BBA102

2012 Session 1 - Career Assignment

Due: To be handed in to your tutor at the beginning of your tutorial in Week 5 (beginning March 26). Weighting: 15% of total marks for the unit Overview: This assignment is an individual assessment. All submitted assessments must be the original work of the students submitting the assessment. Work that is plagiarised will receive a mark of zero. The University defines plagiarism as shown below. Students should at all times acknowledge the sources that they use. Plagiarism: Using the work or ideas of another person and presenting this as your own without clear acknowledgement of the source of the work or ideas. This includes, but is not limited to, any of the following acts: a) copying out part(s) of any document or audio-visual material or computer code or website content without indicating their origins b) using or extracting another person's concepts, experimental results, or conclusions c) summarising another person's work d) submitting substantially the same final version of any material as another student in an assignment where there was collaborative preparatory work e) use of others (paid or otherwise) to conceive, research or write material submitted for assessment f) submitting the same or substantially the same piece of work for two different tasks (self- plagiarism). The University's policy on plagiarism and academic honesty can be found at: http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/academic_honesty/policy.html Referencing: Referencing is to be done using the specific Harvard system outlined in the lecture and lecture overheads of Week 1. Marking criteria are given at the end of this document Cover Sheet: Assignments are to be submitted with a cover sheet available at http://www.businessandeconomics.mq.edu.au/faculty_docs/student_support/Individual_cov er_sheet_new.pdf Starting Point - Choose a company and a job (no marks) Your assignment is intended to focus on the job or career that you intend to pursue. This can be the near future or some time into the future. The majority of you will have already decided where your career lies, and chosen your university studies to help you achieve your goal. If you have not yet identified where your career might start or progress to, there are a number of online resources available that may 1

help you select one for the purpose of this assignment. Some begin with an assessment of your preferences before directing you to some compatible job areas. http://www.graduatecareers.com.au/CareerPlanningandResources/index.htm Provides a fairly detailed self-assessment, but does not have clear links to specific jobs and careers. http://www.jobguide.deewr.gov.au is another useful aid in considering what career or job might suit you. It is intended for high school students. I would recommend starting at http://www.jobguide.thegoodguides.com.au/Building-your-career/Exploring-your-options. http://www.myfuture.edu.au/ is similar to jobguide, but more detailed, requiring the user to set up an account and enter their profile (interests, education, skills, knowledge etc.). The "Jobguide" and "Myfuture" web sites are general in nature, i.e. they are not specifically for graduates, and cover a large number of jobs for the whole population. You may more easily identify your chosen job or career by looking at http://www.graduateopportunities.com/employer/careers_search or the commercial job listings such as www.seek.com.au. Part 1 - Review of the industry State the job and the organisation that you hope to have in your future, and the industry in which it (or the part of it you wish to join, if the whole organisation participates in more than one industry) operates. Identify three competitors of your chosen organisation. From their websites, on-line information, media announcements etc., for each of the three competitiors: 1. Review organizational information regarding: Vision, Mission & Values . Identify and discuss the similarities and differences among the three organisations' vision, mission and values (200 words). 2. Review organisational information regarding: products and revenues. Identify and discuss the similarities and differences among the three organisations' products and revenues (200 words). 3. Find three to five articles in the business press (e.g. Australian Financial Review, Sydney Morning Herald) that directly relate to these three organisations and/or their operating environment. Discuss the main points of each article and how they impact on the organisation(s) (200 words). Include copies of the articles in your assignment. Part 2 - Review of the organisation From your chosen organisation's website, on-line information, media announcements etc.: 1. Review organisational information regarding: Vision, Mission & Values . Identify and discuss the similarities and differences between this organisation and the three that you considered in Part 1 (200 words). 2. Review organisational information regarding: products and revenues. Identify and discuss the similarities and differences between this organisation and the three that you considered in Part 1 (100 words).

3. Discuss how your own values align (or not) with your chosen organisations stated values, mission and goals (approx. 300 words). This discussion is to be written using the career values self-assessment included as Appendix A. The career values self-assessment is not included in the word count. Part 3 - Review of the job: Analysis of competencies and qualifications Find three to five job advertisements for your chosen job, either with your chosen organisation or other, similar organisations. These do not need to be competitors of your chosen company. For example, if you have chosen a brand manager position with a chocolate manufacturer, you may select advertisements from other organisations within the fast moving consumer goods industry or other, similar industries. From these ads: 1. Identify and discuss the main tasks/duties of that position (300 words). 2. Document the required competencies/graduate capabilities needed for the position (refer to the Graduate Capabilities diagram in Appendix B) (200 words). 3. Outline the selection criteria for the position (100 words). Part 4 - Career Planning (for your information - no marks) The following is one approach to planning your career. It is not worth any marks, and is not to be handed in. It is presented as a useful exercise as you start to map out your career journey Reflecting on your own understanding of yourself, your chosen industry/organisation review and your analysis of the required competencies/qualifications for the researched position (Part 1, 2 and 3 above), start to map out your own personal career plan. Your assessment should contain: 1. Your personal vision (a mental picture of what you hope to become) 2. How your personal vision links to your career and course choice 3. Your short/medium/long term goals/objectives in relation to the above 4. Your key development needs and action steps to address those needs 5. Any constraints/challenges and contingency plans. Below are some links that may assist you in developing your personal vision/mission statement. www.stephencovey.com/sample-mission-statements.php www.quintcareers.com/mission_statements A sample Career Plan is outlined below.


Personal Vision: Short Term Goals(next 6 months to 1 year) Action Required By When? 1 2 3 4 Medium Term Goals (1-3 years, by the end of your course) Action Required By When? 1 2 3 4 Long Term Goals (5-10 years, early stages of your graduate career) Action Required By When? 1 2 3 4

Development Needs/Action (The knowledge, skills and experiences to develop to achieve the above goals) Need Plan Timing Constraints/Challenges

Contingency Plans Option 1 Option 2

Appendix A What I value

Values are the things you believe and feel are important to you. Values guide your behaviour and can influence the choices you make about your life and career. When your values are in conflict with your career decisions, you can feel stressed, frustrated, and lose interest in your work. Read through the following list and rate how important each value is to you. Not Somewhat Very Important Important Important Important Work Content Challenging Detail oriented Variety Creative Adventurous Helping Exciting Opportunity for learning Work setting Security Flexibility Time freedom Predictability Relaxed pace Stability Aesthetically pleasing Use of technology Reward based Work relationships Teamwork Independent work Competitive Collaboration Culturally diverse Intrinsic values Equality Recognition Freedom Status Money Helping society Leadership Belonging Family
Adapted form: Knowdell, R. Career Values Card Sort Planning Kit. California: Career Research and Testing, Inc; 1995.

 From the above list, consider the values that you regard as very important. Deal breakers: Which values are you unable to sacrifice for a career? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Wish List: Which values are you able to sacrifice for a career? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ This is not a comprehensive list of values that you can hold. Try to think of other values that you may consider to be important to you and determine whether they are deal breakers or belong in the wish list.

Appendix B Need to insert the graduate capabilities diagram. I have cut and pasted across.


Pass Credit Distinction High Distinction Demonstrates a basic knowledge of the selected industry, organisation and job including competencies as a result of the research Demonstrates a good knowledge of the selected industry, organisation and job including competencies as a result of the research Demonstrates a detailed knowledge of the selected industry, organisation and job including competencies as a result of the research Some attention paid to the linkage between individual values and those of the organisation Presents a logical approach in identifying the linkage between individual values and those of the organisation Presents a structured approach in identifying the linkage between individual values and those of the organisation Solid assessment of research findings and identification of relevant graduate capabilities for the chosen job Demonstrates a sophisticated knowledge and understanding of the selected industry, organisation and job including competencies as a result of the research Presents a well structured approach in identifying a clear linkage between individual values and those of the organisation Methodically assesses research findings and identifies relevant graduate capabilities for the chosen job Some evidence of assessment of research findings and identification of relevant graduate capabilities for the chosen job Good assessment of research findings and identification of relevant graduate capabilities for the chosen job

% Graduate Capability

Fail

5 Knowledge and % understanding of the selected Industry, organisation, and job including competencies and qualifications

Demonstrates little or no knowledge of the selected industry, organisation, and job including competencies as a result of the research

BBA102 2012 Session 1 - Career Assignment Grading

5 Problem solving % and Research Capability

Little attention paid to linkage between individual values and those of the organisation

5 Demonstrated % critical analytical skills and integrative thinking

No evidence of assessment of research findings and identification of relevant graduate capabilities for the chosen job