Self-development and feedback: A scenario-driven approach

Self-development and feedback: A scenario-driven approach by Dr. Tariq Javid Ali Mughal

Abstract: This paper describes how to organize and use feedback for self-development. The importance of planning and timely actions to get a realistic feedback is explained by a real world example. The results derived from a simple feedback form designed in this study are astonishing as compared to detailed oriented approaches. The scenario based approach explained in this paper requires a degree of patience and careful planning to identify areas of improvements. The author believes it is an innovative milestone towards self-development efforts he was struggling with sometimes in the past.    

Introduction: Self-development is highly desirable in today’s dynamic world and the needs are undoubtedly higher in the future. While experience plays an important role in this context, a quicker and well established method is to obtain feedback from peers having keen interest in your professional development and career progress. However, the feedback needs to be collected from as many persons as practically manageable, organized and used appropriately to get maximum results. The planning is the key to obtain realistic, honest and fair feedback. Another important and related challenge is to design a simplified feedback form according to the situation in-hand. The date and information organized in the form of visuals is more suitable and convincing than any other form. Identification of areas of improvement is the primary objective towards formulation of a self-development plan. The execution of such plan is really beneficial if identification is done in a right manner. Investments in execution of incorrectly identified areas are less productive and are therefore potentially harmful in career progress.

Obtaining and Organizing Feedback Data: The real feedback data was obtained from a class of seven students. The feedback form was designed in-advance (Fig.1) and introduced during lecture number four out of total sixteen lectures. The course was a multidisciplinary postgraduate research level and all participants were from academic settings include computer engineering, telecommunication engineering and computer sciences. The printed form was filled by students after final term paper. The arrangements were carefully planned and focus was on getting honest feedback from all students. The organization of data to extract useful information is completed by generating graphs based on completed feedback forms (Tab.1 and Tab.2). The information organized in graphs (Fig.2 to Fig.5) clearly indicate areas of improvement, strengths and importantly build confidence towards better take on similar scenario with greater control and increase likelihood to achieve difficult targets.

Getting Results: The Tab.2 was constructed as transpose of Tab.1. The columns were added in steps for rang, frequency and identification of improvement areas for self-development plan. The areas A and C were found as must be considered for part of improvement exercise. In addition areas D and F were identified as strength areas. The overall rating was found of no use towards self-development plan and therefore discarded in graph (Fig.2) generation. Figure 2 organized data in clustered bars useful to identify similar result as in Tab. 2 in a more appealing form. There were different possibilities explored to arrive at the same conclusion.      

Using Results: A time bound execution of self-development is highly recommended towards maximum gains in a near future strategy. The results in this study show improvements are required in areas A and C. There are number of resources that can help to improve these areas. The main considerations here are cost and time. The pursue decision is most likely based on set goals and career choices. A possible repeat of similar scenario and recurrence frequency prediction can help to determine a right timeframe to complete execution. The improved areas, in this case A and C, ensure success most likely than left unattended or partially executed. The consequences of partial execution are topic of a future such paper. The strength areas, in this case D and F, are considered as ready to use with greater confidence and control in a similar scenario. This is a big relief and a factor for immediate count on in this context. Importantly, it requires a sense of situation in-hand due scenario-driven nature.

Conclusions: The organization of data to extract useful information towards formulation and execution of a realistic self-development plan from a practical scenario was described. Use of simplified feedback form designed according to situation in-hand and carefully planned approach is highly suggested. A timely execution of such plan increases success rate for upcoming repeated similar scenarios. The approach used in this study is straight forward and scenario-driven as compared to experience based and other time-consuming detailed oriented approaches. The future work focuses on potential consequences of partial execution of identified self-development plan.

About Author: Dr. Tariq Javid obtained his PhD in Electronic Engineering from National University of Sciences & Technology, Islamabad, Pakistan. He has a rich experience working with IT systems and security. He is Assistant Professor in Electrical Engineering Department of Heavy Industries Taxila Education City (HITEC) University, Taxila Cantt, Pakistan. His research interests include digital image processing, embedded systems, and information security.