Problem Solving Skills for the Professional Domain of Consultant - Essay Example

Reflective Report Covering the Whole of This Module Table of Contents Reflective Report on the Entire Module Undertaken 3 References 8 Bibliography 10 Reflective Report on the Entire Module Undertaken A reflective report is a particular guide that encourages one to gain maximum knowledge and experience from the past activities. It is one of the most basic forms of approaches undertaken by people to recall what they have learnt in the past (UNSW, n.d.). In this particular report I will mainly highlight my past experiences of learning with regard to my association with a particular module and how it might be beneficial for me in my future endeavours. The module I was associated with mainly includes the aspect of problem solving skills for the professional domain of consultants. Problems solving is crucial in every particular aspect of life where one is confronted with problems and challenges that comes in their way (Krantz, 1997). In the introduction phase of the subject area, I was introduced with some of the basic roles and opportunity that are associated with the role of a consultancy. The module included the teaching duo of Mrs Susan Linkman and Mr Steve Linkman. From the introduction phase I was able to learn that the job role of a consultant mainly includes people management, project management and their problem solving behaviour among others. It would be crucial to depict that a consultant is a person who gives expert advice to others in any particular domain. Hence, he/she must develop their competency in numerous areas. I have also learnt about the types of consultant along with their respective job role. My learning in the initial stages of the module also included the steps which a consultant needs to follow with regard to successful execution of the responsibility of their job. I was also told about the courses that are associated with the profession of consultant in a comprehensive manner. I believe this learning will be quite helpful for me in the future context as it enables me to comprehend the basic knowledge regarding a consultant and their working approach. In the subsequent days of my association with the module, my learning was augmented in the area of creative problem solving relative to the domain of consultancy. I learnt that creative problem solving approach include analysing the problems comprehensively and creating diverse or innovative strategies to deal with the same (Meador, 1997). From this part of the module I was able to comprehend that the creative methods of problem solving includes proper identifying of the problems in concern along with generating comprehensive understanding regarding the same. I understand that this aspect needs to be followed by decision making along with solution implementation as a follow up approach. I was also be able to learn from this particular module guide that a person becomes creative owing to its feelings, imaginations, ideas and intuitions in a collective manner. I further learnt that there are different quadrants in the thinking process of individuals and each one of them has its components that influence the thinking of a person. The study in this particular part of the module also enabled me to comprehend that people in different professional domain has different ways of thinking owing to differences their mind-set. For example, the mind-set of a detective, an artist and an explorer will be different from one another owing to the difference in their profession. From that particular session of the module I was also able to comprehend that there are certain barriers that obstructs creative thinking of any individual which includes false assumptions of people about their creativity and following a particular set or predetermined rules for creativity. I believe that all these aspect of my learning will be quite helpful for me in the future context where I could be able to have a better understanding about creativity that might be required in the respective professional domain. The module acquainted me with the techniques of problem solving within any particular domain. There are various techniques of problem solving within any particular domain and effective utilisation of the same will ensure positive results (Wisconsin, n.d.). First step is to describe the problems with the assistance of various players that involves in various professional domains. For instance, in order to create an advertisement for a particular car, the interest of the various players in between such as the customers, the actors and the owners among others are required to be taken into account. As per my learning from the module, the next stage involves the technique of problem solving which includes analysing the problem with the assistance of techniques such as five why’s analysis or Pareto Chart. Furthermore, it was learnt that the subsequent stage of the problem solving includes generation or identification of the potential solution with the help of technique such as five how’s. The module taught me that the problem solving process also includes the evaluation and the selection of the solutions. In order to provide a comprehensive understanding in this regard, our learning in the module also included a practical scenario where we need to conduct a problem solving exercise. I believe that this knowledge gained by me will be crucial in the future context as I will able to demonstrate my problem solving skills in a more systematic way, further enhancing the probability of gaining positive results from my approach. Another particular subject matter that was included in module includes Business Cases, Project Charters and Contracts. Notably, a business case is a particular analysis of various aspects of a particular business unit including values, costs, risks and feasibility among others (Gambles, 2009). I have learnt in this particular module that there is certain specific business approach that has to be followed in creating a business case which includes selecting team, determining and values and goals of the organization, identifying the alternative options, defining the business feasibility and analysing and implementing the plans among others. While going through the module I acquired considerable knowledge regarding the several key aspects relative to project management. I have come to know that there exists a particular document called charter that contains all the information to initiate various activities in a project (Chang, 2005). There are certain specific characteristics of a charter which includes ‘reasons for undertaking project’, ‘Objectives & Success Criteria’ and ‘risks & assumptions’ along with the timeline among others. As per my learning on this particular module, a contract is another vital component in any business. A business contract is a legally binding agreement that depicts a legally enforceable relationship amid two parties (Small Business Development Corporation, 2014). The module in concern enabled me to comprehend about the various components and implications of a business contract. Undoubtedly, this aspect will be quite vital for me in the future context if I associate with any kind of business. The module also includes a particular subject area that described about the aspect of problem and its implications especially for the profession of consultants. For consultants the aspect of problem solving will require the adherence of a particular process. As per my learning or association with the module, I can depict that the process of problem solving for the consultants will include conducting initial meeting, identifying the potential stakeholders, gathering all the requirements of the problem solving aspect, analysing the requirements gathered and confirming the requirements in communication with the clients. After all these steps, an agreement is formed amid the client and the consultant. This particular knowledge gained by me from the module will certainly be helpful for me in the future context in case I associate myself with this particular profession. The module with which I was associated also included a particular learning guide that taught me a systematic process of conducting literature review. There are particular paradigms that need to be taken into concern in order to assure the accomplishment of a systematic literature review process (Booth & et. al., 2012). I learned that a systematic literature should be completed in three phase. In the first phase i.e. plan review; researcher will need to focus on developing a particular protocol for conducting the review. The next stage which is also known as the stage of conducting the review, the researcher will need to identify the source of the information. In the final stage, the researcher will need to conduct a document review to validate the overall study. This aspect will be crucial for me in the future context in conducting primary and secondary research. Subsequent to literature review, the module also included a subject area that provided a comprehensive knowledge with regard to conducting surveys. It has been learnt from this particular module that a survey is a particular mechanism of collecting information for conducting any particular research (Scheuren, n.d.). It has been learnt that a survey is mostly use in the domain of research. It involves several key steps including collection of data, analysis of data and determining data samples among others (Marsden & Wright, 2010). All this aspect together ensure that the research is been conducted with utmost precision and all the objectives of the same are accomplished with utmost efficacy. This learning experience will work towards enhancing my skills relevant to research of any kind. References Booth, A. & et. al., 2012. Systematic Approaches to a Successful Literature Review. SAGE. Chang, J. F., 2005. Business Process Management Systems: Strategy and Implementation. CRC Press. Gambles, I., 2009. Making the Business Case: Proposals that Succeed for Projects that Work. Gower Publishing, Ltd. Krantz, S. G., 1997. Techniques of Problem Solving. American Mathematical Soc. Meador, K. S., 1997. Creative Thinking and Problem Solving for Young Learners. Libraries Unlimited. Marsden, P. V. & Wright, J. D., 2010. Handbook of Survey Research. Emerald Group Publishing. Small Business Development Corporation, 2014. Business Contracts. Home. [Online] Available at: http://www.smallbusiness.wa.gov.au/business-contracts/ [Accessed April 29, 2014]. Scheuren, F., No Date. What is a Survey? Home. [Online] Available at: http://www.amstat.org/sections/srms/pamphlet.pdf?q=error10 [Accessed April 29, 2014]. UNSW, No Date. Examples of Reflective Writing. Home. [Online] Available at: https://student.unsw.edu.au/examples-reflective-writing [Accessed April 29, 2014]. Wisconsin, No Date. Problem Solving Techniques. Home. [Online] Available at: http://www.wisconsinjobcenter.org/publications/9442/9442.pdf [Accessed April 29, 2014]. Bibliography Bradford University, No Date. Introduction to Research and Research Methods. Home. [Online] Available at: http://www.brad.ac.uk/management/media/management/els/Introduction-to-Research-and-Research-Methods.pdf Accessed April 29, 2014]. New York University, 2014. What is Research Design? Documents. [Online] Available at: http://www.nyu.edu/classes/bkg/methods/005847ch1.pdf Accessed April 29, 2014]. Read More