Research Reflection Report Guidelines for Assignment Format

This article provides guidelines for delivering and conducting a successful Research Reflection Report. It encourages self-critical consideration of research and related business skills, and discusses the relationship of research, research sources, and evidence to the production of the Major Project. The report aims to support the student’s ability to be self-critical about their research and develop their understanding and application of core concepts of business and academic skills. The article also provides a template for the report and suggests key areas to consider when completing it.

Research Reflection Report (Assignment Format) – Guidelines for the Report
These notes are designed to help you deliver and conduct a successful Research Reflection Report.
The Research Reflection Report is a major piece of work and is designed to support your own self-critical
consideration of your research and related business skills and demonstrate that you can:-
 Reflect and comment critically on what you have learnt during the programme and during the
carrying out of your research activities
 Carefully consider the research which you have carried out and critically comment on this
 Discuss the relationship of your research, research sources and evidence, and researching
activities to the production of your Major Project
 Critically comment on the key areas, examples, sources of your research
 Consider the relationship of your research, and researching, to both your Major Project and
possible future employment opportunities
Your Research Reflection Report is not only an academic exercise but also a piece of work which you may
wish to use in future employment contexts to demonstrate your ability to consider the importance of
research and researching to:-
 business planning,
 business success,
 organisational contexts
 your own academic and business skills and the contribution which you can make to an
organisation as a result of developing these skills
The Research Reflection Report therefore aims to support the student’s ability to be self critical about their
research. It also develops the students understanding and application of the core concepts of business and
academic skills while developing their ability to perform more effectively within organisations in a real
world context. The Report therefore encourages reflection on:-
1) Research Processes
2) The research methodologies which you have considered and applied
3) Research and researching as a problem solving process used by you as a student,
4) The identification and discussion of your key learning points which could be applied to other
situations.
5) The relationship of research and your major project to your professional development
opportunities and career development intensions
Completion of the Report

 The contents of the report are given in a template format (see pages 3&4)
 You may treat this report as a self critical evaluation of your researching experience or “Learning
Diary” or as a final summing up of your experiences while carrying out the Research and the
Major Project in which you have been involved. It is advisable not to leave the completion of the
Report until the last minute.
 Above all this Report should not be simply descriptive – it should be a self critical summary of
your learning experiences. You should adopt a ‘critical’ viewpoint – what seems to work, what
is less successful – and why? Discuss the examples of best /good/interesting research practice
which you have come across. Consider how research examples/models can be usefully used in
business situations– and be adapted to suit your future workplace/ academic environment.
 You should attempt to respond to all template sections
 You should keep to the overall word limit of 4000 words maximum for the whole Report.
Things to think about when completing your Research Reflective Report:-
The nature of your research and your Major Project
Why is it being done; why are you working on this subject and how significant is it to you and to future
employers?
Plan of your schedules
Have you managed effectively your research and Major Project schedules and are they logical?
Resources
What resources (i.e. people, evidence, references, and ideas) have you used and how are you using these?
Why are they important?
Methodologies
Are the methods which you have used specified clearly, and are they sufficiently rigorous? Are
data/evidence/literature sources specified and available? Are you conducting the research and the Major
Project in a professional manner? What analytical frameworks will be used to make sense of the work?
Are these appropriate?
Support and Barrier Issues
Have these been thought through by you? How any barriers to be/being overcome?
Anticipated Benefits to you and to a future employment organisation
What are they? – Knowledge? : Ideas? : Learning Experience? : Efficiency? : Effectiveness? Financial?:
Organisational?: Skills?
How will the project satisfy you?
How will the work contribute to your personal development? How wide a range of skills and knowledge
does it use from your programme? Will it demonstrate that you have an understanding of your programme
subject areas?
Major Project Conclusions: The conclusions which you are forming for your Major Project – are they
based on rigorous reasoning and argument?
Report Writing Skills
Write your reflections and critical views clearly and simply.
Student name: ……WRITE YOUR NAMES HERE AS THEY ARE IN YOUR PASSPORT……..

Student ID number: ……WRITE YOUR SCHOOL ID NUMBER HERE………………
RESEARCH
REFLECTION REPORT
(should contain the details given
below) Please type your responses in the spaces below:
Marks
availabl
e
Research Methods & Processes
How and why have you
chosen/decided on the research
methods and processes which you
are using/have used for the
development of your Major
Project?
How would you describe these to:
1) a reader of your Major Project
and/or
2) a future employer
(max. 550 words)
The research method which have been followed in
the research paper is Secondary Research Method
as it helped me in receiving adequate information
on the different other competitor businesses which
are present in the market. The common sources of
the secondary data method are inclusive of the
different information which is collected by the
government departments and organizational
records as the research and business plan is done
on the existing business named Petronas.
With the help of the secondary data analysis, the
level of the competition faced by the company can
be described which will be performed with
secondary data research and it is helpful for
analysing the external environment analysis as well.
The decision-making approach is present in the
secondary data analysis which will be beneficial for
the monitoring the competitiveness and business
intelligence. Moreover, it has been noticed that
more than 57% of the secondary data is based on
for the specific business decisions which will be
beneficial for the overall success of the firm.
The same can be described to the reader of the
Major Project and future employer by providing
various instances such as: When an organization
wants to find out the level of competition in the
market, it is essential to perform the secondary
research through which the industry information in
the online segments can be gained through the
help of the secondary data research method. It
paves away the primary market research and it is
helpful for receiving the customer information as it
will assist in defining what kind of customers to
target.
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Literature & sources
1) What are the most important
theories/literature sources
/evidence sources which you are
using to justify your research and
your Major Project?
2) Why are these sources
important and fundamental to your
work?
(max. 550 words)
The most essential theories and concepts which
have been utilized by me in the entire research
paper are inclusive of:
• SWOT Analysis
• PESTEL Analysis
• Porter’s Five Forces Model Analysis
• Marketing Mix
• Ansoff Matrix
The following marketing theories are essential in
nature in analysing the external and internal
environmental factors which play a vital role in
improving their condition in the competitive
business environment. In order to understand the
competitive business environment, it is essential to
understand the competition which can be done
through porter’s five forces model that can be
assisting in understanding the competitive factors.
With the help of marketing mix, the different kinds
of 4Ps of marketing is required for making the
business in understanding what the service or
products which will be helpful in anchoring the
aspects for the product. The following theories and
concepts are fundamental to the work as it helped
me in understanding the usefulness of the models
and they are the crucial elements to the
effectiveness of the long-term plans.
Financial Analysis inclusive of:
• Profit and Loss Account
• Cash Flow Statement
• Break Even Analysis
• Balance Sheet
On the other hand, the financial aspects are
essential to understand the position of the
company in terms of the other competitors which
are present in the market. Through the help of the
balance sheet, it is the tool for the investors as to
gain insight on the company along with operations.
.
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Your Knowledge
What key areas of knowledge
Click hereThe key areas of knowledge which have
been gained by me after the undertaking of the

have you gained from undertaking
your research and the Major
Project?
Indicate why these are so
important to you?
(max. 400 words)
research and major project are the secondary data
collection techniques, knowledge on the different
marketing tools such as marketing mix, Porter’s Five
Forces Model and Ansoff Matrix which has provided
me with a snapshot on the strategic planning tool
which provides a framework for providing the
executives and senior managers in devising the
various strategies for the future growth. The
respective marketing and financial tools are of huge
importance in managing the different activities of
the business plan through proper strategic
planning. I tried to gain knowledge on the
competition which has become so hard that the
customers in the market are having huge offers as
to surf before making the purchase. Additionally, I
learnt that there is huge uncertainty in the market
while positioning the product as it is really hard in
nature to predict the future demand for the
company and it is essential for the business plan.
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Your Learning
What are the most important
aspects/examples of learning
and/or skills which you have
gained from:
(1) undertaking the MBA
programme,
(2) following through your
research, and
(3) applying your knowledge and
what you have learnt in your
Major Project
(max. 400 words)
Different Aspects Learnt in MBA Program
Leadership and Management related aspects- It is
one of the most important aspects of succeeding in
business world is learning how to manage a group
of people effectively and bring out the best in the
team which will be beneficial for the overall success
of the activities.
Marketing- Furthermore, the marketing concepts
have been learnt by me wherein marketing the
product is one of the critical elements which was
learnt by me. Additionally, in the MBA program, I
learnt both mathematical aspects of marketing
along with softer skills such as communication
which is required for communicating with
customers appropriately.
Financial Aspects- The finance is the other field
which should be learnt with science of money
management. The financial aspects such as balance
sheet and cash flow are the major attributes which
should be learnt and it has been learnt by me which
was required in preparing the business plan.
Entrepreneurship- The capabilities of making the
business succeed is the ultimate aspect which
should be important in the career goals. During my
MBA program, I tried to develop skills in solving the
different issues in the management myself as my
wish was to open my own organization in the
future. Following through the Research
During the secondary research, I learnt that the
marketing and financial skills play a vital role in the
creation of the business plan. The research based
on the different marketing theories and tools play a
major role in managing the overall aspect of
business strategies effectively. Through the help of
the research, it has been seen and identified that I
gained insights on SWOT, PESTEL, Ansoff matrix and
Porter’s Five Forces Model which plays important
role in the managing the research.
(3) Applying knowledge and Learning from Major
Project
From the business plan, I tried to gain knowledge
on the opportunities and issues of the business
along with research framework and factors which
are related to the industry. Through the secondary
data method, the business implications have been
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learnt by them with the help of the secondary data
analysis. The marketing plan through segmentation,
targeting and positioning have been analysed by me
which helped me in managing the overall business
aspect accordingly.
Critical Thinking and your
ideas
In carrying out your research, your
analysis, your evaluation of
evidence, and in identifying or
proposing conclusions, what has
been the most important
discovery, or piece of evidence, or
theory, or viewpoint, or critical
idea, or critical addition to your
knowledge, or other item of
importance and why?
(max. 400 words)
While carrying out the entire research for the
business plan for Petronas Company, I tried to gain
knowledge on the different kinds of marketing
concepts and models which play a vital role in
managing the activities appropriately. From the
literature reviews of the different authors, I have
tried to analyse the various aspects such as that the
simple plan is the best wherein it will be including
the external and internal environment analysis. In
creating a proper marketing aspect, targeting the
audience is the most essential aspect for which the
information is required to be gathered as it will play
a vital role in the marketing process. As per the
different authors, they have commented that the
marketing mix is one of the most critical elements
which will be helpful in building the brand in an
accurate manner. The proper strategic approach is
required to be maintained while planning the
business strategic plan through proper advertising
techniques that will be assisting in managing the
perfect results.
10
Barriers met
What were the main difficulties
and barriers which you were faced
with in:
(1) undertaking your research, and
(2) completing your Major
project
(max. 400 words)
Company, there were different difficulties which
were faced by me which has been listed as follows:
I was not able to analyse the topic as how
to start with the same as there was difficulty in the
introduction of the scenario. Coping up with the
change is the other issue is the other aspect which
was a major issue for me as I was not able to
anticipate the changes accordingly, furthermore,
there was lack of resources and time available to
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me in completing the research appropriately. In
conducting the research, there was lack of support
from the different supervisors as there were
different kinds of official issues which affected the
research work. The time management issues were
the other aspect wherein I could not get time to
research in depth on the different marketing and
financial aspects as well. additionally, I felt there
was lack of accountability and poor communication
among me and the supervisors of the respective
department that affected the overall task in an
appropriate manner. There were impossible
deadlines for preparing the different kinds of
research on the marketing plan of the company.
Your Professional Development
What are the most important
business and/or management
skill(s) or academic idea(s) or
lesson(s) which you have learnt
from undertaking your research
and your Major Project – and
why?
(400 words)
The most important management skills which are
learnt by me during the research of the business
plan of the Petronas Company is inclusive of the
following:
Planning is the most important aspect in which it is
the vital aspect wherein I tried to understand the
important aspects of internal and external
environmental analysis. Furthermore,
communication is the other aspect which is the
crucial skill for the manner wherein I learnt the
delegation of the activities wherein the problem-
solving capabilities have been learnt by me and
these are the different skills which will be essential
for the management of the different issues
successfully. I tried to analyse the overall
responsibility and creative approaches have been
learnt by me.
From the analysis of the different skills, I have
learnt that the team managing and the problem-
solving skills are the most essential approaches
which will be essential in managing the overall
aspect to delegate the tasks accordingly. The
motivation is the key element which is required in
completing the tasks appropriately and managing
the overall efficiency through proper creativity.
While conducting the research, I learnt that the
understand the team dynamics is the most critical
element in managing discipline and dealing with the
different conflicts in an appropriate manner.
10
Objectives
Based on your research and the
work which you have done in the
From the research analysis which have been done
by me on the marketing plan of Petronas Company,
the use of MBA program was the most effective 10

MBA Programme and its use in
your Major Project, what were and
how far have the objectives of
your major project been achieved?
(max. 450 words)
tool as through the usage of the program, I learnt
planning which is the most efficient element in
managing the tasks accurately. I conducted the
entire research with the other mates through
delegating the tasks and analysing the importance
of the external and internal environmental analysis
appropriately. Motivation is one of the most
effective tools which is essential in understanding
the overall importance of the research which plays
a crucial role in completing the tasks. The overall
understanding of the team dynamics is the other
key element which is the most important objective
in completing the research.
Through the different management skills which
have been learnt by me, I feel that almost all the
objectives have been learnt by me and it has been
helpful in solving the different problems which is
the key element in conducting the research and
completing the overall research efficiently as well. I
developed the technical skills along with decision
making approach have been learnt by me wherein I
solved the different problems in an accurate
manner.
Findings & outcomes
How useful and/or feasible are the
findings, recommendations,
conclusions, or outcomes of your
Major Project to you and/or to a
future Employer?
You must justify your answer with
specific examples.
(max. 450 words)
The recommendations which have been provided
by me in the research paper on the marketing plan
of Petronas will be quite helpful and is of huge
importance for the future employer. The future
employer will be gaining different knowledge on
understanding the internal and external
environmental analysis of the company which plays
a crucial role in improving the overall status of the
company. The competitor analysis has been done
with the help of Porter’s Five Forces Model analysis
in which the different managerial approaches have
been used and research have been done to
understand the overall efficiency which is required
in managing the tasks appropriately. The future
employer will be helpful in managing the different
kinds of aspects.
For instance- While I was researching on
the internal environment analysis, I tried to
understand the SWOT analysis through which the
internal strengths, weaknesses along with the
external opportunities and threats have been
discussed. With the help of Ansoff matrix, I have
been made it clear that the future employer will be
analysing the different aspects which can be
adopted by them in describing the overall position
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of the company in the competitive business
environment.
TOTAL
100