Learning Reflection: Advantages and Disadvantages of Social Networks

This essay reflects on the learning process of researching the advantages and disadvantages of using social networks in business. It highlights the effectiveness of social media in connecting businesses with customers, promoting products, and enhancing customer service. The reflection discusses the usefulness of this learning for future coursework, projects, and professional life, emphasizing the importance of social media in modern business models. It also addresses the potential drawbacks, such as the cost of investment, negative publicity, and the need for consistent maintenance. The research involved qualitative and quantitative methods, including interviews, surveys, and secondary data sources, to understand the impact of social media on business practices, customer relationships, and overall success. The student also reflects on time management and data analysis skills gained during the research process. Desklib provides access to similar essays and study resources for students.

Advantages and Disadvantages of using Social networks in Business 1
ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF USING SOCIAL
NETWORKS IN BUSINESS
Assignment 3: Learning Reflection
Name of the Student:
Malik Thakkar

Advantages and Disadvantages of using Social networks in Business 2
Table of Contents
Effectiveness of the learning process.........................................................................................3
Usefulness of learning process...................................................................................................4
Happening of the learning process.............................................................................................4
Evaluation of learning................................................................................................................5
Learning process of research and how it will be applied in future............................................5
References..................................................................................................................................7

Advantages and Disadvantages of using Social networks in Business 3
Learning reflection
Effectiveness of the learning process
The research is conducted on the topic ‘Social media networks in Business’. I have gained a
lot of knowledge by conducting this research. It was because I had a very interactive
sessions with lot of people during this research which let me learn many new concepts and
experiences. The research learning experience was useful to me because if we look at the
present era of technology, social media has become the primary tool for establishing
connection between the business and the customers. Right from the leading organizations
to the small startups, everyone is using this tool in order to spread information and
awareness about their business and to keep their business at global platform (Moro, Rita
and Vala, 2016). Social networking has become an essential for the human society without
which it is almost impossible to live on modern society (Tiago and Veríssimo, 2014). The
project was taken up with an objective to analyses the effectiveness of social media on the
business practices and to throw a light upon the advantages and disadvantages of business.
The scope of the project is wide which is why I selected this topic because there is a lot to
learn about this topic which will also help me in future because of its growing importance.
The learning experience will add up a value to me as it will enhance my scope of learning
and knowledge. A conceptual model is shared in the review of literature of this project
which clearly shows the points need to be discussed in the research. I also found that every
author or reviewer have different opinion about the usefulness of social media. Some are of
the opinion that social media is the best tool in the present time to promote the business
while some of them suggest that not all the customers are present at this platform which
make it non accessed for those who do not use social media or internet. Even the poor
connectivity of internet is one of the disadvantage which makes no point of using the social
media by business (Zolkepli and Kamarulzaman, 2015).

Advantages and Disadvantages of using Social networks in Business 4
Usefulness of learning process
This learning process will be useful as I will be able to apply these insights learned in future.
This can be applied during my coursework, in my project report and also in my professional
life. This can help me in designing the advertisements which could help business in growing
and in moving forward by accessing more customers than before. I have gone through
various real cases which showed that the birth of Myspace, Facebook or Instagram has
change the face of promotion and advertising by the businesses. The percentage of social
media users have also increased drastically in the last decade which helps company to ease
the connectivity with the customer (Cardon and Marshall, 2015). The products and services
are delivered timely and the payments are also derived timely which smoothen the
transactions of business (Ali-Hassan, Nevo and Wade, 2015).
Happening of the learning process
I visited libraries and also surfed internet to gain information about the topic. I have used
various models in the literature review to explain the significance of social networks in
business. These models include virtual goods model, subscription model, advertising model,
social media and communication theory and social media integration theory model. I have
read that to have better impact of the social networks in business, the business policies
should be reformed. I also learned to use different research methods and tools in order to
develop and conduct the research and to take out the conclusion out of it. I have
experienced that the investments made on using social media are much lower than the
investments done on other business promotion tools. Social media networks have huge
benefits like larger audience size, increase in the brand loyalty, better research of market
and better customer service which lead to higher customer satisfaction (Mangold and
Faulds, 2009). On the other side, I have come through different opinions of people where
they are of the view that social networks adds up cost to the business and do not convert
high number of potential customers into the actual ones.

Advantages and Disadvantages of using Social networks in Business 5
Evaluation of learning
I observed that the research needs both the qualitative and quantitative information for
coming to a conclusion. I realized the importance of time and deadlines because of which I
prepared an action plan so that every activity of the research could be completed on time.
Social media is revolution for the business and this was confirmed when the people engaged
in this industry were interviewed. I observed that social media does not only provide a
boom to the business but also helps in people in interacting with each other within their
social circle. It helps them in connecting with each other and develop smooth relationships
among them. I can see that this research will help me in setting up my own business and in
promoting it by using social networks in future. I have also learned how to well
communicate with people and it increased much confidence in me. I have learned how to
manage time and deadline which will help me in completing my projects during the course
and in future either in my job or business. I have also learned about various data analysis
techniques which would further help in sorting and analyzing the data collected for the
purpose of meeting the objectives of the research or data collection. I have also learned that
like every single thing have some positive and negative points, this research also have some
limitations. These limitations include the shortage of time and resource because of which
the research is conducted at a short scale.
Learning process of research and how it will be applied
in future
The questions of the research were developed after framing proper motive of conducting
research in mind. The questions were focused to gain the insights for advantages and
disadvantages of social media in business. For this purpose, two assignments were prepared
in which one was only for explaining the data collected through secondary data and the
second one was done for the purpose of explaining the research methods which are used in
conducting the data. Qualitative and quantitative research methods are used for conducting
the research in which data is collected through primary and secondary data sources. The
instruments used for collecting data are interviews, survey questionnaire and secondary

Advantages and Disadvantages of using Social networks in Business 6
sources like books, journals, newspaper articles, websites and more. It is done so as to make
the research process clear and understood by all.
This learning will surely be applied in future. I think there will be a time when the businesses
will operate fully online and offline businesses will be just a formality. In that case, social
networks will be highly suitable for online business models. It can be used by the large scale
businesses and also by small scale businesses or start ups (Hajli, 2014). It is because the cost
of investment and maintenances not high and the access to customers is more (Baruah,
2012). The platforms like Facebook, twitter, You Tube, LinkedIn have changed the role of
social media in business and has increased the user participation at next level which
ultimately benefits the business and the final customer (Bowers, 2017).
But it depends on the use of social networks. If these networks are not used fairly or are not
maintained regularly, it can lead to negative consequences. The negative publicity can be
done by the competitors which disrupt the success of the business and degrade the
reputation of the business in the society and industry (Marlow, et al., 2015). I would
definitely take up personal coaching and lessons in this field to enhance the level of my
knowledge about the use of social media. This would help me in future for applying my
learning in a much better way.

Advantages and Disadvantages of using Social networks in Business 7
References
Ali-Hassan, H., Nevo, D. and Wade, M. 2015. Linking dimensions of social media use to job
performance: The role of social capital. The Journal of Strategic Information Systems, 24(2),
pp.65-89.
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.
Bowers, J., 2017. Social Media for Business: A Marketer's Guide. Business News Daily.
Cardon, P.W. and Marshall, B., 2015. The hype and reality of social media use for work
collaboration and team communication. International Journal of Business
Communication, 52(3), pp.273-293.
Hajli, M. N., 2014. A study of the impact of social media on consumers. International Journal
of Market Research. Vol. 56 Issue 3.
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.
Marlow, C., Davis, M., Sample, N., Curtis, M., Kennedy, R., Krishnappa, Y., Wroblewski, L.,
Boerries, M. and Hayashi, J., Yahoo! Inc, 2015. Identifying and employing social network
relationships. U.S. Patent 8,954,500.
Moro, S., Rita, P. and Vala, B., 2016. Predicting social media performance metrics and
evaluation of the impact on brand building: A data mining approach. Journal of Business
Research, 69(9), pp.3341-3351.
Tiago, M.T.P.M.B. and Veríssimo, J.M.C., 2014. Digital marketing and social media: Why
bother?. Business Horizons, 57(6), pp.703-708.
Zolkepli, I.A. and Kamarulzaman, Y., 2015. Social media adoption: The role of media needs
and innovation characteristics. Computers in Human Behavior, 43, pp.189-209.

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