Reflection Report: Project Experience at PwC - BC3005

This reflection report details a student's internship experience at the Accounts department of PwC, Cyprus. The report employs Kolb's learning cycle to analyze the student's growth in communication, team working, project management, and problem-solving skills. The student reflects on concrete experiences, reflective observations, abstract conceptualization, and active experimentation during their internship. The report highlights challenges faced, lessons learned, and an action plan for improvement, including plans to enhance communication and team working skills. The student reflects on the complexities of working in a cross-cultural environment and the importance of effective project management and concludes with a summary of the learning experience and future goals.

REFLECTION REPORT OF
PROJECT EXPERIENCE
Student Name:
Student Number:
Date:
(Word Count: 1761)
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Table of Contents
1. Introduction.........................................................................................................................3
2. Reflective Analysis.............................................................................................................3
3. Action Plan for Improvisation............................................................................................8
4. Conclusion..........................................................................................................................8
References................................................................................................................................10
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1. Introduction
The process of reflective writing is essential to recollect any knowledge and skills gained. In
the current reflective analysis, reflection regarding experience on thoughts and feelings of
learning from the internship project at the Accounts department at PWC is undertaken. The
consideration of my working, communication, team working styles and project management
endeavours have been included to resolve problem faced at the Accounts department using
Kolb’s learning cycle. Kolb’s learning cycle is appropriate in description of learning
experience as it allows step by step analysis.
2. Reflective Analysis
Reflection analysis using Kolb’s reflective is applied for step by step analysis of the
internship experience. During my internship experience, I worked at the Accounts department
at PwC, Cyprus. My work domain includes management of accounts receivable and payable
through software. The Kolb’s learning cycle has four integral stages including concrete
learning, reflective observation, abstract conceptualization and active experimentation. My
effective learning in the department can be seen as I have analysed descriptively by
experience through the stages of the cycle. I have undertaken analysis regarding my learning
of communication, team working, project management and ability to solve problem.
Concrete Experience: As I was working in the Accounts department with Accounts
Receivables and Payables using software, there were a number of different projects that we
needed to handle. The working was not complex and I had already learned regarding the
software at my university. However, I did not possess practical knowledge regarding ways to
apply the learned skills at the company. Moreover, while working at the software I had to
consult and communicate with different team members to ascertain regarding particular
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transactions (Coulson, and Harvey, 2013, p 410). This included my capabilities to be able to
work in teams in an effective manner. While earlier I had worked in teams at my University,
but I did not have to work in teams with presence of so many senior officials, who were from
cross-cultural communities. This posed difficulties as I was often ignored as I was an intern
and asked various questions. Also, I did not know ways to work in such a diversified team.
It was often difficult to communicate with the different teams over telephone as well as face-
to-face, as there were employees at the organisation present from varied different countries.
Moreover, some of the operations of PwC was based in Saudi Arab office, so I had to make
video and voice calls in order to communicate with them, which posed certain difficulties due
to lack of my cross-cultural communication skills.
As I was given to work on a complex project, within specified deadline, it required my
capabilities on project management skills. Though at my university I was used to work in
tight deadlines, however internship and practical experience was difficult and different in
nature. It required my capabilities to design my work structure such that I am able to
accomplish my project within stipulated timeframe and with particular quality standards. It
created difficulty for me as I was unaccustomed to working in such styles and framework as
given to me at the office.
Reflective Observation: Analysing my work experience in a reflective manner I can broadly
say that there are many things that I did in the wrong way or did not possess capability to
conduct myself in a correct manner (Cooper, 2013, p 290). Firstly, the internship experience
provided me with tremendous learning experience which could not have been possible at any
university. Secondly PwC is a large multinational department with varied departments with a
professional working culture. The organisation can offer tremendous learning experience to a
student/ intern who is ready to delve into the experience the company has to offer.
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While working in the cross-cultural diversified team as I faced with multiple difficulties of
team working, there was tremendous learning that I gathered also. I learned the way in which
team dynamics work, I could understand ways in which different people work together within
large teams and attend goals. I was able to strive towards team goals rather than chasing my
own. I learned ways to assist one another and work in a coordinated manner with one another
in teams. When there was conflicts within the team, I learned ways to negotiate and arrive at
a solution and resolve the issue. Most importantly I learned the most integral factor of team
dynamics which is to work in a coherent manner.
Communication is most important while working within any professional domain. I realised
that if I did not posses’ sufficient communicative skills then I am bound to face challenges
and difficulties in my working as a professional later on in life. While undertaking my
internship experience, there have been many challenges faced in regards to interpersonal and
intrapersonal communications. I was unable to express myself in a clear manner and make
others understand my thoughts, this created great difficulties. I had wasted a lot of time and
effort in making other persons understand what exactly I wanted to say, hence I realised that
in my course I had not sufficiently attained interpersonal and intrapersonal communication
skills.
Thirdly working on project management, I realised that I did not possess sufficient skills to
undertake specific projects and complete them with appropriate quality within deadlines. I
lacked time management, most importantly project management skills. I had to strive to
complete the assigned work to me within timelines and often received warnings regarding the
same, which was disheartening. But with every project I had improvised myself, as there was
three projects that I had undertaken in total.
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Lastly, my abilities to solve problems was tested in this internship experience. I was faced
with a number of diverse and complex problems at every step. There was no guide available
at the time my shift started and often I had to wait for longer time period in resolving a
problem. There have been various problems regarding accounts analysis that I faced which I
tried to resolve by myself, but it took enormous amounts of time. I was consumed by single
problems and this was the primary reason due to which I could not complete project within
their stipulated time period. I realised that though I possessed knowledge and skills in
accounts yet I lacked practical application skills that was necessary in resolving complex
situation as during my internship experience.
Figure 1: Kolb's Reflective Cycle
Source: (Author derived from Bergsteiner, Avery, and Neumann, 2010)
Abstract Conceptualisation: During my internship experience there was tremendous
amount of learning that I gathered (Bergsteiner, Avery, and Neumann, 2010, p 40). Most
important learning was gaining experience within the industry and in an organisation such as
PwC, which is a global well-renowned accounting firm. This experience within the firm
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Concrete
Experience
Reflective
Observation
Abstract
Conceptualisation
Active
Experimentation

instilled tremendous confidence in me and I learned regarding the practical ways in which
accounts are prepared for large firms. I learned regarding the complexity of accounts and the
necessity to tally each and every figure with that other departments. Thus, overall this has
been a tremendously effective learning, which I can apply later on in my life.
Secondly, I learned regarding my communication styles and the areas in which I lagged.
Without this practical experience, it would nearly had been impossible for me to ascertain the
relevant areas in which I lag my skills. It has enabled me to focus more on developing my
competency before I enter the professional world. My learning from this experience had been
ways in which communication takes place in a diversified organisation. I observed and
noticed and picked up varied skills of cross-cultural communication as well. The most
important learning in communication skill had been to learn regarding the Hofstede’s
dimensions of cross-cultural competencies.
Thirdly, I practical gained skills regarding ways of working on projects. Never before had I
worked on projects, this allowed me to developed competency to work on projects. I learned
the importance of deadlines and quality while accomplishing large and complex projects. I
learned time management skills to work on complex projects (Jordi, 2011, p 185). I also
gathered ways in which projects are planned and progresses in multinational corporations.
I learned the way in which team dynamics works. I gathered experience as to ways in which I
should work within teams and achieve team goals. I also had undertaken the role as a
negotiator within my team hence I learned ways to resolve conflicts in a team.
Regarding my problem-solving skills, I learned areas in which I needed to improvise upon. I
gained skills and knowledge in solving critical accounts related problems, especially in cash
receivables and payables.
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Active Experimentation: Post my learning experience I tried to implement whatever I had
learnt (Boud, Keogh, and Walker, 2013, p 110). I tried to especially apply communication
skills while making friendship in some of the colleagues with whom I had worked. I tried to
develop my team working skills my practising with myself while I was back from the
internship. I tried to take up some practical conflicts and the tried to resolve them as being a
team member. While applying my skills in project management, I tried to take up dummy
projects available online and complete them within given deadlines and time period. Also, I
tried to take up some practical accounting problems and solve them using my own expertise. I
did not take assistance from any personnel while resolving such problems to test my practical
problem-solving skills. I was effective many times, while at others I had to take assistance
from online notes and suggestions available.
3. Action Plan for Improvisation
While I have understood that I can apply the skills learned and knowledge gained, I need to
improvise myself as well. As my personal goal is to become a manager within 3 years of
working, I need to enhance my professional skills. For improvisation I plan to take up a short-
term course on communication also I plan to undertake case study analysis of practical
projects. This will assist me to improvise on some skills. For improvising my team working
skills and problem solving, I will take up learning from self-help books such that I become an
effective professional.
4. Conclusion
In conclusion, it can be said that there have been tremendous learning experience that I
gathered from this internship of mine. However, there remains various knowledge and skills
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that I need to enhance upon further, hence the plan of action needs to be implemented such
that I am able to emerge as an effective professional.
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References
Bergsteiner, H., Avery, G.C. and Neumann, R., 2010. Kolb's experiential learning model:
critique from a modelling perspective. Studies in Continuing Education, 32(1), pp.29-46.
Boud, D., Keogh, R. and Walker, D., 2013. Reflection: Turning experience into learning.
Routledge.
Cooper, L.Z., 2013. Student reflections on an LIS internship from a service learning
perspective supporting multiple learning theories. Journal of Education for Library and
Information Science, pp.286-298.
Coulson, D. and Harvey, M., 2013. Scaffolding student reflection for experience-based
learning: A framework. Teaching in Higher Education, 18(4), pp.401-413.
Jordi, R., 2011. Reframing the concept of reflection: Consciousness, experiential learning,
and reflective learning practices. Adult education quarterly, 61(2), pp.181-197.
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