Week 10 Tutorial Logbook - 9/12

In preparation for the tenth tutorial we created a questionnaire. The questionnaire will be used as primary research and will contain both qualitative and quantitative data. We decided to use both types of research in our questionnaire because we felt that we needed to create a way to gather people’s opinions on key issues such as their opinion of recruitment. As stated in last week’s blog, the majority of the questions will be quantitative as the answers given will be easier to analyse.

During the session we had Dr Bex look over our questions and voice her opinions on them. Luckily the questions were appropriate and only a few changes were needed, which suggests that we are going about it from the correct angle having spoken to the client. During the coming week we will edit the questionnaire and post it on social media. We have also spoken to Dr Bex about the possibility of her sharing the questionnaire on her more age appropriate social media as our social media pages have quite young and inexperienced audiences.

For the rest of the session we went over final questions regarding assignment 1. We also discussed how we would carry on working throughout the Christmas period to meet our clients blog deadline, which is the first Wednesday in January. As a group, we are looking forward to working with the client and seeing our work on the clients website.

Week 9 Tutorial Logbook - 2/12

In preparation for the ninth tutorial we met with our client, this took place on Wednesday the 30^th in their Manchester offices. As a group we decided to meet up 45 minutes before hand to ensure that we were all prepped and to make sure we had enough time to walk to the offices. We arrived at the offices with ten minutes to spare which was helpful as we had time to compose ourselves and look over our notes one last time.

The meeting was very helpful and insightful as we had a chance to get a detailed review of the brief from Melanie Telford, Marketing Executive for The Candidate (https://uk.linkedin.com/in/melanietelford1). In the meeting we discussed what needed to be done for the duration of our project. We need to complete 12 relevant, industry specific blog posts and these are to be sent to Melanie weekly on a Wednesday at or before 5 pm.

During the tutorial we looked at types of research, namely quantitative and qualitative research. Quantitative focuses more on numerical data whereas qualitative looks more at opinion, because of this we decided to use both when conducting our own research, although most of our research will be quantitative. Towards the end of the tutorial we went over the assignment brief, this made me feel  more confident about the assignment as I now know everything that needs to be included.

Week 8 Tutorial Logbook - 25/11

In preparation for the eighth tutorial we finally managed to get into contact with our client. The meeting is due to take place on Wednesday the 30^th of November in The Candidates office which is based in Deansgate. During the week the group collectively thought of questions to ask the client and during the session we picked a selection we thought were appropriate.

During the session we looked at competitor analysis, PESTLE analysis and Porters 5 forces. After looking into these in detail, we decided as a group to create a PESTLE and to apply Porters 5 forces to The Candidate and the project we are carrying out. We also decided that this should be done after  meeting with our client, just to ensure that everything is as accurate as possible.

For the rest of the session we focused on preparing for our meeting the client. We discussed the questions with our tutor Dr Bex and tweaked them to make them more suitable. As we had some time left to spare before our closing stand up meeting, we discussed pending tasks and how we should go about completing them. This was a challenging task as we currently have little information, this problem should be resolved after meeting with our client.

Week 7 Tutorial Logbook - 18/11

In preparation for the seventh tutorial we all completed our allocated jobs that were set in week 6, so I made sure that my SWOT analysis was correct by getting my team members to check over it. We checked over each other's work just to make sure that it was correct, we also checked so we could add ideas and give our opinions, this is a better way to work as everyone's ideas are considered.

During the tutorial, we had our weekly stand up meeting discussing what we've done and what needs to be done during the session. This week we needed to find an alternative way to contact our client, this subject was discussed in class and a couple of suggestions we're given by class members. We decided to take their suggestions on board and we left a message on our clients answer machine. I feel that this stand up meeting was successful because we were given a solution to our problem.

Later on in the tutorial, we partly completed our ethics forms for the project. We will be able to complete them after we've met with our client and discussed what will happen throughout the project.

Week 6 Tutorial Logbook - 11/11

In preparation for the sixth tutorial we discussed the project as a group in our weekly Wednesday meeting, as last week was Professional Development Week we decided that we needed to create a plan ensuring we were on track. During Professional Development Week I looked over possible travel abroad options, as that's what I plan to do next year.

To start the tutorial, we had our first stand up meeting and during that meeting we discussed having decided to create a Gantt chart in order to make sure that our work is done on time and in a certain way. we also decided to contact the client again so we could get a clearer idea as to what we have to do for our client.

Later on in the tutorial I had a face to face chat with Dr Bex, we discussed my PDP and how it could be improved. I found this very helpful and I can now add more detailed answers to my work by researching future jobs and looking at the handbooks for other units that I'm currently doing.

Finally, as a group we allocated jobs to be done by next week. By next week I need to have done a SWOT analysis for the project.

Week 5 Tutorial Logbook - 28/10

In preparation for the fifth tutorial we discussed the project as a group and made sure everyone was up to date on what needed to be done as two of the members wouldn’t be able to attend the tutorial.

During the session, we went through different types of organisational tactics such as KANBAN and Gantt charts. We also looked at risk assessments and risk registers. This session was geared towards helping us organise our work load throughout the year and making sure that everything will be completed on time and in the correct order.

As a group we were told to create either a Gantt chart or a KANBAN chart by next week. The chart will contain a weekly schedule of tasks that need to be completed by the end of each and every week. To complete this task, we need to get back in contact with the candidate to clear up any queries regarding what needs to be done. 

Week 4 Tutorial Logbook - 21/10

In preparation for the fourth tutorial we decided to email the client to introduce ourselves and to confirm that we are happy to be working with them. We also did some background research into the candidate just so we knew what their website contained.

During the session, we started to work on questions that we could ask the client to better inform us of what we need to do. We had a group chat with Dr Bex to further discuss appropriate questions to ask the candidate.

We then discussed what needed to be included in our individual PDP, we discussed possible skills and how to fill the form in correctly. The form is due in next week and is mandatory to get above 40% in the next assignment. 

Week 3 Tutorial Logbook - 14/10

In preparation for the third tutorial we had to create a pitch for “The Candidate”. The Candidate are a company looking for ways to grow their online presence in IT recruitment in the North West. As a group we met up during the week to discuss pitch ideas and presentation formats, by Wednesday the 12^th we had our pitch complete and ready to be sent to Dr Bex.

During the actual tutorial a total of 11 groups pitched their ideas and luckily enough we were the only group pitching to The Candidate. I feel that our pitch went well, it contained a sufficient amount of information but it could have been better. In comparison to other pitches I feel that we lacked actual creative ideas, as we took the approach of informing the audience of who we were as a group.

Through watching everyone else pitch, I feel that I’ve learnt a great deal about what to include in a pitch. I now know what to add to make it appropriate. But all in all, it was a good first try as we succeeded in securing the project. We, as a group are delighted to be working with The Candidate. 

Week 2 Tutorial Logbook - 7/10

In preparation for the second tutorial, I went through the relevant information on the Moodle page for The Big Agency to ensure I was up to date. For this week’s tutorial, the class had to carry out a Belbin test prior to attending the class, this information is helpful when choosing groups.

During the tutorial we looked at team development models such as Truckman’s ‘Forming, Storming, Norming and Performing’ model and Hersey and Blanchard’s situational leadership model. We then went on to discuss what we thought the definition of a role was and what our roles in life were. A few of mine were; Captain, Daughter, Friend and Coach.

We also got together in our professional teams to discuss the team roles within the group. My professional team contains a Completer, a Plant, an Explorer and a Team player, and it consists of Beth Reid, Elena Mcloughlin and Debbie Ghelichi. After confirming the team roles, we completed a SWOT analysis which suggested possible weaknesses within the group.

During the final 30 minutes of the tutorial we spoke about next week’s client pitch, which company we would like to pitch to and what our pitch would contain.

Week 1 Tutorial Logbook - 30/9

In preparation of the first tutorial for this unit, I went through the relevant information on the Moodle page for The Big Agency to ensure I was up to date. I made sure to have the relevant equipment needed for note taking and made sure to arrive 10 minutes early to avoid lateness.

During the 3 hour tutorial session we were introduced to The Big Agency unit and briefed on our upcoming Assignments. A number of topics were also discussed during the session; appropriate working ethics in the workplace and motivation were the main focus points. We spent roughly 45 minutes discussing ethics in the workplace and decorum. We then went on to brainstorm with the rest of the tutorial group and created a list of what we thought was the appropriate way to act in a workplace environment, this will be useful when applying for jobs and working in a professional environment.

We also started to develop personal elevator pitches, this was after watching a short introductory video on how to create a successful pitch. This video was insightful and helped me to understand what an elevator pitch needs to make it memorable.

The tutorial was a helpful look into The Big Agency and what is to be expected during the academic year.