Reflection on Social Networks in Business: A Learning Analysis

This essay is a reflective account of the learning experience gained from researching the advantages and disadvantages of using social networks in business. The author discusses the effectiveness and usefulness of the learning process, highlighting the importance of social networks in modern business and their impact on market trends. The reflection covers the data collection process, insights gained from literature reviews, and the potential benefits and risks associated with social media usage. It emphasizes the importance of ethical considerations and responsible data handling during research. The author also explains how the learning experience will be applied in future academic and professional endeavors, including decision-making and presentation skills. The essay concludes by referencing academic sources that support the research and reflection.

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Reflection
Advantages and Disadvantages of using social network
in Business
Student Name :- Suraj Kumar Upadhaya

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Table of Contents
Evaluation of effectiveness and usefulness of the learning experience.................................................3
Usefulness of the learning experience...................................................................................................3
Happenings of learning process.............................................................................................................3
Evaluation of learning............................................................................................................................4
Explanation of learning process.............................................................................................................4
Explanation of the plan for learning application....................................................................................5
References.............................................................................................................................................6

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Assignment 3: Individual Reflection
Evaluation of effectiveness and usefulness of the
learning experience
This reflection report is about my journey of learning while making this research report on
the topic ‘Advantages and Disadvantages of using social network in business (Mansor, 2011).
The topic was interesting as social networks are the essential part of current generation
businesses. The topic helped me in taking active participation in the research process and in
collecting the data for the research. The learning process is effective in adding more value to
my higher education and lifetime success. The learning experience also added value to me
and promoted an interest of further learning in me.
This learning experience helped me in understanding the importance of social networks in the
business. Social networks transformed business when internet technology evolved in the year
1960’s (Hajli, 2014). It helped business in optimising new trends to match the needs of
market and to face tough competition in the global market. It helps business to interact with
its target market and providing its products and services to them (Durkin, McGowan and
McKeown, 2013). The research process involved collection of data which made me familiar
with new concepts and techniques with which business can connect with its target customers
and market.
Usefulness of the learning experience
This learning experience will be useful to me in future to provide new heights to my career or
business. This is because social media plays significant role in the promotion of business. It
provides competitive growth to the business by improving the customer attention towards the
brand (Turel and Serenko, 2012). The knowledge about different sources of social
networking and their usage will help me in applying the same in my business and enhancing
the level of the business. This knowledge gain will further help me in growing my
professional life if it will be successfully implemented.

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Happenings of learning process
This learning process started when the topics were selected for the research. This topic was
selected as it has wide scope in the current market situation (Helyer, 2015). I learned from
the review of literature that Billabong, a retail company is using various social networking
tools to get connected with the online communities and to make their brand recognised to
them. I also learned that social media tools helps the businesses in enhancing their overall
profitability and market share.
During the process of learning, I learned about various social networking sites and how to use
them for business. It is evident that the companies like Billabong is using social media for
building connections to share their business among the customers (Baruah, 2012). I also
learned that before choosing a suitable social media platform, the business should set their
main objective and then analyse the need of the customers so that an effective and suitable
medium is selected which gives best possible results to the business in achieving their main
objective.
I also learned that like every coin has two sides, social media can prove ineffective or
harmful for the business and its reputation if not used properly. Social media usage can lead
to the leak of secret and private information of the businesses to its competitors in the market
which can lead to serious loss of ideas, efforts, profits and reputation of the business
(Mangold and Faulds, 2009). Also, I have myself experienced that the dissatisfied customers
post negative reviews about the business on the social media platforms. It harms the
reputation of the business and also poses a loss of potential customers (Australian
Government, 2015).
Evaluation of learning
The learning gained from the research project process is very helpful to build up my career in
future. I can start my own business and can promote it by using various social networks
available for business promotion and use. The report helped me in gaining practical
knowledge about the subject and make me able to achieve good grades in my course.
Learning gained about research methodologies and designs will also contribute in taking up
further research projects. It will open the gates for me to enter into research and development
field.

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Explanation of learning process
Learning is not a onetime activity. It a process which goes on and helps in the overall
development of the person. The research started with planning of research where topic of
research was selected and a blueprint was made to determine the successful completion of the
research. Data collection was one such process where I got to learn how to interact with
different people and learned a lot from them. Meeting with different people was a completely
new experience. It helped me in brushing up my communication skills and other interpersonal
skills. It will help me in expressing myself in better way in front of my professors and
employers in future.
Apart from data collection, I learned how to differentiate between the right or wrong way of
conducting nay activity. I learned about ethics and how to abide by them. In research, I have
maintained secrecy and privacy of the data collected so that the confidentiality of the
responses and opinions could be maintained. This taught me the importance of being ethical
and responsible towards everything in life, be it professional or personal. This research
process and learning process made me capable of taking a strong decision which will help in
building my robust career and personal life.
I also learned how to collect data and assemble it properly for making it presentable. This
will help me in creating my presentations in future and will help me in creating links between
things to have a solid conclusion of the issue.
Explanation of the plan for learning application
The learning is gained on the subject and other related factors. This learning will be applied
during my remaining course so that I can achieve good grades and will also be applied in
future. This will help me in taking decisions after analysing both the sides of the matter
whether good or bad. It will impart knowledge and skills in me to lead a better professional
and personal life in future.

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References
Australian Government (2015). Pros and cons of using social media for business [Online].
Available on https://www.business.gov.au/info/run/advertising-and-online/pros-and-cons-of-
social-media [Accessed 24 May 2018].
Baruah, T D (2012). Effectiveness of social media as a tool of communication and its
potential for technology enables connections: A micro-study. International Journal of
Scientific and Research Publications, Vol. 2, no. 5, pp. 1-10.
Durkin, M, McGowan, P and McKeown, N (2013). Exploring social media adoption in small
to medium-sized enterprises in Ireland. Journal of Small Business and enterprise
Development, vol. 20, no. 4, pp. 716-734.
Hajli, M N (2014). A study of the impact of social media on consumers. International
Journal of Market Research. Vol. 56 Issue 3.
Helyer, R (2015). Learning through reflection: the critical role of reflection in work-based
learning (WBL). Journal of Work-Applied Management, 7(1), pp.15-27.
Mangold, W G, and Faulds, D.J. (2009). Social media: The new hybrid element of the
promotion mix. Business Horizons, vol. 52, no. 4, pp. 357-63.
Mansor, A Z (2011). Reflective learning journal using blog. Procedia-Social and Behavioral
Sciences, 18, pp.507-516.
Turel, O and Serenko, (2012). The benefits and dangers of enjoyment with social networking
websites. European Journal of Information Systems. 21(5). pp.512-528.