Coursework 2: Individual Reflective Report on Teamwork Experience

This individual reflective report examines a student's experience working in a project team focused on the feasibility of opening a Bangladeshi restaurant. The report details the application of SMART objectives in task assignments and analyzes the student's experience, highlighting both successes and challenges in teamwork, communication, and leadership. The student reflects on their role in the team, including financial responsibilities, and identifies personal strengths, such as multitasking and audience engagement, as well as weaknesses, such as communication issues and difficulty accepting feedback. The report also analyzes the team's collective learning, emphasizing the importance of adapting to diverse personalities and efficient task management. The student outlines a future course of action, focusing on improved communication, patience, and leadership aspirations. The report concludes with a reflection on the value of self-assessment and the lessons learned from the teamwork experience.

COURSEWORK 2:
INDIVIDUAL REFLECTIVE
REPORT

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................3
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................5
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................6

INTRODUCTION
In this report, a reflection statement has been produced using the learning log that so that
it can be determined how the project team operated and how further modifications if any can be
made (Kerin and Doody, 2018). This report also critically analyses the learning of an individual
about themselves while they worked in a team thus indicating the areas of improvement for an
individual in future while working in a team.
MAIN BODY
I have worked as a team member for my project team formulated for identifying
feasibility study of opening a Bangladeshi restaurant in East London and below I have recorded
what I felt and learnt while I was working in a team and what improvements I intend to make in
myself when I work in a team in future (Miranda and et.al., 2017).
The objective for this can be categorized as SMART objectives in following manner:-
Specific:- After determining the structure and purpose of the project, the team leader Mohhmad
Alam categorized the work into different activities which were then assigned to us team
members.
Measurable:- Every team member was given a fixed word-count within which they had to finish
the task assigned to them.
Achievable:- Each group member was tasked according to their capabilities with the amount of
task that they could easily accomplish within the given framework.
Realistic:- The task was assigned in a realistic manner i.e. the word count as well as the timeline
was reasonably allotted depending on the nature of task.
Timely:- Timeline helped us in completing the tasks assigned to us in a timely manner and
therefore complete the entire project within the allotted time period.
What went well:- While working in a team, the best thing that I learnt was how to coordinate
with people having different mindsets and nature. I was able to learn the art of multi tasking and
cooperating with others. Since I was tasked with the financial aspect of the report, I was able to
complete it in a much better way. I recognized that I can capture the attention of my audience
and I can make them understand what I am trying to convey. The presentation of the project went
really well and we all were in proper synchronization being well versed with each other
characteristics and behaviour. Altogether, the experience was overall an excellent one and
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despite a few shortcomings, I was able to adjust myself in the group exceedingly well and
formed great bonds with my team mates.
What did not went well i.e. Difficulties faced:- Despite creating good communication skills,
there were a few team mates with whom I could not bond over. In the initial period I could not
muster enough courage to contradict our team leader or even state clearly what I intended to say.
My other team mates understood what I was feeling as they themselves were in the same position
but the leader was extremely unsympathetic and rude urging me to speak clearly and quickly. I
also identified that I get frequently angry and do not listen to another person trying to make them
understand and accept whatever I was trying to convey. This created a very negative impact of
me in the group. There was another big blunder that I committed as I did not consult my leader
or guide when I was facing problems with creating budgets and did the work according to my
judgement which proved to be entirely wrong. I had to formulate the entire cost sheets and other
financial analysis again and the team leader scolded me for wasting the resources twice.
What I felt:- The initial days in the team were extremely miserable as I was not able to
communicate with other team members or leaders. I also felt betrayed when I realised that my
ideas were not given any weight-age or importance and I felt left out form the team. This made
me sick and I almost planned to drop out of the team because I was feeling highly demotivated
and uncomfortable. But after two three days, I realised that my ideas were not boycotted and
neither was I as the team leader Mohhmad Alam made me understand and identify the faults in
my ideas and how they could be accepted when improvised a little. I was also appreciated and
when my fellow team mates supported me in the team while communicating, I felt gratitude and
happiness. This led to me forming excellent bonds with my team mates and increasing the
potential of team.
What did I learn:- In my entire experience I learnt that how one should always adjust themselves
as per the diversified personalities in a group rather than making group adjust as per themselves.
I also learnt that in a group I have to respect the other person's opinions and views rather than
criticizing them and the ultimate decision can or cannot be in my favour but I have to respect
whatever decision team collectively takes. I also learnt the art of presenting myself in front of the
audience and how to capture their attention speaking only what is relevant and that too in a
concise manner. I also learnt that every time my judgement and interpretation is not correct and
whenever required I should take assistance of the guide so that my efforts need not be doubled
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and resources can also be saved. And lastly, the most important learning was that I overcame my
fear of numbers and was able to acknowledge the fact that numbers can be as interesting as an
Agatha Christie novel if understood in correct manner.
What was the team's learning i.e. module learning :- As a part of the team collectively, we
learnt how to coexist and integrate with each other and adjust within diversified personalities so
that the clashes and arguments could be minimized and the potential of the team could be
increased. We first identified the strengths of all the team mates and distributed task accordingly
and lastly, we also learnt how to perform the task that was assigned to us in the most effective
and efficient manner so that our actions do not overlap each other's activities and also the overall
performance of the team could be increased. Also, it is necessary to address the problems of
entire team in form of everyone rather than developing resentment and therefore, team members
should spend more time together.
What will be my future course of Action:- In future course, whenever I work in a team I would
be careful regarding certain points like not exerting my opinions on other and rather placing
them in front of other teammates leaving it to their judgement. And most importantly, I would
never shy away form numbers or any other financial figures and I would also take regular
feedbacks and assistance from my guides and mentors whenever I require it or even if I don't
require it so that my work can be regularly evaluated. Further, I will also ensure that I inculcate
patience in me and whenever critical situations arise, I would not make any hasty decisions or
loose my ability of decision making. Lastly, in future, I would also try to become a leader as I
have identified potential and knowledge in me which is required for becoming a leader.
CONCLUSION
After going through the reflective statement above, it can be concluded that there are
many things that individuals learn about themselves while working in a team and these help them
in becoming better leaders or individuals. Keeping a learning logbook helps an individual in
document and record his learnings and identify his weak as well as strong points like this
reflective statement.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Kerin, M. and Doody, O., 2018. Using a learning log to support students understanding and
engagement within a research module.
Miranda, A.A. and et.al., 2017. Self-learning log classification system. U.S. Patent 9,818,067.
Online
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