MBA Capstone Project Workshops: Recommendations and Suggestions for Improving Performance as a Team Member

This document provides insights on the activities completed, recommendations and suggestions for improving performance and as a team member in MBA Capstone Project Workshops. It covers various topics such as strategic mindset, building strategic knowledge, marketing strategy, problem-solving, and business models. It also suggests improving communication skills and utilizing analytical tools for identifying market trends.

<University>
<MBA CAPSTONE>
by
<Your Name>
<Date>
<Lecturer’s Name and Course Number>
<Your Name> 2019 1 of 9

Table of Contents
Part A: Activities completed:...........................................................................................................3
Part B: Recommendations and suggestions for improving performance........................................6
Part C: Recommendations and suggestions for improving performance as a team member..........7
References:......................................................................................................................................9
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Part A: Activities completed:
During conducting the capstone project, ten workshops have been organized based on several
topics. In every workshop knowledge of various issues has been provided to the students. The
capstone project is considered as the multifaceted assignment where the culminating academic
skills are provided to the students. The detail description of every workshop has been mentioned
below.
Workshop 1:
This workshop is about strategic mindset and the four skills of Capstone. In this workshop, the
basic idea about the MBA Capstone has been provided to the students. I have learned about the
capabilities of Capstone. The four different skills of the Capstone are such as applied skills,
theoretical skills, practical skills, and reflective skills. In the year 1946 MBA Capstone was
created. In this study, the elements, practice, and theory of the administration are explained (Ball,
Khan and Oyelude, 2018). The business relevancy is shown in the MBA Capstone. 2007 is
recognized as the year of financial crisis throughout the world. In this year the employee
retention rate was meager. In the KDB (Knowing, Doing and being) knowing refers to the
requirements of the essential methods and theories for making successful organization
management. The practical application of the expertise is related by doing. The bling factor
focuses on personal goals and values. I have learned the differentiation between strategic
thinking and linear thinking. In this workshop, the components of the strategic mindset have also
been described which are such as reflection, system thinking, and reframing.
Workshop 2:
This workshop is about the building of strategic knowledge for the competitive advantage. In this
workshop, the basic concept of the analytical skill has been provided. This workshop has been
held in the last week of the project. It is essential to have the ability to recall knowledge, solving
problems of theoretical lenses, utilization of both quantitative and qualitative information, and
integration of the soft skills along with the hard skills (Paroutis, Franco and Papadopoulos,
2015). I have learned about the application of knowledge. I have adopted several theoretical
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lenses from this particular workshop. The basic concept of the competitive advantage has also
been explained in this workshop. Corporate capabilities and competitive strategy have been
provided, by this workshop. In this workshop, it has been taught how to improve performance
and also how to create competitive advantages through some specific competencies.
Workshop 3:
This workshop is about the building of strategic knowledge. The knowledge of marketing
strategy, product strategy, and product portfolio have been provided to the students. It has been
explained in this workshop that the vast collection has several benefits which are escalation of
economic structures, standardization, efficiency in distribution and sales, quality equivalency and
package uniformity (Venkitachalam and Willmott, 2017). I have learned about the branding
strategy and the advantages of effective branding. The information about the ‘positioning &
differentiation along with the differentiation strategy has been provided in this workshop. The
stages of product life cycle have been elaborated in the 3rd workshop of the MBA Capstone.
Digital marketing, challenger strategies, future trends, agility, and leanness have been discussed
in the 3rd workshop.
Workshop 4:
The 4th workshop is about competitive advantages through growth and innovation. The basic
concept of change has been discussed in the 4th workshop. It has been considered that the HR of
the organization is responsible for creating competitive advantages. The types of innovation have
been explained in the 4th workshop. The process of ability creation has been discussed in that
workshop so that the profitability can be increased. I have learned how to analyze the internal
and external growth of the organization. The importance of the disruption has also been
mentioned. In this workshop, at last, the brief of 4 weeks has been cited.
Workshop 5:
The 5th workshop is about the techniques of problem-solving and business models. Some specific
tools and models are used to continue the business process such as actions that are needed to
meet with the reactions (Wirtz et al. 2016). Business planning and marketing process are
considered as the changing strategies cyclical process. The concept of marketing value and
marketing strategy has been provided in this workshop. The workplace research types and
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analysis have been discussed in this workshop. It has been considered that descriptive models,
three-by-three matrix is very important for continuing the business process. I have learned about
how to utilize the essential techniques for using the models. I have gained knowledge about the
B2G model, Ansoff matrix, and Porter's five models.
Workshop 6:
The 7th workshop is about the 3 trends and employability. From this workshop, I have skilled in
preparation for any future job. It has been discussed that there are eight dimensions in the
employability skills such as skills of critical thinking, interpersonal skills, management skills,
and the skill of systematic thought, leadership skills and disposition of work ethics.
Workshop 7:
The 7th workshop of the 4 MBA Capstone is about the research methods and data analysis. Data
are two types which are such as primary data and secondary data(Silverman, 2018). The
importance and pitfalls of research have been discussed in this workshop.
Workshop 8:
In the 8th workshop, it has been discussed that the change is needed in the strategic management.
Several factors are essential for changing which are such as delegation, education, correction,
collaboration, participation, and direction. The reason behind failing the changes has also been
mentioned in this workshop.
Workshop 9:
In the 9th workshop, the information about the big data analytics has been provided. It has been
mentioned that the advanced data visualization is essential for creating the visuals so that the
target audiences can be aware. I have also learned about the way of modern reporting.
Workshop 10:
The importance of Key performance indicators has been provided in the 10th workshop. The KPI
is essential for evaluating the organizational performance. I have learned about the relationship
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between the effect and cause. KPI evaluation is very important for increasing the level of
personal efficiency. I have also learned that business reporting is essential for achieving success.
Part B: Recommendations and suggestions for improving performance
In the first workshop, I was able to develop my reflective skills. I was successfully able to
explore my skills and abilities. Still, I have understood that I need to improve some of my skills
as I have not performed well on those segmentations. My expertise in time management needs to
be improved. For that, I need to set a proper and structured time so that I can proceed on my next
move. In the next workshop, I have understood academic skills.
Moreover, I was able to identify the importance of the adoption of multiple theoretical lenses.
For that, now I easily can understand the strategic knowledge of competitive advantages.
However, I work on improvising my skill of researching so that I can realize competitive
advantages. In the following workshop, I acquired and reviewed the importance of the creation
of the competitive advantages by utilizing strategic marketing as well as strategic operations. In
the fourth workshop, I have able to build vital knowledge about growth as well as innovation.
For that, I have to focus and concentrate on my strengths and my weaknesses as well so that I
can bring improvisation on my skills. I have gathered knowledge about analytical models as well
as tools.
As a result, I can easily endure effective decision for any business purpose or any improvement
purpose. As per the comment of Ingram et al.(2015), it is to be informed that making an effective
resolution is necessary while performing any work in a group. Also, from the research work of
Blondel and Müller-Rommel, (2016), it has been analyzed that making an active decision helps
in developing an effective strategy as well. In the following week, I have revised all the
knowledge that has been acquired by me in the previous workshops. Moreover, I have gathered
intelligence about models and tools that can assist in analyzing and planning for the business.
This has helped me a lot to identify the importance of problem-solving along with management
research. According to the remark of Hesse et al.(2015), I have examined that this knowledge
can improvise a person and as a result, the person can provide a practical and concrete outcome
for his or her business. In the eighth workshop, I have gained knowledge about leadership
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communication and message dissemination. I did not perform well for accumulating skill. From
the research work of Becton, Walker, and Jones‐Farmer, (2014), I have acquired the knowledge
that ineffective communication can create obstacles for an individual. For that, I have to
improvise my communication skill. To do so, I need to join any grooming classes so that I can
learn to communicate with others. Moreover, I need to talk to business persons so that I can learn
how to interact with others. In the following workshop, I have gained the knowledge about how
business reporting is vital for an organization.
Moreover, I have also acquired the knowledge about the importance of creating visuals to the
target audience. This knowledge can succor me in the future to grow the customer base for my
organization. However, I have to learn to approach the audience so that I can convince them for
gaining the motive of my business organization. In the next workshop, I have gained the
knowledge about the importance of measurement; perform indicators as well as metrics. This has
helped me in improvising my efficacy. According to the statement of Page (2015), it is to be
mentioned that escalating of efficiency can upgrade the level of productivity of a business
organization. Thus, I can feel that I can bring an overall growth for my organization. In the
eleventh workshop, I have become able to learn about the importance of the skill of
employability as well as trends in the future. This skill can assist in bringing improvisation in the
products as well as services of my organization. Also, it is to be informed that I should keep
spotting the light on the development of my hard and soft skill. It can help me to get success in a
typical timeframe and a well-effective manner.
Part C: Recommendations and suggestions for improving performance as a team member
After analyzing the knowledge that has been gained by me along with my area of improvement
it can be interpreted that not only as an individual but also as a team member I need to develop
some of my skill. The most vital ability that is required to be improved is communication skill. I
have noticed that I can perform cooperatively and collaboratively with the others in the
organization, but I feel hesitate when I have to approach a person for the first time. Moreover, I
cannot talk to them freely at first if they contact me. According to Holmes and Stubbe (2015), it
creates obstacles for a person to perform as a part of a team. Thus, I need to improvise my
communication skill so that I can share my point of view freely and openly with others. Now I
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can be able to make significant as well as effective decision for the organizational purposes.
Therefore I need to improve my communication skill. I can effectively decide for my
organization by engaging other people present in my organization. I need to join grooming
classes so that I can learn the way of approaching myself to others and make an active
communication with them. Also, I need to learn to develop in the skill of research so that I can
identify the trend of the marketplace. For that, I need to utilize useful analytical tools. Hence, it
can be concluded that application of such skills is necessary to remain active in improving team
performance.
<Your Name> 2019 8 of 9

References:
Ball, D.R., Khan, H., and Oyelude, O., 2018. Rebranding a Special Needs School Through
Marketing and Entrepreneurship: An MBA Capstone Consulting Case Study.
Paroutis, S., Franco, L.A. and Papadopoulos, T., 2015. Visual interactions with strategy tools:
Producing strategic knowledge in workshops. British Journal of Management, 26, pp.S48-S66.
Silverman, B.W., 2018. Density estimation for statistics and data analysis. Abingdon:
Routledge.
Venkitachalam, K. and Willmott, H., 2017. Strategic knowledge management—Insights and
pitfalls. International Journal of Information Management, 37(4), pp.313-316.
Wirtz, B.W., Pistoia, A., Ullrich, S. and Göttel, V., 2016. Business models: Origin, development
and future research perspectives. Long range planning, 49(1), pp.36-54.
Ingram, T.N., LaForge, R.W., Williams, M.R. and Schwepker Jr, C.H., 2015. Sales management:
Analysis and decision making. Abingdon: Routledge.
Blondel, J. and Müller-Rommel, F. eds., 2016. Governing together: the extent and limits of joint
decision-making in Western European cabinets. London: Springer.
Hesse, F., Care, E., Buder, J., Sassenberg, K. and Griffin, P., 2015. A framework for teachable
collaborative problem-solving skills. In Assessment and teaching of 21st-century skills (pp. 37-
56). Springer, Dordrecht.
Becton, J.B., Walker, H.J. and Jones‐Farmer, A., 2014. Generational differences in workplace
behavior. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 44(3), pp.175-189.
Page, S., 2015. The power of business process improvement: 10 simple steps to increase
effectiveness, efficiency, and adaptability. AMACOM.
Holmes, J. and Stubbe, M., 2015. Power and politeness in the workplace: A sociolinguistic
analysis of talk at work. Abingdon: Routledge.
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