Reflective Essay Example

connection between the scenario and Kolb's learning styles model, published in 1984. The model can be applied to describe the author's experience, observations, lessons learned, and how they can be adapted in future situations. The task at hand was the GLO-BUS business simulation, which involved working in groups to manage the operational side of a digital camera company. The goal was to achieve global market leadership by competing against other groups running rival companies. The objective was to maintain strong performance in sales and marketing while considering economic, environmental, and political factors.

In our group, we were divided into smaller teams of four to five people. Each team had individuals with different qualities and skills. We discussed our individual qualities and assigned roles like leader, organiser, analyser, and communicator. I was the leader in a group of four people. Although we were unfamiliar with each other and came from different business management backgrounds, this diversity turned out to be beneficial for making decisions during the simulation.

The decision entries were categorized within each group based on our respective areas of expertise. For example, as I am studying HR, I was assigned the PATs to work on. Similarly, others in the group with backgrounds in Accounting handled the financial issues. Personally, I was satisfied with focusing on HR, although I believed my analytical skills could have been utilized more effectively. This preference was mentioned during the meeting, but it was decided that HR was the most suitable for this particular project.

Although I had initial concerns about my lack of numerical skills when I began playing GLO-BUS, I made the decision to be transparent with my group

members rather than keeping it to myself. Fortunately, they were empathetic and offered reassurance that we would tackle obstacles collectively and provide assistance in our individual weak areas. Their encouraging reaction not only motivated me but also instilled a sense of confidence in collaborative efforts. This marked the first instance where I openly acknowledged a personal limitation within a team setting, and their compassionate support greatly bolstered my self-assurance.

The concept of 'strategic management' is crucial for success in the competitive business world, regardless of organization size. This entails analyzing, making decisions, and taking actions to establish and sustain competitive advantages (Christodoulou & Patel, 2012). Therefore, our team recognizes the importance of having a strategy to accomplish our short and long-term goals and objectives. It is important to note that comprehending competitive advantage involves studying individual firms rather than viewing them collectively.

According to Porter (1985), a firm's relative cost position and basis for differentiation is determined by the different activities it engages in, such as design, production, marketing, delivery, and support of its product. In order to establish this basis for differentiation, we had to divide our strategy and focus within our individual departments. Before every meeting, all team members had to analyze different camera markets and conduct a SWOT analysis against our competitors. This analysis allowed us to identify our weaknesses and enhance our overall performance.

Working in teams or groups inevitably leads to both positive and negative incidents. Our group was no exception. However, it is crucial for teams to acknowledge and address their negatives to prevent them from affecting overall task performance. In this discussion, I will discuss the positive and negative aspects of

the glob-bus project. We achieved outstanding results during the practice weeks. However, as the actual week commenced, the GLO-BUS simulation became more demanding and competition intensified. Consequently, we received subpar marks on certain decision outcomes.

The main weakness of our team was that our underperforming members were departing for other companies with better performance or to individuals with previous experience in GLO-BUS simulation who were attempting to utilize their expertise and advice to devise strategies for our company. Consequently, this led to a noteworthy decrease in our operations, sales, and overall performance. Additionally, this circumstance had a negative impact on me personally as it generated a feeling of mistrust within the team. This situation arose because of the inadequate leadership qualities of our leader and a deficiency in control and accountability.

According to the Ohio State University in the late 1980’s, a series of studies indicated the importance of two clusters of behaviors for successful leadership. These dimensions are Initiating Structure, which involves organizing work, defining relationships, and establishing patterns of organization and communication, and Consideration, which involves building friendship, trust, respect, and camaraderie. In this particular case, the leader's focus on both initiating structure and consideration was low, resulting in a loss of control.

As an international student, it is necessary for me to visit my family in my home country annually. As a result, I returned during the Christmas holidays and as a consequence, missed two meetings on December 12th, 2012 and January 17th, 2013. This led to feeling like an outsider within the group because we had a three-year strategic plan that required active involvement from all members. Communicating and discussing simulation-related issues with them

became difficult, resulting in ineffective contribution to the plan. Furthermore, my absence placed the burden of handling decision entries for PAT solely on my group, presenting another obstacle for them.

According to Alexis Writing (2013), inadequate communication skills and limited resources, such as internet access, can result in poor communication and a lack of enthusiasm among employees for their assignments. This can lead to questioning the value of the products being produced. Without effective communication, group members can become demotivated and unaware of their goals and targets due to a lack of necessary information. To improve communication within the group, a WhatsApp messenger application was created.

Effective communication enabled us to remain connected, establish trust, stay organized with tasks, and cultivate stronger relationships. According to Jones and George (2007), strong communication plays a vital role in achieving mutual understanding among individuals or groups. Consequently, our team experienced elevated morale, commitment, and motivation to surpass competitors and emerge as a global leader.

We experienced both high and low results, which led us to develop a comprehensive motivational theory. Despite facing difficulties, we remained motivated. According to Robbins & Judge, 2007, motivation is driven by three needs: achievement, power, and affiliation. Our experience with the GLO-BUS business simulation was fascinating. Through this experience, I acquired knowledge and skills in handling various situations. Initially, I had concerns like other students, but working with different individuals gave me confidence and bravery. With a hectic schedule, I doubted my ability to fulfill all my responsibilities.

Despite feeling left out and demotivated when my team members went to other groups to discuss our weaknesses and borrow help without consulting the rest of us, I managed

to maintain responsibility and effectively organize my commitments. Dividing tasks made it easier for me, allowing me to focus on the Compensation and Labour part, which aligned with my interests and enthusiasm for HR duties.

Despite the lack of teamwork and communication, conflicts arose within the group due to differences in ethics and structure. However, I addressed this issue with my group and we made an agreement that no one would discuss our simulation matters outside of the group. This experience taught me that conflicts can be resolved through formal communication with others. Additionally, I believe that my abrupt departure to my country made it challenging for my group to function without me, especially when our strategic plan was due and there was no means of communication.

Because Pakistan is an underdeveloped country, the technology and communication system are limited. This was disappointing as I couldn't effectively assist my group. However, we found a solution by communicating minimally and keeping me informed about decisions made. Being alone in this country and having to handle everything on my own would have made it challenging to communicate through email or other channels. Thankfully, the 'whatsapp' group proved extremely helpful throughout the entire process.

Despite being out of the country, I maintained communication with my friends. They would update me daily on their global high score, which inspired me to surpass them and become one of the leading companies. From the start, I was fully committed to this business simulation as it was a new experience for me. Our dedication and motivation paid off with excellent results, including receiving a CSR award in week 12. This brought immense joy to the

entire group, particularly myself. In summary:

Throughout my time playing the GLO-BUS simulation game, I have gained a variety of skills and knowledge. This exciting experience has allowed me to work closely with my team, who have been supportive and understanding in overcoming any challenges we faced. By taking on tasks like scheduling meetings and resolving conflicts, I have improved my communication and organization abilities. Additionally, this game has taught me valuable strategies for effective teamwork. As a result, my self-confidence has grown, and my decision-making skills have sharpened. I strongly believe that with more effort, dedication, and hard work, even greater achievements could have been reached.

In the future, I will maintain a consistent communication style when collaborating with companies, groups, or teams. This experience has contributed to my personal growth and enabled me to effectively support my fellow group members. Furthermore, I will refrain from undertaking overseas trips that may pose difficulties for others.

Bibliography:
Dr. Michail, A (2011). Business Models ; Strategy: Use of Porter's (1985) Value Chain Framework available [online] at http://strategy-models.blogspot.co.uk/2011/06/use-of-porters-1985-value-chain.html last accessed on [15/02/2013].
Jones, G. R., & George, J. M. (2007).

The text includes the following sources and information:
- A Managers Challenge: Chapter 2, Contemporary Management, 5th ed. Publisher, McGrawHill. Published at Pennsylvania State University.
- Kolb, D. (1984) Kolb’s learning styles available [online] at http://www. businessballs. com/kolblearningstyles. htm last accessed on [16/02/2013].
- Reid, B (1993) “But we’re doing it already” Exploring a response to the concept of reflective practice in order to improve its facilitation. Nurse Ed Today 13: 305-309.
- Virkus, S. (2009). Leadership Models: Ohio State University Study available [online] at http://www. tlu. ee/~sirvir/Leadership/Leadership%20Models/ohio_state_university_study. tml last accessed on [12/02/2013].
- Writing, A. (2013). The

Effects of Poor Communication in Business. Available [online] at http://smallbusiness. chron. com/effects-poor-communication-business-345. html last accessed on [15/02/2013].
- Yang, F. (2011). Work, motivation and personal characteristics: an in-depth study of six organisations in Ningbo. Journal of Chinese Management Studies. Vol. 5, No. 3, pp. 272-297.
- Logbook: WESTMINSTER BUSINESS SCHOOL BKEY601 STRATEGIC PERSPECTIVES LEARNING CONTRACT AND LOGBOOK TEAM MEMBERS: DAY AND TIME OF SEMINAR: Mondays at 2:30 pm SEMINAR TUTORS: Gail and Kostas Introduction

The purpose of your record book is to keep a clear record of the work done by you and your colleagues during this module. The record book is necessary because you will be working in teams and it will help prevent forgetting important tasks and decisions. By having a record of the decisions made, everyone in the team will be aware of them. It is important to remember that you will be making weekly decisions for Glo-bus, and since people have different perspectives, the team should designate one member to be responsible for maintaining this record book and ensuring its presence in every team meeting.

Each member of the team can use this record of your activities as a reference for their reflective report, in addition to their own Individual Reflective Log. The Learning Contract (specifically page 3) should be submitted during week 4, along with the finalized format of your group/team. Once this week has passed, no team members can be added or removed. The Learning Contract must be signed by all members and given to your seminar tutors. It is mandatory to include the log-book/diary of your Glo-bus team meetings in the appendices of your second assignment. For more information, please consult your

module handbook. Learning Contract Team Members Student number

By signing this coversheet, you agree to the following commitments:
1. Attending all group meetings, seminars, and tutorials where the assignments will be discussed.
2. Treating your colleagues in the team fairly and sympathetically.
3. Completing all tasks assigned to you in their entirety and on time.
4. In case of a valid reason preventing your attendance at a tutorial, seminar, or meeting, ensuring that all completed work is shared with your colleagues and the seminar tutor at least 2 hours prior to the scheduled meeting.
5. Providing copies of all work done individually or collaboratively with the team for inclusion in the assignment file.
6.

If you come across any problems that may prevent you from meeting your team obligations, please inform your teammates promptly. Also, make sure to give them any necessary files or documents to help them complete the task. 7. If there are any issues that hinder the team's collaboration in meeting the assignment deadline, notify your seminar tutor immediately. By signing the statement above, you acknowledge that your grade may be reduced by your seminar tutor or module leader if you fail to fulfill your group commitments. Please be aware that your seminar is scheduled for Mondays at 2:30 pm.

The seminar tutors for this assignment are Gail Lincoln and Kostas.

This is the log-book / diary for your first assignment. The purpose of this is to provide guidance on how to plan and work together as a team for your first assignment.

Create an action plan by answering the following questions:

1. What is our task?
2. What actions need to be taken?
3. By whom?
4. Within what time frame?
5. What support is
   

required from the rest of the team?

Create a time chart.

If the following sheet is not sufficient, please use additional notes on black page per week (example available on page 7). The titles of the columns will be explained in the lecture/seminars.
Week No. /date of meeting(s)
Action point(s)
Team member/time of arrival/leave
Potentially areas that every member worked on
State of team / work in progress
Week 2 – Practice Year 6 (8/10/12 – 14/10/12)
Meeting 1 – Wednesday 10th October 2012 (12pm – 2pm).
Meeting 2 – Online, Saturday 13th October 2012 (8pm-10pm)
Exchange contacts
Read the Glo-bus guide
Buy the book and Glo-bus code
Breaking the ice with the other members of the group.

Specialize in various areas such as Marketing, Product Design, Assembly, Finance, and others. Assign each individual to read about these responsibilities, including leadership, communication, organization, and analysis. Week 3 Practice year 7 (15/10/12 – 21/10/12) Meeting 1 - Wednesday 17th October 2012, (1.30pm – 3.30pm in University). Meeting 2 – Thursday 18th October 2012, 9pm – 11pm online. Analyze results from practice year 6. Each person brings in an analysis of the specific region from the 4 Glo-bus regions. Make decisions for practice year 7. Each person is assigned one of the four regions to analyze results.

As a group, we will utilize our knowledge of specific assigned regions to make decisions. Each member will be provided with a copy of the custom text and use the given code to log onto Glo-bus. It is crucial for everyone to become acquainted with Glo-bus and

comprehend its functionality.


During Week 4 Year 6 (22/10/12 – 28/10/12), there are two scheduled meetings. The initial meeting will take place on Tuesday 23rd October 2012 from 11am to 1pm at the university. The second meeting will occur online on Thursday 25th October 2012 from 10pm to 11pm. In these meetings, we will assess the results for year 7 and identify any areas that require attention. We will also make decisions for year 8 and discuss potential strengths and pitfalls of various analyzed regions. Moreover, each member should watch videos on each decision entry in order to gain a better understanding of Glo-bus.

During Week 5 Year 7, there will be two scheduled meetings in the university. These meetings will cover various topics such as product design, marketing, assembly, human resources, finance and cash flow. The first meeting is on Monday 30th October 2012 from 9.30am to 11.30am, while the second meeting is set for Sunday 4th November 2012 from 5pm to 7pm.

The purpose of these meetings is to evaluate our performance over the past year and gain a better understanding of the Glo-bus game by reviewing the guide again. Decision making for year 7 will involve collaboration among group members who have expertise in specific areas. However, there are still challenges that the group faces when it comes to improving stock price and image rating in Glo-bus.

Looking ahead to Week (8) Year (6) (5/11/12 – 11/11/12).

Meeting 1 Monday 5th November 2012) Review performance over the past 2 years Due to low stock price results, seek advice as to how we can improve it. Make decision entry for year 8 Group reviews expenditures and revenues

in each quarter. Group members contribute on specific region designated to each member. Team still a little puzzled on low stock price results for first two weeks. Week 7 Year 9 (12/11/12 – 18/11/12) Meeting 1 Monday 13th November 2012 (11am-12pm in university) Meeting 2 Monday 13th November 2012 (1pm – 2. 30pm in university) Meeting 3 Sunday 18th November (10pm – 11. 30pm, online).

Analyse performance results. Discuss the leaders in the market. Compare the group's performance with competitors. Make a decision entry for the year. Comment on specific assigned regions. Continuously analyse assigned markets and study the strategies used by others. Conclude as a group with ideas on how to improve overall performance in Glo-bus. After the break, everyone came prepared and ready to work on their assigned regions. Week 8 Year 10 (19/11/12 – 25/11/12) Meeting 1 – Monday 20th November (11.15am – 12.45pm in University). Meeting 2 – Saturday 24th November (10pm – 12am online). Meeting 3 -

Sunday 25th November (11.15pm – 12.45pm): Review market position and discuss ways to improve. Analyze specific regions individually, considering advertisement, prices, and tech support budgets. Overall, the team felt confident about our performance.

Week 9 Year 11 (26/11/12 – 2/12/12):
Meeting 1 - Monday 27th November (12.15pm – 2.45pm in university)
Meeting 2 – Tuesday 28th November (12pm – 2pm in university)
Review performance on Roe, Credit rating, and Market share. Establish a competitive strategy focused on low cost and differentiation.

1. Utilize financial indicators to interpret their meaning for our group and make decisions based on strategy. Implement individual ideas collectively to improve performance by critically analyzing mistakes. Each member should provide input on steps/actions necessary to achieve strategic goals.

2. Week

10 Year 12 (3/12/12 – 9/12/12)

During Week 11 of Year 13 (10/12/12 – 16/12/12), we will be evaluating the performance of the Year 12 Group. Our focus will be on identifying the specific regions where each individual excels, namely Asia-Pacific, Europe-Africa, North America, and South America. The meeting to discuss this evaluation will take place at the Internet Cafe on Bakers street on 13th December from 12:00pm to 5:00pm.

The main objective of this meeting is to review our group's performance after implementing our strategy for the first week. Additionally, we will also reflect on our previous year which had the lowest results due to significant changes. In order to enhance our strategic planning, we will establish objectives for the group with consideration of financial indicators such as Return on Equity (ROE), credit rating, image rating, and stock price.

Please create a decision entry for year 13. Each individual should share their ideas on how to measure our performance for the next three years based on our strategic vision. Additionally, make decisions for the financial indicators by using data from previous performance years. There is pressure to make changes to align with the strategy of the strategic vision. Research different competitive strategies after experiencing low results in the previous year. Overall, there is confusion as to why the results of the new strategy were so unexpected.

Week 16 Year 14 (14/01/2013

– 20/01/2013):

Meeting 1: Thursday 18th January from 12pm to 2pm at the university.

Meeting 2: Saturday 20th January from 9.30pm to 11pm, Online.

During these meetings, we will review the company's performance based on the adapted strategy of low cost and differentiation for cameras. We will also make decision entries for week 16. Each person will provide comments on the performance of the allocated regions and highlight potential changes that can be made based on the implemented strategy. Changes will be made in terms of pricing, marketing, compensation, and other decision entries. The group has decided to stick to the strategy and agrees that the result from the previous year was an anomaly.

Week 17 Year 15 (21/01/2013 – 27/01/2013):

Meeting 1: Wednesday 23rd January 2013 (1pm-3pm, in university).

Meeting 2: Sunday 27th January 2013 (9pm – 11pm, online).

Check position after year 14 results. Make decision entries for the upcoming week.

Individual views on how best to improve and steps to take to finish off on high. Comment on regions assigned.

Group analysis on performance indicators including how best to achieve target set during the strategic vision.

No changes with R and D due to Glo-bus coming to an end.

Group agrees to radically increase dividends as this is the last week and won’t affect future cash problems as Glo-bus is finishing.

During Week 1 (8/10/12 - 14/10/12), participants must settle all outstanding loans. There will be a meeting on Wednesday 10th October 2012 from 12pm to 2pm, as well as an online session on Saturday 13th October 2012 from 8pm to 10pm. For this week, participants are required to:

• Read the Glo-bus guide
• Purchase the book and acquire
  

the Glo-bus code

Each member of the group has diverse responsibilities including leadership, communication, organization, and analysis.

Week 2 Date: (15/10/12 – 21/10/12) Meeting date and time: Wednesday 17th October 2012, (1.30pm – 3.30pm in University) - Thursday 18th October 2012, 9pm – 11pm online. Attendees: What was achieved in the previous week and issues that arose Targets for next week Who is doing what? In the first week, we achieved a Glo-bus score of approximately mid-80s. This served as practice and our starting point for Glo-bus, which we were satisfied with. There were a few problems during this period. We will analyze the results from practice year 6.

Each team member will analyze a specific region from the 4 Glo-bus regions and make decisions for practice year 7. We will then come together as a group and make decisions based on the knowledge we have gained from our assigned regions. Each team member will receive a copy of the custom text and use the provided code to log onto Glo-bus. It is important for each member to familiarize themselves with Glo-bus and how it works before our meeting on Tuesday 23rd October 2012 from 11am to 1pm at the university and our online meeting on Thursday 25th October 2012 from 10pm to 11pm. The attendees for these meetings are as follows:

During the previous week, we achieved similar outcomes compared to the prior

year, although slightly lower. We did not encounter any problems. Our goals for the upcoming week consist of examining the results for year 7 and pinpointing areas that require attention. Moreover, we will make determinations for year 8 and assess potential difficulties and strengths of various analyzed regions. Each team member will enhance their comprehension of Glo-bus by watching videos on each decision entry in product design, marketing, assembly, human resources, and finance and cash flow. The specified week is Week 5 from October 29th, 2012 to November 4th, 2012.

The meeting will take place on Monday 30th October 2012 from 9.30am to 11.30am and on Sunday 4th November 2012 from 5pm to 7pm, both in the university.

During the meeting, we will discuss what was achieved in the previous week and any issues that arose. We will also set targets for the following week and assign tasks accordingly.

In our first proper week of Glo-bus, our group held multiple meetings to determine our strategy with the goal of achieving a high score. However, when we saw the results, we were disappointed to discover that we scored less than 70 and came second to last. As a result, we gathered together to discuss what went wrong in the previous week.

Review our performance from the previous year, re-read the Glo-bus guide, and strive for a better understanding of the game. Make decisions for year 7 as a group, providing comments on specific areas where individuals have more knowledge. However, the group is still struggling to comprehend how Glo-bus works and how to effectively improve stock price and image rating.

Week .... 6
Date: (5/11/12 – 11/11/12)
Meeting date and

time: Monday 5th November 2012
Attendees:

Discussed achievements and issues that arose in the previous week, as well as set targets for the upcoming week. Assigned tasks to team members.

In the past year, we have rectified our mistakes and achieved results in the mid-80s, which is the same level we attained in the initial weeks of Glo-bus. However, we still face issues with our EPS and Stock Prices falling short of investor expectations. We need to review our performance over the past two years and find ways to improve our stock price. In year 8, the group should review expenditures and revenues on a quarterly basis. Each member of the group should contribute to a specific region assigned to them. The team is still confused about the reasons for the low stock price during the first two weeks.

Week 7
Date: (12/11/12 – 18/11/12)
Meeting date and time:
- Monday 13th November 2012 (11am-12pm in university)
- Monday 13th November 2012 (1pm – 2.30pm in university)
- Sunday 18th November (10pm – 11.30pm, online).
Attendees:
What was achieved in the previous week and issues that arose Targets for next week Who is doing what?

In the previous week, we made significant progress with our results as our score reached a high of 90. Additionally, there was a slight increase in both our Stock price and Roe compared to previous weeks. Moving forward, our focus will be on analyzing these performance results and identifying the leaders in the market.

In year 9, the group's performance was evaluated against competitors' performance. We analyzed specific assigned regions and examined the strategies employed by others. As a group, we generated ideas

to enhance Glo-bus' overall performance. After the break, everyone came prepared and ready to collaborate on their respective regions. The meeting occurred from November 19th to November 25th, with varying dates and times for in-person and online sessions. The attendees were:

Previous Week's Achievements and Issues:

During the previous week, we accomplished the following tasks and encountered some challenges:

• Reviewed our position in the market
• Share general comments and ideas on how to improve
• Analyzed specific regions that were individually assigned

Our Performance:

This week, our team's mark dropped to the early 80s. However, our stock price and return on equity (ROE), which had been a concern in the past few weeks, have maintained a steady pace. They are slightly behind the investors' expectations.

Targets for Next Week:

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In the upcoming week, we plan to:

• Make a decision for year 10
• Comment on advertising, prices, and tech support budgets

Tasks Assigned:

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Each team member has been assigned specific responsibilities to ensure efficient progress. Everyone felt cautiously optimistic about the team's performance direction.