Business Operation and Management: A Reflective Learning Report

This report provides a comprehensive self-reflection on the 'Introduction to Business Operation and Management' module, focusing on the key concepts learned in the first semester and their impact on understanding and development in the second semester. It covers topics such as operational efficiency, quality control policies, supply chain management, and HR strategies, highlighting the initial lack of awareness and the subsequent acquisition of knowledge. The report details the challenges faced, the resources utilized for clarification, and the application of learned skills in team management, problem-solving, and decision-making. It also emphasizes the importance of HR strategies and operational efficiency for future career aspirations, while acknowledging areas for further improvement, particularly in supply chain policies and logistics. The reflection underscores the value of the module in enhancing both personal and professional skills, with a commitment to continuous learning and application of the acquired knowledge.

Introduction to
Business Operation
and Management

Contents
Contents...........................................................................................................................................2
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
A REFLECTION OF SEMESTER 1..............................................................................................1
SEMESTER 2 REFLECTIONS AND CONTINUED DEVELOPMENT......................................2
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................4
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................6

INTRODUCTION
The term enterprise management is used to define a wider range of activities as it
encompasses with various day to day activities which a form undergoes in order to generate
profit (Barnes, 2018). Maximisation of profit is the core aim for every business and management
plays an important role in managing activities. This module of Introduction to Business and
management is all about key concepts of several areas in first semester and how it can improved
learning of second semester. Due to dynamic business environment, it becomes difficult to
manage various task of company and thus need management. Business operation consist of three
types that are merchandising, manufacturing and service. It is important to study business
operation and management as it provides valuable information to students in order to make their
career bright. This report will depict self reflection and business environment learning. It will
cover a reflection of semester one along with its learning and information. In addition to that, it
will cover challenges and how understanding of semester one helped in development of
understanding. In addition to that, it will cover how knowledge helped me in improving
understanding of business management. At last, it will cover how I will continue to develop
understanding and learning of these areas.
A REFLECTION OF SEMESTER 1
Prior to study this subject I was unaware about various concepts of business and
management but this module helped me in getting insights of valuable topics such as operational
efficiency of organisation, quality control policies, supply chain, HR strategies and logistics. As I
want to become a regional head of a reputed and well known company and for that it is needed to
have relevant knowledge and skill. I was not familiar with HR strategies and quality control
policies but this module helped me in getting essential knowledge. In this module, I became
aware about importance of HR strategies and how it helps business in creating roadmaps to solve
biggest challenge with people centric solutions. I also get to know about importance and
functions of HR manager. There are various roles and responsibilities that HR has to undertake
such as hiring and selection, salary administration, documentation and formalities at time of on
boarding and relieving (Ravinder and Kollikkathara, 2017). HR strategies encompasses with
various functions and strategies such as training and development planning, hiring and selection
strategies, outsourcing strategies and collaboration strategies. This helped in enhancing my
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knowledge which I can apply in professional career. The training and development strategies
helped me in acquiring knowledge about importance of training so as to enhance existing skills
and in learning new skills. As the business environment is changing rapidly and it is needed to
identify so that corrective measures could be taken in order to mitigate adverse impact. In further
lesson, I gain knowledge about need of hiring potential candidate and importance of recruitment
tactics as it helps in attracting potential candidate to fill job role in company in organisation.(Hill
and Hill, 2017). I have also get insight of outsourcing strategies which can be used to hire
external individual so as to complete some project or task. In this module, I have learnt how to
maximise efficiency of business and how it can contribute in accomplishment of organisational
objectives. The core aim for every business is to eliminate unnecessary activities so as to attain
organisation's objectives effectively and efficiently. There are certain unnecessary activities that
are needed to eliminate so that it become easier for enterprise to make higher profit. This module
will help in my future career as I can manage to identify unnecessary cost and will eliminate so
as to improve efficiency of business. While attending lectures of this subject, I have acquire
knowledge about importance of quality control policies and how it can be applied to deliver
better prime of services and products. As it is needed to have quality control policies either it is a
manufacturing company or service rendering company. In company, there should be random
sampling of commodity in order to track attribute of product. In the policy, it should include
quality of raw material as it is base for finished product. If the material do not fulfil standard
criteria, then it would effect on net product too. Company needs to opt that supplier who is
rendering better quality of unprocessed material but with nominal value. Prior to this subject, I
was not familiar with different quality of polices but this assessment helped me in acquiring
precious knowledge. Supply chain and logistics are two crucial factors of all business and it is
needed to have balance so that establishment would not face shortfall, in case of high demand.
Prior to this module, I do not know about hiring policies and how to implement them practically
applied into organisation and how supply chain helps enterprise in maintaining a balance
between demand and supply. In this module, I have got surprised by the information of
sustainability in supply chain policies as I was not expecting this and not have any information
regarding this policy.
SEMESTER 2 REFLECTIONS AND CONTINUED DEVELOPMENT
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In the initial stage of semester one for module of Introduction to Business Operations
Management, I have faced some issue regarding HR practices and about supply chain as I was
unaware about. I feel anxious in the opening but somehow I am able to manage my studies. I
have taken help of my tutors and they have guided me in polite manner. They have cleared my
doubts and concepts which creates a base for my future learning. I was facing much difficulty in
supply chain policies. Along with teacher’s instructions, I have taken help of books and journals
on internet. After reading some of them, I was able to clear my doubts. I have also conducted
group study with my peers as it was also new topic for them. We have discussed over many
unclear concepts. It was an open platform for all to express their thoughts and views regarding
this subject. It also helped me in increasing team spirit and time management skill. In this
subject, my tutors and peers assist me in making my learning successful.
I have applied my knowledge from first semester in understanding semester second as it
creates a creates for me in further development. As I have gained time management skill, I will
use in second semester so as to make more impressive. This subject helped me in understanding
of enterprise management. It will be using in my career in good decision making. I can manage
my team in an effective way. It makes easier to streamline resources in such a manner that it
benefits company. By using gained knowledge, I will use in making employees enhanced by
improving skill. I will use time management skill in managing my academics and other activities.
I was feeling very nervous as I was facing difficulty in managing my personal life and
academic life. I have gained team management skill which I have used in team sessions. The
another skill that I have learnt is problem solving which I have used in resolving several
obstacles of case studies. Before this module, I was lacking in this skill but by taking case studies
of successful people, I have tried and able to learn this skill. Thus, knowledge helped me in
improving concepts of business management As I want to become a regional manager and it is
crucial to have skills and knowledge that demands job. Along with all lessons, I have found
operational efficiency more effective as it will contribute in enhancing my cognition. I can use
different enterprise strategies in order to yield higher profit for company. It will be beneficial for
me in making a better manager. As this module helped me in gaining knowledge about how to
enhance efficiency by decreasing down unwanted cost. I have studied different artifact regarding
this topic in order to finer understand as it will be used in my professional career. This module
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has enhanced my existing knowledge and provide me with an opportunity to apply in my
academics and in my future career.
From all areas, I have analysed HR strategies most interested topic as I was unaware but
when I have initiated instruction, my curiosity increases gradually. As I come to know about
various concepts that I can apply in my job. With acquired knowledge, I can formulate effective
management strategy in order to hire correct candidate for filling vacant job position in an
enterprise. This topic is most enjoyable as it is interesting for me and there are various important
strategies which makes me curious in learning. Prior this module, I do not have knowledge
about HR strategies and when I have come to know that this topic will be covered in this module,
I become happy. During lectures, teachers have asked few questions in order to test students and
I have presented reply of all questions rightly and all educatee have applauded me and I was very
happy and feel great pleasure. The exchange of information makes this topic more
enjoyable(Kanagat and Sharma, 2021). After completion of this module I have analysed that I
was lacking in supply chain policies and logistics which are needed to be alter. It will assist me
in making decision related to supply chain demand so that company would not face shortage in
case of high demand. I will take help of my teachers and will read more articles and journals so
that I can get better understanding about this topic. By using this knowledge, I will use in
delivering quality service in order to make company more profitable. This module helped me in
various ways as it has enhanced my skills and I can use in both personal and professional career.
I will make every best effort in order to enhance my existing knowledge I will continue to learn
this knowledge as it will be helpful in my professional career. I can effectively manage my work
with other activities along with managing work. In will take online lectures on this topic as to
upgrade this knowledge. It will be used in my future career and in making this module effective.
It is a core part of business management and it is needed to understand so as to make learning
more enhanced. I will take help of teachers in order to enhance learning and how it can be
applied in organisation.
CONCLUSION
From the report, it was depicted that self reflection helped me in various ways in order to
depict my skills and in acquiring knowledge. By reflection I can share my views and opinions
regarding to this subject matter. With this module, I get to know about several topics from which
I was not well-known with. While portraying this reflection, I was very excited as this module
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helped me in gaining knowledge about various topics such as HR strategies, supply chain
policies and logistics. It helped me in providing a detailed overview of what knowledge I have
acquired. As it encompasses every single detailed experience which I have faced during this
module. With reflection, I can depict my experience by using own words. Along with sharing my
experience, it will help me in development and will continue as I can compare my future
performance with this one in order to get insights of effectiveness of this module and further
learning.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals:
Barnes, D., 2018. Operations management: an international perspective. Bloomsbury
Publishing.
Brownhill, S., 2022. Asking key questions of self-reflection. Reflective Practice. 23(1). pp.57-67.
Carbone, V., Rouquet, A. and Roussat, C., 2017. The rise of crowd logistics: a new way to co‐
create logistics value. Journal of Business Logistics. 38(4). pp.238-252.
Hill, A. and Hill, T., 2017. Essential operations management. Bloomsbury Publishing.
Janakiraman, B., 2018. Transferable skills as facilitator for placement amongst b school
students. Asian Journal of Management. 9(1). pp.162-167.
Kanagat, V. A. and Sharma, S. U., 2021. The HR Scorecard for Innovation in Higher
Education. IUP Journal of Management Research. 20(1).
Malyshenko, G.I., 2021. HR strategies for in-house training in self-learning
organizations. Russian Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities. 15(2), pp.227-237.
Ravinder, H. and Kollikkathara, N., 2017. Project management in operations management
textbooks: Closing the gap. Journal of the Academy of Business Education. 18.
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