Professional Development and Practice Report: MSc Program

This report reflects on a student's personal and professional development within an MSc management program. The student discusses the importance of personal and professional growth for achieving business objectives, highlighting the strategies and activities undertaken. The reflection utilizes the Gibbs reflective cycle to analyze experiences, including descriptions of situations, feelings, evaluations, and action plans. The student details experiences in completing four reports related to operation management, strategic excellence, and management, improving skills in areas such as research, time management, and technical proficiency. The report also identifies both positive aspects, such as improved business knowledge and skills, and challenges, such as time constraints and financial limitations. The student aims to become a successful business practitioner. The student's reflection highlights the value of the MSc program in enhancing skills and knowledge related to business management.

Professional Development
and Practice (PDP)

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
REFLECTION.................................................................................................................................1
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PORTFOLIO.......................................................................7

INTRODUCTION
Personal and professional development is a process which assist an individual in
improving his skills, knowledge, ability, capability and strength through which he can attain the
business objective in an excellent manner. With assistance of this mentioned aspect, organisation
and individual can engage in the process of learning to meet the challenges and desired goal. The
present report provides the detail knowledge and understanding about the personal and
professional development of individual and its impact upon the company’s progress and growth.
In this report, various strategies and activities undertaken by an individual in the professional
development plan has been discussed.
REFLECTION
Personal and professional development is a procedure under which individual can
enhance their existing level and standard by acquiring different skill, knowledge, idea, creativity
and ability about the subject. In order to develop the personality and professionalism, it is very
important for the individual to engage with systematic professional development plan and do all
activities which are required in this aspect.
Being a student of the MSc course, I have taken participation in the program of final
independent research project. I have attempted course program for 18 months under which
various extracurricular activities have been organised for completing the final independent
research project. The major objective of this course programme of MSc is to become more
skilled and competent business practitioner in the future. For attaining this objective, I have
focused on the various activities and event within this program of the personal and professional
development. In the future, I want to become successful business practitioner that is why I have
selected this MSc management course. With help of this course program, I will gain the ability,
skills and knowledge about business practices, strategies, tactics and management. This course
program will assist me in gaining the knowledge and idea about the business management,
strategies, tactics, practices etc. This will further assist me in conducting the business in the
market and gain effective success in the future. With help of this program, I have taken lots of
positive and negative experience.
Gibbs Reflective cycle is the best method to describe my reflection in more systematic manner.
In this reflective cycle, there are six stages: description, feeling, action plan, conclusion,
evaluation, analysis etc. With help of this model, I can effectively describe and define my
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experience in the MSc course program. Following are my learning experience of this MSc course
program-
Description- This is first stage which defines that why and where the situation has occurred and
who was involved in this situation. What did the person do, what did other people do and what
was the result of this situation As per this stage of the Gibbs Reflective cycle, I have to discuss
the description about my experience. As I have taken the participation in the program of final
independent research project. I have attempted course program for 18 months under which
various extracurricular activities have been organised for completing the final independent
research project. I have attempted this course program with my other colleagues and friends who
are also students of MSc. The major objective of this course programme of MSc is to become
more skilled and competent business practitioner in the future. For attaining this objective, I have
focused on the various activities and event within this program of the personal and professional
development. In the duration of the MSc course program I have major focused on the four-
different report such as operation management and strategic excellence, LBO presentation and
coursework, strategy course work, management report. These all four reports have undertaken by
me in the duration of MSC management course program. In this period, the basic objective of
prepare these report is to understand the purpose of successful business practitioner and about
their working within the company. These research report will assist me in developing my
knowledge, idea, ability, creativity, thoughts about business tactics through which I can conduct
and survive a successful business enterprise in the market and gain effective success in the
competitive business environment. I have learnt so many things about the business such as
operation management, management principles, tools, techniques, strategies, business
environment, employee’s motivation, top management communication role in employee’s
engagement, corporate culture successful change management, research methodology, supply
chain of the corporation, internal and external business environment analysis, current innovation
theory, strategic recommendation etc. Thus, from these all study in the programme of MSc I
have learnt the effective knowledge about the business management. However, I have faced the
issue related to the lack of proper resources such as time, finance, information etc but overall
with help of my project team, tutor, friends etc I have successful designed these project under the
MSc course program.
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Feeling- This is another very effective stage under the reflective cycle which defines what did I
feel before this situation took place, what did I feel which situation took place, what did you feel
after the situation, what do you think about the situation now etc. While this course program was
started I was so nervous because that time I was just graduate student who enter into the MSc
course program. During this stage, I have only one purpose to acquire all necessary skill,
knowledge about the business management, strategies, tactics, practices etc. This assist me in
conducting the business in the market and gain effective success in the future. I have felt very
energetic and curious during this course program in the business management of MSc program.
In this duration, I have collected secondary information about several topics such as operation
management, management principles, tools, techniques, strategies, business environment,
employees motivation, top management communication role in employees engagement,
corporate culture successful change management, research methodology, supply chain of the
corporation, internal and external business environment analysis, current innovation theory,
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Illustration 1: The Reflective cycle
(Source: Gibbs' Reflective Cycle
, 2017)

strategic recommendation etc. Thus, while I have done research for accomplishing these all task
and develop the project, my data collection skill and secondary research skill has been also
improved. This secondary research skill helps me in collecting and understanding the content
which is available through secondary sources such as books, online articles, blogs, journals etc. I
have collected information about this program topic by internet, online blogs, articles, journals
etc. From this data collection and analysis, my analytical, interpretation, researcher skill has been
improved. By gaining all knowledge about the various subject and topic in the MSc program I
have gained effective knowledge, idea, skills and ability about the business management through
which I can establish my own business platform in the market and gain effective outcome. Apart
from these four projects which has undertaken in the MSc course program I have also improved
my research skill because in order to design and accomplish project I have collect more
information from the internet and other online blogs so I have analysed that my content research
skill has been improved. Furthermore, I have also analysed that my time management skill has
been also improved because during this session, my tutor has given me lots of tasks and
assignment which have to be completed within some specific period. In order to accomplish the
project and task within specific time period I have made various efforts and implement time
management strategies. These time management strategies assisted me in improving my time
management skill. This time management skill will help me in future to become successful
business practitioner. With help of this skill I will do a proper job and conduct each business
activities within a specific time period. Apart from that my technical skill has been also
improved with help of undertaking the course program of MSc. I have collected secondary
information from the internet and prepare four different project related to the topic of operation
management and strategic excellence, LBO presentation and coursework, strategy course work,
management report. In order to develop these projects, I have use several technical equipment
like computer, laptop, printer machines, mobile phone, wi-fi, internet, etc. These all have assisted
me in improving my technical skill because at the time of data collection from the internet and
preparing research document I have use several programs on the computer like power point
presentation, excel sheet, word document, google, google scholar etc These all program helps me
in improving my technical skill. This skill will assist me in developing a successful business
practitioner in the future. I will resolve the issue and problem related to the business with help of
computer and I will also prepare the report of business with help of technical resources and
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equipment. During this course program of MSc management, I have also improved my
interaction and communication skill because I have worked with other team members and
colleagues in the program of M.Sc. In this duration, several times I have worked in a team
because we have to accomplished the task which my tutor gave me. Thus, from this analysis, I
can say that with help of this program of MSc I have learnt various skills and ability which will
assist me in my future for become successful practitioner.
Evaluation- In this stage of the Gibbs' Reflective Cycle, situation and experience can evaluate in
positive and negative manner. This stage provides the positive and negative reflection about the
situation. Being a student of the MSc course, I have attended the MSC course program where I
have learnt several skills, knowledge, ability, and idea about the business. As I have prepared the
project on four topics such as operation management and strategic excellence, LBO presentation
and coursework, strategy course work, management report. From these projects I have learnt
various things and knowledge about the subject like operation management, management
principles, tools, techniques, strategies, business environment, employee’s motivation, top
management communication role in employee’s engagement, corporate culture successful
change management, research methodology, supply chain of the corporation, internal and
external business environment analysis, current innovation theory, strategic recommendation etc.
The positive thing about this program is that I have improved my knowledge and idea about the
business management which will assist me in become a successful business practitioner. Apart
from that with help of the knowledge about MSc management program I can easily establish my
own business and carry out business activities and function for attain the business objective. This
knowledge about the MSc program can assist me in become successful business practitioner who
can effectively manage and coordinate business task and motivate employees for organisation
success and growth. I will also encourage employees within the organisation by which they can
properly do their working for attain determined objective. Furthermore, another advantage
gained by me due to this MSc course program is that I have gained various skill such as technical
skill, communication skill, time management skill, analytical skill, research skill etc. However,
there are some issues also faced by me during this session which is related to the short period. I
have to prepare the projects about the business management in very specific period of time. Due
to short period of time, I have faced issue in data collection, analysis, research etc. Apart from
that another issue is related to the finance. As I have very limited amount of fund and I required
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fund in various activities of report such as printing, stationary, internet cost etc. In addition to
this I have to prepare the four-different projects such as operation management and strategic
excellence, LBO presentation and coursework, strategy course work, management report. In
these various research project, I have to collect information about the different topics such as
operation management, management principles, tools, techniques, strategies, business
environment, employees motivation, top management communication role in employees
engagement, corporate culture successful change management, research methodology, supply
chain of the corporation, internal and external business environment analysis, current innovation
theory, strategic recommendation etc. These all topics are very vast and it is very difficult for me
to consider all aspects related to the subjects. In selecting and including only important aspects in
the research project, I have faced quite difficulty. In addition to this I have also analysed that my
command upon the business management is quite poor as I have not proper knowledge about its
various subjects. Due to this, I have unable to focused in management program properly. In
addition to this, my observation and analytical skill is also too weak due to which I have faced
several kinds of issue while I have included information in my projects. Thus, from this
discussion I have analysed that I have various advantages and disadvantages from this course
program of MSc.
Conclusion- From the course program of MSc, I have learnt several skills, knowledge, ability,
and idea about the business. As I have prepared the project on four topics such as operation
management and strategic excellence, LBO presentation and coursework, strategy course work,
management report. From these projects I have learnt various things and knowledge about the
subject like operation management, management principles, tools, techniques, strategies,
business environment, employee’s motivation etc. I have analysed that with help of this program,
I have gain so many benefits which will assist me in improving my personality and
professionalism. However, there are some issues which I have faced related to improper
analytical skill, observation skill etc. In order to overcome these issue, I will work in the future.
Action- From the above discussion I have analysed that I have various advantages and
drawbacks from my experience of MSc course program. In order to overcome the weakness or
draw back I have to work on in the future. In order to improve my personality and
professionalism I will attend training and development program in the future by which I can
improve my technical skill. In order to improve my analytical skill, I will do self-practice and
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self-assessment. I will read case studies and try to solve it. These practices enhance my analytical
skill. Further, in order to improve my observation skill, I will conduct group discussion and
taking participation in the team work. By work with other member, I can improve my
observation skill. Apart from that in order to gain the knowledge and creative idea about to
conduct effective business, I will attend seminar, workshops and conference about the business
management topic. By this workshop, seminar and conference, I can improve my knowledge
about business concept, strategy, practices, policies, tactics etc which will help me in future for
become a successful business practitioner (Walker,2017. )
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PORTFOLIO
As per the above discussion it has analysed that MSc course program assists to the
student in improving personality and professionalism by which student can become successful
business practitioner in the future. As it has discussed that in the MSc course program, I have
prepared four reports on the different topic such as operation management and strategic
excellence, LBO presentation and coursework, strategy course work, management report. In
different project report different concepts and theories has been discussed.
In the MSc course program, strategy coursework report has been prepared which provides
effective knowledge and idea about the business strategy, concept, practices, policies etc. In the
project of Strategy coursework, external and internal business environment analysis has been
discussed (Raider-Roth, 2017)
Business environment consist with internal and external components of environment such
as political, economic, social, cultural, technological etc. These all factors of business
environment can influence to the business in large manner. In order to survive and sustain within
the business environment effectively, corporation have to conduct the analysis of environment
and assess the impact of each component upon the business corporation. There are major two
kind of business environment analysis that is external and internal. In the context of internal
business environment, firm have to analyse internal capability, strength and weakness. With help
of SWOT model and porter five force model, business practitioner can analyse internal
capability, ability, strength and weakness. On the other hand, in the internal business
environment consist with various factor which can influence business activities and function
such as customer, employees, government, suppliers, investors etc. By analysing internal
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business environment, business practitioner can develop effective strategy and tactics for
compete with rivals in the market and gain effective success. In addition to this, it has been also
analysed that innovation strategy can assist to the Apple company by which it can able to attain
its objective.
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With assistance of innovative business strategy, Apple company can develop its impressive and
stronger brand image in the market. It has been also analysed that innovation can be better used
as a competitive advantage such as timely, legal protection of intellectual property, complexity,
novelty in product or service. It has been also assessed that there are several kinds of challenges
which faced by the apple but by use of innovative strategy it can easily overcome the issue
related to business. Thus, from this report of the business strategy, business practitioner can
easily gain the knowledge about the business strategy, its impact, internal and external business
environment. In addition to this, with help of this report, significance of business strategy for
sustaining in the market for long time has been also discussed (Coldwell, 2017.)
Another report on the Management has been undertaken in the MSc course program
which aid to the student in gaining knowledge and understanding about the importance of proper
management within the business context. In this report, various kinds of theories and concept of
management has been discussed which assist to the business practitioner for carry out their
business activities and function in more effective manner. This management report is concerned
about finding the performance of the government owned companies after privatisation. With
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assistance of this report, the interference of government into the business and management has
been clearly discussed in this report.
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Royal mail has undergone a major transformation due to the privatisation which is supposed to
affect its financial performance, employees, strategies and direction largely. It has been also
analysed from this report that employee's behaviour and their participation is very important for
the growth and success of the corporation (Schaufeli, Maslach and Marek, eds., 2017.)It is very
important for the management to consider employees participation in the business decision
making so as they can motivate and encourage for business success and goal. Top management
have great role in the employee's engagement by which they can give their best efforts for attain
the business objective and goal. Corporate culture and employee commitment has been also
discussed by which knowledge and understanding about company structure and culture gained
by the students. In this research project, change management has been also discussed which
provides the knowledge about the significance of change management within the company. It is
a procedure under which company implement new structure, system, practices, policies ,
technique etc in the business for attain specific objective. It is very important to provide
effective training and development to employees for implement change in the company in
effective manner. This change management practices can bring the innovation and creativity
within the business that enhance speed of the business. Research methodology has been also
discussed in this report which provides the criteria for find out solution of research issue. It is a
systematic process for collecting, analysing, interpreting the information about the subject. It is a
way by which researcher can find out the best alternative solution of research problem. There are
major two kinds of research technique that is qualitative and quantitative. In this study, in order
to find out the financial performance, operation policies, performance, HR practices, company's
annual report, management report, company's website, British economic survey and news has
been considered to ensure validity and reduce biasses (Coldwell,2017.)
In operational management, concept and meaning of operational management has been
defined in context of Zumbar coffee and tea house. Operational management is referred to as the
procedures of planning, organising, directing and controlling operational activities in order to
achieve business goals and objectives. It has been clear from the report that operational
management is the significant part of management procedure. It is the important aspect of
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various business activities. This is the essential source through which organisation generates
revenue and earn profit. Operational management techniques help firm in reducing cost of
production and minimising waste. It has been identified from the report that operational
management is highly advantageous for business unit management and assist organisation in
achieving their goals and objectives. It also enabled enterprise in gaining effective response from
market. The study has assisted individual in recognising the importance of structure and
establishing business objectives (Gale, Schröder and Gilbert,2017) Various theories and
strategies used in the assignment which can be use for facilitating or implementing effective
operational management system at work place. These strategies will support firm in achieving
higher level of benefits and profits. It will also allow organisation in establishing good position
in market and fostering growth. Zumbar coffee and tea house is known for its quality of coffee as
well as services and have effective operational management system. The organisation has been
among the top rated and most popular coffee shop. The other brief description about the
company is being provided which assist individual in analysing the importance of operation as
well as quality management. The business entity by providing high customer value has able to
gain high customer value and development of brand image. Highly talented, trained and skilled
employees has support firm in providing satisfaction to clients. The study also has demonstrated
that competitors or competition have great impact on business growth and success. It has been
defined the way operation management or operational acclivities are linked with business
objectives. It has been suggested that the manager in organisation should conduct both internal
and external analysis as this will help in formulation of effective as well as suitable strategies.
This activity will also aid management in managing operation activities in effective as well as
systematic manner (Trorey, 2017.)
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Analysis technique will allow firm to identify current marketing situation and Panning suitable
tactics that will help business entity in achieving desired outcome. It is important for marketing
manager to identifying the needs and demand of customers as this activity will help employees in
maintaining balance between demand and supply. Hence minimising wastage of resources,
reducing operational cost and increasing profit margins. It also provides enterprise a chance to
offer or deliver goods and services at reasonable price to customers. Operational management
provide organisation an opportunity to maintain their performance and achieve success. The
areas or field that are to be improved by Zumbar coffee and tea house are highlighted in the
report. The various factors that are to be considered when developing and implementing
strategies are quality of products as well as services, procedures and capacity design and location
and layout strategies. As Focusing on these points will help Zumbar coffee and tea house in
achieving success, gaining customer loyalty and enhancing brand image. It will also allow
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business entity in differentiating their product from that of competitors and gaining competitive
advantage in market (Martin, 2017)
The project has also defined the five significant objectives that are required to be achieve
by enterprise in order to achieve success. The reported has stated that focusing on speed, cost,
flexibility, dependability and quality will help enterprise in gaining customer attraction and
expanding their core business activities.
Supply chain management is another important aspect of management that support firm
in obtaining various products and services that are required for providing satisfaction to
customers. Effective Supply chain management aid business entity in increase their level of
production and improving quality of goods as well as services. It is required by organisation to
emphasizes on developing wide range of products as this will enable them to reduce the negative
effect of various environmental forces on business operations. Zumbar coffee and tea house is
able to gain high popularity and recognition in market as it served variety of products and
services. It has been identified that outsourcing is effective method that can be used to fulfil the
need of organisation. In sourcing is another techniques in which enterprise used its own
resources in order to complete specific task. It is the effective method as the management team in
business unit has complete control on operational activities and can ensure the quality of
products as well as services. The same products' manufacturer by two different organisation may
be varied in taste or style as this enterprise have used different processes for manufacturing
goods. It is essential for Zumbar coffee and tea house to implement positive chance in
organisation as this will help business entity in gaining competitive advantage and increasing its
effectiveness. Advancement in technology will allow firm in improving quality of their products
and services (Taylor, 2017)
This project is totally based on human resource development. The report has
demonstrated the methods or techniques adopted by marks and Spencer in order to motivate
employees. The project has explained the way motivational factor have great impact on
employees' performance and ability to work in dynamic environment. It highlights the tools that
can be used by individual in order to encourage them to support positive change at workplace.
The various strategies have been provided by report that will assist business unit in increasing
their sales and profitability. The comparison between two business structure have been made in
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order support firm in identifying effective structure that will support business unit in achieving
success and fostering growth (Abbott,2014). The various method that has been used by Marks
and Spencer are Empowerment, proper participation, effective leadership, financial or non
financial incentives, etc. The business entity believes in providing various career or job
opportunities to their employees in order to encouraging them for increasing their contribution in
achieving enterprise goals. Sharing profit is another method that has been used by Marks and
Spencer in order to motivate employees to improve their performance and becoming
participative in various decision making process. Effective communication is another effective
tool has enabled firm to maintain healthy relationship with their workers and reduce employee
turnover rate. The various leadership styles has been suggested by report that will provide an
individual opportunity to become effective leader. It also enables leader to fulfil their
responsibilities in effective as well as systematic manner. Among all the leadership style,
transactional leadership is effective are being suggested to leader in mark and Spencer as this
styles will support leader in assisting organisation in overcoming complex situation. It will also
allow leader to formulate effective strategies, so that such critical situations can be avoided in the
future. In transactional leadership style, leader encourage employees either appreciating for their
work or by giving them punishment. The another style that has been suggested to Steve is
autocratic leadership styles as this style is significant leader centred styles. This style will help
leader in making effective as well as suitable decisions. It will also provide Steve an opportunity
to identify effective as well as innovative solution to various business problems. The features of
innovative as well as effective organisational structure has been highlighted by project which
will aid management in identifying the area of improvement. Some form of business structure
are functional, geographical divisions, team, product based divisions etc. The designing of
structure in very important in order to ensure smooth flow of information at workplace.
Appropriate organisational structure will allow enterprise in minimising the negative effect of
various external forces on its business operations and effective communication will enable firm
in reducing the cost of production. It will also allow business unit to make effective as well as
efficient utilisation of resources. Structure also provide business entity an opportunity to attract
more number of customers and investors. It helps manager in developing and maintaining
healthy and safe working environment of employees. Structure also provide firm a chance to
identify effective ways for achieving their goals and objectives. Hence it has been identified
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from the report that operational management is also important part of business activities without
which the company can not achieve its purpose. Operational activities have great impact on sales
and profit (Hardingham,2017)
CONCLUSION
From this entire discussion it has been analysed that personal and professional
development of individual is very important by which they can attain the business objective in
excellent manner. It has been concluded that self assessment, self practices, training and
development, attend seminar, workshop, conference etc can assist to the individual in improving
their existing knowledge, skill, ability and capability by which individual can become successful
business practitioner in the future.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
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of Chicago Press.
Trorey, G., 2017. Professional development and institutional needs. Taylor & Francis.
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Gale, C., Schröder, T. and Gilbert, P., 2017. ‘Do You Practice What You Preach?’A Qualitative
Exploration of Therapists' Personal Practice of Compassion Focused Therapy. Clinical
psychology & psychotherapy. 24(1). pp.171-185.
Schaufeli, W.B., Maslach, C. and Marek, T. eds., 2017. Professional burnout: Recent
developments in theory and research. Taylor & Francis.
Gladding, S.T., 2017. The counseling dictionary. John Wiley & Sons.
Walker, K., 2017. Why continuing professional development is so important. IQ: The RIM
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Raider-Roth, M.B., 2017. Professional Development in Relational Learning Communities:
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Coldwell, M., 2017. Exploring the influence of professional development on teacher careers: A
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Martin, J., 2017. Personal relationships and professional results: The positive impact of
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Librarianship.43(2). pp.108-115.
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Taylor, P., 2017. Learning about professional growth through listening to teachers. Professional
development in education.43(1).pp.87-105.
Hardingham, A., 2017. The coach's coach: Personal development for personal developers.
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ONLINE
Gibbs' Reflective Cycle, 2017.[Online]. Available through:
<https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/reflective-cycle.htm>.
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