Reflective Essay: MBA600 - Capstone Learning and Skill Development

This reflective essay examines the MBA capstone experience, focusing on the integration of theoretical and practical knowledge, and the development of a strategic mindset. The essay delves into the "knowing, being, and doing" competencies, and the four essential capstone skills: theoretical, applie...Read More

Running head: REFLECTIVE ESSAY
REFLECTIVE ESSAY
Name of Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1REFLECTIVE ESSAY
Table of Contents
Introduction......................................................................................................................................2
Discussion........................................................................................................................................3
Summary of the reflective capability and learning including the knowing, being and doing
capabilities and the business capstone skills...................................................................................3
A personal reflection on learning and consultancy research process..............................................6
A personal reflection on the skills developed in the MBA course..................................................8
A personal reflection on how these skills will assist in the future...................................................9
Conclusion.....................................................................................................................................11
References......................................................................................................................................12

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Introduction
The business capstone refers to a place where everything comes together or where there
is an integration of the practical and theoretical knowledge (Clarke 2015). Therefore MBA
capstone refers to the place where knowledge is synthetized and business relevance is shown and
there is an emphasis on the strategy. By undertaking the same, the students will be able to have
strategic mindset, solve various problems by integrating the knowledge, helping in seeing the big
picture, and it also helps students in taking decision in a much better way.Reflection according to
the business capstone is an important aspect and elements for developing the strategic mind-set.
Reflection provides the ability to evaluation solution on the basis of the existing information.
Reflection helps in self-development by enhancing the learning of individuals through their
ability to learn from past experiences such that in case they are faced with a similar situation in
future they can handle the same more efficiently and effectively (Moore 2017). The main aim of
the paper is to carry out a reflection of the knowledge and the skills learned during the business
capstone process. The paper will discuss about various capabilities learned in the capstone
program such as the knowing, being and doing capabilities and it will also discuss about the
skills learned during the MBA course. The paper will also discuss about how reflecting on the
knowledge and the skills learnt during the course can help in future endeavours.

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Discussion
Summary of the reflective capability and learning including the knowing, being and
doing capabilities and the business capstone skills
During the business capstone programme, the knowing, being and doing competencies
have been understood and how they can help in solving problems. During the process it has been
understood that problem solving is one of the most important competencies. The knowing
competence helps in managing the organization successfully. The doing competency refers to
making application of expertise into real life situations. The being competency refers to personal
development by reflecting on the personal values, gaols and objectives.

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Figure 1: Knowing, doing and being competencies
Source: (Azizi and Mahmoudi 2019)
From the above diagram, it can be seen that knowing includes the knowledge or what do
the people know, doing includes their skills or what is the individual capable of performing, the
way people interact with each other is called inter-relationship and is a part of doing competency.
The Being competency refers to the way people see myself and experience themselves and the
way people interact with those around me.
The capstone program helps in mastering four important skills that are- theoretical skill,
applied skills, practical skills and reflective skills (Badets, Grasser and Peltier 2017). Therefore
the workshop can help the participants in not only understanding these skills but also how to
make application of the same in decision making in business. The theoretical skills refer to
showing the interrelatedness of different concepts with each other and are therefore it is an
intellectual skill. It has been understood that this concept helps in understanding the different
complexities of the problems and the interdependencies that helps us in making much better
decisions. Theoretical skills therefore include understanding different concepts properly for
instance we were asked to identify two theories and discuss about the same and that helped me in
understanding how different theories are related to each other. Applied skills refer to all those
skills helps us in understanding how the organizational performance is influenced and
contributed to by business curriculum. Therefore a person is said to have mastered the applied
skills when they have made application of the theories. Applied skills can therefore help us in
understanding that there is more than one cause that affects the business performance and also
understand the interrelatedness of theory and practise.

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Figure 2: Capstone Skills
Source: (Moore 2017)
Practical skills refer to highest levels of integration of theory and practise and include the
different ways used by the managers to identify and solve the problems faced by them. It also
includes implementation of business situation responses (Birim 2016). Therefore this skill is
behavioural skill. The final capstone skill includes reflective skills that include integration of
new information, understanding its meaning and also understanding its relevance with reference
to past information and knowledge and making use of the same in decision making in order to
take better decisions. It also includes modification of existing values, beliefs and others in order
to change the learning styles in future and also changing the behaviour on the basis of learning’s.
Reflection is also a very important component of strategic mind-set. Strategic mind-set includes
systems thinking, reframing and reflection. System thinking means whole is greater than parts
and therefore understands the importance of interrelated thinking. Reframing refers to
understanding a situation from different perspectives such that a better understanding of the
situation can be done more holistically and it helps in generation of wider range of solution or a
wider range of possible alternatives (Claxton, Costa and Kallick 2016).

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Figure 3: Components of strategic mind set
Source: (Birim 2016)
Therefore from the above diagram, it can be understood that the three main elements of
strategic mind set includes- systems thinking, reframing and reflection.
A personal reflection on learning and consultancy research process
With the help of these programs I have been able to understand a number of
competencies that I was not previously aware of and moreover I can make use of the same in my
real life situations. In order to overcome various issues and problems the competencies can be
used by me as the competencies help in understanding problems in a better easy in order to solve

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the different problems being faced by me. For instance before undertaking the workshop I did
not have an idea about the knowing, doing and being competencies. The KDB competencies help
in solving problems that is the most important competency for all people. The knowing
competency refers to managing organizations successfully by the use of various methods and
theories. Therefore using the same can help me in managing activities properly in order to
achieve success. The competence of doing refers to practically applying all the different theories
and models in real life situations. Therefore after attending the workshop I have been able to
properly make use of theories into the real life scenarios. The being competence includes all
goals and values of individual that are identified by me by self-reflection carried out by me.
Therefore before undergoing the workshop I did not know how to reflect properly and how self-
reflection can help in developing oneself (Cottrell 2019). Therefore it was only after the
workshop that I understood what is my existing level of knowledge or what is it that I know, I
have identified all those skills that can help me in doing my work and helps me in identifying
what I am capable of performing. It has also helped me in understanding the way I interact with
others and the way I engage with others. Through development of the competence of being I am
able to understand myself in a better way such as the way I interact with people around me and it
has helped me in identification of my identity.
Moreover the MBA capstone workshop has also helped me in understanding the most
important skills that are the theoretical skills, applied skills, practical skills and reflective skills.
These skills are necessary to be able to take better decisions in my work and life. I was not in a
position to take decisions in my life properly but after undertaking the workshop I have been able
to do the same (Dyllick 2015). The theoretical skills have further helped me understand that there
is interrelatedness in everything and everywhere. It has also made me understand the

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complexities that exist such that I can take more informed decisions. Applied skills refer to all
those skills that are used to practically make application of different theories. It has also helped
me understand that business curriculum contributes to better organizational performance. The
practical skills refer to the maximum level of making practical application of different theories
and also include implementation to business situations responses. Reflective skills refers to all
those skills that helps in making use of new information, considering the meaning and relevance
of our past knowledge and making use of the same to take decisions in the future and the
required changes in the behaviour for implementing the same (Geilinger et al. 2016).
A personal reflection on the skills developed in the MBA course
Various skills have been developed by me during the course of MBA because of the
theoretical knowledge that I have gained and also because of making practical application of the
same through participation in various workshops and other activities. For instance we had to take
part in the business capstone workshop for developing our four major capstone skills those are-
Theoretical skills, applied skills, practical skills and reflective skills. The theoretical skills refers
to understanding the importance if interdependence and interrelatedness and also understanding
all the different complexities in order to be able to take better decision. I have developed the
theoretical skills because I took part in the week 1 workshop of business capstone where I was
asked to identify two leadership theories that I believed was not given much importance during
the MBA course and discuss on the same to develop proper knowledge and understanding of the
same and for this purpose I identified the concept of stake-holder ship and ethical leadership and
I had to do thorough study of the same to improve my theoretical knowledge about the theories
and was asked to discuss the same with others in the class. Another skill that I learned in my
MBA course was the application skill or the skill to make application of a theory in real life

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scenarios to solve problems. I learned these skills because I took part in the workshop where I
was asked to make application of theories into real life scenarios and was asked that if I could go
back in time and take a decision with the help of the different theories which decision will it be
and how will I change the future performance. If I had to change any particular decision I would
select a scenario where I could have managed a change properly by making application of the
change management theories and others.
Another skill gained by me is the practical skills that include giving response to various
organizational situations. I learnt about the skill by taking part in an activity in which I was asked
to select various theories and make application of that at the organizational level to overcome
some problem. I also learned about the reflective skills which mean gaining new information and
understanding the same in terms of the past knowledge and then taking future decisions and also
bring a change in behaviour through analysis of the past knowledge. I learned the same by taking
part in role playing and I was asked if I am empowered to take divisions and become an effective
manager of the organization by taking part in the same. Besides these skills I also learnt about
various other skills such as how to work in teams, adapting to various changes, interpersonal
communication skills, and various others. I learned about team work because we were asked to
form teams and carry out various tasks. My interpersonal communication skills improved from
working in team works because we had to interact with each other properly and we listened to
each other empathetically. In order to improve the adaptability to changes we took part in
different types of brainstorming activities.
A personal reflection on how these skills will assist in the future
The knowledge and skills that have been acquired by me during my MBA course such as-
practical skill, application skill, theoretical skills, reflective skills, communication skills and

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others can help in in my future because I am now in a better position to take decisions than I was
before (Johns 2017). Therefore when I will work in a company these skills will help me in my
work. For instance by having theoretical knowledge I can not only make application of the same
to different situations but I can also give various recommendations to the management in case it
is facing with various problems. Theoretical knowledge can also give me expert power such that
I can give expert advice to people who are coming to me for advice or any suggestion (Gresch
and Rawls 2017). The theoretical knowledge can help in understanding the reason behind a
particular decision or action. The application theory can also be used by me in the organization
in order to practically carry out the theories suggested for better decision making in different
situations. Therefore I can try to solve various problems being faced or at least help the
management in facing the various problems by showing them how a particular scenario can be
improved by making application of different theories. Communication skills acquired by me
during my MBA course can help me in interacting with others in the organization effectively that
can also help in solving various conflict and through proper communication in the organization it
can be ensured that the employees will understand their role in the organization and they can also
provide feedback that can help the organization in keeping its employees satisfied and motivated.
Therefore various types of conflicts can be solved by me by making use of
communication and team work can also be improved with the help of open communication and
transparency between the employees (Brockbank, McGill and Beech 2017). The competency of
knowing, doing and being can also be used by me in my workplace. This is so because with the
help of knowing exactly our level of knowledge we can improve the same and with the help of
the doing competence I can identify all my existing skills and what am I capable of performing
with the same and the being competence can help in personal development and taking better

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decisions by reflecting on past experiences and information. The reflective skills can be made
use of such that on the basis of past experiences and information future decisions can be taken
and it helps individuals in identifying their strengths and weaknesses such that their strengths can
be improved.
Conclusion
From the above discussion it can be concluded that, reflection is an important part of any
business capstone project as it can help in improving the strategic mindset and also help in self-
development. Reflection includes learning from past experiences such that in case a person is
faced with a similar situation in the future they can easily face the same. Reflection includes
evaluation of various values, beliefs and assumptions and it can be of different types. Various
theories and skills have been learned by me during the business capstone program and the same
skills and knowledge have been discussed in the paper. The paper discussed about the various
competencies of knowing, being and doing that have been learnt during the capstone course and
it also discussed about skills developed in the MBA course. The paper also discussed about how
the skills and knowledge learned during the capstone program and during the MBA course can
help in future endeavours. The paper also discussed about the learning’s from the business
capstone subject and consultancy processes.

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References
Azizi, M. and Mahmoudi, R., 2019. Learning outcomes of entrepreneurship education:
Entrepreneurship education for knowing, doing, being, and living together. Journal of Education
for Business, 94(3), pp.148-156.
Badets, A., Grasser, B. and Peltier, S., 2017, June. Cross cultural project based learning & soft
skills practice. In Proceedings of the 2017 ACM Conference on Innovation and Technology in
Computer Science Education (pp. 381-381). ACM.
Birim, B., 2016. Evaluation of corporate social responsibility and social media as key source of
strategic communication. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 235, pp.70-75.
Brockbank, A., McGill, I. and Beech, N., 2017. Reflective learning in practice. In Reflective
learning in practice (pp. 18-28). Routledge.
Clarke, C., 2015. Knowing, Doing, and Being: New Foundations for Consciousness Studies.
Andrews UK Limited.
Claxton, G., Costa, A. and Kallick, B., 2016. Hard thinking about soft skills. Educational
leadership.
Cottrell, S., 2019. The study skills handbook. Macmillan International Higher Education.
Dyllick, T., 2015. Responsible management education for a sustainable world: The challenges
for business schools. Journal of Management Development, 34(1), pp.16-33.

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Geilinger, N., Haefliger, S., von Krogh, G. and Rechsteiner, L., 2016. What makes a social
practice? Being, knowing, doing and leading. European Management Journal, 34(4), pp.319-
327.
Gresch, E. and Rawls, J., 2017. Secrets to success: Business skills and knowledge that students
find most useful in succeeding in a capstone course simulation. Journal of Education for
Business, 92(7), pp.358-367.
Johns, C. ed., 2017. Becoming a reflective practitioner. John Wiley & Sons.
Moore, R.C., 2017. The capstone course. In Assessing Media Education (pp. 439-459).
Routledge.