups (3-4 per group):

One of the key activities during the event is a short presentation you have been asked to deliver.

5. In this part, you are required to prepare and deliver a 10 minutes group presentation about ‘team dynamics'. You should include an activity sheet that will require delegates to take part in some form of team-building task. You should include in your report a short  discussion of the importance of team dynamics in the success and/or failure of group work; [P5, P6]

To achieve M4, you must include in your report a detailed analysis of team dynamics, mentioning the roles group members played in the team and the effectiveness in terms of achieving the common goal.

To achieve D3, you must include a critical evaluation of your performance and your contribution to the team you worked in.

PART 4

LO4: Continuous Professional Development

Having completed the two-day training event for the organisation, you now need to reflect on your experience and discuss the importance of Continuous Professional Development (CPD) and its contribution to own learning. [P7]

Consider your personal and/or career goals and identify your CPD needs and what actions would put you in a position to achieve these goals. Produce a development plan outlining your future goals and identifying how these can be realised. [P8]

To achieve M5, you could conduct some research into motivational theories and explain how they can be used to improve employee  performance. Compare a number of theories and present your findings to your peers.

To achieve D4, you must explain the usage of CPD within organisations and evaluate a range of evidence criteria required to measure how effective this CPD is in helping employees achieve their goals while using their time and resources effectively.