Leadership and Innovation: A Reflective Account of Research Experience

This report presents a reflective account of a research project evaluating the role of leadership in promoting innovation within organizations, with a specific focus on Microsoft under Satya Nadella's leadership. The student utilized Gibb's reflective cycle to analyze the research process, including the description of the research, feelings experienced, evaluation of the process, analysis of the findings, conclusions drawn, and an action plan for future research. The research employed secondary data, including case studies, and explored leadership theories such as transformational, transactional, and authentic leadership styles. The student reflects on the challenges of data collection, particularly the use of secondary sources, and the insights gained regarding different research methods. The report concludes with suggestions for improvement, such as incorporating primary data collection methods and considering the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on research methodologies.

Assessment 2
Reflective Account
The current report reflects to provide a reflective account of the experiences gathered in the
course of carrying the research that was completed successfully. However a systematic
reflection can be done with the application of Gibb’s reflective cycle.
Figure 1: Gibb’s reflective cycle
Source: Hussein (2018)
The Gibbs Reflective cycle consists of six different steps that describe the learning from
experiences such as description, feelings, evaluation, analysis, and conclusion and action plan
(Markkanen et al., 2020).
1. Description
This stage is more about explaining the scene or the event that involved in reflective learning
(Tawanwongsri and Phenwan, 2019). Accordingly, in the present case, the event is associated
with a study that aims at evaluating the role of leadership in promoting innovation within
organisations. This was done with more emphasis on the case of Microsoft, which was
directed and by Satya Nadella. I could effectively gather relevant information and deep

insights regarding the significance of leadership and its role in promoting innovation. I could
also gather understanding about the way Satya Nadella worked on promoting their employees
towards innovative and creative ideas through instructing and leading them effectively.
The research was done with the help of secondary data. Case studies linked with the research
subject and the concerned companies were utilised for the same. The major leadership
theories like transformational, transactional and authentic styles of leadership were discussed
through the report. Through analysing the data collected through the case studies, the
researcher could meet the research objectives fruitfully and give suggestions to improve their
existing adversities.
2. Feelings
The feelings that I had before entering into the research work in detail are discussed here
(Tanaka et al., 2018). I was only aware of primary data collection methods like surveys and
interviews regarding carrying out research. I was quite worried and anxious about how I will
be able to find accurate findings for such a critical topic by surveying or interviewing the
employees of the reputed establishment. Thus I could understand that there are two different
types of data collection being applied for researches. Further, I was not aware of the fact that
it is required to analyse previous researches before entering into a study in detail. However,
with enough understanding of the scope and relevance of using case studies for researches, I
could gain more confidence in completing the study in a better manner.
Moreover, I was also not that efficient in doing researches and deciding the design that I will
have to utilise to perform the study efficiently. Anyhow, with this experience of involving in
a research study, I could gain more knowledge and understanding of how researches can be
actuated successfully.
3. Evaluation
This section is about discussing the good and bad experiences that came across through the
event (Oxenham, 2016).
At the initial stages of study, I was a bit confides of the strategies and designs to be used for
the effective data collection and analysis of the research subject. As I was concluded with
utilising case studies, I was in dilemma of which secondary sources of data are to be used for
the accumulation of the relevant data. Further, I was also not informed of being authentic and
considering the accuracy of the data utilised for the accomplishment of the research
objectives
I was confronted with some adverse situations when some huge payments were required for
the access of some of the sources while some others were not accessible on account of the

technical problems. Anyhow, the guidance and support I gathered from my senior and tutors
helped me to accumulate valid and reliable data for the study. Additionally, my IT skills had
also leveraged me to collect information that is up to date and accurate as well.
4. Analysis
The knowledge or the insights that were gained through the experience is elucidated through
the analysis section of the cycle (Hussein, 2018).
I have come across the two varied data collection methods that can be applied for collecting
the data associated with the accomplishment of the research study. These were realised to be
primary and secondary collection methods. While the primary collection method will
facilitate researcher to utilise authentic and valid information regarding research with the use
of interviews and surveys, the secondary sources of information will apprehend this
information that was observed by external researchers. The secondary sources are selected by
including certain criteria and excluding some of them at the same time. However, the time
and money associated with the primary data collection is much lesser than that of secondary
data collection methods
5. Conclusion
The actions that could have been executed to improve the efficacy of the research processes
are detailed through the conclusion stage of reflective cycles (Markkanen et al., 2020).
Instead of relying upon case studies related to the leadership roles in organisations, it would
have been better if surveys or interviews were applied involving the employees of the
Microsoft in the study thus gathering many reliable and valid observations for analysis. Both
secondary and primary data collection methods will have facilitated me to end the research
with more accurate and appropriate findings and conclusions as well. However, amidst the
pandemic situation of the widespread of COVID-19, the carrying out of surveyor sand
interviews can be relatively less advisable.
6. Action plan
The action plan comprises of the actions that can be conducted to improve the quality and
accuracy of the research in future times (Oxenham, 2016).
Firstly, the use of a primary strategy for data collection would have become more feasible
and contributing towards attaining the research objectives more fruitfully. However, the
presence of the COVID-19 pandemic has restricted direct contact and thus telephonic, or
email conversations can be fostered to gather the responses of prospective participants.

Further, the use of secondary sources alone will decline the quality of the research study and
the recommendations provided has to be considered of whether meeting the suitability,
reliability, actionability and time boundedness.

References
Hussein, H. (2018) Examining the Effects of Reflective Journals on Students' Growth
Mindset: A Case Study of Tertiary Level EFL Students in the United Arab Emirates. IAFOR
Journal of Education, 6(2), pp.33-50.
Markkanen, P., Välimäki, M., Anttila, M. and Kuuskorpi, M. (2020) A reflective cycle:
Understanding challenging situations in a school setting. Educational Research, 62(1), pp.46-
62.
Oxenham, J. (2016) Complexities of management of a urostomy in Ehlers-Danlos syndrome:
a reflective account. British Journal of Nursing, 25(5), pp.S14-S19.
Tanaka, M., Okamoto, R. and Koide, K. (2018) Relationship between Reflective Practice
Skills and Volume of Writing in a Reflective Journal. Health, 10(3), pp.283-288.
Tawanwongsri, W. and Phenwan, T. (2019) Reflective and feedback performances on Thai
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