Research Reflection Report - MBA Business Plan, Skills, Knowledge

This Research Reflection Report details a student's critical self-assessment of their research and business skills developed while creating a business plan. The report explores the research methods employed, including literature reviews and source analysis, and their significance in justifying the project. It highlights the key areas of knowledge gained, such as understanding the British consultancy industry, brainstorming, and the application of marketing models like VRIO and SWOT. Furthermore, the report reflects on learning experiences from the MBA program, research activities, and the practical application of knowledge in the major project, emphasizing the development of critical thinking, analytical skills, and financial projection capabilities. The student also discusses the importance of team working and market investigation, concluding with insights into the most significant discoveries and critical ideas that shaped the business plan, including the focus on human capital and strategic capabilities in the corporate world.

·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: ……W3R3I3T3E3 3Y3O3U3R3 3N3A3M3E3S3 3H3E3R3E3 3A3S3
3T3H3E3Y3 3A3R3E3 3I3N3 3Y3O3U3R3 3P3A3S3S3P3O3R3T3……..
Student ID number: ……W3R3I3T3E3 3Y3O3U3R3 3S3C3H3O3O3L3 3I3D3
3N3U3M3B3E3R3 3H3E3R3E3………………
RESEARCH REFLECTION REPORT
(should contain the details given below)
Please type your responses in the spaces below:
Marks availableResearch 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 present project of business plan is based on majorly the research part. From the project I
able to know that what is the research and what are various methods which to be used for doing
the research. The project is increases my research capability which will be more helpful in the
future. From this I able to know that how to do research, tools of the research and improve the
research capability. This is a business plan, so in the research topic I used the methods which
helps to increase my thinking related to the research.
15Literature & 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)
In the present business plan I used various literature reviews for prepare and understand the
concepts which are I used in to prepare the business plan project. There are various sources by
which I take the literatures to prepare the plan. I able to know the various sources of the
literature and able to know that how the literatures are used in the project writing. The project
of business plan helps to improve my literature skill and capability.
15Your Knowledge
What key areas of knowledge have you gained from undertaking your research and the Major Project?
Indicate why these are so important to you?
(max. 400 words)
This business development project helps me to advance my skills, capabilities, competencies
level and knowledge base to a major extent. This research project is of great importance for me
to maximize my skills and knowledge capabilities. With the help of this business plan, I gained
in-depth and extreme level of knowledge to start a new project as in the initial investigation of
selection of the project and research; brainstorming helps me to critically think upon various
element or component of the study. It requires high level of attention and focus towards a
selected topic of business plan to establish a new IT consultancy firm offering unique products
and services. At the prior stage, first question that came to my mind that is what business I have
to start. During the time of initial research, I examined various opportunities and evaluate the
same that what can drive high level of benefits to myself. After critical examining various
existing market opportunities, I decided to establish a new staffing, training and recruitment
company which can meet corporate requirement to recruit skilled, committed and talented
people. Thus, it bring extreme level of improvement in my research skills as well as critical
thinking skills to take solid decisions. Along with this, it also helped me to enhance my analytical
skills. After this, I needed to know that why I have to start this particular business, therefore, I
set vision, mission and objectives of the new start-up. It maximize my innovative skills to
commence a new business that offers innovative and unique services to the client.
Despite this, I ever not heard about marketing and strategic models like Porter’s 5
forces, VRIO, SWOT, Value chain analysis and so on. Henceforth, in order to make a solid
business plan, initially I investigated that what does all plan means and why these are important
for a new entrepreneur. Application of all these models and techniques to a selected ABC
Consultancy helped me to identify the usefulness of various tools to make an excellent and
unique business plan. In addition to this, financial projection that was a crucial part of the plan
helps me to improve my financial skills. As at this stage, I make various projections and
estimation regards to sales, cash flows, profitability and loss, BEP and many others, which in
turn, improve my finance-based knowledge to a large extent. Along with this, finalized project
build high level of confidence in connection with theoretical study of the project completed.

Moreover, I also identified the importance of team working and maximize my coordination and
cooperation skills. I learned team working practices to work together in a team or group by
putting combined efforts. Market investigation helped me to gain knowledge of diversified area
including current market trend and demand pertaining to the consulting industry.
10Your 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)After completion of my business project, I learnt varied knowledge in diversified
areas and field. One of the best knowledge that I have learnt is the real and practical knowledge,
trends and challenges pertaining to the British consultancy industry. Brainstorming skills is of
utmost importance or learning that I have gained from the completed business plan. This skills
or learning enable to prepare an excellent business plan to meet client’s expectation in the best
possible manner. Moreover, web-research activities and group discussion with the team
members developed collaborative and team working skills in myself to work together with all
the team members. Moreover, I have gained knowledge of various marketing models like VRIO,
porter’s 5 forces, SWOT, value generic and many others. With the help of this, I took decisions to
create unique value preposition in the products and services to deliver great value to the
consumers. Along with this, I also prepared business model canvas containing all the activities
and operations of the business. Furthermore, financial projection skills also have been improved
as I anticipated targets, sales estimation, cash flow projection and BEP calculations to assess and
examine the viability of new business.
10Critical 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)This constructed business plan maximizes my critical thinking and analytical
skills to a large extent. The reason behind this is during the beginning period, I conducted web
research to identify that what are the current opportunities exists in the market so as to develop
a unique and innovative business plan. When I conducted in-depth researches then I came to
know that although in the recent period, with the rising competition among corporate world,
companies are highly focusing towards maximizing their strategic capabilities and competitive

strength. In such respect, they are giving top most importance to the human capital as they
became crucial or valuable assets of the enterprise. Henceforth, my tutor guided and suggested
me that it will be highly beneficial for me to start a new training and IT consultancy firm which
will offer extremely talented, committed and experienced people for corporate client of
different industries. Moreover, while making financial projection, it helped me to improve my
critical thinking sales to make necessary assumptions and profitability as well as cash flow
forecasting. Along with this, application of tools gave me diversified knowledge such as Porter’s
5 forces, SWOT, value generic model, VRIO framework, business model and risk controlling plan
as well. It helped me to develop theoretical as well as conceptual knowledge to prepare a solid
plan for the future. With the help of this theoretical and conceptual understanding, I became
able to analyze the market trends and challenges and apply the models into real practice for
start-up of new entity. It also built stronger management experiences and helped me to start a
viable plan in the future period.
10Barriers 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)I founded number of difficulties while carrying out the business development
project. As at the initial stage, it was the first time when I was going to make a potential business
plan. I feel fear and less-confidence to carry out the proposed business plan, but still, my co-
worker assistance, suggestion and advices of my superiors and lecturers proves as a great help
for me to conduct the investigation precisely. At the beginning period, when I founded difficulty
to select a particular topic of study, my team leader and superior guided me to resolve the
barrier. Thus, collaborative support of my team members and proper guidance and assistance
was of utmost importance to resolve the barrier to conduct the study effectively. Careful
consideration and brainstorming was the main factor which assist to combat barriers and frame
an excellent or brilliant business plan. Furthermore, lack of knowledge in management areas
and lack of experience in creating research was of major difficulty arisen to me. But still,
professional behavior of all the team members helped me to gain unique skills, knowledge and
experience and overcome difficulties. In addition, as I was not very much able to think critically
and analyse different things, henceforth, passionate behavior, strong will-power, positive
attitude and well determination assist me to achieve success and complete the plan successfully.
10Your 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 present project of business plan is prepared very professionally and very clearly. In the
project report I make the report professionally and I is very helpful for me in order to become
more professional. From the project I able to know that what is the professional skills to make
the business plan. I able to learn the entrepreneur skills from this project of business plan. It
improves my professional skills and improve the professionalism in order to become an
entrepreneur.
10Objectives
Based on your research and the work which you have done in the 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)
The business plan is prepared with the various project. Main aim or objective of the business is
to maximize the profit level. I learn in the master of business and administration programme
various things related to business that how the business run in market, what are the objectives
of business and how to manage the business in order to decrease cost and increase profit. In
able to apply my objectives of the study. With this I able to improve my prediction level and
skills which helps in the future.
10Findings & 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)
Findings and outcomes are also main content of the every project report. From the present
research project of business plan the findings and outcomes are there. I able to know from the
report that how the findings are to be determine and how to recommend for make changes. I
able to increase my professional skills as well as I able to improve myself in order to determine
the proper outcomes.
10TOTAL
100