Management Course: Weekly Reflection on Learning Experience

This reflective journal chronicles a student's learning journey through a management course, encompassing both technical and personal aspects. The journal systematically reflects on each week's topics, including problem-solving models, such as the six-step process, engagement models, and creative problem-solving techniques. It delves into concepts like wicked problems, system thinking, and non-routine problems, highlighting the student's evolving understanding and application of these principles. The reflection also explores the importance of reflective learning and its connection to management competence, innovation, and personal growth. The document provides detailed insights into the course's structure, workshops, and assessments, along with the student's experiences in teamwork and the development of critical thinking skills. The bibliography lists the sources that the student has used for the assignment.

Running Head: WEEK REFLECTION
Week Reflection
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

2WEEK REFLECTION
Summary: The aim of this reflective journal is to reflect on the technical aspect and the
personal aspects of the course learning. In this reflective journal I will reflect on what I have
learnt (1) about/during the workshops, (2) about problem solving in general, (3) about this
course, its materials and exercises, and (4) about myself and my personal learning. Moreover,
I will collate my reflections on the lessons learned from my experiences within this course,
such as: what worked well, what didn’t, and summarising my entire experience. The week 2
looked at the basic model of the problem solving and discussed the key steps which were
involved in the process. The week 3 focused on giving a deeper look into the management
problems having engaged with the problem. In week 4 , The primary focus was on the
meditating on a problem. In week 5, the primary focus of this week was on involving the
students in applying a creative solution in a difficult problem. The week 6 defined what
wicked problem is and considered the various layers of wicked problem. The most interesting
week for me was week 7 that dealt with the system thinking. The week 8 talked about “ non-
routine” problems in the management. Week 9 was an independent study. Week 10 was
concerned with the reflection as a management competence. The week 11 was an
independent study and week 12 given an overview of the entire course.
Week 1 & 2: The week 1 was all about the structure of the course and the way it is linked to
the assessments. The week lectures were also focused on the materials and the topics which
would be covered in the workshops. On the other hand, week 2 looked at the basic model of
the problem solving and discussed the key steps which were involved in the process. This
week introduced us with the steps of the problem solving model. These models are used for
addressing various challenges that arise in the workplace. In a particular organization, there
is a range of different problem which arise everyday and they are dealt with various
approaches. There are complex challenges for the teams, the boards and the groups. It has
been revealed through the week that the problems can be solved in the most effective manner

3WEEK REFLECTION
having used a collaborative and the systematic approach to the problem solving. The six
steps are defining the problem, determining the root cause of the problem, developing the
alternative solutions, selection of a solution, implementation of the solution and evaluation of
the outcome.
The course has made us understand that this process is one of the continuous
improvements and the primary goal is to adjust the solution consistently instead of only
solving them. The repetition of the six steps helps to deal with the emerging challenges. On a
reflecting note , I would like to say that this process ensures the consistency and I have learnt
that its eliminates biases too. Notably, it makes the decision making process much easier and
provides the justifiable solution. Teams were formed for the four weekly pitches for
discussing the Team Charter. The effective ways to give feedbacks to the peers also have
been discussed. The experience of the team work has been great for me and has made the
learning process much easier.
Week 3 & 4 : After teaching about the management problem and the ways to resolve the
problems , week 3 focused on giving a deeper look into the management problems having
engaged with the problem. A couple of engagement models have been reviewed and the
ideas of the divergent and lateral thinking also have been explored. The module led us to
review the Systematic Practice and Action Research that defined the engagement model of
problem solving properly with a case study. It taught us that the engagement model for
problem solving had been developed as a powerful response to the soft systems methodology
which was difficult to implement in certain circumstances. The introduction of the
engagement or the empathy/value based model was also discussed.
In week 4 , The primary focus was on the meditating on a problem. It taught us that
meditating on a problem means to have time to think regarding the problem properly, seek for

4WEEK REFLECTION
the alternatives and look for a range of opinions from the surrounding people. The time
taking helps to understand about the problem clearly and deal with it with more reflection ,
comparison and reflection. The learning process of week 3 & 4 has been quite difficult for
me as initially I could not understand the elements of the value based model. The lecturer and
the peers have helped me upto greater extent. However, I have learnt how to see the
problems from multiple perspectives. I am highly obliged to the lecturer for explaining the
problem solving precisely and easily. Understanding of the problem was a bit tricky for me
but I overcame that with support from the online materials too.
Week 5, 6 & 7 : In this workshop we were made to look at the creative problem solving
within the case study for preparing pitch 2. We were given the workshop slides along with
the hyperlinks. The week taught about the creative thinking that is required in the problem
solving process. The primary focus of this week was on involving the students in applying a
creative solution in a difficult problem. As an activity I had to prepare my individual Pitch
template and the Pitch team feedback for the group project. On the other hand, week 6
concentrated on understanding the wicked problems which do not have any structure, any
shape, any optimisable goal or content.
The week 6 defined what wicked problem is and considered the various layers of
wicked problem. It also established an understanding of the various stakeholders and
different consequences of wicked issues. The module discussed ways of understanding them.
The most interesting week for me was week 7 that dealt with the system thinking. I learnt
about what system thinking is, what the ideas that underpin it are and how it can impact on
the management problems. Previously I used to confuse the system thinking with systematic
thinking. Later, after undergoing the workshop, I have understood that it is a holistic thinking
associated with Peter Senge’s Fifth Discipline.

5WEEK REFLECTION
Week 8 , 9 & 10 : The week 8 talked about “ non-routine” problems in the management.
These are also called the ‘novel ‘problems. The module taught us that as a manager, it is
extremely necessary to identify the unknown problems which arise suddenly. Having proper
awareness and understanding is required which can work as a catalyst. In this week, the
variances have been explored. We have applied the non-routine problem solving by
discussion. The week 8 focused on reviewing the ideas and the notions of the non-routine
problems . It also aimed to present some ideas on the ways of examining the management
problem .Week 9 was an independent study. Week 10 was concerned with the reflection as a
management competence. The module taught us how to think reflectively and as an activity,
we were asked to discuss about the main features of the reflective writing and thinking. This
week emphasized on the importance of reflection and how it can be used.
The reflective learning can be referred to as the sense of an event, the happening, the
experiences and the episodes. In the reflection, the conscious process can bring about scopes
for development and growth for a meaningful change. This particular course taught us how to
develop learning through the writing process and how the skills developments are linked with
the assessments. I have realized that reflection is the key to innovation without which a
status quo is maintain which is against innovation, sustainability and creativity.
Week 11 & 12 : The week 11 was an independent study and week 12 given an overview of
the entire course. The aim of the week 12 was to create an environment of awareness for the
reflection that is related to the problem solving. It also demonstrated the way the application
of the reflective learning gives scopes for improvement. It further demonstrated the way
reflection serves as a foundation for the consistent learning process which is the key to the
best problem solving methods.

6WEEK REFLECTION
Bibliography
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solving and performance in top Italian firms. Journal of Knowledge
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https://www.emeraldinsight.com/doi/abs/10.1108/JKM-03-2016-0113
Heilig, L., Lalla-Ruiz, E., & Voß, S. (2016). A cloud brokerage approach for solving the
resource management problem in multi-cloud environments. Computers & Industrial
Engineering, 95, 16-26. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cie.2016.02.015
Hiassat, A., Diabat, A., & Rahwan, I. (2017). A genetic algorithm approach for location-
inventory-routing problem with perishable products. Journal of manufacturing
systems, 42, 93-103. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmsy.2016.10.004
Orasanu, J. M. (2017). 12 Shared problem models and flight crew performance. Aviation
psychology in practice, 255. Retrieved from-https://books.google.co.in/books?
hl=en&lr=&id=GG1QDwAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PA255&dq=management+problem

7WEEK REFLECTION
+solving+models&ots=s0aiHghpvA&sig=-
XBqacjsPPnTfgo_VozIH49_874#v=onepage&q=management%20problem
%20solving%20models&f=false
Williams, A., Kennedy, S., Philipp, F., & Whiteman, G. (2017). Systems thinking: A review
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https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.02.002