Fall

08

Professional Development Plan

Prepared by: Morshed Alam

ID no.: B00312366

DBA

University of The West of Scotland

Prepared For: Mr. Robin Matthews

 Acknowledgement

This Professional Development Plan (PDP) has been prepared to create an effective
strategic plan for future on the basis of achieved knowledge and skills. This plan also
analyse drawbacks and issues that needs to be recover or solved to reach at the career
goal. I would like to thank and showing my sincere gratitude to my honorable course
lecturer Mr. Robin Matthew in this occasion.

Aim of this Professional Development Plan is to self-assessment and reflection on own

planned career for future.

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 Executive Summery

In current busy and modern lifestyle, we are all time restless for reaching at own
destination. But we don’t have sufficient time to prepare an effective future plan on the
basis of experience, education and skills. But, a proper development plan really can
deliver some extra time and space thinks about own positive and negative factors that
impact our future. Aim of this paper is to develop a realistic development plan on the
basis of personal values, self-awareness, reflection, strategies and triggering ultimate
goals in career.

First part of this assignment will focus on previous educational experiences and
achievements. To illustrate effective various models will be apply including Gibb’s
reflective cycle, John’s model and Maslow’s Hierarchy model.

The second part is completely concerned about analysing the personality including
positive and negative factors. Costa and McCrae’s trait Theory, Jung’s four colors
energies, SWOT and other tools will identify my potential side. This analysis will also
suggest particular characteristics, which will be needed to improve for better future
and successful career.

Last and final part will explain my future goals. Additionally, will shine to light on a
plan to be followed to reach my career goal including five years monetary target
diagram with strategic road map. This five-year action plan will be quite
straightforward and achievable.

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 Table of Contents
1 Part one 5

1.1 Introduction 5
1.2 Previous Experiences (Gibb’s Reflective cycle) 5
1.3 Learning Journey in DBA (John’s Model) 7
1.4 Maslow Hierarchy of Needs and Journey Through the DBA 8

2 Part Two 9

2.1 Personality Trait 9

2.2 Jung’s Four Color Energies 10
2.3 Possible lapse of Sunshine Yellow Color Energies 10
2.4 SWOT Analysis 11
2.5 Application of Johari Window 12
2.6 Fixed or Growth Mindset 13
2.7 Kaizen-Growth Mindset Application 14
2.8 Personal Kaizen Rules Application 14

3 Part Three 16

3.1 Description of Future Goals 16

3.2 Five Years Action Plan 17
3.3 Five Years Income Target 18
3.4 Conclusion 18
References 19

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 Part One

1.1 Introduction:

Professional or personal development plan (PDP) is a procedure designed to allow

someone to create a realistic plan for own academic, career and personal development
(Grit, 2016). This plan for own development can be prepared based on personal values,
self-awareness personal strategies and personal vales. In this paper, I am going to
describe briefly my plan for future career, previous inspiration and possible financial
outcomes based on my educational experience and ongoing journey of this course DBA
(Doctorate of Business Administration). I divided this plan in main three parts. In the
first part, I would like to share my previous learning experiences. Consequently, the
second part will cover personality analysis. Finally, last part will discuss but future
career plan briefly and summaries the complete PDP.

1.2 Previous Experiences (Gibb’s Reflective cycle):

Like many people I also think that experience is the best source of learning. Whatever it
is good or bad, any passed
situation generally left so many
elements for me to learning. To
explain my belief about this
learning process, Gibbs’
Reflective Cycle could be very
useful for me.

Description: I came in the UK in

January 2013 for studying BBA
under Glyndwr University.
Accomplishment of my
graduation successfully inspired
me to get admitted myself for
Source: Jasper (2003)
higher study. MBA in UWS
(University of The West of
Scotland) was the right course for me at that situation to choose. Honestly informing, it

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was the best decision for me I have ever taken. Because, from the very beginning day of
MBA course in this institute my honorable class teacher Dr. Rajendra Kumar started to
showing me dream to become the specialist, rather than a general intern employee in
any organisation. He also clarified that aim of DBA course are to create professionals to
perform tasks of management level and expanding leadership skills. Thus, at the end of
my MBA course I applied and admitted for DBA course in same university without any
hesitation.

Feelings: Study in such a beautiful country like the UK is really very great and
shinning part of my life. I had been introduced with so many new positive experiences,
which actually changed my idea and concept of modern study sector. For instance,
Turnitin system for assignment submission is one of them. As a developing country
Bangladesh (my native country) is still way behind of this kind of technology. However,
it was very struggling for me to adopt this system to avoid similarity but helped to gain
my self-confidence to create unique paper writing. After five years study life in the UK I
really feel myself more smart and advanced comparing with my friends at back home.

Evaluation: I would admire that entire MBA course in UWS was my best part
educational drive, as it was successful to change my thoughts about career. In my BBA
course I even didn’t think, what I will be in the future. This course taught me to look
through the window for finding the best opportunity. In the entire MBA program I met
many spiritual faces as my lecturer like Mr. David Mwaura, Dr. Paul Reynold and Dr.
Rajendra Kumar. Apart from academic knowledge very effectively they planted the
seeds of self-confidence in my heart to think differently for my career.

Analysis: Also, I have learnt so many new concepts about business industries including
leadership, management, globalization etc. Exploring such interesting topics by
applying through current business helped me enormously to develop my professional
skill for business. As a result, in my final year of this course I decided to prepare a BDP
(business development plan) as my final project. I successfully carried out my BDP
under supervision of Mr. David Mwaura for “Dots”, a wearable technology based
company in London. It was really great achievement for me to convert my learning into
application for a professional business proposal.

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Conclusion: MBA in UWS developed my analytical skills as a business professional for
current competitive business world. Additionally, my improvement in presentation,
performing as a team and other curriculum activities supported me to achieve a solid
foundation for my future career.

Action Plan: I just want to keep continue my positive intension to gain more practical
knowledge’s about the real business world through analysis success and failure
scenarios. Which will help to bring out the best for my research work and upcoming
career significantly.

1.3 Learning Journey in DBA (John’s Model):

Description of Experience: In the middle of my MBA course I heard about the DBA
course from our lecturer Dr. Rajendra Kumar. As soon as, he explained the details of
this program, I made my mind to join after existing course. Since then I prepared
myself to achieve the desired level of a successful candidate for the placement of this
course.

Reflection: DBA is helping to apply

my knowledge that I gained in my
previous courses. My current phase
of DBA is enhancing the critical
business analytical skill. That is
really very important for becoming
a potential leader for decision-
making process at management
John’s Model, Source: Jones (1995)
level.

Influencing Factors: It might be silly that particular one name is coming many times in
my writing, which is Dr. Rajendra Kumar. The reason behind that is obviously his
guidance and inspiring words for me to become successful in future. He always
influenced us to think big and different. His navigation also supported me effectively
for scoring good results in my previous modules of DBA program.

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Could I Have Dealt With Better? I never applied for any other PHD or DBA courses
except UWS. As I mentioned earlier, from the middle of MBA course I planned to join in
DBA in UWS and I was strict on my decision. I prepared myself to be successful as DBA
candidate in UWS. First of all, I just love the environment of this campus, which is very
convenient to communicate from my living places. And obviously, I always wanted to
stay in surroundings of my inspiring faces from this campus.

Learning: In the first semester of DBA we have done two module named ‘Strategy into
Action’ and Strategic Thinking and Value Management’. In both of this module, I didn’t
learn any new business tool. I learned the technique to apply the tools successfully that
I studied earlier. I also mastered to evaluate any strategy and confident decision-
making process from the top-level management.

1.4 Maslow Hierarchy of Needs and Journey Through the DBA: To

explain the motivation of joining into the DBA course in UWS, Maslow hierarchy of
needs model could be very
useful for me. Five different
steps regarding human
motivation of Maslow would be
very effective to illustrate the
rationale behind the journey of
DBA.

Physiological Needs: Though, Maslow Hierarchy, Source: Maslow (2013)

DBA could develop my skills to
get better salaried job in the market, still it is not for physiological needs. With my two
previous British degrees of BBA and MBA I could apply for a standard salaried job. But
the needs that motivated me towards DBA are beyond the common physical needs.

Security Needs: As I mentioned earlier that getting job in a good organisation after
finishing MBA could easily secure my stable working environment. But my desire is the
best than better career in life.

Belongingness Needs: In my previous studies several times we have been discussed

about the difference between leaders and managers. For somewhat reasons I felt that

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joining in a job after my MBA could help me for becoming a manager. But my intension
was always to be a great leader. I do believe that DBA will provide me this level of
knowledge and inspiration, which I must need to be a successful leader.

Esteem Needs: That is probably one of the motivational factors for me in joining this
DBA program. Successful accomplishment of this degree will allow me to add Doctor
with my title, which is a matter of social recognition. Additionally, it is a matter of pride
for my family and me as it is not easily achievable. Completing this journey will certify
my expertise in certain area from the highest level of certification.

Self-Actualization: For becoming a leader rather than managers needs more

capabilities and skills. I always believed that I have these capabilities to achieve more
than I did so far. To achieve the desired skills I had to explore theories more in depth.
My core intension of joining in DBA is self-actualization to realize my potential and
utilize the best of it.

Part two

2.1 Personality Trait:

Personality assessment is an important element of personal or professional

development plan. Costa and McCrae (1995) suggested five types of personality traits
and these are known OCEAN shortly. Each letter of OCEAN describes each type
personality respectively are openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness
and neuroticism.

Meanwhile the study of DBA I had done Psychometric test that found my personality
trait is openness. This type of trait usually stand for creative performance, focused on
tackling new challenges, likes to think about outside the box. Amazingly I found my
reflections of myself into those characteristics. I love to do photography since long,
likes to see the world through the lenses and viewfinders of my camera gear. Creating
new composition and bring out a new angle of view other than eye-level delights my
feeling. I enjoy learning about new technologies, accepting and winning challenges.
That’s why for somewhat reasons I got felt my inside feelings that many attractive and
smart salaried jobs are not suitable for me. I would like to do some independent task.

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Thus, I would like to establish my own business autonomously. I would like to create
my own network worldwide through my creative ideas, which will allow me to count
the whole world as a single nation to access.

2.2 Jung’s Four Color Energies: Jung’s defined the four different temperaments
with regards to four different colors that are Fiery Red, Sunshine Yellow, Earth Green
and Cool Blue. According to the psychometric test sunshine yellow would the most
dominant color energy for myself.

Sunshine yellow color energy

refers particular characteristics
that closely match my distinctive.
For instance, I love to chase my
future goal for my establishment
and I am continuously moving
towards that. I am always
looking for possibilities of
tomorrow. I like to travel, see
different places, and differentiate

cultures. My origin intestinal

Jung’s Four Color Energy,
fortitude is dynamic, enthusiastic,
Source: Shepherd and Smith (2012)
persuasive, sociable and
demonstrative.

2.3 Possible lapse of Sunshine Yellow Color Energies: Jung’s also

identified few possible weaknesses of all color energies. Thus, there are also possible
lapse for sunshine yellow color energies. This type of characteristic may become very
emotional under stress or conflict. Consequently, fails to deliver continuous support for
the group. There is no doubt that I have similar kind of problem to think emotionally in
some serious situations. However, I have another positive quality to adopt the situation
quickly and invest my maximum effort to win any chase successfully. For better result I
need to understand that I cannot make everyone’s happy in all occasions. So it is
important for me to think practically rather than emotionally to be succeeding in many
odd situations.

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2.4 SWOT Analysis:

Helpful Harmful

Strength Weakness
 Creative  Sensitive
 Decisive  Emotional
 Hard working  Sacrificing
Internal  Curious to learn  Fear of failure or rejection
Factors  Communicative  Disorganised
 Friendly  Nervous
 Sacrificing  Confuse
 Team member
 Result oriented
Opportunity Threat
 Business knowledge  Uncertainty
 Online platform like  Age
Ebay or Amazon  Economic crisis
External  Technical expertise  Rapid technological
Factors  Photography changes.
 Videography  Local and International
 Editing politics
 IT  Work limitations for visa
 Digital communication category.

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2.5 Application of Johari Window: A Tool For Increasing Self-
Awareness:

Johari Window
Known to Self Not Known to Self
Open Self: Blind Self:
 Creative  Observant
 Energetic  Organized
Known to  Helpful  Loving
Other  Educated  Caring
 Communicator  Wise
 Sincere  Forgiving
 Enthusiastic  Sympathetic
Hidden Self: Unknown self:
 Calm  Cheerful
 Stressful  Confident
 Sensitive  Idealistic
 Independent  Intelligent
Not Known to  Angry  Responsive
Others  Disorganized  Searching
 Logical  Modest
 Emotional

 Open self: My very common characteristics that my nearby persons and me

realized about me. Such as, I am photographer and love to do photography
commercially. Though I don’t do any marketing for my photography but my
creative output delivers enough satisfaction to my clients to recommend me to
others.
 Hidden self: There are also few factors, which is really very private for me. Most
probably those hidden factor have never been exposed to anyone, who is not
very close to me. Like as, many of my classmates or colleague cant even think

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 that I am a very angry person. Only my family members and close friends are
aware about this personal issue.
 Blind Self: The perception about myself from others around me is optimistic. I
have so many dedicated friends everywhere because of my positive response
and supportive attitude. I never rude with anyone, even with those peoples I
don’t like. I maintain a very fair relation with others.
 Unknown Self: That is really very unknown to explain. But it is important to
discover. My positive mind says that the day I will be able to discover, it will
bring so many successive span for my future career and me.

2.6 Fixed or Growth Mindset:

Dweck (2015) defined that mindset is means of success. Out of fixed or growth mindset
I would like to tag me on second one. My searching characteristics, challenging
intensions, fighting spirit for creating myself more effective and successful are sign of
growth mindset. For example, my current job in (Curry PC world) offers me only
minimum wages; I am still working for them since last three years. In the meantime I
didn’t switch my job in spite of having better job offer. Because, I love to know about
new technology, likes to adopt them even if it is tough to accept. It feels challenging and
exciting for me to meet new dimension of digital world. Moreover, in my previous
personality test result referred me on openness to experience trains and following Carl
Jung’s color energy matched with sunshine yellow, both of those also supports my
growth mindset. I strongly believe that my intelligence and hard working effort will
lead my future towards my future goals.

2.7 Kaizen-Growth Mindset Application:

For achieving the best outcomes of growth mindset Kaizen philosophy could be very
productive (Reynolds, 2012). Japanese word “Kaizen” means good change or
continuous improvement. The core idea of Kaizen is never stop in improving yourself.
It is the best way for achieving long-term goals in personal and professional life.
Personally I do believe that I will not stop to develop myself. I am always ready to
upgrade me through my thoughts, ideas, approach, skills and abilities. As my expertise
and experience are completely biased by technology and technical elements, there is
full chance for me to become useless or backdated in case of opposite (Fixed) mindset.

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Such as, people don’t care about those photographers who are still working with film
DSLR cameras. Because these technologies are obsolete now. Typewriter machine are
perfect material for any museum. I would love to wear smart watch rather then any
traditional Diesel watch, because of its application that will allow me to know about my
steps, calories, heartbeats and phones notifications. Shortly, there is no other way to be
the best in life without continuous improvement. It is the key to success for longer
period of time.

2.8 Personal Kaizen Rules Application:

I have growth mindset, which is really very positive aspect for career. However, to get
the best performance and ultimate success personal Kaizen rules could be very helpful.
Personal Kaizen has six important rules that I would like to maintain my professional
development.

Find Your Talents:

Like so many
successful and famous
human beings
definitely I also have
talents. Sometimes it
becomes too late to
find own talent. I do
believe that I am well

known about my talent,

Personal Kaizen Rules, Source: Mendilla (2014)
which just need the right
opportunity to expand and win. It is not like that I am hiding it or not utilizing it. I am
continuously trying to imply that. Whenever I find any opportunity I use my talent
without expecting any feedback. Also, I am very much confident that one right click of
my talent will be on right place. Which will take me to the desired successful ground of
my life.

Be In The Environment Where You Shine: Surroundings or environment has a big

impact for success. Inspiring environment can bring change in mentality, level of

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confidence and ideas. Suitable organization and workplace can help to enrich the
knowledge about desired sector. I personally feel excited about technology related
business. My current workplace and study materials are collectively involved with my
talents and future goals.

There Is Always A Move To Make: This particular rule can create difference at end of
the day. I am also following this rule very actively. I read a lot to gain knowledge about
my future pathway. Tutorials in Youtube, discussion in online forum helping a lot to
portray the current scenario of the field I intend to be in soon.

Make Small Improvements: My growth mindset likes to push me towards my goals

through continuous improvement physically and mentally. For my dreams I need
sufficient knowledge about the sector, which cannot achieve only from books and
theories. Practical knowledge and financial preparation are also very important to be
involved. I am sincerely improving on each sector on random basis.

Don’t Make Same Mistakes: As a human being mistake is common part of life. I do
that also in so many turns of life. Sometimes it could draw significant way behind from
the dream of life. I am very careful about serious mistakes. I count my all mistakes as a
lesson for life. There is no way to think mistakes negatively, other than positively to
avoid in future.

Managing Negative Voice: My negative voice might have grown increasingly stronger
over a long period of time. As a result, it influences on wrong decision, thought, ideas
inside my mind. Consequently, most of the time this negative voice discourage me take
risks. But the truth is ‘no risk, no gain’. I have lost so many opportunities for this active
negative voice. It is most important for me to remove or avoid this negative voice from
my mind to take effective decisions for future career.

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 Part Three

3.1 Description of Future Goals:

So many classmates in my class have dreams to be a consultant in an established and

well-known consulting organization. Some of them want to be a successful manager in
multinational companies. Besides, few of them don’t have any future plan practically
apart from this compulsory professional development plan assignment. But, I always
had a dream to start my own business based on technology.

Among the all students of our class, I had chosen Business Development Plan as my
final project in MBA. That is my dream project to establish my company name ‘Dots’.
Moto of this company is to produce wearable’s products like smartwatches, cameras,
dresses and others initially for selling all over the world. Though, all the design will be
accomplished in the UK but for cheaper production cost factory will be setup in China.
Focusing on the latest technology and developing complete new ideas would the core
aim for my organization. Initially online base like Ebay, Amazon and own website will
be the platform for selling with free delivery options. Later on, physical shop will be
introduced in the main cities in the UK.

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3.2 Five Years Action Plan:

Future is always uncertain, but plan can navigate towards destination. My projected
five years plan are completely based of my career dreams. Estimated time frame could
be change for any unexpected situation.

Goals Tasks Results Start Date End Date

1 Complete DBA Achieving Doctorate of March August

successfully Business 2018 2018
Administration Degree (Ongoing)
2 Submitting business Selecting Investor for September October
development plan ‘Dots’ 2018 2018
3 Launching ‘Dots’ Inauguration of online November N/A
shop and sale 2018
4 Introducing new range Enlargement of product June 2019 N/A
of product profile for company
5 Introducing physical Expanding business October N/A
shop for company in 2020
London
6. Break-even period for Financial Stability June 2021 N/A
‘Dots’
7. Reach at 50,000 profit Milestone for company April 2023 N/A

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3.3 Five Year Income Target:

DBA is very important part of my future. Without accomplishment of this course, I do

not have any plan before. Only successful end of DBA will allow me psychologically to
move forwards for my own business. However, till that time my income and
expenditure would be equal for working hour limitations. Thus, my five years
estimated income would be shown since I start my own business after my DBA
program.

Estimated Income for Five Years

100
90
80
70
60
50
Amount in 1000
40
30
20
10
0
Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5

3.4 Conclusion:

Overall, the result of this PDP is unbelievable. It forced me a lot to create a strategic
plan for future. It is a great way to discover own self. I would like to admit honestly, I
couldn’t even think to prepare something like that without module guideline. But the
analysis supported me to think about my positive characteristics. Additionally, marked
my negative factors and weaknesses that need to be developed specifically to achieve
my goals in life. One more time I have been prepare my business plan in occasion of this
project paper, which also revived me about my dream. I also used next five years plan
that I can use my road towards destination.

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References:

Dweck, C. (2016). Mindset: The New Psychology of Success. New York: Ballentine Books.

Costa, P. T., Jr., & McCrae, R. R. (1995). Domains and facets: Hierarchical personality
assessment using the Revised NEO Personality Inventory. Journal of Personality
Assessment, 64, 21-50.

Grit, R. (2016). Managing Your Competencies. [S.l.]: Routledge.

Jasper, M (2003). Beginning Reflective Practice. Cheltenham: Nelson Thornes.

Johns, C. (1995). Framing learning through reflection within Carper’s fundamental

ways of knowing in nursing. Journal of Advanced Nursing. 22, 55-63.

Maslow, A. (2013). A theory of human motivation. Lanham: Start Publishing LLC.

Medinilla, Á. (2014). Agile Kaizen. Berlin: Springer.

Reynolds, S. (2012). Why people fail. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.

Shepherd, N. and Smyth, P. (n.d.). Reflective leaders and high-performance

organizations.

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