7BSP1371 Advanced Business Research Methods
7BSP1371 Advanced Business Research Methods
Introduction
Development of a reflective portfolio is considered as an observational process incorporated for evaluation of interpersonal weakness and strength related to the field of specifications. In the current study, I have intended to represent my reflective portfolio on learning courses acquired from “LinkedIn learning sessions”. Besides, during the certification courses, I have awarded certificates with five major courses related to digital applications such as “Endnote”, “financial analysis”, “survey money”, “UX deep Drive” and “Excel”. I have applied “Gibbs reflective cycle” for evaluating professional opportunities as well as threats in areas of data management. Main purpose of this study helps to provide potential recommendations towards attaining success in the professional field and cope with complicated situations.
Observation through Gibbs Reflective Cycle
Gibbs reflective cycle is considered as an important reflective framework that involves six stages including “description, feelings, evaluation, analysis, and conclusion and action plan”. Considering each of this stage, I have focused on observing my learning experiences from certified courses that are available on LinkedIn Learning Sessions. Sambell et al. (2020) stated that, Gibbs Reflective Cycle framework enables individuals to explain personal experiences along with identifying interpersonal strengths and weaknesses followed by defining learning gaps. Thus, I have focused on explaining my learning experience through an “observational process” shaped by Gibbs reflective cycle. This would help in developing insights regarding self learning, followed by identification of personal strengths as well as weaknesses.
I have realised that reflection is essential for explaining experience regarding learning new things and ways through which developed knowledge as well as skills can be applied practically for career development. Considering my learning experience while availing courses of LinkedIn Learning Session, I have realised that, in recent times, application of digital knowledge is necessary as it helps in developing skills. I believe that my learning experiences during course of digital application such as “data visualisation, survey monkey, Excel Financial Functions in Depth and Financial Analysis” would help in my career development. Implementation of reflective frameworks including “Gibbs Reflective Cycle” has helped me to evaluate my learning experiences during my LinkedIn Learning Session.
Recently, it is essential to learn data visualisation as it helps in analysing complex data followed by identification of patterns along with extracting valuable insights. Following Gibbs reflective cycle, I can describe that my decision to learn data visualisation would play a prominent role in my career advancements. I would be more accustomed with extraction as well as pattern identification of data to make more informed and effective decisions. I feel that data visualisation would allow me to think critically and make decisions related to my work that would help me in my career advancement. Sitinjak et al. (2023) explained that financial analysis is considered to be a process for budget evaluation and determining finance related transactions. Taking Gibbs reflective cycle into account, I can evaluate that enrolling myself for “Financial Analysis: Market Business Projections” course would help me enhance my financial knowledge.
Demonstrating achievement of certification
“LinkedIn Learning Sessions” associated with “Data Visualisation” has helped in collecting a diverse set of data that can be observed and interpreted for taking effective decisions. Data visualisation certificate course allows individuals to understand complex things in a simple nature along with turning abstract views into tangible ones (LinkedIn, 2023). My certificate for availing this course would help me to stand out from other applicants for a particular job role. In addition to this, I would be able to showcase my skills to recruiters for getting better employment opportunities. During my engagement with “Survey Monkey” course of LinkedIn Learning Session, I developed knowledge regarding conducting faster online surveys in regard to collecting faster feedback from individuals. Chuang (2020) explained that in business, feedback collection is a form of communication that helps in developing strong relationships with consumers. Thus, I can evaluate that my learning regarding “Survey Monkey” would allow me to build online surveys for collecting data through multiple platforms such as social media or email to stabilise communication with clients.
During my learning session, I also opted for “Excel: Financial Functions in Depth” for gaining knowledge regarding a wide range of functions to perform mathematical calculations quickly. Analysing financial data is essential and without having strategic knowledge, it would be difficult for me to execute financial operations. Thus, performing this course has helped me to use Excel in a broad format to analyse financial data within a very short period of time. I believe that improving my financial knowledge would help me to enhance my potential in budget management as well as executing transactional analysis. Considering changing perspectives of business, “User Experience” (UX) has become a major important part for creating products to provide relevant and meaningful content to users (Yang et al. 2019). Thus, gaining knowledge regarding user experience enabled me to select for “UX Deep Dive” course that creates a technique to rapidly immerse a team or individuals to solve problems through brainstorming. From this certification course I would be accustomed to brainstorming sessions that would help me to improve my skills for understandings needs and requirements of consumers.
Explanation of skill sets developed during learning process
Primary purpose for gaining knowledge is to develop new skills that can be applied practically to achieve learning as well as career advancement objectives. During my “LinkedIn Learning Session”, I enrolled for multiple courses including “data visualisation, Survey Monkey, UX Deep Dive and Financial Analysis”. Each of these courses has helped in developing a wider range of new skills such as “decision making, critical analysis, financial projections, problem solving and decision making”. For instance, I can analyse that gaining knowledge regarding data visualisation has enabled skills of filtering for considering most authentic as well as necessary data. I feel that through data visualisation, I am able to develop skills associated with critical thinking followed by generating knowledge regarding inclusion and exclusion of data.
During my LinkedIn Learning Session, I also focused on gaining new skills related to data collection through a survey process. I can evaluate that my skills associated with data collection gathering, followed by feedback collection would help me in developing strong relationships with my clients by improving relationships with them. Courses including “financial analysis” as well as “Excel: Financial Functions in Depth” would be beneficial for executing finance related operations and managing budget for projects. LinkedIn certification course involving “Financial Analysis: Making Business Projections” had guided me to develop my skills in “logical reasoning” and “interpretation skills”. Yan et al. (2019) inferred that students need to adopt interpretive and computational skills to understand particular business strategies in the professional field. I had evaluated necessity of logical reasoning skills for targeting associated business plans and enabling conveniences of business activities across stakeholder groups. Thus, I have gathered potential knowledge in current performance of my desired workplace and made projections for future growth in business management activities.
Discussion of own learning process
Inclusion learning experiences obtained from the selected LinkedIn learning courses that help me to discuss my own learning approaches in the professional field. Intrinsic learning process has influenced me to share my personal opinions during formulation of research questions and analysing data collection through “UX foundation of research”. Rafael and Almeida (2022) stated that use of “UX foundation of research” in data collection methods helps to develop a neutral position model in academic paradigm. In relation to this, I had intended to generate systematic study in research process by targeting users and addressing their requirements for including realistic contexts. Moreover, after completing the certification course of “Endnote: Learning data visualisation”, I had developed my ability to add proper referencing and citation in the research work. Both of these learning processes help me to maintain legitimate research findings and validate conclusions in the research process.
During pursuing “Survey monkey essential training”, I had understood the process of collecting data in the survey process and use of social media platforms such as “Email”. Application of my understanding in the current learning process helps me to select proper template, customised data and questions in data collection method towards improving rate of responses. Apart from this, in “UX deep drive”, instructor Amanda shows the process of extracting raw data within powerful insights towards improving the process of data interpretation (LinkedIn, 2022). Based on my own learning process, I have engaged with proper data collection and extraction processes in the research phenomena. However, as asserted by Saha et al. (2019), “Microsoft Excel” consists of diverse functionalities towards performing calculations quickly. During this learning course, I had developed my own skills on using “Microsoft Office 356” and “Microsoft MVP”. Application of these skills helps me to manage financial complexities deeply and signifies my active engagement with “LinkedIn Learning courses”.
I had developed my understanding on calculating rate of return and investment as financial calculation to address business performance level in the “Excel: financial functions in Depth”. Moreover, “Financial Analysis: Making Business Projections” courses also helped to estimate future financial performance of a business to develop optimal business plans. Thus, proper engagement with “LinkedIn learning courses” might contribute in developing observational skills, interpersonal skills and analysing skills during my research work or future business performance level investigation process.
Reporting feeling, opinion and personal perspectives towards professional development
Presentation of own experiences as well as skill assessments from “LinkedIn learning courses” had positively involved in simulating own professional strengths as well as skill gaps. For example, during participating “EndNote X 8: Learning data visualisation”, I had developed my knowledge in accessing databases such as “Mintle”, “Market line” and “Google Scholar” in research process. However, “Endnote” course has mainly prioritised process of using referencing and citation of author’s names in research phenomena (LinkedIn, 2022). Considering perspectives of “Endnote” courses, I would intend to develop theoretical understanding of referencing systems and browsing suitable data from databases.
Inclusive learning experiences obtained from “LinkedIn courses” that positively influenced my professional and personal perspectives in drafting survey questionnaires on associated research topics by using “Survey monkey”. Aguinis et al. (2020) informed that researchers have developed proper guidance on emerging research topics and present systematic findings. Thus, my personal opinion during drafting survey questions would be to comply with proposed research aim, objectives and hypotheses. Moreover, Zacher et al. (2019) proclaimed that time-management and task-scheduling skills are important to maintain on-time delivery of tasks to meet desired goals or objectives. Hence, my personal feelings and perspectives of overcoming weaknesses would be to undertake participation in real research phenomena within the associated timeline.
Taking into account my feelings, opinions and perspectives, I would be able to develop my skills of using proper referencing and citation during research work in a professional field. It would positively contribute to my understanding in organising academic references. Apart from this, after completing 2 hours 5 minutes of survey monkey essential training courses would help me to develop my observational and analytical skills during data collection method. Hence, completion of certification courses would be effective for me to develop logical reasoning and time management skills in professional field towards enhancing my career as a “financial manager”.
Recommendations of future action plans for personal and professional development
Understanding future action plans for academic and professional fields would help me to develop my analytical skills in research work. In case of enhancing my professional field as a financial manager, I would develop proper skill of developing financial planning as per my professional action plans. My own experiences gathered from LinkedIn learning practices for generating proper budget allocation in a professional field as a financial manager. Thus, incorporating LinkedIn learning courses would assist me to address weaknesses and strengths in the professional career development process.
| Objectives | Measures | Required Time |
| To develop budget allocation skills through excel and financial analysis | I need to practise ways for using financial analysis strategy to reduce operational cost and maximise profit. | 2 Months |
| To strengthen my data visualisation skills | Practising effective filtration process for measuring inclusion and exclusion process. | 3 Months |
Table 1: Action Plan (Source: Created by Author)
Conclusion
The above discussion reveals detailed information on increasing interpersonal and analysing skills in the career development process within the field of specialisation. Reflection has been represented through “Gibbs reflective cycle” for developing knowledge and understanding from associated “LinkedIn learning courses”. In-depth analysis of engagement and developing skills on the basis of learning courses have effectively fostered my logical reasoning and time management skills for future career development process as a financial manager.
References
Linkedin (2022), Linked certification courses on UX deep drive, available at: https://www.linkedin.com/learning-login/share?account=49485105&forceAccount=false&redirect=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Flearning%2Fux-deep-dive-analyzing-data%3Ftrk%3Dshare_ent_url%26shareId%3Dcw5a5y52S%252FO2EkU9x7CYmQ%253D%253D [Accessed on 1 November, 2023]
LinkedIn, (2023). Learning Data Visualization. Available at: https://www.linkedin.com/learning/learning-data-visualization-15572314?trk=learning-course_related-content-card&upsellOrderOrigin=default_guest_learning [Accessed on: 12 November 2023]
LinkedIn.com (2022). Data Analysis Online Training Courses. Available at: https://www.linkedin.com/learning/topics/data-analysis. [Accessed on: 26 October 2023]
LinkedIn.com (2022). EndNote Essential Training. Available at: https://www.linkedin.com/learning/endnote-essential-training/welcome?u=49485105. [Accessedon: 27 October 2023]
LinkedIn.com (2022). Perform financial analysis in Excel – Microsoft Excel Tutorial. Available at: https://www.linkedin.com/learning/excel-financial-functions-in-depth-17248670/performfinancial-analysis-in-excel. [Accessed on: 26 October 2023]
Rafael, S. and Almeida, V.M., (2022). Designing the Interactor–from User Experience to Interaction Experience. Conceptual foundations and contributions towards a new paradigm. In Handbook of Usability and User-Experience (pp. 27-44). CRC Press.
Saha, K., Reddy, M.D., Mattingly, S., Moskal, E., Sirigiri, A. and De Choudhury, M., (2019). Libra: On linkedin based role ambiguity and its relationship with wellbeing and job performance. Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction, 3(CSCW), pp.1-30.
Sambell, R., Devine, A., Lo, J. and Lawlis, T., (2020). Work-Integrated Learning Builds Student Identification of Employability Skills: Utilizing a Food Literacy Education Strategy. International Journal of Work-Integrated Learning, 21(1), pp.63-87.
Sitinjak, C., Johanna, A., Avinash, B. and Bevoor, B., (2023). Financial Management: A System of Relations for Optimizing Enterprise Finances–a Review. Journal Markcount Finance, 1(3), pp.160-170.
Yan, S., Ferraro, F. and Almandoz, J., (2019). The rise of socially responsible investment funds: The paradoxical role of the financial logic. Administrative Science Quarterly, 64(2), pp.466-501.
Yang, B., Liu, Y., Liang, Y. and Tang, M., (2019). Exploiting user experience from online customer reviews for product design. International Journal of Information Management, 46, pp.173-186.
Zacher, H., Rudolph, C.W., Todorovic, T. and Ammann, D., (2019). Academic career development: A review and research agenda. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 110, pp.357-373.
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