Griffith University 3114IBA: A Reflective Essay on Problem Solving

This essay reflects on the student's learning experience in a management problem-solving course, highlighting key concepts such as brainstorming, reflection, and effective communication. The student discusses how the course enhanced their understanding of problem-solving methods, developed long-term knowledge retention, and improved transferable skills like teamwork and interpersonal communication. The reflection also delves into the importance of emotional intelligence, self-reflection, and confidence in handling personal and professional challenges. The student emphasizes the practical relevance of the course in fostering self-reliance, understanding others' emotions, and achieving success in business activities, with a focus on applying these learnings in the workplace to improve communication and collaboration with colleagues and clients. This resource is available on Desklib, a platform offering a wide array of study tools and solved assignments for students.

Running Head: MANAGEMENT PROBLEM SOLVING
MANAGEMENT PROBLEM SOLVING
Name of the Student:
Name of University:
Author Note:

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Problem solving is a concept that helps us to take right decisions at the time of facing any
kind of issue regarding our activities. It can be argued that there are a number of strategies and
processes that are beneficial to mitigate problems in decision making (Van Aken & Berends,
2018). However, there are two types of problem solving facilities that are prevalent in recent
organisations. It can be divided into problem solving in groups or in individual aspect. Based on
this understanding, it can be argued that the in a group or individual initiative to sort out
problems are very significant in organisational activities (Brown & Chandrasekaran, 2014).
Therefore, this essay is going to discuss about the understanding of a student to get a perception
about the problem solving mechanism at work. In addition to this, there are a number of key
factors that are responsible to get an idea about the problem solving and my experience and
learning over the problem solving.
The key concepts that I have learned in my course are related to different aspects of the
problem solving. In this regards, the first concept is referred as brainstorming. It can be argued
that the concept of brainstorming is a traditional concept of problem solving. However, it can be
suggested that individual brainstorming is more effective than group brainstorming. There are
four elements that are important to determine the effectiveness of the brainstorming. According
to Osborn, there are four stages of problem solving, that are, clarify, ideate, develop and
implement (Krug et al., 2015).
On the other hand the next example of problem solving is dealing with the reflection.
During my study the course curriculum encompassed the learning of reflection that is intertwined
with the idea of solving, obtaining, defining, evaluating and implementing solutions. As a matter
of fact, it can be advocated that the reflection is very much effective in the course of competitive
advantages (Fischer et al., 2015). In this context, self reflection is considered to be an important

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aspect to be discussed. It enables a student or a learner to figure out the key constraints and
provides a lesson over various methods of problem solving methods. Therefore, the reflection
learning is associated with thinking and actions.
Besides this, the effectiveness of reflection can be seen in the tertiary education in the
form of self reflection. It can be argued that self reflection is helpful to develop independence,
self-directedness and responsibility. In fact, reflection incorporates the role of emotions at work
that are responsible to solving burning problems in the work places (Rausch & Wuttke, 2016).
Moreover, effective communications are played an important role in the solving problems.
It can be asserted that those methods are very helpful for me to take effective decisions
when it matters the most. In this regards, my understanding in problem solving methods can help
to figure out the possible threats in my activity either at work or based on the individual aspects.
Therefore, these experiences help me a lot in different way such as,
The first factor that I learned from problem solving methods is that it enables to develop a
strong viewpoint. It can be asserted the problem solving methods hep me to develop long term
knowledge among the students. The empirical evidences have argued that retention of long term
knowledge is very beneficial for the students to understand the degree of the problem. As a
matter of fact the long term knowledge retention incorporates the solutions regarding the
problem by encouraging students to discuss about the problem and how to resolve it. Small
group discussion is a key feature of the long term knowledge retention.
As far as the problem solving methods are concerned, it can be argued that the problem
solving frameworks includes various kinds of problem solving approaches. For an instance,
problems can be related with the real life issues or having a workplace related approach.

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Therefore, the problem solving methods use diverse instruction type to cover up all the possible
issues. As a result of that it helps to mitigate the various types of problems. Moreover, it includes
a series of external aids in the form of videos, recordings and articles to facilitate a clear
perception of the possible image of the issue.
Besides this, the problem solving framework helps me a lot by engaging continuously
with the problem. It is in fact corroborated that the potential of engagement helps the students to
solve real problems that directly affect or interest them. In this regards, a research published by
the Association for the Study of Medical Education reflected that the engagement method in
problem solving is highly effective for the students and it develops interest among student
attitude towards analysing and understanding the problem regarding their activity. However,
there will be an issue if we repeat the method repeatedly.
Development of transferable skill can be referred as one of the features of using problem
solving methods. This method encapsulates the process of transformation of the students’ skills
in the resolving the work related issues. In addition to this, in future students can apply this
learning in case they are facing the same problem. In my case also it helps me to develop the
skills that are responsible to sort out problems related to my negotiation and communication in
work place. The tangible context and consequences are the key features that help to figure out
the problems and provide solution on the basis of the degree of the problem.
Improvement in teamwork and interpersonal skills are also considered to be significant
features in the context of my learning through the course of problem solving. Teamwork is a
common practice in organisation and the collaboration and cooperation among the team
members are very imperative to maintain in workplace activities. As a matter of fact, using the

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transferable skills is very effective for the students in combating the problems in his or her
activities. In my case also it proves to be a significant factor that helps to fight with the dynamic
problems in my workplace.
The problem solving course is very helpful to understand the way to deal with specific
problems. Before learning through the course I have plenty of problems regarding others’
perceptive and emotions. It can be identified as the prevalence of lack of communication that
obstructed by understanding and conversation with other people. However, the course enlightens
my perception on how to deal with different opinions in a team. It develops my capability to
understand emotions of other people and enhance my perception towards emotional intelligence.
Empathy is a key factor in this regards. It can be argued that after the completion of my course
on problem solving I have come to know about how to deal with empathy of different people.
There are negative and positive impacts of emotions and it of course creates a great deal of
problem in workplace. As a result of that my course had taught me how to response with
different kinds of emotions and if problem occurs then how to get rid of it.
Moreover, self reflection is another significant factor to build up personality and solving
individual problems. The course that I had gone through provided me a clear reflection of the
nature of individual problems. In fact, I get to know that individual issues and lack of
understanding is a obvious nature and often people become bias in decision making. It is
necessary to deal with the problem calmly and composedly. As a matter of fact, self reflection
helps to understand the self strength and weaknesses so that in the time of crisis I can choose
solutions properly. My problem solving course made me confident and rational towards any kind
of problems in personal or professional life and now I am not getting panicked during emergency
situation and can take decision accordingly.

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The Problem solving course is very effective for everyone irrespective of his or her
qualification or degree of understanding. The self reliance and understanding others’ emotion is
quite great and efficient to get success in the business activities. In my opinion, the problem
solving mechanisms help to enhance the confidence in a restricted level and boost up
psychologically that facilitates efficiency in workplace. Therefore, I am keen to formulate my
learning from the problem solving curriculum in the workplace environment so that I am able to
communicate with my clients and colleagues fluently and gain their appreciation.
Therefore it can be argued that in the present case scenario the problem solving methods
are very relevant and pragmatic for students to make a better future by achieving success in life.
In this regards, the problem solving mechanism provides a clear understanding regarding self-
assessment and human emotions. In a workplace, full of different people with their distinctive
attitudes it is imperative to have an idea about people’s perception and emotion. As a result of
that it can be concluded that the problem solving method is beneficial to maintain a good
communication with the colleagues and other employees in the workplace.

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Reference
Brown, D. C., & Chandrasekaran, B. (2014). Design problem solving: knowledge structures and
control strategies. Morgan Kaufmann.
Fischer, A., Greiff, S., Wüstenberg, S., Fleischer, J., Buchwald, F., & Funke, J. (2015).
Assessing analytic and interactive aspects of problem solving competency. Learning and
Individual Differences, 39, 172-179.
Krug, K., Love, J., Mauzey, E., & Dixon, W. (2015). Problem solving ability confidence levels
among student teachers after a semester in the classroom. College Student Journal, 49(3),
331-340.
Rausch, A., & Wuttke, E. (2016). Development of a multi-faceted model of domain-specific
problem-solving competence and its acceptance by different stakeholders in the business
domain. Unterrichtswissenschaft, 44(2), 164-189.
Van Aken, J. E., & Berends, H. (2018). Problem solving in organizations. Cambridge University
Press.