Reflective Report: Design It Learning Experience Analysis

This reflective report details a student's experience and self-analysis within the 'Design It' module, a component of their master's program focused on management for engineers. The report explores the student's journey through various learning sessions, emphasizing the development of self-awareness, marketing principles, and entrepreneurial skills. It highlights key activities such as redesigning design thinking plans, public speaking presentations, and fundraising strategies. The student reflects on the importance of ethical considerations, data gathering, and the application of marketing tools. The report also discusses challenges encountered, the evolution of their thought process, and the development of crucial skills like problem-solving and relationship management, ultimately aiming to enhance their business management capabilities. Furthermore, the report covers topics like 4 P's of marketing mix, target market strategies, business promotions through social media etc. The student also discusses the use of tools like VDSD and mapping activities to improve their skills.

REFLECTIVE REPORT
‘DESIGN IT’
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
REFLECTIVE REPORT.................................................................................................................3
Brief description of the subject chosen........................................................................................3
Self analysis through reflective writing.......................................................................................3
Action plan for six months..........................................................................................................7
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................9
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REFLECTIVE REPORT
Brief description of the subject chosen
In this creative world, there is a right requirement of showcasing the perfect blend of
action plan and inner potential. Through this report, the main objective is to present the self
awareness analysis of my own learning while being part of Design thinking learning session. It is
a program participated by me where I took part in learning sessions which was related to
academic program during my masters program. This is after my Bachelor in Mechanical
Engineering where I was indented to precede with my further education. For my Masters, I
wanted to pursue in management for engineers (Aull & Lancaster, 2014). As a part of
assignment, the topic allotted to me was ‘Design It’. It sounds to be of more relevance with my
past academic study and so I thought that it occupies major position in dealing with the learning
that is based on subject dealings from the Engineering field.
The complete learning sessions are divided by my lecturers in many periods. Every
period had its own significance that has helped me lot in acquiring effective outcome for self
growth. Through this work, I had emphasized on jotting down my knowledge and capability
development. When the class began, I was so nervous and was not having clue with my further
learning (see photo in blog entry 1, 17th July, 2017). I found that one needs to keep the learning
spirit on while undertaking any new pace of acquiring knowledge and gain.
Self analysis through reflective writing
The session on Design It class proved to be of great significance as during my further
learning program, I actually understood the core meaning of the content. I learned to explore my
inner potential in the form of strengthening my base foundation. A beautiful explanation of
design it was extended to be denoted as aesthetic (Bougault, 2008). The most interesting part of
this session was the area chosen. Marketing is the field which is planned to work out by us in
order to deliver the correct form of learning (see photo in blog entry 2, 5th October, 2017). I
analyzed that majority of acquisition of gaining is met possible due the creative things which are
part of a marketing.
In that class, I related the connection of aesthetic and its relevance in building my career
growth. I found that if I am grounded through values and effective behaviors, then I can groom
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to become eligible in having good reflection of impression in front of my mentors and managers.
Through the activity which is undertaken to redesign the design thinking plan, I have assisted my
learning in focusing the strategy making (Arora, 2013). It proved to be resourceful in enriching
my capabilities to analyze different courses for achieving and doing work. It builds in me the
opportunity to participate in brain running program whereby there was need to find the ways that
heled in knowing the correct tool and its application for formulation and application of strategy
making.
During further proceedings which are understood as an assignment step, presentation by
an individual is planned. Through this activity, I was, along with my team members were
supposed to work on imparting our slides work on assigned topic in front of entire class. Initially,
this seems to me as one of the most difficult challenges. It is just because of my lack of ability to
do public speaking. It required huge guts to stand in front of all for communicating the relevant
content that should be audible, understandable and effective for all (Cahusac de Caux & et.al.,
2017). When I refused, my mentor made me learn about the most vital learning that is about
facing mass by keeping the idea of getting fail in class rather failing outside (see photo in blog
entry 3,1sth October, 2017). This motivation aids me in learning better version of presenting
myself. In this regards, redesigning is the best way to showcase my ability in terms of giving
presentation.
I believe giving presentation is the best way to become an entrepreneur. I analyzed that it
provides me with the platform where I am acquired ability to work upon my verbal
communication skills. I learned to improve on various areas which are responsible for giving
presentation. It is to give clear voice, effective content and right ability to perform better.
A good management learner is recognized with the aptitude of having command over
acquisition of required resources. While dealing with my understanding part, I evaluated that
learning is incomplete without proper dealing of how well the further things will be done. Fund
raising is identified as chief area where for undertaking any action plan related to designing there
requires sufficient amount. In this notion, I was only acquainted with one method which is
seeking help from friends and family (Canagarajah, 2013). Later, through class, there are
ascertained us different ways of sourcing out funds. While I undertake the activity of product
designing which as a part of my assignment was important, I realized that conversion of business
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idea into process is crucial (see photo in blog entry 4, 28th September, 2017). It has enhanced my
talent of sorting the required and apt resources in the correct manner.
In the next session of my entrepreneurial learning, developing attractive marketing
campaign is essential. I have been well acquainted with ideas that are related to launching of my
marketing plan. A defined outplay is essentially required to be made in order to understand my
areas of working and analyzing the loopholes. By putting my ideas and work, I gained
confidence to provide platform to my work. The invigilation of defined work proved productivity
in terms of assessment that will help me to determine the further requirements of working out
activities and plan (Cobb, 2011). As a part of my learning, I became well versed with the content
learning part. In the marketing field, I gained the significance of principles and knowledge. This
is inclusive of 4 P’s of marketing mix, target market strategies, business promotions through
social media etc (Daft & Lengal, 2016). This is really a good platform to understand complete
marketing deliveries and its respective practical learning in the practical world.
Dissemination of information is very important. As a part of my learning pertaining to
designing it, I was furnished with communication ability (Elena, 2010). There are acquired differ
forms of reaching customers and presenting our product or service to them. In dealing with
marketing subject, there is required to set platform where communication needs to be made
effective between designer, suppliers, user’s top management etc (Eric Kirkland, 2012). I
acquired different modes of carrying out types of communication style and methods adopted for
doing information sharing.
Launching of activities is the next activity which remarks me with great learning
outcome. I found it resourceful in many ways (Freidi, 2014). It is the stage where I was asked to
correlate through the very primary stage where the entire work was initiated. I realized the
significance in terms of getting the ways through which target customers can be reached through
my designing part. Through this activity, I learned to put my promotional campaign in delivering
the right use of tool and technique in magnetizing customers (Goncalves, 2005) (see photo in
blog entry 5, 20th September, 2017). It is all about working out with the plan of putting my inner
talent into action through the practice of assortment of marketing tools and techniques which
their appropriate allocation in for product presentation in front of mass and target market.
I have also learned many related aspects which are required to develop a smart target
market strategy. Through this activity, I have learned many style of performing my general
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upgrading in ascertaining the living and style of people. In respect to enhance my business
management undertaking, I investigated the advancement of my thought process and learning.
Although, there are encountered various different challenges which as a part of my learning was
enabled. I sought to create my vision to understand the different that exist between invention and
innovation (Heldman, 2010). Furthermore, understanding the management practices related to
functions of business working entities, it is vital to develop wide agenda towards focusing on
outcome. I worked on putting my ability of establishing goals (see photo in blog entry 6, 14th
September, 2017). These are set on account of having strengthened my ways of attainment of all
the processes that are part of management practices.
Attitude and behavior advancement is of chief relevance in gaining in depth considerate
to work at the workplace. I managed to upgrade my relationship management with people who
are associated in working with me (Ibenta, 2005). I thought that there exists correlation between
works of employees with the productivity of the organization. With this idea, I possess good
actability of dealing and managing relationships. A coordination to work along with them on
shared goals and services need to be enhanced in respect to achievement of the target and goals.
Furthermore, since I am good in problem solving ability, I found that I keep good pace in dealing
with issues and challenges that cause hindrance in business working system (IES, 2008). Along
with the same, I found a great pace of connection that is related to handling of different projects.
While undertaking designing part, I gained that it is not particularly limited to excel one in one
level of achieving things (see photo in blog entry 5, 20th September, 2017). Rather, it is
inculcation of different forms of searching and gathering of data and required information that
sets base in regards to subject.
I have been developed well in regards to enrichment of knowledge gaining. This is
essentially resourcefully. Although I make use of Google as a search engine in order to find
information which is apt, correct and reliable. But, as a part of my effective base on conceptual
learning program, I usually do not get it limit to the Google. In order to enhance and advance my
analytical though process, work on logical process of filtering the acquired information. Through
this activity, I have been able to persist my understanding of sourcing information through
various sources such as articles, books, online etc (Katzy, 2000). Data gathering ability has been
effectively acquired by working on my problem solving ability to enrich better prospectus for
gaining series of actions to be done for conceptual thinking.
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My learning was preceded with the way of arranging the activities that are based on day
to day implementation of actions. Thus by designing prototypes, I learned to set the work done
through the art programming tools where the picture of my product look in front of customer is
made me in assessing the ability to have view to identify loopholes and better prospectus. The
VDSD tool implication has helped me in strengthening my learning in regards to measure my
product launching activity on different parameters (see photo in blog entry 7, 6th September,
2017). It made me to learn to create effective evaluation mode to complete the success of the
entire process being undertaken.
Its now but the most important learning which is to be acquired is to develop ability to
become ethical. I have learned to become customer oriented and thus need to be very much
honest with them in respect to their information being shared. Through mapping activity, I found
that I lack ability to present things through graphics. It needs to improvise as through this I have
been able to create a visual experience to the customer and gain their maximum attention out
from the same (see photo in blog entry 8, 30th August, 2017). Building solution and delivering
value to the work is essentially required to be made as it is helpful in realizing the importance of
associated people (Kortmann, 2012).
Action plan for six months
Below given action plan for the six months is planned in regards to required areas of
development which are required to be made for further strengthening my ability to develop blog
writing talent.
ACTIVITIES/MONTHS MONTH
1
MONTH
2
MONTH
3
MONTH
4
MONTH
5
MONTH
6
Formulation of goals that
includes achievement of
future learning outcomes
Defining activities to be
undertaken for the
accomplishment of set
targets
Discussion programs in
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order to analyze the self
strengths and weaknesses
Planning of self
assessment plan
Writing the blog
Analyzing the entire work
on the basis of evaluation
tool application
Final submission of the
work undertaken
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REFERENCES
Arora, A., (2013). International Business Realisms: Globalizing Locally Responsive and
Internationally Connected Business Disciplines. Springer.
Aull, L.L. & Lancaster, Z., (2014). Linguistic markers of stance in early and advanced academic
writing: A corpus-based comparison. Written Communication, 31(2), pp.151-183.
Bougault, M. (2008). Decision making within distributed project teams: an exploration of
formalization and autonomy as determinates of success. Project Management Journal, 39(51),
pp. 92-110.
Cahusac de Caux & et.al., (2017). Reflection for learning in doctoral training: writing groups,
academic writing proficiency and reflective practice. Reflective Practice, pp.1-11.
Canagarajah, A.S., (2013). Critical academic writing and multilingual students. University of
Michigan Press.
Cobb, T. A. (2011). Leading Project Teams: The Basics of Project Management and Team
Leadership. SAGE.
Daft, R.L. & Lengal, R.H. (2016). Organizational information requirements, media richness and
structural design. Management Science, 7(2), 554-571.
Elena, R.D.(2010). Cultural differences in project management.
AnnalesUniversitatisApulensisSericesOeconomica, 12, 657-662.
Eric Kirkland, C. (2012). Project Success: Critical Factors and Behaviours. ProjMgmtJrnl, 43(4),
pp.84-84.
Freidi,S.S.A.(2014). Determinants of the best practices for successful project management.
International Journal of Service, Science and Technology. 3, 173-186.
Goncalves, M. (2005). Integrating speed, change, and radical innovation with ePM: Managing
virtual projects. McGraw Hill.
Heldman, K. (2010). Project Manager's Spotlight on Risk Management. John Wiley & Sons.
Ibenta, S. (2005). Investment Analysis and Financial Management Strategy: Strategy . Nigeria:
Enugu Institute for Development Studies.
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IES, E., (2008). International Education Studies. 1(1). IES.
Katzy,B.(2000). Knowledge management in virtual projetcs: a research agenda. Proceedings of
the 33rd Hawaii International Conferences on System Scienes. 1-9.
Kortmann, S., (2012). The relationship between organizational structure and organizational
ambidexterity. Wiesbaden: Springer Gabler.
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