Student Assignment Covering Form

Course/Unit Information
Course Pearson (Edexcel) BTEC Level 5 Higher
National Diploma
Unit No. Unit 47
Unit Name Employability Skills
Unit code A/601/0992
Batch SRG10-ES-BincyKaluvilla-1604

Instructor Information
Name Bincy Kaluvilla
Phone +971 52 905 9903
Email bincy@mywestford.com

Assignment Information
Full/ Part Assignment Full
Date Assignment Issued 03rd April 2016
Date Assignment Due 30th April 2016
Turnitin ID 12460211
Turnitin Password ES1604

Student Information
(To be filled by the student prior submitting the assignment)
Name
Email
Date of Submission

Student Assignment covering form is an integral part of the assignment document and
should be submitted along with all submissions.

1
 Student Declaration

I, _____________________ hereby confirm that this assignment is my own work and not
copied or plagiarized. It has not previously been submitted as part of any assessment for
this qualification. All the sources, from which information has been obtained for this
assignment, have been referenced as per Harvard Referencing format. I further confirm
that I have read and understood the Westford School of Management rules and
regulations about plagiarism and copying and agree to be bound by them.

Students Signature : (signed)

Student Name :

Date :

2
 Achievement Feedback Summary

Name of the Assessor Bincy Kaluvilla

Assessor Feedback
(AC
Learning Outcomes Assessment Criteria (AC) Met/M1/M2/M3/D1
/D2/D3)
LO 1 TASK 1
1.1 develop a set of own responsibilities
and performance objectives
Be able to determine own
responsibilities and 1.2 evaluate own effectiveness against
performance. defined objectives
1.3 make recommendations for
improvement
1.4 review how motivational techniques
can be used to improve quality of
performance
LO 2 TASK 2
2.1 develop solutions to work based
problems
Be able to develop
2.2 communicate in a variety of styles
interpersonal and
and appropriate manner at various levels
transferrable skills
2.3 identify effective time management
strategies
LO 3 TASK 3
3.1 explain the roles people play in a
team and how they can work together to
Understand the dynamics achieve shared goals
of working with others.
3.2 analyse team dynamics
3.3 suggest alternative ways to complete
tasks and achieve team goals
LO 4 TASK 4
4.1 evaluate tools and methods for
developing solutions to problems
Be able to develop
4.2 develop an appropriate strategy for
strategies for problem
resolving a particular problem
solving
4.3 evaluate the potential impact on the
business of implementing the strategy

Higher Grade Achievements (where applicable)

3
Grade Descriptor Achieved ? Grade Descriptor Achieved
(Tick ?
INCLUDEPI (Tick
CTURE INCLU
"cid:1.189746 DEPICT
3469@web18 URE
6004.mail.ir2. "cid:1.1
yahoo.com" \ 8974634
* 69@web
MERGEFOR 186004.
MATINET mail.ir2.
INCLUDEPI yahoo.co
CTURE m" \*
"cid:1.189746 MERGE
3469@web18 FORMA
6004.mail.ir2. TINET
yahoo.com" \ INCLU
* DEPICT
MERGEFOR URE
MATINET "cid:1.1
) 8974634
69@web
186004.
mail.ir2.
yahoo.co
m" \*
MERGE
FORMA
TINET
)

M1: Identify and apply D1: Use critical reflection to

strategies to find appropriate evaluate own work and
solutions justify valid conclusions

D2: Take responsibility for

M2: Select / design and managing and organising
apply appropriate methods / activities
techniques

D3: Demonstrate
M3: Present and convergent /lateral / creative
communicate appropriate thinking
findings
4
Over All Result/Grade PASS/MERIT/DISTINCTION Date:

Summative Feedback:

Overall Feedback on
current work with
emphasis on how the
student can improve and
achieve higher grades in
future.

Internal Verification Report

Internal Verification Done By Date
Assignment Brief
Assessors Decision

In addition to the above PASS criteria, this assignment gives you the opportunity to
submit evidence in order to achieve the following MERIT and DISTINCTION grades

Grade Descriptor Indicative Contextualisation

characteristic/s
To achieve M1, you have to show through
your work that an effective approach to
study and research has been applied. You
will do effective research to create a plan
for carrying out the survey of the
M1 Identify and apply An effective approach to requirement by giving out the qualitative
strategies to find study and research has and quantitative research methodology
appropriate solutions been applied including the sampling frame you are
going to use.
To achieve M1, you have to create
information for decision making by
summarizing data using representative
values and given out logical conclusions
5
 of usage of this data in business context.

To achieve M2, you will have to use a

range of information in your work. You
will have used suitable resources to
M2 Select / design A range of sources of explore the nature of collecting primary
and apply appropriate information has been and secondary data to carry out survey.
methods / techniques used Also bring out how it is going to be
useful in your research work.

To achieve M3 you have to demonstrate

through your work that an appropriate
structure and approach has been used
while doing your research. The work you
M3 Present and The appropriate present will use appropriate structure
communicate structure and approach and approach of how quartiles,
appropriate findings has been used percentiles and the correlation coefficient
are used to draw useful conclusions in a
business context and how will these help
you in effective decision making.
To achieve D1 you will have drawn
conclusions through synthesis of ideas
which have been justified. You will have
drawn conclusions which draw out the
D1 Use critical Conclusions have been links to analyse the results to draw valid
reflection to evaluate arrived at through conclusions in a business context. You
own work and justify synthesis of ideas and will provide an evaluation which will
valid conclusions have been justified suggest how this knowledge might be of
value to management to help improve
the performance at the companies.
To achieve D2 you will have
demonstrated that all the activities have
been managed. You will have
demonstrated an effective approach to
D2 Take responsibility Activities have been independent research and study and
for managing and managed done logical analysis of different
organising activities quantitative survey approaches, while
designing a questionnaire.
To achieve D3, you will have
demonstrated excellent analytical
application of data using measures of
dispersion to give valuable information in
D3 Demonstrate problems have been the business scenario and ensure that all
convergent /lateral / solved the problems have been solved accurately
creative thinking and logically. Also, you will have met the
deadline to submit the tasks to ensure that
all activities have been well managed.

6
 General Guidelines
(Please read the instructions carefully)

1. Complete the title page with all necessary student details and ensure that the signature
of the student is marked in the declaration form.
2. All assignments must be submitted as an electronic document in MS Word to the
LMS (Use 12 Times New Roman script).
3. Assignment that is not submitted to the LMS by the prescribed deadline will be
accepted ONLY under the REDO and RESIT submission policy of Westford.
4. The results are declared only if the student has met the mandatory attendance
requirement of 75% and/or a minimum of 50% under extenuating circumstances
approved and ratified by the Academic Director. The student has to repeat the module
(with additional fees applicable) if the attendance is below 50%.
5. The assignment should not contain any contents including references cited from
websites like www.ukessays.com, www.studymode.com, www.slideshare.net,
www.scribd.com.
6. Students can refer Wikipedia as a source of information, but the references cited
in Wikipedia has to be mentioned.
7. Submit the assignment in a MS Word document with the file name being:
First Name Last Name_ abbreviation of the subject.
Example: John Smith_ES.

Quick reference Checklist for the Students before submitting the assignment:
1. Adherence to the deadline of submission date.
2. Original cover sheet and format retained.
3. Student information and signature intact.
4. Font style and size used as instructed.
Harvard Referencin

Employability Skills Tasks

Task 1 (L.O1: ACs 1.1, 1.2, 1.3 and 1.4)

Assignment title Self-Assessment

Purpose of this assignment: Be able to determine own responsibilities and performance.

Assignment Task 1:
Read the following Scenario, and then answer the questions that follow.

Scenario: You are expected to conduct your own SWOT Analysis and prepare set of goals and

7
responsibilities to successfully accomplish your Higher National Diploma Program.

Questions to be addressed in completing the Assignment Task 1:

(Figures in brackets after the question denotes relation with the assessment criteria)

LO1. Be able to determine own responsibilities and performance.

1. Develop a set of own responsibilities and performance objectives to successfully complete

your HND program and evaluate your own effectiveness against these defined objectives.
(1.1 develop a set of own responsibilities and performance objectives), (1.2 evaluate own
effectiveness against defined objectives)

2. Prepare a SWOT analysis for yourself and make recommendations for improvement. (1.3
make recommendations for improvement)

3. Review any two motivational techniques that will help you to improve the quality of
performance in the recent major project/task you have been assigned. You may consider a
project or task assigned at work or at school or any other social circle. (1.4 review how
motivational techniques can be used to improve quality of performance)

Task 2 (LO2: ACs 2.1, 2.2, and 2.3)

Assignment title Interpersonal and Transferrable Skills

Purpose of this assignment: Be able to develop interpersonal and transferrable skills

Assignment Task 2:
Read the following Scenario, and then answer the questions that follow.

Scenario: You are expected to analyse your interpersonal skills at work/school. Identify a
problem faced and how you developed solutions to solve them.

Questions to be addressed in completing the Assignment Task 1:

8
(Figures in brackets after the question denotes relation with the assessment criteria)

LO2. Be able to develop interpersonal and transferrable skills.

4. Develop appropriate solutions to a problem that you faced recently at work or school
(briefly describe the problem as well). (2.1 develop solutions to work based problems)

5. Evaluate different styles of communication you have used (verbal, nonverbal, formal and
informal) and their effectiveness at various levels (either at work or at school). If you
have identified a problem at school, evaluate the effectiveness of communication with your
friends, teachers, principal and administrators. If you have identified a problem at work,
evaluate the effectiveness of communication with your colleagues, managers and other
stakeholders (suppliers or/and customers). (2.2 communicate in a variety of styles and
appropriate manner at various levels)

6. Identify at least two time management strategies that you would use to effectively
balance your responsibilities at work/school and personal life. (2.3 identify effective time
management strategies)

Task 3 (LO3: ACs 3.1, 3.2 and 3.3)

Assignment title Case Study on Metropolitan College

Purpose of this assignment: Understand the dynamics of working with others.

Scenario
Assignment Task 3: Background
Read the following Case Scenario, and then attempt Task 3

Case Study on Teamwork: Metropolitan College

9
Metropolitan College is a four-year undergraduate college officering bachelor's degree in
nursing, science (biology, computer science, chemistry, physics), arts and literature. The
school is located in rural areas of state of Nevada. Being a rural private school it has limited
budget and therefore they have not computerized all aspects of the college operation yet. One
of the centers that perform their work manually is the alumni center. The college produces an
alumni newsletter monthly which needs to be distributed among members. The alumni center
director had wanted a computerized alumni system to keep all their records in a database
system and generating mailing labels monthly.

Recently one of the local businessmen has donated $50,000 to the college. The college
administration has decided to use all or portion of that money to computerize the alumni center
record keeping. The justification was that if the alumni newsletter is published on time and the
labels are generated quickly and mailed on time then there is a possibility of generating more
money.

Mark Monard who is the director of the alumni center has been given the responsibility of
pursuing and monitoring the task. Mark has contacted Information and Instructional
Technology (IIT) department to explore the possibility of developing this project. The IIT
director after some evaluation has decided to assign Julia Hansen and Kelly Woo to do a
system analysis and design and present an overall plan for the project including an estimate of
the duration and the cost.

Julia and Kelly immediately contacted Mark the director of the alumni center as well as the
registrar and arranged for information gathering through the interview process. Julia and Kelly
decided to prepare a set of twenty questions each. At the day of the interview Julia had all her
questions typed and ready to take part in the interview. Kelly had all her questions typed and
saved in her disk had plan to print them at the interview day. Just half an hour before the
interview Kelly tried to print her file. Unfortunately the system could not open the file. Her
file must have been corrupted. Because there was no time to create a new set of questions, they
had left with two options. Their first option was to postpone the interview to some other time
and their second option was to go ahead with interview without Kelly's questions. Since
postponing interview may leave a bad impression they decided to go ahead to the interview
meeting without Kelly's questions.

After conducting the interview, Julia and Kelly went ahead with systems analysis and design
phase and prepared a recommendation for a new alumni system with on-line update and query
features. They discussed their ideas with their boss and several other colleagues and they all
felt that their ideas were excellent. Julia and Kelly then prepared their system requirements
specification nicely and sent one copy to the registrar and another copy to Mark Monard the
director of alumni center for their review.

Mark had discussed the project with the registrar and had asked his opinion about the details
of systems. Mark and the registrar have agreed to invite the president, all the administrative
vice presidents, and the deans of all schools to the presentation. Mark wanted to be sure that he
would have the support of the administration and funding for the new on-line alumni system.

10
All the clerks who were involved with the alumni system and record keeping were also invited
to the presentation.

Unfortunately Julia's car ran out of gas the morning of the presentation on her way to college.
Consequently she arrived half an hour late for the presentation and noticed that some of the
audiences have already left. She immediately apologized and began to set up their presentation
with Kelly. They had all the transparency masters ready turn on the overhead projector. The
started the presentation by putting their slide on the overhead and describing their system to
the audience.

Unfortunately the overhead projector's bulb went out during the presentation and Kelly rushed
out to the secretary's office to seek for another bulb. When she finally returned with a new
bulb she noticed that half of the audiences have already left. They did finish their presentation
but with little of their original enthusiasm.

Questions to be addressed in completing the Assignment Task 3:

(Figures in brackets after the question denotes relation with the assessment criteria)

LO3. Understand the dynamics of working with others.

7. Explain the roles played by Julia, Kelly and Mark and analyse how they can work
together to achieve shared goals as a team. Suggest alternative ways that may be used
by Mark, Kelly & Julia to complete specific tasks and achieve team goals (3.1 explain
the roles people play in a team and how they can work together to achieve shared
goals), (3.2analyse team dynamics) , (3..3 suggest alternative ways to complete tasks
and achieve team goals)

Task 4 (LO4: ACs 4.1, 4.2 and 4.3)

Assignment title Case Study: The Contradiction of Business.

11
Purpose of this assignment: Be able to develop strategies for problem solving.

Assignment Task 4: Background

Read the following Case Scenario, and then attempt Task 4

Case Study The Contradiction of Business

First State Financial Services was the third largest banking institution in the state. It
maintained an extensive branch and ATM network to service its diverse retail customer base.
Even with First States size, though, the business success of the bank was extremely dependent
upon the trends in the local economy. Two years of recession meant two years of poor loans,
and First State fell into deep trouble. To limit and reduce overhead expenses, there were some
extensive layoffs. A new executive management expected rapid, better results with fewer
resources. Everyone at First State feared being fired even though the bank was inching back to
improved profitability. There was still the pressure to performor else.

Lucy Winters managed the six-person Spring Hill Branch for First State. Spring Hill, fully
equipped with an ATM and a freshly redesigned lobby, stood in the parking lot of a new
suburban mall. The mall, anchored by a store from the largest grocery chain in the area,
included about 20 different small retail stores. In addition, a major hospital was located just
down the street, and a large manufacturing plant (with about 3,000 employees) was situated in
a convenient, nearby industrial park. Many of the branchs customers worked at those
locations.

Lucy was promoted to her current job about 18 months ago. She had been serving as an
Assistant Manager at another branch in the region until that time. During the past year and a
half, Lucy had learned her job as a manager well. She enjoyed her work and did an effective
job.
I used to enjoy it, in any case, she thought to herself. She was sitting at her desk at 6:00
p.m., looking at the night closing in. I just wish I could leave here once before 5:30. These
layoffs really hurt, the pressure is too great, and no one really cares whether Im here or not.
Lucy knew she was in a badno, depressedmood. The layoffs she was thinking about had
taken place six months ago, but their full impact was only now being felt. Lucys Spring Hill
Branch was a busy one; previously there were nine positions authorized for it. Now there were
only six: two New
Accounts positions (including Lucys) and four tellers. One teller could alternate between the
teller line and back-office duties.

The problem was that there were too many customers. Lucy smiled at the contradiction: Here
the bank wants more customers, and we cant service the ones we already have. On almost
any day at almost any time, there were three or four customers in line. It did not seem to
matter that most of them simply wanted to cash a check or make a deposit: by the time they
got to the teller, they were curt or rude, demanding, and sometimes hostile and aggressive.

12
Lucy clearly remembered an incident that had occurred just two days ago. A customer had
been waiting for about 20 minutes to pay a utility bill. When he finally reached the window, he
started berating the tellers for being so slow and condemning the bank for being so inept. By
the time he finished, the teller was in tears.

Lucy remembered talking to her after he left. The teller said, We work so hard and no one
seems to appreciate what we do. I just cant work like this. Lucy started to hear a lot more
complaintsfrom everybody, it seemed. Customers complained about poor service, the tellers
were complaining about the pressure, and downtown was starting to complain about the
large number of mistakes, errors, and shortages being made at the branch. Tomorrow Lucy had
to hold one of her monthly sales meetings with the staff. These meetings were required by
downtown. Lucy dreaded them because they always seemed to drag on and on and nothing
ever got accomplished. Lucy was supposed to talk about a product for 15 to 20 minutes or so,
and she could envision everyone else sitting there, fidgeting in their seats or looking at the
floor. There would be no questions, but there would be occasional complaints about how we
need more help or the customers are yelling at us. Lucy was not looking forward to
tomorrows meeting and wondered if there were ways she could work on the real problems in
the branch and produce real results from her meeting.

Questions to be addressed in completing the Assignment Group Task 4:

(Figures in brackets after the question denotes relation with the assessment criteria)

LO4. Be able to develop strategies for problem solving.

8. Evaluate various tools and methods for developing solutions to a specific problem
faced by Lucy with regards to the functioning of her branch. Develop an appropriate
strategy for resolving the problem and evaluate how this strategy has an impact on the
business of First State Financial Business. (4.1 evaluate tools and methods for
developing solutions to problems), (4.2 develop an appropriate strategy for resolving a
particular problem) (4.3 evaluate the potential impact on the business of implementing
the strategy)

13