Personal Learning & Development, Conflict Management - Assignment Example

Table of Contents Introduction 2 Group Dynamics 2 Methodology Used 4 Workplace Dimensions 4 Role Identification 5 Strategies Used 7 Conflict Management 9 Personal Learning & Development 9 Conclusion 11 References 13 Introduction The reflective report presents the manner in which the group members worked together in a project which was on Sedgley Park Rebranding. The report focuses on different group dynamic strategies which were used to ensure effectiveness in the working. Further, it also looks into the different problems encountered during the project and the manner the group dealt with it and arrived at a decision. Further, the report also presents the various areas that the leader laid stress on and the manner in which the individual behavior of the members were molded towards a common goal. The report also highlights the various learning and presents the different areas that ensured efficiency in the group. Finally, the report highlights the manner in which the course learning’s were applied and the manner in which the team was able to get best results and ensure proper report. Group Dynamics The working within the group helped me to understand the various group dynamics which is required for the success of any organization. The group looked to involve all members and worked on the core strength of each member so that the group project was able to fetch maximum efficiency. The group looked towards having a leader at different situations which ensured proper direction and motivation to achieve the task. To ensure better results the group looked towards motivating all members of the group which resulted in the group achieving the stated objectives (Latham, 2007). I acted as a leader during different part of the project and provide my insights which helped us greatly in improving the quality of the project. The group looked towards ensuring that all members contributed towards the common goal which helped in gaining efficiency and completing the project as planned. My skills played a role in shaping the performance of each member as I ensured that the members were assigned role based on their individual skills. The different members presented different ideas and views which were both complimentary and conflicting to each other but the group chose one which would provide maximum efficiency. To ensure that the effectiveness of findings was correct various researches was conducted to ensure the appropriateness of the study (Wee, 2001). This is supported by the fact that the paper presents the different research design and methodological issues through different literature reviews (Krasnikov and Jayachandran, 2008). The group met regularly and we had discussions on various topics and through the brainstorming session the group was able to find out different ideas which helped to improve the overall performance of the group. The group ensured consistency and looked towards developing different questionnaire which were both open and close ended so that maximum information could be gathered which helped us in the project as it ensured that proper surveys provided correct results. I took over the main role here looked towards designing the questionnaire that matched the requirements of the group. Other members helped me out in it and the entire team was therefore able to develop a framework which ensured maximum development. Methodology Used The team while looking towards achieving the objectives followed a methodology which was based on primary and secondary data. On the primary front the group has questionnaire and gathered information pertaining to the project from the market. On the secondary front the team gathered information based on previous findings and actual scenario being witnessed by the world. Mixing both form of methodology helped us as a team to ensure that the methodology followed had a different mix of things and it helped us to gain the desired results we were looking for. The methodology adopted by the team was based on the learning’s that we had gathered. This methodology adopted worked on the smaller aspect of decision making and taking decision based on reflective focused thinking has ensured that the result is sound. This was primarily because of the learning that we had acquired. This course has helped us to understand the importance of lateral thinking and analyzing situations based on different fundamentals which thereby ensures that decisions are better. This was the prime reason which made the group adopt a methodology which was based both on primary and secondary data so that the final results which would be achieved would reflect both. Workplace Dimensions The team used the different dimension of the workplace to develop an environment where the team was able to deliver qualitative result (Lagan and Moran, 2006). The team members worked on smaller goals so that the target was achievable. This helped us to ensure that bigger targets were divided into shorter ones and by accomplishing the smaller goals the group was able to achieve the bigger picture. This helped the team as the individual members were able to provide interpretative and analytical information in the report. The team looked towards building on the smaller goals by ensuring that all the information was backed by different surveys to that the validity of the information could be relied on. This helped to increase the validity of the findings it was possible for the reader to verify the information which ensured that the relevance of the project increased (Brand, 2003). The team here remained completely focussed and looked to gather data based on true and correct sources so that the information that was interpreted would helped Sedgley Park to rebrand it. Role Identification The best part of our group was that each and every member contributed towards the goal and provided useful insights. We ensured that each member was assigned roles based on the strength and we also ensured that the members contributed and helped each other so that the project could be completed on time and in an effective manner. This ensured that the group was able to dwell on different aspect which resulted in the overall findings to be very sound (Yukl, 1989). Having identified the role for each member ensured that all the members were able to contribute towards the final goal. The most important and toughest part for the entire project was drafting the questionnaire as we looked to have it short and still covering all the relevant points. After that asking and persuading people to fill those was a difficult aspect of the project but at the end the team was able to manage it and deliver satisfactory results. The group looked towards adopting an approach where they reflected both side of the views and backed it by different study. This helped the team that the project looked into the holistic approach and provided the readers with multiple areas that can be looked into through a single paper (Brockner, 2009). This was of immense help to us as it helped us in getting a direction which we followed and ensured that we were able to get the correct questionnaire and provide results which matched the criteria we were looking for. The group looked towards using the same strategy and based on the different parameters looked to design the questionnaire which would complete the different aspect of the project and provide maximum advantage to the group. This was of immense help to the team as it ensured that the final objectives were planned well and it ensured that the organization was able to implement the changes that would have ensured the best performance (Chew, Cheng, & Petrovic-Lazarevic, 2006). This objective helped us to develop our strategy in such a manner that all members were able to achieve the results and ensure efficiency. Strategies Used I remember the time when our team was facing difficulty in executing the plans on time. Time was running out and we were short of ides. The learning from the course helped us at that moment. We as a group made use of the Gantt Chart and looked to have deadlines for project. This helped to keep in tune with the time requirements and ensured that the difficulty that we were facing pertaining to time got solved. I have encountered that proper scheduling ensures that the work is accomplished on time. This was an area that benefitted me the most and helped me to realize that identifying the roles of the members and communicating clearly to them ensure coordination of activities. This helped me to shape the behaviours and integrate the work culture there by enabling to achieve the group goals. This will thereby help to reduce conflicts as demarcating the lines will serve the purpose and don’t enter into someone else working domain. Having a proper schedule and looking to achieve the objectives motivated each member of the group and made them work on the different areas that helped us to achieve a strategy which ensured that all members were on track and completed the project in a timely manner (Heathfield, 2010). This ensured that the final project has the required flow and the structure of the project ensured that it was well connected throughout. The project thereby has the logical flow which we were looking for and being able to integrate different factors and delivering the project ensured that it was reliable and provided correct recommendations. The group members also looked towards solving the problem by speaking to each other and ensuring that the problem was sorted out (Fizel, 1999). This was one of the corner stone for the success of the team as it looked towards ensuring that the work was perfect and free from errors. This ensured that the contribution of each member was correct and helped to provide the required result for which the group member was working on. The group was able to deliver quality performance as the team looked to work on different aspect of the project and compiled it together. This helped us to concentrate on our work in hand. The team ensured regular meetings and looked forward to suggestion to improve the working. This helped us immensely and ensured that the team was on track to achieve the objectives that was stated at the beginning of the project. During the meetings we ensured that each member was allowed to speak and present his views on the work of the other members. Suggestions and areas to work on were also provided and the members ensured that in the next meeting all the corrections were done. This helped us to ensure that the content of the project was as per the guidelines provided to us. My team also ensured that each of the members acted as leaders and were capable of handling any discrepancies that arose between the team members. This helped us to gel very well an we were able to build the required reputation among the group members that helped us to deliver quality performance. Conflict Management There were situations which were tough from the point of view of the team because there were conflicts but the best part was that the team was able to solve those and ensure that the team remained united and worked together. This ensured that the team was united and worked as a single unit. Different members played different role and acted as a leader so that the problem and conflict got solved (Hale, 2003). I also played the role of a leader a few times and helped to solve the conflicts that existed between the team members. This helped me to understand my role as a leader who needs to ensure that all members in the team are satisfied and the efforts of each member is directed towards a common goal. This thereby helped me to learn a lot of things and brought the required changes that I was looking for. Personal Learning & Development Working together in a team has brought widespread changes in me. I have learnt that being innovative helps as it was clearly demonstrated through a live example in our group work where we were innovative and looked to gather information based on different parameters. I also learned the fact that working together ensures best results when all the members are able to contribute and being able to associate with each other helps to ensure maximum satisfaction (Jacob, 2003). I have also understood that by working on the different areas of group dynamics and leadership I can develop and ensure bigger roles in the organization. The most important learning was that it is important to be flexible as well as a team player so that the goals are achieved easily. This helps in the integration of people belonging from different culture and provides the desired result that the group looks forward (Innah, 2009). I also understood that alternatives need to be studied carefully before picking any solution as being able to work on different alternatives help to verify the pros and cons which thereby helps to ensure that the results delivered are the best. This increases the role of the leader as he has to ensure that there are no ego clashes and all the members look towards the well being of each other (Murray, 2010). I learnt the various area of management which I need to work on so that I am able to become a better team player and achieve the objectives and responsibilities which I am entrusted with. I also need to be more flexible and absorbing different ideas so that I am able to look at things with an open mind and choose alternatives which will benefit the entire group and develop the team into a better one. I understood that setting clear goals and directing the efforts of each member towards the goal ensures best results and helps the entire team in their endeavor. This is evident from the fact that the project matched the objectives. This project thereby helped me to face real life scenarios which I will encounter in the future. The learning’s can be used to ensure that similar mistakes are not committed in the future and this will thereby help to improve my performance in the future. This will help to shape my performance and will ensure that I am able to perform better in the future and deliver better results. I understood the fact that if I am able to perform better as a leader than I will be able to ensure better results as it will help to enhance the performance of the team. Thus, I was able to deliver as a leader and ensured that my skills helped my team to perform better. There are still some areas that I need to work on so that I am able to perform better as a leader so that the goals of the group are achieved more efficiently. Thus, the project helped to bring the required changes and working in a group helped us to ensure that we were able to use the strength of each member towards the betterment of the project. This helped us immensely and ensured that the team was able to deliver superior performance. I also feel that working and understanding the group dynamics further will help to improve my understanding of the subject and will ensure that I am able to deliver the required performance on a consistent basis. Conclusion To conclude the learning from this course has been very valuable especially due to the inputs and efforts being made by the coordinator. This helped to understand the importance of proper management and using different management tools so that the task is accomplished on time. Further, ensuring proper communication and solving the queries that exist between the team members help to improve the efficiency of the team and ensures that the result is achieved with minimum efforts. The value of this learning multiplied as it helped me to deal with the real life scenario and being able to understand those will further build my future opportunities of growth in a real company. This will help me in my future endeavors as I have kept the notes and important findings from various situations which I can use in the future when I work thereby ensuring that I am able to perform better. References Brand, M. 2003. Market Intelligence: Making Market Research Work, Accion’s Insight Series, 7 Brockner, J 2009. Business and Economics. Journal of Organizational Behavior. 30, pp. 480, 646-648 Chew, M.M.M., Cheng, J.S.L. & S. Petrovic-Lazarevic, 2006. Managers’ Role in Implementing Organizational Change, Journal of Global Business and Technology, Vol. 2, No. 1 Fizel, J. 1999. Does efficiency matters in managers. Journal of Management, Volume 25, (4), Page 567-585 Heathfield, S. 2010. What managers do differently, Management Success, about.com, The New York Times Company Hale, J. 2003. Performance based management: What managers should do to get result, 2nd Edition, John Wiley & Sons Inc, UK Innah, A. 2009. The effect of cultural factors in consumer buying behaviour. The New York Times Company Jacob, N. 2003. Intercultural Management. Great Britain and USA: Kogan Page Ltd. Latham, G. 2007. Work Motivation. USA and UK: Sage Publications Ltd. Lagan, A. and Moran, B. 2006. Three Dimensional Ethics: Implementing workplace Values. Australia: National Library of Australia Cataloguing-in-Publication. Murray, A. 2010. What do managers do? The Wall Street Journal, Harper Business Review, Dow Jones & Company Inc Krasnikov, A. and Jayachandran, S. 2008. The relative impact of marketing, research and development, and operational capabilities on firms performance, Journal of Marketing, 72 (4) Yukl, G. 1989. Managerial Leadership. 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