Bucks ID Number:
Module: The Graduate Challenge
Assignment Title
The Reflective Report
Date Due:
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Contents
Executive Summary...................................................................................................................3
Introduction................................................................................................................................4
1. What am I Going to Do in this Report?..............................................................................5
2. Reflective Writing in each of the Challenges including gained Skills...............................6
Apprentice and Presentation Challenges................................................................................6
T-Shirt Challenge...................................................................................................................7
3. Analysis of Each Challenge from a Business Angle and Knowledge gained from about
how Businesses actually Work...................................................................................................8
Discussion of the following Themes in relation to Teamwork..................................................9
4. Action Plan.......................................................................................................................10
5. Conclusion........................................................................................................................11
6. List of References.............................................................................................................12
7. Appendices 1: LSST Presentation Slides.........................................................................13
8. Appendices 2: Tesco Presentation Slides.........................................................................19
9. Appendices 3: T-Shirt Design...........................................................................................27
10. Appendices 4: T-Shirt Budget Excel Spreadsheet.........................................................30
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Executive Summary
The report discusses the way academic courses are putting a notable contribution to improve
learner’s business skills and to grow learner’s business knowledge. In nature, to utilise
existing interpersonal skills for various purposes the necessity is to recognise the skills.
Reflection is an organised process that will help in figuring out and in recognising existing
skills. Reflection will be considered by the report with the aim of recognising skills.
Reflection will also figure out challenges of learners which can play the role of barriers. The
report will discuss an action plan in last to show a way that an improvement can be ensured.
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Introduction
In a general term, the business organisations searches for talent and expertise in the
candidates during the recruitment period that capabilities of the workers can be utilised by the
business firm in pursuing organisational objectives, aim and vision in a proper manner
(Brooks and Weatherston, 2000). School, college and universities are the educational
institutes and the crucial responsibility of these institutes is to teach students effectively that
expertise and capabilities can be enhanced and the students can make transition to
employment. To ensure the responsibility, universities are now giving the group tasks and
assignments to the students. In addition, the task of reflective report is being given by the
universities. Group tasks and assignments will contribute to make the student expert and
capable. The task of reflective report will identify specific skills which turned into strengths
of students and also weaknesses of the students are being defined. This is a reflective report
and the report will determine and summarise skills which are achieved due to the group tasks
and assignments. Finally, an action plan will be developed in the report that further progress
for the student can be ensured successfully.
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1. What am I Going to Do in this Report?
I am a student of BUCKINGHAMSHIRE New University and in the module of ‘The
Graduation Challenge” the module leader assigned group task on apprentice, presentation and
T-shirt challenges. The task is assigned that the student can have expertise on communication,
meeting, emotional intelligence, time management and business skills. I will do reflective
writing in this report to make an effective connection between what I successfully learned in
the group work and what I required to do in future. On each challenges I will consider an
effective reflective writing to find different skills which I successfully gained. Finally, I am
supposed to access an action plan in this report to ensure successfully further improvements.
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2. Reflective Writing in each of the Challenges including
gained Skills
Apprentice and Presentation Challenges
Communication Skill
Communication is an effective and a crucial skill that will allow an individual to convey
information in an organised way. Generally, many people find it difficult to convey
information clearly, correctly and completely (Wright, 2007). An individual can be able to do
written and oral communication effectively for having productive skill on communication.
The presentation and apprentice challenges taught communication skill. I listen actively the
leader to have clear idea about the tasks for the presentation and apprentice challenges. I
written down information on Tesco and LSST to complete successfully both the challenges. I
collected correct and complete information about strengths, weaknesses, threats and
opportunities of LSST and Tesco for both the challenges and then clearly conveyed the
information to the group. This improved my oral and written communication skills.
Teamwork
The university allocated group task for the presentation and apprentice challenges which for
these challenges I learned about teamwork. The goal of the team was to successfully
complete the presentation and apprentice challenges. In teamwork clear idea on goal is a
major necessity and I had a clear idea. The roles are defined and for this I had understanding
on my tasks. I shaped a positive mind-set to adjust with the team and to work with the team. I
collaborate that others can finish their task and also I welcomed others collaboration in
finishing my tasks. Skill on teamwork is being devolved as for doing above mentioned tasks.
Time Management
In nature, various tasks has different value and importance. The way time can be balanced
through focusing on the value and importance of the tasks can be considered as the ability of
time management (Bird, 2009). This is the skill that I did not learn and I found time
management as my weakness. I required additional time for finishing my group task. Many
time I invested huge time for less important work for which shortage of time for the
important work was being ensured. In every sector of life I need to balance the time and for
this I planned to have an improvement on the skill.
Business Skills
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Creativity and fixing issues are the business skills and I taught both the business skills for
these two challenges. Idea generation for new service or product is a creative approach. I
contributed in the process of idea generation which enhance my creativity business skill. I
faced few challenges in the group work and in the personal tasks. I successfully generated
solutions and overcome the challenges for which I was being able to have learning on the
problem solving business skill.
T-Shirt Challenge
Emotional Intelligence
The members of the group has cultural differences. I considered self-awareness to overlook
cultural conflicts. In addition, I considered self-motivation to finish my tasks for T-shirt
challenge and to maximise potentiality. This is why I successfully taught emotional
intelligence.
Teamwork
I also required to work with the team for the T-shirt challenge. I had clear idea on the goal for
T-shirt challenge and I cleared my concept on the tasks for the challenge. In addition, positive
mind-set and collaboration ensured. This is how group work for the T-shirt challenge also
supported to teach teamwork.
Meeting Skill
In the group discussion for the T-shirt challenge I ensured my involvement. Always I attended
the discussion timely. Sharing views, questioning and brainstorming are the activities of me
during the session of discussion (Betcherman, 1982). This is how I taught meeting skill.
Competencies Developed
The T-shirt challenge helped me in developing different business competencies. Errorless
work was required to ensure high mark for the group task. I paid additional afford to ensure
an enhancement in my efficiency that the tasks can be finish without any error. I focused to
shape my behaviour and to set a positive mind-set for the tasks. Positive behaviour and
efficiency are the business competencies (Bhandarker, 2008). This is how I developed
competencies.
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3. Analysis of Each Challenge from a Business Angle and
Knowledge gained from about how Businesses actually
Work.
Branding
In nature, in the world various similar products and services are existed. To separate the
products it is necessary to ensure a separate name for each product. Brand is something that
will help to give the product and the organisation a separate recognition (Bradley, 2009). In
branding, the brand name will be considered to maximise customer’s awareness. “DORKING
D.K.” is the brand name for the product in the T-shirt challenge. Setting brand name and
promoting the brand help that on branding I can have knowledge.
Finance
Finance is a business concept that will support to ensure effective management business
funds, inflow and outflow of cash. I learned on the inflow and outflow of cash of Tesco in the
presentation challenge. Knowledge on finance is being enhanced due to getting learning on
inflow and outflow of cash of Tesco.
Operations
Every tasks which are being considered by the firm with the motto of keep running the
organisation and keep generating business profit can defined business operations (Reid and
Sanders, 2015). LSST is require to introduce a new service to get growth. In apprentice
challenge, I learned about the tasks which are required to launch a new service and to ensure
growth in the business. This is how I gained business operations knowledge.
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Discussion of the following Themes in relation to Teamwork
Tuckman’s Theory on Teamwork
Forming: Coming together and knowing each other are forming elements. We get engaged
due to the assigned group task and then sharing of own information and expectations are
being considered.
Storming: The accountability of storming is to aware members about their tasks and to find
conflicts. I got information about my duties by the leader of the team. We are having conflicts
as there was a cultural differences.
Norming: The duty of norming is to promote relationship and to fix conflict (JONES, 2019).
We communicated regularly which help in knowing each other very well. This is why
gradually we had a relationship which motivated to fix conflicts.
Performing: Performing will ensure that the team is paying attention on own responsibilities
and trying hard in being productive. We enhanced our potentiality to be productive and to
finishing the tasks efficiently.
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4. Action Plan
Action Plan for Apprentice and Presentation Challenge
Specific Target: I face difficulties in balancing time which is a clear sign of poor time
management skill. Learning and practicing both are the solutions for solving the issue. I will
learn theories on balancing time and in daily activities I will practice to balance time.
Measurable: Finishing academic tasks before 1 day will be measurable factor. I will consider
the factor to measure achievement of the goal.
Achievable: The goal of developing skill in time management is achievable. I can learn about
the techniques of balancing time for the models and theories of time management. In daily
activities I can utilise the techniques to practice time management.
Relevant: The skill has high relevancy. I can balance time and can invest low time for less
important tasks and can invest more time for important tasks. I will also get facilities in the
professional field for improving time management skill.
Timely: I am aiming to have an expected development in 3 months. I will evaluate the
progress by adopting the approach of feedback. Friends will participate in the process of
feedback.
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5. Conclusion
I experienced a situation for the group task and enhancement in the knowledge and skills
ensured for the experience. Reflective report recognised what I learned and summarised in a
proper manner. In addition, what I supposed to do in future is figured out by the reflective
report. I taught skills on meeting, communication and business. I face challenges in balancing
the time. An action plan will solve the issue and will help to develop the skill.
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6. List of References
Betcherman, G., 1982. Meeting skill requirements. [Ottawa]: Economic Council of Canada.
Bhandarker, A., 2008. Shaping business leaders. New Delhi: Response Books.
Bird, P., 2009. Time management. Chicago, Illinois: Independent.
Bradley, F., 2009. International marketing strategy. Harlow: Financial Times Prentice Hall.
Brooks, I. and Weatherston, J., 2000. The business environment. Harlow, England: Financial
Times/Prentice Hall.
JONES, A., 2019. THE TUCKMAN’S MODEL IMPLEMENTATION, EFFECT, AND
ANALYSIS & THE NEW DEVELOPMENT OF JONES LSI MODEL ON A SMALL
GROUP. JOURNAL OF MANAGEMENT, 6(4).
Reid, R. and Sanders, N., 2015. Operations Management. New York: Wiley.
Wright, B., 2007. Interpersonal skills. Keswick [England]: M & K Update.
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7. Appendices 1: LSST Presentation Slides
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15
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17
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19
8. Appendices 2: Tesco Presentation Slides
20
21
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23
24
25
26
27
9. Appendices 3: T-Shirt Design
28
29
30
10. Appendices 4: T-Shirt Budget Excel Spreadsheet
31
