University MBA600 Capstone: Workshop Reflection and Analysis Report

This report is a comprehensive reflection on the learnings and activities undertaken throughout an MBA Capstone course, focusing on various workshop sessions. The student delves into the application of theoretical, applied, practical, and reflective skills acquired during the workshops. The report covers a wide array of topics, including the development of essential MBA capstone abilities, strategic knowledge for competitive advantage, marketing strategies, gaining a competitive edge through growth and innovation, business models and problem-solving, the use of business models, research methods, data analysis, and organizational change management. Each workshop reflection includes a discussion of the activities, self-reflection, and the learning outcomes, including teamwork experiences and communication skills. The report provides insights into how the student has applied the concepts learned to real-world scenarios and how the workshops have influenced their understanding of leadership, business decision-making, and the importance of innovation and change management.

Running Head: WORKSHOP REFLECTION
Workshop Reflection
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1WORKSHOP REFLECTION
Introduction
The purpose of this assignment is to consolidate and explore the knowledge gathered
throughout the subject. It is an accumulation of the learnings and activities in class. The activities
have been completed in the workshop sessions. The first part is regarding the coverage of
activities from every week. The second part consists of self –reflection and criticism on every
activity along with the learning outcomes. Notably, the third part is on the self-reflection and
commentary and criticism regarding the learning outcome while working in a team.
Workshop 1:
Activity 1:
The first workshop 1 was all about the essential MBA capstone abilities such as the
theoretical skills, the applied skills., the practical skills and the reflective skills. It has
demonstrated that it can be done by developing the mastery of essential skills and KNOWING
DOING BEING as found from Forbes.com (2019). These are the skills required for becoming
better managers depicted in Imd.org (2019). In the first activity I have gone through the
suggested readings and conducted an audit on the required skills. In the activity of Domino’s
case study, I have been asked to develop a list of questions to engage more deeply in the
technical, practical and critical reflection. Through this workshop, I have known that the most
essential competence is the ability to resolve poorly structured problems, issues in a complex
environment.

2WORKSHOP REFLECTION
I have further gathered knowledge about the theoretical, applied, practical and reflective
skills. After going through the workshops, I have understood that these skills need to be
implemented in the business decision making. The theoretical skills are the most intellectual and
bookish of the all four skills as commented by Hill (2017). The applied and practical skills will
be beneficial for me to solve real life problems in future. Whereas, the knowledge of the
reflective skills has helped me to get empowered in finding answers and become an effective
manager in future. As per the views of Belton (2017), the teamwork in this workshop has helped
me to strengthen my communication skills and interacting abilities.
Workshop 2:
Activity 2:
The workshop 2 was about building the strategic knowledge for gaining the competitive
advantage. The activities and the entire workshop demonstrated how to become effective leaders
and the future problem solvers in future depicted in Ufhrd.co.uk (2019). It delineated the seven

3WORKSHOP REFLECTION
bad habits of ineffective leaders. It emphasized more on the theoretical skills in understanding
the strategic problems after adopting various theoretical skills. I have also known about
improving the performance and creating the competitive advantage. Through this workshop I
have come to know about the three main types of memory storage such as the sensor memory,
the short –term memory and the long –term memory. The aim of the theoretical knowledge is to
be stored and simply recovered from the long term memory.
The activity for this workshop was the Case study of Fair Work Commission which had
recently cut the penalty rates in many industries that consequently affected the wages of 700,000
workers of Australia. After going through the workshop I have learnt that an extra ordinary
manger is the person who can create the competitive advantage in the firm to enhance the
performance. The coursework has enabled me to understand that is a distinctive set of
capabilities which can help to attain the competitive advantage when seen from the perspectives

4WORKSHOP REFLECTION
of Laursen and Thorlund (2016). I am blessed to have worked with such a collaborative team
which has enriched me with thousands of viewpoints.
Workshop 3:
Activity 3:
The workshop 3 reviews the marketing knowledge in order to ensure that readiness is
there for practice and applied analysis. This particular workshop also reviews the marketing at
the strategic level. The activity of this workshop was related to the strategic marketing and its
various components.
I receive the opportunity to describe the marketing strategies such as the portfolio,
branding, product, positioning, disruptive, differentiation and many others. I have understood
that without the correct marketing strategy, a firm cannot develop fast. The product/service a
company is providing must be tailored to the demands of the customers and in order to know

5WORKSHOP REFLECTION
their preferences, the markets research especially through the online surveys and campaigns are
necessary. The strategy of product differentiation has caught my interest the most. It creates an
environment of innovation and I have received in-depth knowledge regarding this particular area
of study. In learning the primary focus of this activity in group I have learnt about how to work
and learn in a collaborative and al-inclusive way. Although there were some communication
issues initially but it was reduced with time. As commented by Laursen and Thorlund (2016), the
teamwork has enabled me to incorporate better ideas with efficiency. The mutual support was
most necessary and I have received hat from every member. I have also attained greater sense of
accomplishment after completion of each activity.
Workshop 4:
Activity 4:
The topic of workshop 4 was gaining the competitive advantage through growth and
innovation. At the beginning of the workshop I have learnt that growth can be achieved
structurally through acquisition and people. It can also be achieved through greater share in the
market and the sales. . As commented by Laursen and Thorlund (2016), a company can also
grow through innovation and new products, ways of doing business and expert people. It has
taught me that a company can gain the competitive advantage by the people and the HR. The
activity of this workshop we were asked to imagine that we actually work for a business which is
struggling in terms of revenues.

6WORKSHOP REFLECTION
We have learnt through this activity, how to apply other innovative HR strategies to attract,
engage and retain the employees without spending money on them. After experiencing the fourth
workshop, I have understood that people are highly important in the innovation of an
organization. Doing this research and workshop, I have understood that first of all, I will have to
grow the innovative thinking process which can help me in my future. Someday in future if I
become the leader, I will have clear knowledge of these basic concepts and I will; be able to
leverage my company with increased production and heightened competitive advantage. The
teamwork in this regard has proved to be beneficial for me as I have learnt to accumulate various
innovative ideas coming out of each member’s mind. I have learnt to listen everyone’s opinion
that is the most essential trait of a true leader.

7WORKSHOP REFLECTION
Workshop 5:
Activity 5:
In the workshop 5, I have gained knowledge about the business models and the problem
solving. The workshop has clearly described the business model which are the steps in the
ongoing process. It has also focused on the marketing and business planning along with
concentrating on the guaranteed outcomes in business. At the middle of the workshop, I have
known that decision making is the key to success in any business. The business analytics is the
practice, the methodical exploration of an organization that males use of the tools for data
analysis.
In this activity, we were asked to watch a video and discuss hoe the modes of business
analytics can advance the decision making. I believe that this task could not be done separately
and group work has enabled me to understand the decision making process. I have also gained

8WORKSHOP REFLECTION
knowledge about how to make use of the analytical tools for taking the best decision for a
business. I have also become able to use the business models based on the business context.
Workshop 6:
Activity 6:
In this workshop the man topic was regarding the useful techniques for using the business
models appropriately. It has taught that the tricks are being consistent, using more than one
model and examining divergence in advice. As far as interconnectivity and synergy is concerned
in the analysis, the models described in the workshop shows that the models can be used to
interconnect the data in order to create intelligent advice and decisions too. However, from this
workshop I have learnt that the business models are not the codes of conduct but only the
guidelines for better outcomes.
The
se create the customized strategies founded on the capacities of the organization along with the

9WORKSHOP REFLECTION
market demand. In this activity the task was to discuss about the names of the models and at the
same time use them according to the context. When seen from the perspectives of Laursen and
Thorlund (2016), this task as a team work was quite difficult but the group members were quite
agile to resolve any kind of confusion among ourselves. The discussion about the business
models was an interesting part of the learning process and we all enjoyed our individual roles in
that.
Workshop 7:
Activity 7:
The workshop 7 was contributory of the lessons regarding the research methods, the data
and the analysis. The workshop solely discussed about the research methods and also synthesize
about the previous discussions. It taught use the basic concepts of using data in order to conduct
any research. It also covered the area of data management in the organization and why is it
important in the firms. It emphasized on the two categories of data such as the primary data and
the secondary data.

10WORKSHOP REFLECTION
In the group activity, we were asked to categorize the forms of data such as government
reports, the autobiographies, the focus groups, interviews and others that has enabled us to
differentiate among all individually. In the data analysis part, the knowledge of data analysis and
the common mistakes related to data management has been learnt. We were asked to make
differences between the data sources, the data management and the importance of research.
Though this particular workshop, as per the views of Carnall (2018),I have understood that the
use of research methods, data and analysis is extremely important in a research in order to
maintain the authenticity of the results/ outcomes. In future I will be able to play the role of a
marketing manager efficiently. The team work has enabled me to go deep into the research and
know individually about each data form and their significance.

11WORKSHOP REFLECTION
Workshop 8:
Activity 8:
While workshop 7 talked about the research method, the data md the data analysis the
workshop 8 was completely dedicated to the organizational change and its importance. It has
taught that change is not always regarding a major project, small changes can also create big
impacts. The task was to watch and discus the reasons behind the existing changes. The
organizations should employ the change programs for all the improvements suggest Patten and
Newhart (2017). It is done to keep the stakeholders engaged and committed to the strategy. We
learnt from the workshop that in the change management, people and the process both are
important.