BMM3003 Reflective Account: Business Operations & Management Learning

This reflective report analyzes the learning experience in a Business Operations and Management module across two semesters. Semester 1 focused on understanding core concepts and the importance of business operations, highlighting the need for leadership skill development. Semester 2 delved into operation management strategies like corporate, cost-driven, and customer-driven approaches, along with reflective models such as Gibbs' cycle. The report evaluates the effectiveness of the module in enhancing reflective writing skills and practical knowledge, while also identifying areas for improvement, such as critical thinking and problem-solving abilities. An action plan and personal development plan are included to address these gaps and further professional growth. The student aims to apply the acquired knowledge in future business endeavors, emphasizing the importance of continuous learning and skill enhancement.

BUSINESS OPERATIONS
AND MANAGEMENT

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY..................................................................................................................................3
Description.......................................................................................................................................3
Semester 1-..................................................................................................................................3
Semester 2-..................................................................................................................................4
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................1
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................1

INTRODUCTION
Reflection writing is the skill used by writers to analyse and evaluate the memory, event or
observation (Draheim, 2016). This practice is required by every manager and leaders in the
organization as well as in everyday life. It is the key employability skill and academic skill for
the professional development for the satisfaction and effective work. There are several reflective
models which can be used are Gibbs' reflective cycle is the model which helps an individual to
explore the experience as evaluation, analysis, conclusion as well as for future implications. The
another is Kolb's experiential learning theory is a learning process by applying the knowledge
from the experience. These are very important as they enable an individual to understand their
learning strategies and own thinking. This reflective report will discuss the description of
semester 1 which includes the introduction of business operations, business environment and
many more. Further, it will also discuss the semester topics such as different strategies of
operation management, roles and scope of operation strategies and many more.
MAIN BODY
Description
Semester 1-
This module has enabled me to understand the core concepts, theories and ideas of the business
operations and management. Business operations is the broad term and is the process of keeping
the business running and earning profits. Business operations and management is the process of
planning, organizing, controlling and staffing of the resources of the organization for producing
goods and services and for the smooth running of the business. This module helped me in
understanding the importance of business operations and management for the business as it helps
them in effective managing the resources, controlling and monitoring the services and employees
in the organization. Business operations increases the value of the business (Alrashidi, Joy and
Ullmann, 2019).
This semester was quite effective for me as it provided proper content, proper live classes which
helped in learning the concepts and ideas of the business operations and management in detailed

manner. This semester helped in understanding the skills required for the effective management
in the organization. It helped in the professional development as it enhanced my skills and
knowledge which can be applied in practical life for the growth and become more valuable. I
was able to understand the topics thoroughly but I faced challenges in enhancing the leadership
skills as it is very important for me in the future. The content for the leadership skill was very
less where I felt that this part was not much effective for me (Hollenstein, and et.al. 2019).
As I faced issue in development of the leadership skills next time I will go for the module which
will thoroughly cover this part so that it will help me more in professional development. I will
take better online classes lessons so that leadership skills can be enhanced and with these other
academic skills like critical thinking will also develop more. As leadership skills is very
important in my career, so I will try to develop myself more (Tesh and Kautz, 2017).
Semester 2-
Description- This semester helped to understand the core concepts, ideas as well as theories
business operations and management. This includes the different strategies of the operation
management, roles and scope of the operation strategies and the theories of the Gibbs' reflective
cycle. The most important strategies of the operations management learned by this module are
such as corporate strategy, cost driven strategy and customer driven strategies. Corporate
strategy is the strategy which is used to guide the mission and vision as well as bids the branches
of the organization together. This strategy is used to create the policies and guidelines for the
optimum utilization of the organization for achieving the goals and objectives of the
organization. Cost Driven strategy- This strategy helps the organization to set the operational
strategy based on the price for the competition. This operational strategy is effective as by this
the organization manufacturers their products more cost effective and competitive. Customer
driven strategy- This strategy is used by the organization to meet the needs and wants of the
customers for the competitive edge.
This helps in identifying the changing trends of the consumers like change in the buying
preferences of the consumers (Slack and Brandon-Jones, 2018). These strategies helped me to
understand how the organization are effectively competing in the highly competitive market as
they are using these strategies. It also helped me to understand the role and scope of the
operational strategies for the organization such as the major role of these strategies is to

implement the plan for the operations activities of the organization for effective and efficient use
of the resources for producing with minimum cost and maximum outcome.
After learning this semester I felt that it was quite good as I learned many things from this
semester which will be much helpful and useful for me in the future in my business as well as
what are the strategies which can be used for the effective running of the business. This also
helped in learning the theory of Gibbs' Model of learning and the concept of reflective writing
and its importance. It also helped me in understanding the theories of the reflective writing which
can be used by me in future while writing the topics in professional manner. The reflective
writing is the key skill for the leaders and managers which has enhanced my professional
development. It also motivated me many times which will be much helpful for me in my
business for the employees for working more effectively. There was no incident or part I felt
emotions in this semester I also felt sometimes boring while taking the classes.
This semester was quite satisfying for me as it helped me to gain much practical knowledge and
boosted my experiences. These all abilities and skills are much beneficial for me in my career
and for future business as well as these will help me in the growth of the business.
By evaluating the learning of this module, this module helped me in understanding many
concepts which will is very beneficial in professional development. It was good or effective for
me as it helped me in thorough understanding of the roles of using these strategies in the
organization. This semester enhanced my reflective writing skills as well as it also provided the
detailed content and lessons by which I found that this was quite effective for me. These all
concepts and theories will have positive impact on my professional development. But with this
somewhere I also found this not much effective as I was lacking in enhancing the critical
thinking skills, emotional intelligence skills and the problem-solving skills as this module doesn't
help me in developing these skills as these are most significant and key skills required by the
leaders and managers.
These skills also contribute much in professional development where I found this module not
much effective and helpful for me as this module just enhanced the reflective writing skills but
the other required skills were not considered in this module. The semester 2 was much important
for me as it covers the most practical information which will be required and helpful for me in
my future business. I tried my best to cover all the topic and concepts of this semester but

because of these skills was not covered that was not good part for me. So for this again I have to
go for taking new modules or lessons which will effectively help and cover the most important
skills for the professional development (Maylor, Blackmon and Huemann, 2016).
This semester helped me in understanding much better by relating the things to my experiences.
The lessons were always taken on time that is they were scheduled properly, so I was able to
complete this module on time by doing regular practice of the concepts which I have learned in
this semester. The classes were much interactive as this helped me in discussing the topics more
clearly by studying them again. The topics of this semester were all related to the practical
knowledge which helped me in boosting the experience knowledge and will be helpful for my
future business as these all will help me in managing proper business operations like producing
with minimum cost, attracting the customers by setting better prices and many more which all
will help me in achieving better performance.
The theories and models discussed in this semester is suitable for my future business which
means it made much sense by studying this overall module. This module improved my
knowledge and reflective writing skills which is much helpful for me in the future. I could have
done better research for the module and then selected because this module did not cover all the
required skills where I feel that I could have gone for different module which have helped me
more effectively than this semester.
This semester helped in learning the use and importance of effective strategies for operational
activities which will help the organization in achieving the goals and objectives by better
performance of the employees (Dincer, Hacioglu and Yüksel, 2018). The reflective writing skills
will help me to write more professionally in my future business as well as in overall path. I
would have done something differently by choosing proper module for which can cover all the
required skills and abilities. The negative point of this module was that it was not much effective
as it has covered only one or two points of the skills. The skills required for handling this in a
better way is better learning and listening skills, better understanding skills these all will help me
in handling this semester as well as overall module in an effective way. Along with this, it also
helped in learning the roles of the strategies in operational management.
Action plan- This semester was effective for me but there are more skills and abilities which are
needed after learning this module such as critical thinking, emotional intelligence and problem
solving skills which are the most significant skills which are required for mu future growth

(Yaacob and Asraf, 2021). The knowledge and skills acquired by this module can be used in my
future business for its effective and smooth working. The skills which are required to be
improved by taking online courses, regular practice and by talking in a professional by friends
and family members. If I have to go for the professional development, then I will choose the
module after doing proper research of the topics it is covering and how effective it will be for my
future.
Personal Development Plan-
Goals and
objectives
Action Resources Measures Time
Leadership
skills
Leadership
skills is the
most significant
skills for every
leader. To
improve these
skills, I will
take proper
courses,
practicing
disciplines.
These all will
help me in
improving these
skills for my
professional
development.
To improve this
skill the most
important
resources will be
required are such
as budget for
taking courses
and time for
regular practice.
Taking action for
improving the
skills is not only
enough it must be
measured for
analysing the
progress. This can
be done by self-
assessment for the
discipline and
results of the
courses.
To achieve the
goal, time is the
most important
factor. The time
that I will be
taking to
complete this
can be 2
months.
Problem
solving
ability
This ability will
be helpful for
me in my
The resource that
will be required
for improving
The progress of
how much we
have improved can
This goal of
problem
solving ability

business so it is
very important
to focus on this
ability. For
improving this
ability, I will go
active listening
for solving the
problem. This
can be
improved by
regularly
practicing with
friends and
family.
this will be time. be checked by
taking feedbacks
from the family
and friends that
how effectively I
can solve the
problem.
can be achieved
by 2 months by
regularly
practicing.
Emotional
intelligence
This skill is
very necessary
as by having
this skill I will
stay motivated
and can
motivate the
employees in
my future
business. To
improve this
skill, I will
respond to the
conflict instead
of reaction, by
practising self-
The major
resource which
will be required
for improving
this skill will be
time.
While improving
this skill it is very
important to
measure the
progress which
can be done by
self-assessment as
well by friends and
relatives.
The
time
required
for this
skill
will be
1
month.

awareness and
by using simple
language for the
communication.
Critical
thinking
This skill can
be improved by
understanding
the biases
clearly, by not
complicating
the things.
Regularly
practicing these
will help me to
improve this
skill.
Improving this
skill will only
require time for
the regular
practice.
The
progress of
this skill
can be
assessed by
self-
assessment.
Time
which
will be
taken by
me to
improve
these
skills
will be
1
months.

CONCLUSION
This reflective report is divided into two categories semester 1 and semester 2. Semester
1 has discussed the concepts and ideas as well as the importance of the business
operations and managements for the organizations. This report has also discussed the
challenges faced by me while learning this module. The semester 2 of this report enables
to understand the strategies of the business operations which can provides effective
results to the organization. Further, it has also discussed the roles and scopes of using
strategies for the organisation which helps them in staying ahead of the competition in the
market. It also includes the reflection of what I have learned by learning this module.
1

REFERENCES
Books and journals
Alrashidi, H., Joy, M. and Ullmann, T.D., 2019, July. A reflective writing framework for
computing education. In Proceedings of the 2019 ACM Conference on Innovation and
Technology in Computer Science Education (pp. 295-295).
Dincer, H., Hacioglu, Ü. and Yüksel, S., 2018. Strategic design and innovative thinking in
business operations. Series: Contributions to Management Science. Publisher: Springer
International Publishing.
Draheim, D., 2016. Reflective constraint writing. In Transactions on Large-Scale Data-and
Knowledge-Centered Systems XXIV (pp. 1-60). Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg.
Hollenstein, L., and et.al. 2019. Unsupervised learning and simulation for complexity
management in business operations. In Applied Data Science (pp. 313-331). Springer,
Cham.
Maylor, H., Blackmon, K. and Huemann, M., 2016. Researching business and management.
Macmillan International Higher Education.
Oriade, A., Robinson, P., Gelder, S. and Osinaike, A., 2016. Business operations management.
Operations management in the travel industry, (Ed. 2), pp.45-64.
Slack, N. and Brandon-Jones, A., 2018. Operations and process management: principles and
practice for strategic impact. Pearson UK.
Tesh, A.S. and Kautz, D.D., 2017. Using reflective practice in a leadership course. Nurse
Educator. 42(3). pp.117-119.
White, P., Laxton, J. and Brooke, R., 2016. Reflection: Importance, theory and practice.
Williams, K., Woolliams, M. and Spiro, J., 2020. Reflective writing. Red Globe Press.
Yaacob, A. and Asraf, M., 2021. Empowering Learners' Reflective Thinking through
Collaborative Reflective Learning. International Journal of Instruction.14(1). pp.709-726.
2

3