Connecting Theory to Practice

-->Connecting Theory to Practice

The following analysis connects practice to theory with regard to my internship course outcomes and relevant internship experiences and observations as they relate to specific professional competencies practiced during unit one of this course.  Course outcomes experienced during unit one of this internship include evaluation of planning, information management, and control. Leadership and organizational performance during week one also helped guide interns on ethical time clock keeping. Lastly, leadership and management help interns in understanding and practicing organizational processes and procedures with regard to social media publication.

One of the first examples of practice to theory during unit one includes information management and control. Information management is exercised with the delivery of guidelines, of suggested content, which social media specialists are to follow and stay close to in communicating through social media. Communication is the key concept here with leadership training, information management, and new intern acknowledgement. The underlying theory of this communication results in “an uncomplicated process of sending and receiving messages” (Cornelissen., Durand, Fiss, Lammers, Vaara, 2015). The theory of sending and receiving messages directly, identifies verbal training through the use of a phone call which was experienced during week one of the internship by Tony Robinson. This is communication. Additional methods of communication are practiced and utilized by means of “All hands on deck” meetings, department meetings, and emails. This communication is enhanced through business process and leadership competencies. Both business process and leadership concepts present University Consulting, LLC with strong tools in managing and developing interns.

University Consulting, LLC. includes a number of business process’s which support business communication and business development. The theory of a, “detail document” (Page, 2010), is practiced by University Consulting, LLC through the use of the University Consulting, LLC Employee Handbook, the Intern Training Slides, Media Site Login Information, Job Descriptions: Social Media Specialist, Metrics Training, Social Media Specialist Site Administration and Post Response, and the Social Media Specialist Continuity Book. These documents provide new interns with vital information to succeed in completing tasks and developing business communication to the public through social media. Next we consider leadership competencies offered in the development of new company interns at University Consulting, LLC.

One of the most important leadership competencies in business is to possess a number of qualities. An important quality is, “The Ability to Inspire and Motivate” (Brian, 2014, Chapter 6). This theory is put into practice at University Consulting, LLC. The University Consulting, LLCmanagement team inspires and motivates potential and new interns by offering informative meet and greets, providing a flexible work environment, and by providing professional training and learning tools.

In conclusion this analysis offers some examples of how theory is put into practice in regard to leadership, business process, information management, and communication of said guidelines and information. The only recommendation for improvement in the business process thus far is to provide additional training to interns. It is vital that interns responsible for public social media posts are aware that incorrect spelling can damage the reputation of a business. Recommended training should suggest rereading of potential posts before and after posting, checking website links for material which is not professional in nature, and also checking for spelling and content mistakes by fellow interns.

References

Brian, T. (2014). Leadership. The Ability to Inspire and Motivate. Retrieved on June 16, 2015

from: http://eds.b.ebscohost.com.lib.kaplan.edu/eds/ebookviewer/ebook/bmxlYmtfXzY0MDQ0M19fQU41?sid=a917ef6b-642c-46d2-af15-fab06a3b8936@sessionmgr110&vid=0&format=EK&rid=5

Cornelissen J.P., Durand R., Fiss P.C., Lammers J.C., Vaara E. (2015). Putting Communication

Front and Center In Institutional Theory and Analysis. Vol. 40, No. 1, 10–27. Retrieved

on June 16, 2015 from: http://eds.b.ebscohost.com.lib.kaplan.edu/eds/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=96fe23b1-e6ce-48ed-831b-aaefb3db8574%40sessionmgr113&vid=6&hid=117

Page, S. (2010). The Power of Business Process Improvement: 10 Simple Steps to Increase

Effectiveness, Efficiency, and Adaptability. Retrieved on June 16, 2015 from: http://eds.b.ebscohost.com.lib.kaplan.edu/eds/ebookviewer/ebook/bmxlYmtfXzI5NzgwM19fQU41?sid=c88dff3e-2e65-4f36-ae1a-1d355b38e26e@sessionmgr114&vid=1&format=EB&rid=5