Reflective Journal: POLC Management Approach for Teacher's Day Event

This reflective journal explores the application of the POLC (Planning, Organizing, Leadership, Controlling) management approach during a high school Teacher's Day event. The student, unexpectedly assigned the role of co-coordinator, reflects on their experience, detailing how they utilized each function. The journal analyzes the planning of event arrangements, refreshment menus, and the memento ceremony, the organization of the event with volunteer support, the exercise of leadership in decision-making under pressure, and the implementation of control to manage an incident. The student critically evaluates their approach, identifies areas for improvement, and outlines future strategies for managing similar events, including taking initiative, reflecting on past experiences, and applying learned lessons. References to relevant management theories and frameworks, such as those by Bolman and Deal, Cooren et al., and Colquitt et al., are included to support the analysis and reflection.

Running Head: REFLECTIVE WRITING 0
POLC Management Approach
Reflective Journal
(Student Details :)
1/29/2019

Reflective Writing 1
Contents
Reflection on Managing People and Organization....................................................................2
Incident Description...................................................................................................................2
Analysis......................................................................................................................................2
Planning..................................................................................................................................2
Organizing..............................................................................................................................2
Leadership..............................................................................................................................2
Controlling.............................................................................................................................3
Critical Evaluation.....................................................................................................................3
References..................................................................................................................................4

Reflective Writing 2
Reflection on Managing People and Organization
In this reflective journal, I will provide a reflection on a specific incident of my life during
which I organized my school’s Teacher’s Day Event and utilised the 4 major management
functions of Planning, Organizing, Leadership as well as Controlling. In this context, i will
also analyse that incident and describe the key areas where exactly I have used each of the
above mentioned 4 management functions. Furthermore, I will analyse and evaluate the way I
managed the incident and the areas where I could improve my skills. I will also find the
future actions if I will get the opportunity to manage the same event in future.
Incident Description
The incident, over which I am reflecting, is about my high school’s Teacher’s Day event
where I worked as a Co-coordinator with the main Co-coordinator of the event. I was not
supposed to work as a co-coordinator for the event, but due to an emergency at previous co-
coordinator’s home I got assigned the work of him just before the 2 days to the event. The
main coordinator, who was the head of student union, called me and told me about the
emergency and pending work for the Teacher’s Day event. After analysing the situation, the
role and responsibilities of a co-coordinator seemed a big challenge to me as I was having no
idea about the event hence it was an unexpected role to be handled and managed at a very
short notice.
Analysis
Planning
As per my knowledge based on (Bolman and Deal, 2017), I helped my senior while planning,
organizing and controlling the whole event. I planned the sitting arrangement, refreshment
menu, and memento ceremony for the event.
Organizing
I organized the event very well with the support of all volunteers and other staff in the event
management team.

Reflective Writing 3
Leadership
According to (Cooren et al., 2011), I utilised my leadership skills while taking the decision of
working as a co-coordinator of the event when there were only 2 days left in the event.
Controlling
During the event, a hassle happened due to some junior students’ fighting incident. At that
time, I implied my knowledge and skills based on (Colquitt et al., 2011), and got control over
the situation to maintain the decorum of the school’s event.
Critical Evaluation
My event management approach of POLC functions as mentioned in (Zheng, Yang and
Mclean, 2010), to the high school Teacher’s Day event functioned in an efficient way as well
as provided me a life-long learning for managing people and organizations.
According to (Clarke, 2017), I have made few future strategies from the perspective of
improving myself in future for the same kind of event. The strategies are as follows:
 I will take initiative and participate for managing events at the organizations in future.
 I will always reflect upon my past experiences in order to evolve my personality in a
positive way.
 I will demonstrate the learning acquired from this incident of my life into my future
management actions.

Reflective Writing 4
References
Bolman, L.G. and Deal, T.E. (2017) Reframing organizations: Artistry, choice, and
leadership, London: John Wiley & Sons.
Clarke, I. (2017) Can You Assess & Manage Your Organizational Risk?, 19 Jul, [Online],
Available: https://linfordco.com/blog/organizational-risk-assessment-management/.
Colquitt, J., Lepine, J.A., Wessaon, M.J. and Gellatly, I.R. (2011) Organizational behavior:
Improving performance and commitment in the workplace, London: McGraw-Hill Irwin.
Cooren, F., Kuhn, T., Cornelissen, J.P. and Clark, T. (2011) 'Communication, organizing and
organization: An overview and introduction to the special issue', Organization Studies, vol.
32, no. 9, pp. 1149-1170.
Zheng, W., Yang, B. and Mclean, G.N. (2010) 'Linking organizational culture, structure,
strategy, and organizational effectiveness: Mediating role of knowledge management',
Journal of Business research, vol. 63, no. 7, pp. 763-771.