MG408 The Graduate Challenge: Reflective Report on Skill Growth

This report reflects on the skills developed through the Graduate Challenge, which included the Apprentice, Presentation, and T-shirt challenges. It details the application of teamwork, communication, and marketing skills, and links personal experiences to theoretical frameworks like Tuckman's theory and Gibbs' reflective cycle. The report identifies areas for improvement, particularly in time management and emotional intelligence, and proposes an action plan using SMART objectives to enhance these skills. The conclusion emphasizes the importance of continuous learning and the practical application of acquired knowledge for future professional growth. This document is available on Desklib, where students can find a variety of study resources including solved assignments and past papers.

The Graduate Challenge
Reflective Report

Executive summary:
The aim of report was to clearly identify the skills through the three challenges that have
learned during the study sessions. Also, the report had given the personal reflection based on
certain skills that have been developed during those challenges. Lastly, the report had presented
an action plan based on the skills that need to be developed for future development and growth.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................3
Challenges:..................................................................................................................................3
Reflection....................................................................................................................................4
Action plan..................................................................................................................................5
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................7
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................8

INTRODUCTION.
Action plan is detailed plan that helps individual in determining actions that are required
to achieve certain goals or objectives. Further, the present report will discuss various business
challenges that have been carried out during the learning course and will also identify individual
learning on how business works at either national or international level. Moreover, a self
reflection based on these challenges will also be presented under this report. Lastly, a detailed
action plan on improvement of certain skills will also be discussed.
MAIN BODY.
Challenges:
Apprentice challenge:
This is type of challenge where I along with my teammates were divided among certain
groups by my assessor according to tasks that need to be carried out so that are skills and
efficiency could be determined (Holdsworth and et.al., 2019). Also, in this challenge we were
asked to launch innovative product in the market based on certain company goals and objectives.
Hence, through this challenge I was able to develop effective communication skills while
working in diverse groups. Also, I was able to share certain opinions regarding the pricing of the
product, budget available and how branding activities would be carried out in the market (Koh, J.
H. L., 2017). Thus, I have learnt that all the businesses work in complex environment where all
the activities needed to be carried out systematically while keeping in mind all the internal and
external factors affecting the business. Moreover, through this challenge I was able to develop
teamwork skills that could be better linked with tuck-man theory where initially we were formed
into different groups, ideas are suggested and exchanged, certain agreement on ideas is made in
carrying out certain tasks in well co-ordinated manner without creating any kind of conflicts.
Presentation challenge:
This was quite an interesting challenge where individuals were asked to deliver the
presentation related to certain marketing topics in groups. Although, this challenge was quite
interesting but I have faced certain difficulties such as I have gone over the allotted time given
by my assessor, in certain places I have use poor visuals that had created lack of interest among
audiences at some point of time and have also used too much jargon's. However, later on I have
realized that these mistakes were made because I have not presented earlier and thus would not

be repeated in same manner in the future (Markkanen and et.al., 2020). Moreover, through this
challenge I have come to know the importance of time management and also gain researching
skills through regular practices. Thus form the overall challenge I was able to identify my certain
strength and weakness that need to be taken special care while delivering the same presentation
in the future. Also, I have acquired the knowledge from the other group members and
supervisors that use of charts and graphs in the presentation help the business to analyse certain
trends, markets share, profits of the company and much more during any point of time so that
better decisions could be taken by management for future.
T-shirt Challenge:
This challenge was quite helpful for me to understand the way any product is designed in
the market and what are the certain techniques that could be used for the branding. Also, through
this challenge I along with my team-members were asked to design and sell any t shirt in the
market with proper brand name and logo. Also, the logo design denote the symbol of organic to
ensure that the product is made is sustainable. Thus, branding is method that enables one firm to
be distinguishable from the rest others. Moreover, little high prices were kept to target the upper
middle class group that are ready to purchase environmental friendly products. Thus, through
this challenge I have learnt that marketing activities plays quite important role in analysing the
total finances and resources that are available with the firms (Birdman, Redman and Lang,
2020). Furthermore, I have understood that estimating the total budget in completing all branding
activities is very essential so that future losses of the company would be minimized. Also, this
challenge I was able to learn to use excel techniques in preparing the budget and understood that
preparing the right budget is important for utilizing and earning the maximum profit from the
product and also I have developed essential business competencies such as leadership, emotional
intelligence that could be better linked with Goleman’s Theory so that goods could be sold better
in the target markets.
Reflection.
Thus, from the above challenges that have been carried out during my learning course I
have been able to enhance certain skills that would be helpful for my future career and growth.
Moreover, my experience could be linked with the Gibbs reflective cycle model that is
framework used by individuals to learn from the experiences so that better things could be
planned for the future events (Mtawa, Fongwa and Wilson-Strydom, 2021). Earlier, I have the

feeling that I would not be able to perform better in these challenges but at the end I was satisfied
with my outcome and results. Also, from these challenges I have evaluated that good quality
work was delivered only because of the efficient teamwork skills that have been shown by each
member of the group. Further, I have been able to enhance both oral and communication skills
through the presentation challenge where use of short sentences and graphical representation are
very essential for demonstrating good skills. Moreover, through effective communication skills I
have been able to present my certain opinions and viewpoints among the group where I find
things were going wrong. Thus, I was able to develop certain leadership skills also while
carrying out specified tasks. However, during the project I have little motivation left in carrying
out the challenges as part of my learning course as things were not being able to complete on
time and result of which team members were also forced to do things in hurry. Also, one of team
member have dropped out from the course due to which more problems were created. However,
motivation is essential element as it helps the individual in stay focused in achieving certain
desires and objectives.(Sanyal and Hisam, 2018). In the ned it can be concluded that though
these challenges have helped me to gain certain business competencies but although certain
mistakes were being committed. In the regard I have learnt that while carrying out any group
project it is important that strengths and weakness of every individual is closely analysed so that
division of task could be done in better manner. Also, I have realized that division of tasks is
important factor so that single individual is not overburdened with certain activities. Thus, time
is also properly managed and group efficiency is also maintained as all the tasks are divided
according to the interests and knowledge of the individuals. Also, I have learnt that group think
is very harmful and it might result only in making bad and inefficient decisions in the end.
Group-think is situation where people fear in raising certain opinions in front of dominant person
(Posselt, 2018). Thus, this type of awareness would be quite helpful for me while carrying out
certain activities in the future at professional level.
Action plan.
Action plan outlines all the actions that are required to achieve one or more goals in well-
defined time period. Further, through these action plans future goals could be developed in much
easier manner as progress could be measured on the basis of business competencies that have
applied during the completion of certain tasks (Cundell and Sheepy, 2018). Moreover, below is
list of skills using the SMART objectives that need to be improved by me in due course of time.

Goals to be
achieved
Task that need to be
carried out
Resources
required
Measuring the
performance.
Timescale
Time
management
 Carry out series
of smaller tasks
within the
specific time
frame.
 Prioritizing the
tasks based on
total time
involvement
 Planing and
scheduling the
activities in
proper manner
so that time is
managed
(Artino and
Konopasky,
2018)
 Using the
time log
and
calendar to
identify
the total
time
required in
accomplis
hing
certain
tasks.
 Close
observatio
ns on the
supervisor
s' method
of
completin
g certain
tasks.
 Completin
g all types
of time
bound
goals and
activities.
 Any praise
or rewards
given by
the
supervisors
on
completion
of certain
tasks.

5-6 months
Emotional
intelligence
 Looking all the
problems as
challenges and
not as failures.
 Carrying out all
the activities
None as such  Rational
decision-
making
that have
resulted in
positive
4-5 months

with positive
mind.
 Having more
people with
positive mind
outcomes.
 None of
the
problem of
conflict
occurs
during or
after
completion
of certain
tasks.
Thus, from the above table it can be said that though all tasks of the challenges were
completed on time but due to improper division and prioritizing of tasks in right manner there
were cases of mismanagement and overburden of activities (Chamberlin, Yasué and Chiang,
2018). Thus, through this action plan all the activities in the future would be carried out
according to the degree of importance so that efficiency is not impacted and all work could be
carried out in systematic manner. Also, through this action plan emotional intelligence would be
developed so that decisions could be taken in much positive manner so that conflicts are avoided
and certain level of motivation is maintained during the tasks. Hence, this action plan would
remind me to work and practice regularly on these skills so that I would be able to grow on
professional level.
CONCLUSION.
From the above report it can be concluded that developing the required skills and
knowledge is very important for professional growth and development. Further, the report had
identified certain skills during various challenges such as apprentice, presentation and t shirt
challenge along with analysing how the work is carried out on regular basis in real business
environment. Moreover, the study had presented personal reflection on the challenges that had
been carried out during the learning course. Lastly, detail action plan on development of time

management and emotional intelligence skills on personal level had also been presented so that
better efficiency could be achieved in the future.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals.
Artino Jr, A. R. and Konopasky, A., 2018. The practical value of educational theory for learning
and teaching in graduate medical education. Journal of graduate medical education.
10(6). pp.609-613.
Birdman, J., Redman, A. and Lang, D. J., 2020. Pushing the boundaries: experience-based
learning in early phases of graduate sustainability curricula. International Journal of
Sustainability in Higher Education.
Chamberlin, K., Yasué, M. and Chiang, I. C. A., 2018. The impact of grades on student
motivation. Active Learning in Higher Education, p.1469787418819728.
Cundell, A. and Sheepy, E., 2018. Student perceptions of the most effective and engaging online
learning activities in a blended graduate seminar. Online Learning. 22(3). pp.87-102.
Holdsworth, S. and et.al., 2019. The assessment of graduate sustainability attributes in the
workplace: Potential advantages of using the theory of planned behaviour
(TPB). Journal of Cleaner Production. 238. p.117929.
Koh, J. H. L., 2017. Designing and integrating reusable learning objects for meaningful learning:
Cases from a graduate programme. Australasian Journal of Educational Technology.
33(5).
Markkanen, P. and et.al., 2020. A reflective cycle: Understanding challenging situations in a
school setting. Educational Research. 62(1). pp.46-62.
Mtawa, N., Fongwa, S. and Wilson-Strydom, M., 2021. Enhancing graduate employability
attributes and capabilities formation: a service-learning approach. Teaching in Higher
Education. 26(5). pp.679-695.
Posselt, J. R., 2018. Rigor and support in racialized learning environments: The case of graduate
education. New Directions for Higher Education. 2018(181). pp.59-70.
Sanyal, S. and Hisam, M. W., 2018. The impact of teamwork on work performance of
employees: A study of faculty members in Dhofar University. IOSR Journal of Business
and Management. 20(3). pp.15-22.