Report to the presentation 3 - Essay Example

REflective report on power point presentations al Affiliation) Key words: Group Presentation, Teamwork Among the numerous group presentations, I chose to conduct an analytical review of two group presentations. The group presentation pertaining to how Ikea removed women from its catalogue in Saudi Arabia was not only eye opening, but also informative on matters relating to corporate culture and values (Fernando 2009). The presentation is very detailed and is adequately poised to answer questions on issues of an ethical nature, how companies conduct their business dealings and how they are sometimes erroneously coerced into some decisions due to public pressure.

The group presentation on this topic was impeccable and as part of the audience, I leant a number of issues that I previously had no inkling. For example, I have to admit that I was slightly ignorant of the plight of women in Saudi Arabia and how their culture has been used to subjugate them (Ahmed 2008). Following the presentation, I even took the initiative to investigate the issue on my own and I laud the efforts of the group and its presentation, since I can truly attest to the effectiveness of the presentation as a learning tool.

The effectiveness of the presentation led me to reflect on the techniques employed by the group and which made the presentation have a lasting effect on me. One of the major factors is the appropriate length of the presentation. The group adopted a concise presentation which took into consideration the short attention span of students. There is a clear structure in the presentation and it is limited to few major talking points that are comprehensively discussed, but in a simple fashion that does not overcrowd the presentation.

I also found the use of visual aids a very positive technique, especially in ensuring the attention of the audience is captivated. One of the major rules of a good presentation is engaging an audience and from my own personal experience, I can attest to how engaging the presentation was. The questions were answered in a logical and relevant manner, which was enabled through the use of appropriate visual aids and the application of bullet points. Additionally, I have to commend the group for listing the names of the members of the group.

As academics, the issue of plagiarism is a major issue, therefore, by adopting mechanisms that ensure and protect the authenticity of our work, we are fostering appropriate codes of conduct in research. However, despite the many advantages of the group presentation, I identified a few weaknesses which if handled and corrected effectively, will improve the presentation. One of the weaknesses is the wrong choice of color for the background and the content. Even though the presentation is meticulous, the lack of a clear color contrast makes the presentation a little bit dull.

I would recommend the use of better color schemes like black and red, which would create an illuminating effect and captivate the audience even more. Lastly, I identified a sentence structure error in the fifth slide which may have been as a result of failing to proof-read the content. The error is the exclusion of the words ‘Ikea for removing’ from the answer and which adversely affects the meaning. However, generally, it was a very appropriate and complete presentation. The Nike and Louis Armstrong endorsement fiasco is a relevant case study that is appropriate for understanding issues of brand image, personal integrity and ethics (Pryor 2011).

The group presentation is essentially helpful in understanding how companies use the celebrity status of superstars in sport to promote their brand and their products, even sometimes at the expense of their duties to society as a social entity, tasked with promoting ethical codes of conducts in its business dealings (Hartman 2008). The appropriate use of color contrast in this group presentation is its greatest strength. Even before the presentation of the content, the contrast between the content and the background captures the imagination of the audience.

The yellow and black color scheme is very illuminating and appropriate to the subject matter and audience. This is because, the colors are not too bright, which may limit the ability of the presentation to convey information on a serious matter, and not too dull as to disinterest the audience. Indeed, the right balance was struck. I also like the inclusion of an introduction and summary at the beginning of the presentation. It is a very effective technique aimed at providing background information to the audience and also mentally preparing them for the presentation, which ultimately ensures co-operation and participation from the audience even before the actual content is presented.

Additionally, the appropriate use of pictures and other visual aids is instrumental in efficiently conveying information to the audience. Personally, I liked how the group used pictures of Lance Armstrong and other captions to effectively match the information being conveyed. For example, when answering the question on integrity among sport personalities, the group incorporated pictures of Tiger Woods and Lance Armstrong, both of whom are disgraced sports superstars who lost their endorsements (Nike) courtesy of unethical issues (Cavusgil 2012).

I will also highlight how the use of high quality visual aids is instrumental in conveying relevant information and capturing the attention of the audience. Low quality images can make a presentation look shoddy and dull which luckily is not the case in this presentation. As a member of the audience, I can conclude the images adopted in the presentation are very visible and are one of the things that ensured my undivided attention during the presentation. However, I have identified a few weaknesses in the presentation, with the major issue being the insufficient number of slides and consequently inadequate information.

Despite being eager to listen to the presentation, I was left with a dissatisfied feeling afterwards and I felt like the group did not cover the topic extensively. The questions are answered in a logical manner but lacked the appropriate depth. Additionally, I found the presentation to be a little overcrowded, since a lot of information was crammed into the slides. For instance, when answering the questions, the group could have created additional slides specifically for the answers instead of providing the answers and the questions on the same slide.

Furthermore, by separating the slides of the answers and questions, the group will be improving the attention span of the audience through creating suspense, a very effective tool for enticing audiences. If the group can adopt these measures, then the presentation will not only be attractive, but it will back up the beauty with content. Since I was also a member of a group presentation, I have first-hand information on how difficult and tasking it is to harmonize the opinions of different people into a singular set of ideas that are consistent with the perceptions and preferences of all the members.

Both my personal and other group experiences have highlighted the need for me to be more open minded with regards to the ideas of other people, since a team is better than an individual (Pritchard 2012). For example, I realized during our group discussions that what I had I had initially dismissed as an irrelevant idea (color contrast) was actually significant in the presentation. As a future leader, I have acknowledged the importance of compromise and listening to others, which I have learnt are a necessary ingredient for success (Williamson 2013).

References Ahmed, Q., 2008. In the land of invisible women: A female doctors journey in the Saudi Kingdom. Naperville, Ill.: Sourcebooks. Cavusgil, S., & Knight, G., 2012. International business: The new realities (2nd ed.). Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Prentice Hall/Pearson. Fernando, A., 2009. Corporate ethics, governance, and social responsibility precepts and practices. Delhi: Pearson Power, Dorling Kindersley. Hartman, L., & DesJardins, J., 2008. Business ethics: Decision-making for personal integrity and social responsibility.

Boston: McGraw-Hill/Irwin. Pritchard, K., & Eliot, J., 2012. Help the helper: Building a culture of extreme teamwork. New York, N.Y.: Portfolio/Penguin. Pryor, K., 2011. Integrity. New York: Marshall Cavendish Benchmark. Williamson, R., 2013. Straight Talk on Leadership Solving Canada’s Business Crisis. Hoboken: Wiley.