Continuing Professional Development Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Continuing Professional Development - Assignment Example The aim of this paper is to analyze the importance of CPD for individuals and organizations in the hospitality industry. The main theory surrounding CPD is Boyatzis’s Theory of Self-directed Learning. The theory works on a model where learning is based on a self-directed self-analysis. This includes analysis of the ideal oneself and actual oneself then assessing gaps. The person then looks at their strengths and sets out on a learning agenda aimed at building on the strengths while minimizing the gaps. Finally, the person experiments and practices with the new knowledge, skills and behavior. Trusting relationships that encourage and support each step should be developed (Boyatzis 1999). Core concepts of CPD There are some concepts that mark out CPD from other types of professional development and training. First is that in CPD, the learner is in control hence CPD finds its starting point from the learner’s dreams. Handy (1997), states that these dreams can also be equat ed to thirst. First, the professional becomes thirst for new skills, knowledge and experiences and the role of CPD is to respond to the type and extend of the thirst presented. Secondly, CPD is a holistic process capable of addressing every aspect of life as well as the balance between these aspects. This means that one aspect of a learner’s life for example, their work, family, or social life does not have to suffer much during the process of CPD. Therefore, we can say that the process is integrative to every aspect of the learner’s life (Daniel 2002). Thirdly, the learning and working in CPD is power and direction oriented hence the achievement of its purposes and objectives are easy. This is because CPD involves regularly reflecting how we are, looking ahead to where we want to be then taking a step from our current position towards the desired future position. Lastly, someone can benefit from CPD with or without the support of the employer. This is to say that it w orks for those employees who have financial backing and total support from their employers and as well as for those whose employers are hostile (Daniel 2002). The need and relevance for CPD From its definition, the need for CPD is hinged on the necessity for professionals to broaden, improve and maintain their specific professional skills and knowledge they have already acquired. The core reason for this is that security for professionals no longer lies in the organisation they work for or the job they do but on the knowledge, skills and experience they posses within themselves (Brett and VandeWalle 1999). There is also a need for professionals to acquire some special qualities that are needed for them to perform well in their profession. CPD is very relevant to professionals and their organisations as well. For example, it enables professionals to be updated in terms of their professional skills and knowledge and this puts them at a good position of working under the latest relevan t information. Constant updating and enhancement of skills enables an individual to improve in terms of their professional competency. Because CPD is continuous, the improvement in professional competency for the individuals also becomes continuous throughout their professional lives (Cooperrider 1990). Benefits of CPD for individuals and organisations According to Schon (1983), CPD makes professionals to be committed to their professionalism. This is because it entails a continuous process of

Economic degrowth Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Economic degrowth - Essay Example This is a good sign of economic degrowth. In terms of enhancing consumers’ health, the working condition of the workers, and preserving the available economic and natural resources for future generations, the transition stage from economic growth to degrowth is one of the most unique political breakthrough that took place in the United States (Latouche, 2007). In line with this, Kennedy (2010) explained that cities that is undergoing degrowth process is characterized by a limited population density and self-sufficient even though there was a shift from urbanization to rural way of living. In general, the population of cities that is undergoing degrowth process is usually below 10,000 residents per city (Bliss, 2011; Reinhardt, 2011). Depending on the size of geographic area, population size of degrowth cities can be less than 50,000 (Mathivet, 2009). Because of the limited production and consumption of goods, cities that are focused on degrowth are the ones that could preserve their existing natural resources and energy resources without sacrificing the standards of living of people living in these cities. Q.2 How may this area be influenced by degrowth? At the end of the document you will see a table with your name appearing alongside a particular theme (transport, housing, multifunctional urbanism, decision making processes, use of environmental technologies.) What area have you been invited to focus on: Housing Inflation rate in the United Kingdom has significantly increased from 3.0 up to 5.0 between January 2009 up to January 2011 respectively (National Statistics, 2011). Because of the increasing trend in the annual CPI inflation rate and interest rates in the US and UK market, the selling price of single detach houses has been significantly increasing over the past few years (Nordvik and Gulbrandsen, 2009). In 2001, there were as much as 215,000 companies building roughly 146,000 single-detached houses (Glaeser, 2004). As a consequence in the high market prices of single detached houses, there is a shift from the demand for expensive single detached houses to low-cost and more affordable multi-unit housing projects such as townhouses, apartment buildings, dormitories, or condominium units (Murray, 2011; Reference for Business, 2011; Johanisova, Crabtree, and Frankova, 2010; Glaeser, 2004). In line with this, there are some constructors who are already designing multi-unit housing projects using low-cost pre-fabricated housing materials (Reference for Business, 2011). There are socio-economic advantages associated with the shift from single-detached houses to multi-unit houses. First, it is possible to increase the supply of affordable housing units to meet the increasing population in US and UK (Glaeser, 2004). Aside from effectively protecting the environment from the adverse consequences of consuming too much electricity, degrowth in the housing industry is also more economical on the part of the consumers in terms of decr easing the cost of maintaining the quality of small-unit houses (Crawford and Heller, 2010; Register, 2010). Q.3 What has already been envisaged or put in practice that would be welcomed by a de-growth society? Give some examples and indicate the impact/ results of these 'alternatives' (e.g. from slow-cities to the setting up of autonomous communities and the recuperation of community; from