Full specification NVQ B/A Lvl 2

Level 2 NVQ Certificate in Business and Administration Portfolio of Knowledge
Mandatory Units:

1) Manage own Performance In a Business Environment

a. Understand how to plan work and be accountable to others
i) Outline guidelines, procedures and codes of practice relevant to personal work ii) Explain the purpose of planning work and being accountable to others for own work

In a business environment, it is important to carry out work as efficiently and to be as productive as possible. High efficiency, productivity and organisation contribute greatly to maintaining high standards, and therefore to generating more custom and profits for the business. Planning work is the best method for monitoring and maintaining high standards of work. When done precisely, (i.e. by setting realistic deadlines and ranking tasks properly in terms of urgency) planning our work gives us a tool by which to monitor our progress (which can be a motivating factor in increasing workload and productivity further), maximise our efficiency and productivity by decreasing the amount of wasted time and (theoretically) reducing mistakes.
Being accountable to your superiors helps to increase continuity and standards - and therefore profitability - in two main ways. When working in a business environment, it is impossible to avoid working as part of a team; our actions affect those of our colleagues and so a relatively minor mistake could be much more detrimental to the company than if our team-mates’ actions were not partially dependent on our own. One of the main points to monitor, therefore, is how your own work affects your colleagues and their work. By being accountable to (for instance) a line manager, we have someone else reviewing and monitoring our work and so when an error occurs, it is easier to correct. In this way, our mistakes are less likely to have a big impact on our colleagues and the business as a whole. Should an error occur, if we are held responsible to another, and if the proper procedures for disciplinary action are followed, then we are conditioned to be less likely to commit the same errors in the future.

iii) Explain the purpose and benefits of agreeing realistic targets for work iv) Explain how to agree to realistic targets
v) Describe ways of planning work to meet agreed deadlines vi) Explain the purpose of keeping other people informed of progress vii) Explain the purpose &benefits of letting other people know work plans may need to be changed viii) Describe types of problems that may occur during work ix) Describe ways of seeking assistance with getting help to resolve problems
x) Explain the purpose &benefits of recognising &learning from mistakes

b. Understand how to behave in a way that supports effective working
i) Explain the purpose and benefits of agreeing and setting high standards for own work ii) Describe ways of setting high standards for work iii) Explain the purpose and benefits of taking on new challenges if they arise iv) Explain the purpose and benefits of adapting to change
v) Explain the purpose of treating others with honesty, respect and consideration vi) Explain why own behaviour in the workplace is important vii) Describe what types of behaviour at work show honest, respect and consideration and those that do not

c. Be able to plan and be responsible for own work, supported by others
i) Agree realistic targets and achievable timescales for own work ii) Plan work tasks to make best use of own time and available resources iii) Confirm effective working methods with others iv) Identify and report problems occurring in own work, using the support of other people when necessary
v) Keep other people informed of your progress vi) Complete work tasks to agreed deadlines or renegotiate timescales and plans in good time vii) Take responsibility for own work and accept responsibility for any mistakes made viii) Follow agreed work guidelines, procedures and, where needed, codes of practice

d. Behave in a way that supports effective working
i) Set high standards for own work and show commitment to achieving these standards ii) agree to take on new challenges if they arise iii) Adapt to new ways of working iv) Treat other people with honesty, respect and consideration
v) Help and support other people in work tasks

2) Improve own performance in a business environment

a. Understand how to improve own performance
i) Explain the purpose and benefits of continuously improving performance at work ii) Explain the purpose and benefits of encouraging and accepting feedback from others iii) Explain how learning and development can improve own work, benefit organisations and identify career options iv) Describe possible career progression routes
v) Describe possible development opportunities

b. Be able to improve own performance using feedback
i) Encourage and accept feedback ii) Use feedback to agree ways to improve own performance in the workplace iii) Complete work tasks, using feedback given, to improve performance

c. Be able to agree own development needs using a learning plan
i) Investigate and agree where further learning and development may improve own work performance ii) Confirm learning plan changes iii) Follow a learning plan iv) Review progress against learning plan and agree further learning updates, if required

3) Work in a business environment

a. Understand how to respect other people at work
i) Describe what is meant by diversity and why it should be valued ii) Describe how to treat other people in a way that is sensitive to their needs iii) Describe how to treat other people in a way that respects their abilities, background, values, customs and beliefs iv) Describe ways in which it is possible to learn from others at work

b. Understand how to maintain security and confidentiality at work and deal with concerns
i) Describe the purpose and benefits of maintaining security and confidentiality at work ii) Describe requirements for security and confidentiality in an organisation iii) Describe legal requirements for security and confidentiality, as required iv) Describe procedures for dealing with concerns about security and confidentiality in and organisation

c. Understand the purpose and procedures for keeping waste to a minimum in a business environment
i) Explain the purpose of keeping waste to a minimum ii) Describe the main causes of waste that may occur in a business environment iii) Describe ways of keeping waste to a minimum iv) Identify ways of using technology to reduce waste
v) Outline the purpose and benefits of recycling vi) Describe organisational procedures for recycling materials

d. Understand procedures for disposal of hazardous materials
i) Describe the benefits of procedures for the recycling and disposal of hazardous materials ii) Describe the organisational procedures for the recycling and disposal of hazardous materials

e. Know how to support sustainability in an organisation
i) Outline the purpose of improving efficiency and minimising waste ii) Describe ways of improving own working methods and use of technology to achieve efficiency and reduce waste

f. Be able to respect and support other people at work in an organisation
i) Complete work tasks alongside other people in a way that shows respect for backgrounds, abilities, values, customs and beliefs ii) Complete work tasks with other people in a way that is sensitive to their needs iii) Use feedback and guidance from other people to improve own way of working iv) Follow organisational procedures and legal requirements in relation to discrimination legislation, as required

g. Be able to maintain security and confidentiality
i) Keep property secure, following organisational procedures and legal requirements, as required ii) Keep information secure and confidential, following organisational procedures and legal requirements iii) Follow organisational procedures to report concerns about security/ confidentiality, as required

h. Be able to support sustainability and minimise waste production in an organisation
i) Complete work tasks, keeping waste to a minimum ii) Use technology in work task(s) in ways that minimise waste iii) Follow procedures for recycling and disposal of hazardous materials, as required iv) Follow procedures for the maintenance of equipment in own work

4) Communicate in a business environment

a. Understand the purpose of planning communication
i) Explain reasons for knowing the purpose of communication ii) Explain reasons for knowing the audience to whom communication is being presented iii) Describe different methods of communication iv) Describe when to use different methods of communication

b. Understand how to communicate in writing
i) Identify different sources of information that may be used when preparing written communication ii) Describe the communication principles for using electronic forms of written communication in a business environment iii) Describe the reasons for using language that suits the purpose of the written communication iv) Describe ways of organising, structuring and presenting written information so it meets the needs of an audience
v) Describe ways of checking for the accuracy of written information vi) Explain the purpose of accurate use of grammar, punctuation and spelling vii) Explain what is meant by plain English, and why it is used viii) Explain the need to proofread and check written work ix) Explain how to identify work that is important and work that is urgent
x) Describe organisational procedures for saving and filing written communication

c. Understand how to communicate verbally
i) Describe ways of verbally presenting information and ideas clearly ii) Explain ways of making contributions to discussions that help move them forward iii) Describe methods of active listening iv) Explain the purpose of summarising verbal communications

d. Understand the purpose of feedback in developing communication skills
i) Descibe the ways of getting feedback on communications ii) Explain the purpose of using feedback to develop communication skills

e. Be able to plan communication
i) Identify the purpose of communications and its audience(s) ii) Select methods of communication to be used iii) Confirm methods of communication, as required

f. Be able to communicate in writing
i) Find and select information needed for written communications ii) Organise, structure and present information so that it is clear, accurate and meets the needs of the audience iii) Use language that suits the purpose of written communication and the audience iv) Use accurate grammar, spelling and punctuation, and plain English to make sure that meaning is clear
v) Proofread and check written communications and make amendments. As required vi) Confirm what is important and what is urgent vii) Produce written communications to agreed deadlines viii) Keep a file copy of written communications sent

g. Be able to communicate verbally
i) Verbally present information and ideas to others clearly and accurately ii) Make contributions to discussion(s) that move yhe discussion forward iii) Actively listen to information given by other people, and make relevant responses iv) Ask relevant questions to clarify own understanding, as required
v) Summarise verbal communication(s) and agree that the correct meaning has been understood

h. Be able to identify and agree ways of developing communication
i) Get feedback to confirm whether the communication has achieved its purpose ii) Use feedback to identify and agree ways of improving own communication skills iii)