University of Exeter
Aspiring Managers Programme Learning Guide
Contents
Introduction ........................................................................................................................................ 2
Your personal learning log .................................................................................................................. 2
To start ............................................................................................................................................ 2
Personal Learning Pathway ................................................................................................................. 3
The learning topics .............................................................................................................................. 5
The mandatory topics ..................................................................................................................... 5
The optional topics.......................................................................................................................... 5
Special activities .............................................................................................................................. 6
Learning summary .............................................................................................................................. 6
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) ................................................................................................... 7
ILOs for Mandatory learning ............................................................................................................... 8
ILOs for Optional Learning ................................................................................................................ 13
AMP learning guide Feb 2014
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Introduction
To pass your AMP Certificate you need to successfully complete the learning identified in this
document. Some of it is mandatory, some of it optional. Each learning topic lists the Intended
Learning Outcomes (ILOs) and is linked to our central course calendar.
You need to complete a Personal Learning Pathway before you begin the AMP and bring this along
to the Induction workshop. Your success will be measured against this pathway.
You will also need to reflect on your learning with your line manager and keep a record of your
reflections in a personal learning log.
Your personal learning log
As part of your learning you will be expected to record your thoughts and experiences after you have
attended each learning activity. This includes your own project and mentoring experiences and
anything else you feel is relevant to your development as an aspiring manager.
Your learning log is also a record of your achievement for all the learning you undertake and will be
used to create the summary of achievement for inclusion on your AMP Certificate upon your
successful completion of the programme.
To start
You must complete your Personal Learning Pathway first to help you plan the particular topics you
are going to focus on in addition to the core learning.
Once you have something you wish to reflect on then add this to your log and, on a regular basis (ie
as part of your normal 1-1s or after a workshop), ask your manager to review this with you.
Your Personal Learning Pathway (PLP)
Use the table provided below to identify the learning you are going to undertake over the next 12
months. Add to this/change it as things change for you. I will use the PLP in our AMP reviews to
check on your progress. Activities in your PLP should all appear in your learning log.
Mandatory and optional learning
Over the 12 months of the AMP you will be expected to undertake a range of learning that include
some core mandatory learning (ie fundamental to the knowledge and skills of a manager) and
optional learning that you can choose to suit you (ie those that build on particular strengths or
address known weaknesses).
Special activities
You will also be expected to undertake several activities that will give you a greater insight into the
roles and responsibilities of a manager: plan and deliver a substantial piece of work in a project
environment; sit-in on an interview; lead a meeting; give a presentation. You will receive training
and support for all these activities.
Shadowing/mentoring a manager
Finally you will be asked to identify a manager who would be willing to share their experiences of
their work with you through informal mentoring and/or shadowing and observation. They may be
someone from your own area of work or form a different part of the University or, indeed, from
another organisation.
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Personal Learning Pathway
Learning Title
Date
Booked (as
Completed?
appropriate)?
In your
learning log?
Manager
commented?
Induction
Project planning workshop (AMP only)
Giving Presentations (AMP only)
Team Leading – Developing yourself as a team
leader
Team Leading – Planning and monitoring work
Team Leading – Improving the performance of
the work team
Team Leading – Health, Safety and the
environment for managers
Coaching conversations in the workplace
Recruitment and Selection – online resource
Managing staff performance and absence
PDR Reviewer skills
Effective meetings
Continued on next page
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Personal Learning Pathway
Learning Title
Your chosen date
Booked (as
Completed?
appropriate)?
Project start
Get a mentor/shadow a manager
Sit in on an interview
Lead a meeting
Optional and other learning
AMP learning guide Feb 2014
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In your
learning log?
Manager
commented?
The learning topics
The mandatory topics
You need to complete all this learning:
Team Leader Programme
Coaching conversations in the
workplace
Recruitment and selection
Managing staff performance
and absence
PDR training for Reviewers
Giving Presentations
Effective meetings
•Core to the whole AMP
•Essential skills for managers and transferrable to almost any situation
•(Online resrouce). Anyone involved needs to be compliant. This will give
you confidence and competence
•A range of processes, skills and knowledge are required to do this
effectively.
•PDRs are one of several reviewing tools and so underpin team
management
•Managing staff effectively hinges on good communication skills. Being
able to give good presentations is one of the suite of skills that will help
•Many meetings aren't! This will show how to improve every meeting you
attend or run
The optional topics
You need to complete at least 2 of the optional topics listed below:
Business writing
•As a manager you should role model effective communications that includes
succint, clear messages conveyed in reports, emails, notes and other documents
Managing excellent customer
service
•If you are invovled in the delivery of services to anyone, including internal
colleagues, you will need to know how to deliver and evaluate excellent service.
Time management
Delegation skills
Assertiveness
Managing information
effectively
AMP learning guide Feb 2014
•A range of courses to help you prioritise, engage effectively and organise your
work and day
•Delegating tasks is a key skill for all managers
•Being assertive will help you grow and develop as a manager and as a colleague
•Another key skill for modern managers
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Special activities
You will need to organise and complete the following activities in addition to the mandatory and
optional learning above.
Plan and deliver a
piece of work
Sit-in on an interview
•This will help you develop project planning and mangement skills. Needs
to be a standalone piece of work that you are principally responsible for
or take a large role in. Should take between 3 and 6 months to complete
although you don't have to finish the work, simply report on progress.
•There may be an opportunity for you to sit-in on an interview for a job
vacancy in your area of work or as part of student work placement
programmes. You will be attending the recruitment and selection
training and this opportunity will help you see the learning applied.
Lead a meeting
•You need to be able to lead a meeting with a group of attendees
to experience the best way to manage an agenda and field
questions. Your training on effective meetings can be deployed in
this activity.
Give a presentation
•As part of the workshop on giving presentations you will have the
opportuniy to give a presentation to your AMP colleagues. This will
help build confidence and develop relevant skills.
Learning summary
Mandatory
Optional (at least 2 of the following)
Team Leader programme (4 workshops)
Business Writing (1 workshop)
Coaching conversations in the workplace (2
consecutive workshops)
Managing excellent customer service (1
workshop)
Recruitment and Selection for new recruiters
(1 workshop)
Time management (2 workshops)
Managing staff performance and absence (1
workshop)
Delegation skills (1 workshop)
PDR training for reviewers (1 workshop)
Assertiveness (2 workshops)
AMP - Giving presentations (1 workshop just
for AMP delegates)
Managing information effectively (1
workshop)
Meetings: Effective meetings (1 workshop)
Plan and Deliver a project
Sit-in on an interview
Lead a meeting
Give a presentation
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Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
When you record your reflections on your blog you (and your line manager) are expected to refer to
the intended learning outcomes (ILOs) for each workshop/programme. These are devised by the
course tutor(s) and are listed, along with a description of each course or programme, in the next
section for each learning intervention for your convenience but are also available in the details of
each course when you book on Trent.
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ILOs for Mandatory learning
The ILM Team Leader programme
This is the core of the management development you will undertake and is designed to give you a
firm foundation in the skills and understanding needed to supervise and lead a team.
The ILOs are grouped under the individual workshops that make up the whole programme.
Course/Workshop Description
Developing yourself as a team leader
You will understand the role and
responsibilities of a team leader and
be able to seek feedback on your
workplace performance to identify
your strengths, weaknesses and areas
for improvement.
ILOs
Outline the role of the team leader.
List the responsibilities of the team leader within
the team.
Outline the limits of the team leaders’ authority
and their accountability.
Give an example of a situation where you would
need to refer to someone with senior authority.
Gather feedback on own performance from
different sources.
Interpret the feedback and list areas for
improvement.
Prepare an action plan to address weaknesses
and improve performance.
Improving the performance of the
work team
You will develop an understanding of
the organisational goals of your team
and how to motivate team members to
achieve these.
Outline the organisations requirements of the
team in line with company policy.
Outline the team’s objectives in achieving
organisational targets.
Explain how the individual performance of team
members affects the overall performance of the
team.
Identify indicators of underperformance in
relation to own team.
Explain the possible causes of
underperformance.
List actions that could be taken to rectify
underperformance.
Outline a recognised theory of motivation.
Describe actions that can be taken to motivate
own team and improve performance linked to a
theory of motivation
(continued)
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Course/Workshop Description
Planning and monitoring work
You will understand how to work
within University guidelines to
achieve team goals, understand how
to plan and allocate work and
understand how to monitor a team's
performance against work targets
and plans.
ILOs
Identify an organisational policy that can have
an effect on the planning and allocation of
work.
Give an example of a target or objective that a
team is working to achieve.
List the key stages when planning and allocating
work.
Describe how work is allocated to meet team
objectives.
Describe how to check that team members
understand their allocated work.
Outline a method to monitor the team’s
performance against the plan.
Describe an action the team leader could take
to rectify underachievement against the plan.
Managing health and safety in the
workplace
This course will inform managers
about the legal framework in safety
and the environment.
It will teach delegates how to develop
assurance systems in their areas of
responsibility.
Delegates must attend both course
days (9-1pm), complete the
coursework and complete the written
test at the end of the course.
AMP learning guide Feb 2014
At the end of the two day course, delegates will
be able to confidently identify hazards, assess
risk, self assess their work area to provide
assurance that all necessary safety provisions
are in place, according to the needs of the
department.
Delegates will be confident in collating evidence
and will understand their managerial role in
safety management at the University.
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Coaching conversations in the workplace
This two session course focuses on how you can develop and adopt a coaching style in conversations
and see the benefits this produces. You will also discover how to apply coaching skills to action
learning and see how this can be a powerful force to help people explore problems, realise
opportunities and find solutions.
ILOs
Understand how coaching skills work and how they can be used to create powerful
conversations to help people.
Know how to develop a range of coaching skills and have had the opportunity to practice
these.
Have experienced being a coach and being coached.
Understand the value of giving and receiving feedback as part of adopting a coaching
style.
Learned how to be part of an action learning set.
Recruitment and selection for new recruiters
This bite-sized programme will give you the knowledge and skills to conduct successful recruitment
and selection. Crucially, it will give you the key information you need if you are to stay the right side
of UK employment law. Everyone is required to have completed the University's training before
participating in recruitment or selection at Exeter.
ILOs
Know how to use University website for future recruitment.
Prepare a good job description, person specification, advert and marking scheme.
Plan the activities of a panel and contribute to shortlisting.
Interview effectively.
Give feedback to the successful and unsuccessful candidates.
Link a candidate into the university induction processes.
Promote equality and diversity at every stage.
Protect personal data.
Critically evaluate recruitment and selection activities.
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Managing staff performance and absence
This session is designed for junior and middle managers in Professional Services who have
responsibility for managing staff. They are practical interactive sessions (using case studies and
discussion primarily) and are designed to assist managers with managing performance and
disciplinary issues with their staff using the new University Procedures which were developed in
2009.
ILOs
Understanding how to identify and prevent absence and performance issues becoming a
problem
Understanding University procedures
Understanding how to deal with disciplinary issues
PDR Training for Reviewers
This course will help you to understand the University's PDR system and learn how to carry out an
effective meeting.
ILOs
Understanding of the University's PDR system.
Learn how to carry out an effective review meeting.
Understanding of how PDR is related to Wellbeing.
AMP Giving Presentations
This course examines what makes a good presentation and provides you with the chance to practice
some presentation skills.
ILOs
Components of a successful presentation.
How you can ensure you are engaging the audience.
The skills necessary to help you put together and deliver great presentations.
The best mode of delivery.
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Effective meetings
This interactive session explores the realities of meetings and people’s roles. We will consider what
makes a really good meeting and how to get the best out of everyone who attends. We will explore
how to manage the meeting so that everyone has a voice.
ILOs
Understanding of the purpose of meetings.
Why meetings sometimes fail and what you can do about it.
The different roles and responsibilities of meeting participants.
Ways of maximising the meeting effectiveness and minimising time wasting.
How effective communication in meetings can be hampered by a variety of factors and
how these can be overcome.
How to convert potentially troublesome situations into positive outcomes.
Understanding of the purpose of meetings.
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ILOs for Optional Learning
Business Writing
This interactive workshop will help you develop your own style of business writing that will capture
your readers' attention and deliver information in a professional and effective manner. The
workshop does this by looking at what makes a document easy to read, memorable and useful and
applying these principles to a range of exercises that you complete either on your own or as part of a
group. There is also some pre-reading for the workshop.
ILOs
Choosing the best method of communication.
Clarifying your purpose with your readers in mind.
Brainstorming ideas.
Producing a rough draft.
Getting your reader's attention.
Making your message stick.
Making your document concise - sentences, phrases and words.
Making your document airy - effective layout.
The one page rule.
Making your document even better.
Managing excellent customer service
This interactive workshop examines the world of customer service and its relevance today in the
University. You will get a chance to undertake your own mystery shop and to explore how and why
we measure customer satisfaction. Along the way you will also look at the impact of modern
technology (including social media), theoretical models, how we set customer expectations and
what you think is important. Finally, we will explore what makes customer service excellent and
what you can do about it.
ILOs
A better understanding of the general principles of managing customer service.
Examination of your customers as stakeholders, their expectations and how you can
minimise the gap between these expectations and the reality of the services you deliver.
A better understanding of the underlying empirical models of service delivery and the
principles of measuring customer satisfaction.
How you go about measuring and improving the quality of your service.
How you can make, or continue to make, your service excellent.
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Project Management
This course involves two half days held on consecutive weeks. It provides a foundation in basic
project management skills. It is designed to be a blend of theory and hands-on practice so
participants can take away the tools and approaches and immediately apply them to their own
situations. The modules will not cover the formal documentation required for project initiation and
approval.
ILOs
Understand how cost, time and quality can influence your project.
Identify the difference between risks and issues and how to manage them.
Set a project team up and run team meetings.
Understand why you need project governance and how to chose the most appropriate
format for your project.
Time management
Divided into three parts (Getting things done, Doing the right things, Knowing yourself) these bitesize workshops give you practical tips on improving your time management.
ILOs
Have introduced a system which helps manage your work.
Have set up an efficient workspace.
Can handle interruptions more effectively.
Have freed up more time.
Recognise which work needs to be prioritised.
Are able to tackle work which you may have put off.
Have a better understanding of yourself and what causes delays.
Have identified doing some things differently.
Have identified some actions to implement.
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Delegation skills
This workshop aims to explain what delegation is, how to use it and to enable managers (and staff in
general) to delegate effectively.
ILOs
Analyse and plan.
Involve staff.
Implement.
Monitor, evaluate and improve.
Give feedback.
Adjust.
Assertiveness
This programme is for you if you want practical help in analysing what is happening when you cross
paths (or swords) with a 'difficult person' and if you want some strategies for standing up for your
rights without violating the other persons.
ILOs
Operate according to a pattern of rights and responsibilities towards others.
Use various logical assertiveness techniques
Managing information effectively
Speed reading and Mind Mapping are two highly effective ways of dealing with today's tidal wave of
information. Speed reading is a set of skills and approaches which will allow you to double or even
triple your current reading speed - with good comprehension. Mind Maps are powerful tools for
absorbing information and organising large volumes of facts.
ILOs
Produce Mind Maps, using keywords and colour.
Assess your current reading speed and level of comprehension.
Use appropriate techniques to increase your reading speed and retain more of what you
have read.
Select a reading approach that matches the purpose for which you are reading.
Use a process for studying more effectively which will enable you to read, note and recall
information as and when required.
Plan how to use Mind Maps and speed reading to achieve your goals and improve
performance.
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