Aims
This course is designed to offer the learner the opportunity to develop, practise and gain credit for a range of key generic personal and interpersonal skills which are important in dealing with many situations in the workplace.
Areas of Study
Unit 1 Organisational Awareness
Learners should be able to:
- identify the functions and/or departments of a chosen organisation
- explain the role of each function and/or department
- develop an organisational chart of the chosen organisation
- identify with the company/organisation mission
- identify the external factors influencing the organisation e.g. political, economic, social, technological
- outline the principles of classical and behavioural organisation theory e.g. Frederick Taylor, Chester Barnard, Elton Mayo
- differentiate between organisations based on a hierarchical structure, a flat structure, and a matrix structure.
Unit 2 The Individual and the Organisation
Learners should be able to:
- explain their role within the organisation
- identify people, issues and work practices which influence how they carry out their role within the organisation
- discuss how their role impacts on the activities of other people within the organisation
- outline the skills needed to function in their role
- consider personal strengths and weaknesses in completing their day to day activities
- develop job satisfaction and plan career development.
Unit 3 Problem Solving
Learners should be able to:
- distinguish between different types of problems
- discuss need for information and data gathering in problem solving
- outline methods for collecting information
- explain the need for a problem statement
- construct a problem statement
- distinguish between ideas generation and problem solving
- outline the advantages and disadvantages of some analysis
- methods such as Flowcharting, Pareto Analysis, Fishbone Diagram, 5 Whys
- analyse a problem using two of the above techniques
- propose two solutions and probable consequences
- agree the most effective solution to implement.
Unit 4 Presentation Skills
Learners should be able to:
- outline the objective(s) to be achieved through a presentation e.g. what you expect people to know, to do
- prepare the structure of a presentation
- plan the content of a presentation
- prepare and use appropriate aids in support of a presentation, such as visual, audio, handouts
- identify answers to likely questions raised by the presentation
- design a feedback or evaluation sheet for use at end of the presentation
- identify room layout and necessary equipment required
- check room layout and equipment before presentation
- carry out a presentation
- interact with the audience and respond to questions during the presentation
- evaluate their own performance.
Unit 5 Effective Meetings Skills
Learners should be able to:
- identify different types of meetings
- outline the key roles of participants e.g. chairperson, secretary, subject expert, general participant
- outline the role that personal attitude and participation can have on the productivity of meetings
- identify the difficulties which can affect the conduct of a meeting
- draw up the agenda of a meeting
- plan and inform participants of the time, venue and notice of a meeting
- act as chairperson of a meeting
- participate in a meeting
- communicate effectively in a meeting
- take personal notes or records during a meeting
- evaluate how the meeting went
- evaluate their personal contribution to a meeting.
Unit 6 Participating in Groups
Learners should be able to:
- outline the optimum size for a group to be effective
- identify the factors contributing to effective groups
- distinguish between the different roles played by group members
- identify possible sources of conflict in groups
- identify barriers to participation in groups
- specify the groups in which they have participated
- participate in a group
- communicate effectively whilst working in a group
- assess their own strengths and weaknesses in participating in groups
- evaluate their own participation or experiences of working in a group
- distinguish between those groups which were effective and those which were not.
