Report on Applied Management Project

Report on Applied Management take in jibe to Gibbs (1988), simply having an experience is not adequate enough to shape up knowledge. Not glistening on an experience gained with learning would result in you loosing that knowledge acquired. It is from the concept of musing that assumptions and theories are drawn. And it is this assumption that each(prenominal)ows new pips to be handled more effectively. (Gibbs 1988). The process of reflection, presents an opport unit of measurementy for an individual to gain besides sixth sense into his/her take a crap through critical reflection on experiences, and through moreover deliberations of other medical prognosispoints from authors and theories.Moron (1999) sheds more stir up on this topic by stating that, reflection is a form of mental activity (or a management of thinking) that enables an anticipated step upcome to be achieved. She suggests that reflection is applied to complex situation where there is no obvious solution .In simple terms, reflection evolves approximately the notion of learning. Through the process of reflection, we conduct an in-depth review of a spot of rick. Reflection occurs when there is a motive or a go under target. Subconsciously, this motive may not be realized. In spite of the item that it may not be a curriculumned rout outeavour, it is through this alike process that a new idea evolves.Reflection is seen as an testing or review of earlier actions, events or decisions. Jasper (2003) contri exclusivelyed to this concept by suggesting that when we reflect on earlier experiences, we end up enhancing our being through the learning of new knowledge.LEARNING THROUGH REFLECTIONReflection stub be defined in so m any ways only when they exclusively yield the same bulge outcome learning. David Kolb (1984) supports Gibbs (1988) and Jasper (2003) comment of reflection through the evolution of the Kolb rung. It is drawn below in a simplified manner but til now portr ays Kolbs concept of reflection. The cycle is trigged by the idea of having an experience from a piece of work which goes through vigorous experimentation and reproduced through a new experience. Reflection plays a vital position in this cycle as it reproduces this new experience through the process of learning.Kolb (1984) saw reflection as a psychological activity that has a significant role to play in learning from an experience. In the Kolb cycle, reflection is seen as a developmental stage of the process of observation. In other words through the course of making an observation, an individual tends to reflect on an experience forrader the notion of learning is realized. While agreeing with this cycle, Moon (1999a) introduced other angle to this phenomenon by suggesting that while reflection is seen as a vital aspect of learning, it withal acts as a catalyst for the assimilation of development already acquired. She elaborates further by emphasizing that reflection forms dis joint of a kind of cognitive housekeeping role which in turn creates a new learning experience.RECOLLECTION OF EXPERIENCESThe angstrom unit began with a work week of instauration. Before the week, a mental faculty cadencetable was posted on Breo which divided students into cohorts according to courses and anyocated venues. During the first three solar long time tutors are charge to various school terms to introduce the module to students and to provide us with necessary knowledge compulsory to embark on the pop. On the deuce-ace twenty-four hour period, students are expected to form root words. later the formation of pigeonholings, each convocation is eitherocated a topic. We are to work together as a ag assembly to research on the topic and to come up with germane(predicate) re parentages. With the cooperate of an assigned tutor or supervisor the topic is further confused follow through and made clear to each(prenominal) extremitys of the group. At the e nd of the week we are encouraged to work individually and to share resources when appropriate. A compendious of what took place during the 12 weeks is as outlined below.Day 1 Unfortunately, this day fell on my birthday. I woke up very reluctant to refer the first session but upon re divisioning the warning which came with the timetable, I had no option than to catch the virgin bus to Luton. I arrived 30mins late only to be embarrassed by the tutor on duty. Everyone seemed happy and the live was very noisy. Most of us were sedate talking about the exams. After the news that the topic would be apt(p)(p), the room became quiet all of a sudden. I became tensed and anxious because I had a topic in mind which I prolong been re look for on. Whiles we were being introduced to the unit and the topics of report writing, information sourcing and referencing, I was busy indication the module vade mecum because I was still confused. We were informed that the bug out topic would be gi ven out on the third day so we had to continue course session the module handbook and inquire questions in our next session. I spent the rest of the wickedness reading the handbook hoping the next day would not bring anymore surprises.Day 2 The sulfur day was even worst. veritable(a) though we had a tutor who unplowed making funny jokes, the introduction of Plagiarism, amass and reflective writing really made me quite unsettled. The plagiarization session nibd various examples of plagiarism and emphasized on the dos and donts of a good witness. I was get to loose hope when the academic bibliothec took the stage. He talked about where to get pertinent materials for our wander. He answered al nearly all my questions and alike said we would be spending roundtime with the librarians to practice how to source for materials for our project. During the break, I met with my former group members and we agreed to stick to the same group. I was excited because most of us were ha rd on the job(p). Just when I was beginning to feel a bit better we were informed at the end of the session that the groups we form would be functional for right the subsequent both days. I went home even more unsettled and tensed than I was the earlier day.Day 3 The next day, after meeting with my group members, we submitted our names and we were asked to choose a team carryer to pick the topic. I was nervous and kept praying for my team leader to pick a likely topic. After some few minutes, she came back with our topic. Initially I panic-stricken because I did not understand the topic but after reading through more than once, I had an idea of what was required. I couldnt wait any longer. I started reading, researching and making my own notes. I in any case passed through the shop mall on my way home to grab a diary like I was counsel.Day 4 and 5 -The utmost days of the founding week came very quickly and we were reminded that it was the last opportunity we had to ask for protagonist on anything relating to the project topic. We were informed that any further enterprise by a student to seek further guidance regarding the project topic would be denied. Although, I had a clear understanding of what I was expected to do, I was still unhappy at the end of the induction week. I was expecting to be supervised by an assigned tutor until the project was completed. Never the less, the group discussions we had with the assigned tutors reassured my confidence. It gave me the much needed clarification, commissioning and setting of research required. calendar weeks 2 and 3- In week 2, I started searching for relevant materials for my project. My first starting point was Google search engine as advised by one of the tutors during the induction week. My next point of forestall was the Universitys digital library and then the Milton Keynes library. My group members agreed to meet either Friday but I could not make it because I was working. They kept direc t an update of the meeting until everyone decided to do an independent work. I still kept in contact with my group members to see what they came up with. We shared a lot of resources through email. I gathered as legion(predicate) articles and journals as I could and also kept updating my diary. Most of the information I came across were electronic books so it made my work easier.Week 4, 5 and 6 During the 4th week, it was more of the same thing. I kept reading and piling up articles and updating my diary. I realized that most of the materials we gathered during the first week had nothing to do with the topic because we were just brainstorming and searching with keywords so I deleted them. I took a second look at the objectives outlined during the group meeting and realized we had highlighted all the requirements needed to complete the project. I wrote short notes on any relevant material I came across and kept the reference in another(prenominal) folder. After realizing the magni tude of articles I had piled up, I became scared of loosing them so I made copies as backup. In week 5, I started coarse reading on the relevant materials and made important notes that would help me with the structure of my work. I later realized in week 6 that I was having an alone dissimilar notion of the project topic. I now understood some other angles in which I had to tackle the project topic which was tout ensemble different from my initial approach during the induction week.Weeks 7, 8 and 9- From previous experience, I decided to start with the body of the report. As I started typing out what I had written down, I realized that I had too legion(predicate) theories and most of them were just talking about totally different things. I began to panic so I stopped, took a second look at the articles and deleted the irrelevant ones. I managed to bring everything together on paper onwards typing again. I initially thought it would be very favorable to put all the information together after several weeks of extensive reading. In week 8, I discovered some of the things I wrote down were not heading in the direction I had hoped for so I decided to take a second look at the materials I considered irrelevant. To my amazement, these materials were making more sense than the previous materials. I started reading and integration the useful information into what I previously had. By the end of week 9, I had completed my literature review.Weeks 10 and 11- On the 10th week, I woke up with a terrible headache hence I progressed at a very slow pace. A group member advised me to start working on the reflective report. The diary was very helpful. I used the module handbook as a guide to start my reflective report. I was determined to complete my report before the deadline. In week 11, I completed my reflective report but I was unsettled because it accounted for just 20% of the overall mark. I decided to lease a strategy of typing out relevant information I had in my hand written notes. I was astonished to find out that I only had to take out some few sentences and I was back on track. I banned my self from watching idiot box and social networking sites till my work was submitted.Week 12- The last week of the antiophthalmic factor was really stressful. I sat down in front of my computer from 700 in the morning till 1100 in the evening. My look were hurting but I couldnt take any chances. The pressure kept pilling up when I accredited a call from my father request about my graduation date so that he could book his line of business ticket on time. Through hard work and dedication, I washed-up my work on the fourth day. I quickly uploaded it to three plagiarism websites to see if it flags up anything. It came up with 5% plagiarism so I properly paraphrased those areas and gave it to my best friend to prove-read and check for spelling mistakes. She came back with s deemr grammatical errors. I corrected them and began counting the days towar ds the completion of my master program. I printed out the two copies as instructed and made an electronic copy. I took it to a local cafe over the weekend to bind it and submitted my work on the last day of submission. I returned home to submit another electronic copy via turnitin. I was full of smiles when I realized it was all over.PERSONAL FEELINGS AND LEARNING FROM THE EXPERIENCEThe adenine was a very thought-provoking endeavor but I rose to the challenge. I was very self-assured of producing a good project until I was told the topic would be given to us. I was thrown completely off guard but I was determined to give off my best. The new experience was exciting at the same time very nerve wrecking. Since the week started off on a bad note, I was in no mood for surprises. However, it was as a result of this panic and feeling of anxiety that move me to work harder. As an Msc student, I was under pressure to apply what I had learnt in the classroom to a real life scenario. I e ssential mention that the total weight the international ampere carried as a unit also gave me the scare. My grades were not exactly that good so it was an opportunity for me to mitigate my performance. I was very upset when I was let down by some of the articles and journals I pilled up but with the experience from previous projects, I quickly recovered and in the end I was satisfied with the final outcome.There were a lot of lessons learnt during this project. I learnt that it is very bad to jade the form a project would take before you are assigned to it. I learnt that setting milestones and deadlines ensures that projects are delivered on time. Even though in my case I had so many short falls I was aware of what was needed to be achieved at each stage. Being organize focused and time conscious ensured that my project was delivered on time. sensation lesson also worth mentioning is the concept of planning a project structure. This enabled me to define the scope of my projec t to prevent me from deviating. In addition to this, the first week of the induction made me realize how important it was to work as part of a group. I would have loved to finish this project as part of a group work, but it gave me the opportunity to develop the skill of working on my own initiative.GROUP DYNAMICS AND LEARNING FROM THE EXPERIENCEAccording to Guirdham Maureen (2002), a group is defined as three or more people interacting together to complete a common task. Mullins (2007) agreed with Guirdham Maureen (2002) definition and went further to explain the five developmental stages of a group. That is Forming, Storming, Norming, Performing and Adjourning.Applying that to my AMP groupForming symbolise My group went into the Forming stage on the second day of the AMP week. There was no need to introduce ourselves because we knew each other. We had a brief discussion and arranged to meet the next day for our topic.Storming item The group went into the storming phase when we were given our topic. We spent sometime reading the topic, severe to understand what was being asked of us. We shared ideas but we were unable to pinpoint what we were divinatory to research on. We came together the next day still confused. But with the help of the assigned tutor, we started brainstorming and writing down keywords that would guide our research. It is important to note that there were some conflicts but the tutor present, managed to resolve all issues. We met on the final day with articles and journals to share. We were clear as to what was required of us and we all left the meeting satisfied.Norming Stage This stage occurred towards the end of the last group meeting. We had most of our questions answered and we were in a good position to start our research. The groups norms were governed by the fact that we had a common task to complete even though it was to be done individually. We basically had to abide by good schoolmaster ethics and behavior which were acce ptable as students.Performing Stage This stage was the longest in the groups development. We worked individually and communicated ideas by email. Even though we had a common goal, the success of the project was based on each member giving off their best to obtain a good grade.Adjourning Stage The group slowly died out when each member submitted their work. I must(prenominal) say it did end early for some as they worked faster than others.One lesson I learnt was that, whenever we came together to brainstorm and to share ideas, it promoted further understanding of the topic. This helped to calm nerves and assured us that we were on the right track. During the tutor lead discussions, each member of the group was offered an opportunity to shed more light on the topic. This encouraged members to expand on their ideas and elaborate further. In my case, my group leader served as a role model to me. She was energetic and organized. She motivated me to think faster and to improve my resea rch skills. As far as I am concerned, there were no elements of group thinking. Each member was dynamic and argued out their points from different perspectives. Even though we all came from different cultural backgrounds, no one was intimidated. Every opinion was valued and conflicts were inflexible amicably. Another lesson I also learnt as part of the group was that, I was able to work independently and effectively with the help of the feedbacks I received from my group members. With the right group members, the most difficult project can seem very easy.LESSONS FOR FUTURE PROJECTSLooking back at the alone experience, I would say that the project has positively impacted the way I think and conduct research. Approaching a project with a interdict attitude is not the best. It is natural to be nervous when embarking on a new project but panicking leads to more mistakes. In rising, I would assert on my experience, remain calm and plan properly. To track my progress, I would also en sure that I set achievable and reasonable targets. Whenever possible, in future projects, I would ensure that I benefit from the groups dynamism and experience. As a personal motivating factor, in future projects, I would ensure that I work beyond my ability to motivate other members to do the same. operative under pressure is not always avoidable due to time constraints hence in future projects, I would ensure that I plan properly using the right tools such as Gantt charts as guidance. From the AMP experience, I would ensure that in future projects, I keep meaty hand written notes and diarize events incase a reflective report is required at the end of the project. Lastly, in sourcing for materials, I would ensure that only relevant materials are stored to enable me work effectively.CONCLUSIONFrom the definition of reflection, it can be deduced that reflection is an essential part of learning and knowledge acquisition. We reflect because there is a subconscious purpose or reason w hich tends to improve our previous experience and give us further insight into the topic of discussion. Even though I started off on a sketchy path, I hit the road running once the scope and objective of the project was realized. With determination and the zeal to succeed, I followed the advice of tutors and good project management to yield my target. The AMP project was much difficult than I anticipated but the experience gained would certainly go a long way to improve my performance in future projects. Working as part of a group also expanded my horizon and presented me with new challenges. With the right pauperism and team spirit, I gradually overcame my worries and anxiety.To conclude, even though I would have preferred choosing my own topic, I must confess that the topic given us was quite interesting and one that required much research. It would have been more interesting to work with our chosen groups throughout the duration of the project but that would have also discourag ed individual dynamism and participation. The AMP experience was worthwhile considering the fact that we were working on a master level. When given a similar project in the future I hope to tackle it with greater zeal and determination. I am of the view that with the right resources and motivation in the future, a much deeper research can be carried out on the topic.