Who am i as a learner

Section A – Who am I as a learner

Introduction

This section aimed to analysis where I am standing as a learner, how I can enhance my learning and how to refine my relevant skill set in my career. The importance of this section to me is that it can determines and defines the direction of my career path. The paper presents various tests that I conducted, for instance VARK, MBTI and Belbin. Base on the outcomes, some was justified on my personality and experiences.
Moreover in this research, I have taken two career advertisements to compare between their requirements and my skill set in order to further analyzing the potential development in my career.

VARK Test

VARK is one of the test to examine various styles individual learning i.e. how do they learn. VARK was formulated by Fleming (2001), which is based on the nuero-linguistics model formulated by Eicher (1987). The term VARK is the compact version of Visual, Aural, Read/Write and Kinesthetic sensory that are used for learning information in a given circumstance. VARK test is based on the fundamental that each learner has a most preferred style of learning and a least preferred style of learning, and thus, this test is aimed at determining the same i.e. assisting the interview to recognize their respective most and least preferred styles of learning (Fleming, 2007). Following is a brief description of VARK: (Fleming, 1992, p 139)
Visual
This learning style stands for the preference of graphical or symbolic mechanism for information representation. For instance, using pictures or other multimedia forms during presentation.

Aural
This learning style stands for the preferences of hard information. For instance, lectures without any supplementary diagrams or graphics.

Read / Write
This learning style stands for the preference present the information that is printed as words. Dictionary is a symbolic sample of this case.

Kinesthetic
This learning style stands for the preference towards sharing experiences for learning purposes that can be either real or simulated. Examples include demonstrations, simulations, videos, movies, etc.



VARK Test Result

As the VARK test to determine the most and least preferred styles of my personal learning, I conducted this test on myself and determine my own standing. The results of the VARK tested and indicated as following outcomes:
Visual – 9
Aural – 5
Read/Write – 5
Kinesthetic – 11

VARK describes the result as a multimodal learner included three to four mode of preferences. When I look into the report, I was intensely agree our life is multimodal, there are seldom instances where one mode is used, or is sufficient. I was the type who are flexible in my communication preferences and switch from mode to mode depending what I am working with. The result shows that my inclination towards learning on two styles i.e. Visual and Kinesthetic. The result exactly resembles my style of learning, I would prefer to use visual mode most of the time. But if the situation made me to use another style, I would willingly to adopt other mode in order more efficient. VARK also says that people who have multimodal preferences have told that it is often essential to use more than single model for better learning or communication. People with multi model strategy feel insecure if only single mode of learning.

To justify the result of VARK by reviewed past learning and outcomes in my life. I am passionate to learn new things in an interesting way, I can learn quickly of theories and concepts through pictures, graphs, flowcharts or demonstrations. I would prefer to learn in a practical way rather than reading books. But as I mentioned there are rare cases where only one mode is used, during my past study life from primary school to university, my instructors always prepared different types of materials instead of using only textbook. for instance case study videos, photos and experiments.

MBTI Test

MBTI stands for Myers Briggs Type Indicator test – a test based on Jung's Theory of Personality Types. Katherine Briggs and Isabel Myers were the contributors towards the development of MBTI test (1985, cited at Quenk, 2000) that was meant to study the four dimensions of a personality. In the test, respondents need to complete a questionnaire contains thirty-six questions have yes or no response. Result is a combination of 4-letter representing 16 types of personality, these combinations are described as following (Humanmetrics, 2008):
Extroversion/Introversion: this defines people having a psychological activities inclined to various orientations, the sources and direction of energy and expression for a person. Extroversion defines a person who is more attracted towards the outer world, while introversion defines a person who is more inclined towards ideas and the inner reflections.
Sensing Intuitive: another important aspect that dominates the personality is known as dominant function, it defines the method of information perception by a person. Sensing mainly revolves around a person's believe that information is mainly received directly from the external world, on the contrary, intuitiveness is the quality of a person whereby the person believes that information is received from within or the internal 'self' like sixth sense.
- Thinking/Feeling: other dominant functions on the judgment preferences defines the processing skills of individuals with the information. Thinking is the process whereby a person makes a decision based on logic, while feeling is where a decision made is based primarily on emotions.
Judging/Perceiving: hereby, the preference is about the lifestyle of individuals. i.e. it defines people in the manner by which they reflect the means of their interaction in the world. Judging implies organization, planning and control in events of an individual, while perception implies inclination towards improvisation and seeking alternatives.

MBTI Test Result
I conducted the MBTI test and the result indicated that my closest personality type is the ESTP and second closest to ESTJ.
Extraversion – 55%
Sensation – 59%
Thinking – 61%
Perception – 52%

Comparison between ESTP and ESTJ

For ESTP according to the description, ESTP are an action oriented problem solver, they enjoy getting thing done and take action to solve practical problem. They have ability to perceive people's attitudes and motivations. A typical straight shooting type, place little importance on theories, the look at the facts of a situation, quickly decide what should be done, execute the action and move on the next step. However ESTP's need to develop their intuitive side, they are weak to apply theories to their life, and little use for their quest to get thing done. ESTP often has trouble in school especially higher education because theory is more important. ESTP get bored with classes in which they feel they gain is no useful. In careers. ESTP needs to keep moving and so does well in their job which is not restricted or confined.

For ESTJ according to the description, ESTJ is practical, realistic and dependable. The type who wanted the world to be well run and well organized. They are live in a world of facts and concrete needs, their eye constantly scanning their environment to make sure that everything is running smoothly and systematically. They have ability to aware the needs for structure in a situation, such as roles and responsibilities of people. ESTJ are take-charge people. They have such a clear vision of the way that things should be, that they naturally step into leadership roles. They have motivation to introduce a logical procedures or structures to get things done in a businesslike and professional manner. But ESTJ need to improve their flexibility to avoid too rigid and become over detail oriented.

The key difference between ESTP and ESTJ is Perceiving or Judging, they are totally extreme side in definition. Perceiving is using perceiving function no matter sensing or intuition, seem to prefer a flexible and spontaneous ways to solve problems, and always stay open to respond to whatever happens. On the other hand, judging using decision making preference based on a planned or orderly ways to solve problems. Everything need to be settled and organized, feel comfortable when decisions are made or everything under control.

To justify the test result, reviewed my working style and life style, I would indicate myself as the mixture of ESTP and ESTJ because I got both of the characteristics. My current is a procurement process and inventory controller of a FMGC retail company (Supermarket). The main role is responsible to closely monitor inventory life cycle as per defined KPI and market conditions to optimize inventory level in view of business requirements. Design, develop and standardize the KPIs and processes across different markets. My job involved daily operation processes and project planning and deployment.

For daily operation, ability on problem solving is necessary for me if any unpredictable problem happened. For example when IT system was down, I need to instruct the procurement staff to calculate the reorder volume instead of system calculation running in the background. Flexibility skills need to adopt when facing urgent issues happened since procurement is a connection between retail stores and suppliers. We need to make a quickly response between unpredictable sales and unstable stock supply. So it proved the abilities and features of ESTP personality.

On the other hand, I have design a full set of procurement workflow and inventory control mechanism to maintain all KPIs against the company budgets. I need to formulate a standard procurement procedures and make sure the operations running smoothly. I have designed a set of inventory reporting to monitor the inventory and follow up workflows when facing inventory excesses or shortage. I am enjoyed when everything organized and under my control. That is totally matched the result of ESTJ type of personality.

Belbin Test

Essential elements of a team are its members. Members are chosen because of their qualifications and skills. Schermerhorn et al. (2008, p.185) defined each role has a set of expectations for a team member in a team. Each positions are assigned considering the actual requirements that have to fulfill.
The Theory of Belbin states that the climate of a team is shaped by the dominant personality type of a team to which one has to fit in for good. At a more detail level, a person would be able to perform much better if they become a fit in the team, and perform with the role expectation by the team. For instance, a person can be a leadership role better if they have the characteristics for it. This concept is compatible with the trait and theories of leadership. Belbin (2003, p169) defined a team role is the tendency of individuals to behave, contribute and interrelate with others in a particular manner. In 1981, Belbin published his 8 role model the first time. In later years the model was broadened for the 9th role, the specialist.
Belbin has nine Team Roles can be classified by its overall functions into three different categories. Implementer, Shaper and Completer were categorized into the field of "Doing or Acting", which is task orientated. Whereas Plant, Monitor Evaluator and Specialist were grouped into "Thinking and Problem-Solving" as issue-driven orientated. Last but not least, Coordinator, Teamworker and Resource Investigator take care for "People or Feelings", so that we called communication oriented. (Belbin, 2010, Kimpel, Scholz 2006, p. 64


Belbin Test Result
According to the Belbin Test results (Figure 1.0), my personality team role intends to Implementer and Specialist. Implementer. They plan their task in a workable strategy and accomplish it as efficiently as possible. Implementers are well-organized and act well-considered. Therefore they are sometimes a bit slow to react when incident occur. Specialist. They have in-depth knowledge in key areas. That is the reason why they can solve issues and problems in their special fields. But they have problems to think beyond their own area and are not interested in others.

To justify the result based on my history and working experience, I would agree I have the strength of Implementer and Specialist described by Belbin. But at the same time, I also have the ability to offset the weaknesses from resulted team roles. From the above mentioned about my current job as a procurement process and inventory controller in a supermarket. The characteristics of and Implementer and Specialist are using the specific knowledge to finish tasks realistically, practically, and well organized and planned in a workable and the most efficient way. I was serving the current company for almost twelve years from different functions and positions, for example buying, shipping and demand management. I have a deeply understanding for the company culture and clear picture for whole supply chain operation process flow. Those experiences became an immeasurable knowledge for me to handle and solve problems in procedure process and inventory control areas. One of the example from my job is create the annual reordering schedule for every single supplier from all over the world. I need to create a practical and efficient schedule to fulfill the seasonal customer needs and catch the promotion plan. Externally I need to recognize the culture of supplier form different countries, e.g. European suppliers usually have the long summer vacation, in the meanwhile all production will be temporary suspended. Or some suppliers is family small business so that longer process lead time should be provided. Internally, I need to clear understand the lead time for whole inbound and outbound processes. A precise and accurate ordering schedule can definitely benefit the demand forecast accuracy and control the inventory in a healthy level. Other the hand, I built up a social network during past twelve years widely from different divisions and departments. During regular communication meeting with department heads, they always gave me inspiration and share their difficulty, those valuable comments can improve by "Out of the box" thinking to create new workflows and operational processes. It is the reason why I said my ability can offset the pitfall from Implementer and Specialist.
Besides the "Preferred Roles" from the test result, Plant and Sharper are the highest score from group "Manageable roles". It is the insight telling me the potential improvement areas for me strengthen my personal skillsets and abilities. I was agreed with the result that the characteristics from Plant and Sharper are critical necessities to become a higher level management in an organization.

Implication for career choice
Lifelong Learning
Lifelong learning is a realistic concept in the world today, basically it applicable to everyone, but the fact is because the radical changes along the job market today. Employers looking for the employee with higher academic achievements. Following the same, that is why I believe I need to develop myself and equip with knowledge and transferable skills in order to further develop my career. But I believe learning and study is not only impact my career, I also made me keeping in a positive attitude and self-motivation ability to deal with difficulties in my life. Learning is a lifelong process, and lasts as long as the life last, according to the theory, life-long learning should contain independent and self-directed learning, active and motive to learning, understand the importance for life-long learning and discipline and self-reflection, Knowles (1981).
For myself, fulltime student life was ended when I am 20 years old. I believed practical working experience and social network inside the business world are very important, so I started to after-work study for different academic programmes until now. Also, adult learning is different with teaching children since adults supposed has a higher level of motivation and self-control ability with higher expectation and learning result. Adult can identify their need to know learning aims to growth and development in their career. According to the theory, a high level of motivation to learn for the adults produces dramatically higher learning results and the performance achieved, Wlodkowski, 2006. Furthermore, the teaching method from those professional tutors is definitely different with full time school. Tutors will quote tones of practical business cases plus their real life experiences to explain the academic theories. Base on the result from the VARK test, multimodal intends to visual and kinesthetic type, it can assist me to digest the conceptual theories without a doubt.

Transferable Skills (500 words)

Justify my career choice (500 words)

Conclusion (300 words)








Figure 1.0