SWOT ANALYSIS

SWOT Analysis is a strategic planning method used to evaluate the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats involved in a project or in a business venture. It involves specifying the objective of the business venture or project and identifying the internal and external factors that are favorable and unfavorable to achieving that objective.

A SWOT analysis must first start with defining a desired end state or objective. A SWOT analysis may be incorporated into the strategic planning model. An example of a strategic planning technique that incorporates an objective-driven SWOT analysis is Strategic Creative Analysis (SCAN). Strategic Planning, including SWOT and SCAN analysis, has been the subject of much research.

* Strengths: attributes of the person or company that are helpful to achieving the objective.
* Weaknesses: attributes of the person or company that are harmful to achieving the objective.
* Opportunities: external conditions that are helpful to achieving the objective.
* Threats: external conditions which could do damage to the business's performance.

Identification of SWOTs is essential because subsequent steps in the process of planning for achievement of the selected objective may be derived from the SWOTs.

First, the decision makers have to determine whether the objective is attainable, given the SWOTs. If the objective is NOT attainable a different objective must be selected and the process repeated.

The SWOT analysis is often used in academia to highlight and identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. It is particularly helpful in identifying areas for development.

Use of SWOT Analysis

The usefulness of SWOT analysis is not limited to profit-seeking organizations. SWOT analysis may be used in any decision-making situation when a desired end-state (objective) has been defined. Examples include: non-profit organizations, governmental units, and individuals. SWOT analysis may also be used in pre-crisis planning and preventive crisis management. SWOT analysis may also be used in creating a recommendation during a viability study.

TEAM WORK

Teamwork is a joint action by two or more people, in which each person contributes with different skills and express his or her individual interests and opinions to the unity and efficiency of the group in order to achieve common goals.

This does not mean that the individual is no longer important; however, it does mean that effective and efficient teamwork goes beyond individual accomplishments. The most effective teamwork is produced when all the individuals involved harmonize their contributions and work towards a common goal.

In order for teamwork to succeed one must be a team player. A team player is one who subordinates personal aspirations and works in a coordinated effort with other members of a group, or team, in striving for a common goal. Businesses and other organizations often go to the effort of coordinating team building events in an attempt to get people to work as a team rather than as individuals.

The forming-storming-norming-performing model takes the team through four stages of team development and maps quite well on to many project management life cycle models, such as initiation - definition - planning - realization.

As teams grow larger, the skills and methods that people require grow as more ideas are expressed freely. Managers must use these to create or maintain a spirit of teamwork change. The intimacy of a small group is lost, and the opportunity for misinformation and disruptive rumors grows.

BODY LANGUAGE: A BASIC INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION SKILL.

Eye to Eye Contact
-We look less at people who make us uncomfortable. Conversely, when we are truly engaged in a conversation, we make loads of eye contact, making both parties feel interested and interesting. So, lift your gaze and make eye contact if you want your conversational partner to feel understood.
Okay, I don’t mean intense starting – that’s just plain scary – fix your gaze on the bridge of the nose and drop your gaze every now and again. If you’re talking in a group, remember to include everyone in the conversation by scanning round and making eye contact with everyone.

Mirror and Match
-Next time you’re out at a restaurant or bar, take a look round and see how people sit when they’re in deep, intimate, conversation. Chances are they are sitting in very similar positions – almost as if one were a mirror image of the other, matching posture and position.
To test your rapport building skills, strike up a conversation with a friend or foe, and see if you can mirror and then lead their movements. Take some time to mirror their body language – if they’ve got crossed legs, make sure your legs are crossed too. If they are bouncing their leg, maybe tap a pencil in time. Above all, be subtle – it’s a delicate dance and no-one likes a partner who stomps over their party shoes.
After some time, do a mini assessment. Maybe scratch your nose – if they follow by touching their face in response, you know you’ve hit the mirroring jackpot. If not, don’t worry, just take some more time to build a deeper rapport.

It ain’t what you say
-In difficult or uncomfortable situations, most people worry about what’s going to come out of their mouth. Truth is, get your body language right, and you’ve mastered the most basic interpersonal communication skill. And the other 7% will take care of itself.

ETHICAL DECISION MAKING: HOW TO MAKE ETHICAL DECISION IN 5 STEPS.

What is ethical?
-Decision making can be hard enough but when we have to consider ethics and decision making we can tie ourselves up so tight we stop making decisions entirely. Here is a short guide to help you through the ethics maze and make effective decisions.

1. Is it an ethical issue?
-Being ethical does not always mean following the law. And just because something is possible doesn't mean it is ethical, hence the global debates about bio-technology advances such as cloning. And ethics and religion do not always concur. This is perhaps the trickiest stage in ethical decision making, as sometimes the subtleties of the issue are above and beyond our knowledge and experience. Listen to your instincts - if it feels uncomfortable making the decision on your own, get others involved and use their collective knowledge and experience to make a more considered decision.

2. Get the facts
-What do you know, and just as importantly, what don't you know? Who are the people affected by your decision? Have they been consulted? What are your options? Have you reviewed your options with someone you respect?

3. Evaluate alternative actions
-There are different ethical approaches which may help you make the most ethical decision.
Utilitarian Approach - which action results in the most good and least harm?
Rights Based Approach - which action respects the rights of everyone involved?
Fairness or Justice Approach- which action treats people fairly?
Common Good Approach - which action contributes most to the quality of life of the people affected?
Virtue Approach - which action embodies the character strengths you value?

4. Test your decision
-Could you comfortably explain your decision to your mother? To the man in the street? On television? If not, you may have to re-think your decision before you take action.

5. Just Do It - but what did you learn?
-Once you've made the decision, then don't waste time in implementing it. Set a date to review your decision and make adjustments if necessary. Often decisions are made with the best information to hand at the time, but things change, and your decision making needs to be flexible enough to change too. Even a complete about face may be the most appropriate action further down the track. Ethical decision making is a tricky business, but you can make more palatable, workable decisions if you follow these 5 simple steps.

TIME MANAGEMENT TIPS!

Time Management Tip 1
-A day is 24 hours long ;-)
Time Management Tip 2
-We spend about 10-12 hours a day being a human. Sleeping, eating, relaxing and other basic needs take their fair share of our precious time. That’s at least 40% of each and every day simply to keep us going.
Time Management Tip 3
-The remaining 50-60% of our time is ours to do with as we please. What we do with this time is entirely our choice.
Okay, okay, so most of us have to work to pay our way. But we can still make choices about how we spend this time.
Time saved, or time spent?
-Some time management techniques are geared to saving a few minutes here and maybe an hour or two there, but honestly, have you made better use of the time saved? Or have you just crammed in another activity?
-There is a well-known story about how to fill a bucket, and to save you time ;>) here is the condensed version.
-To fill your bucket, first you put in the rocks. Is your bucket full? No, you can fit in some pebbles. Is your bucket full? No, you can fit in some sand. Is your bucket full? No, you can fit in some water.
-What is the moral of this tale? That you can always fit more in? No, if you don’t put the rocks in first, you’ll never get them in….

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT PLANNING..DEFINITION

Personal development planning (PDP) is a way of providing evidence about what learners can do and how they have developed over a period of time. It can be used simply to monitor student progress, but increasingly PDP is used to provide evidence of a process of learning and development. Portfolios and personal development plans can encourage students to become reflective and critical about their learning, requiring them to provide evidence of their learning or skill development.