Reflective Portfolio on the Module Business Functions and Processes - Coursework Example

Reflective Portfolio Student’s Name Subject Professor University/Institution Location Date Reflective Portfolio on the Module Business Functions and Processes Introduction From the beginning of the course, I knew that I would be expected to write a reflection detailing my experience with the course and I have been making summaries of my experiences on every lesson. However, I did not understand the immerse understanding that the actual writing of the reflection would give me on the module. According to the module outline, the course promised to give me and understanding of the functions that make up and organization. It also had the aim of giving me an understanding of the business market and the models in the market as Pinto (2007) emphasis. This would prepare me on the functions and the processes that take place in the organization thus I will be in a better position to develop competence in facing the problems the organizations are faced with and come up with practical solutions on this problems. This seemed an ambitious promise when I began the module, but now I understand what all that means. I have gained what the course promised and more. First, I wanted to understand that reflection means and what it does. According to Imel (1992), reflective practice requires “individuals to assume the perspectives of an external observer in order to identify the assumptions and feelings underlying their practice and then to speculate about how these assumptions and feelings affect practice” (p. 1). This means that I would assume the place of an observer and observe myself going through the course and examine the things I have learnt and how the process of taking the module has affected me. Reflective practice will touch on the cognitive, motivational and affective components of an individual. This means that in carrying out this practice, the mind is able to observe and investigate itself which will include also the emotions that go with it. Rosenberg (2010) says that self-reflection results in coherence between thoughts, motivation, feelings and behaviour. Lama &Goleman (2003) note that this process is able to derive intelligence in an individual. It is this intelligence that will cement the knowledge I have gained throughout the module. In simple terms, I personalise the module and it becomes alive. Week 1: Introduction The first week was a tutorial session in which the teacher gave us the introduction of the module. It is during this time that the students were introduced to each and we were integrated into group. We recognised the different nationalities and cultures we had represented in the students. Basically this class was to break ice as well as prepare the students for what was ahead in the course. In this class we got to understand the aims of the module and what one would benefit by going through the module successfully. This class did not only help to understand what was expected of me in the module, it also helped me to raise my expectations on what the module would help me with. One of my expectations is the process of developing a critical and analytical approach in solving problems as Brown et al., (2013) indicates. Week 2: Design, Process, Layout In this class we learnt about operations. We were introduced to operations problems and were required to solve them. This is the process of gaining a critical approach to solving problems. Solving problems is not something one learns in purely theoretical terms; one has to get practical problems that require you to think critically and come up with a solution. Thus, the teacher gave us a problem in which a restaurant was not making good profits. Jointly, we tried to examine the situation and improving the processes involved in the restaurant in a bid to increase the profit. We looked at its shape and the diversification of the meals. One of the most important issues that were a probable solution to the problem is that we decided to change the location of the restaurant. One thing I liked about this lesson is that it helps to marry theory and practice. It is more concerned in the practical side of theory and it helps one apply what is in theory to solve everyday problems as Belbin (2010) asserts. Week 3: The Role of People in Teams In this week, we learn on the importance of team work in regards to strategy and techniques. We worked in teams and we were assigned to build a tower using 25 sheets within half an hour. First we started the process by thinking on building a base for the tower. Certainly, we had to ensure that the base would be strong enough to hold all the other layers of the tower and ensuring that they do not fall. The most important thing I learnt is that every member of the team has a contribution to make on the task given. Through the process, every member gave their opinion. The teacher asked us to give him the time of delivery and when and how many layers we would build. We had to be committed to deliver the tower in the time required and follow the agreed specifications. What I liked about this exercise is that every member of the team contributed to building the layers of the tower. After the completion of the activity, we learnt the importance of working within a team. We also learnt the importance of cooperation, quality and delivery at the required time. Regardless of how good you do your task, if you do not deliver within the required time and according to the agreed specifications, you have failed. I realised the importance of team work and allowing people to give their contributions which made the work more interesting and better performed. Team building is one of the main lessons that I learn in this lesson. I understand that it is very important that an organisation to have a cohesive and strong team for working out some tasks that require team effort. I will foster this aspect when I start working in a formal organisation. Week 4: TQM In this week, we were given a task in which the teacher gave us beads; red and white. We were asked to carry the beads without the white ones. I realised that it was possible only to carry three beads and not more that. I was the first person to accomplish this task. I tried three times and every time I realised that I improved with every repeat. In this task, I learnt the best way to carry the beads and how to manage the problems effectively. In this lecture, I learnt a very interesting fact about quality as what customer says it is. This means that if you deliver contrary to what the customer wants, then you cannot say that you have achieved quality. Week 5: Sustainability This was the fifth week and by now my learning expectation had formed according to week four. I was confident this week because I had gone through some books in the library on what we were to cover in the course. However when the tutorials were given, I realised that it was a bit technical covering mostly curves and the mapping process. This is one part of the module that most gave me a headache. I did a lot of reading on my own so that I get proper understanding on the issues involved in a way that I would be able to deliver should I be in a practical position/ Week 6: Strategic Operations Management Operations management deals with the most important areas in a firm; finance, marketing and operations. When going through this lesson, I placed myself in the shoes of an operations manager. I realised that one deals with people, with technology and ensures that work is done within deadline. As with the task in week two on delivery in time, I am realising how time is an important factor. Another important lesson that I learnt in this lesson is that operations management is more than just planning and controlling people. It is the doing of what is required. Not alone, through people! According to Brown et al (2001) this is a process that is in line with the policy of the firm. It is involved in the practice and performance of various activities and it involves the processes of the firm. This is a process in which time is of optimum importance. Again, one should be careful on the promises that have been made to the customer Week 7: Operations Management Technology This lesson involved how to use technology in technology and it involved technology like MRP, JIT and ERP. In this era of technology where everything we do involves technology, I was curious to find out which technology was more at for operations and how technology improved this process. This is because technology nowadays is evolving daily. This module gave me a good opportunity to familiarise myself with how the MRP, ERP and JIT works. However, this was one area I wanted to read more widely about so that I get fuller understanding of the methods. I took the lecture notes by hand on my lined books. They consisted of class notes and personal notes, the purpose of the personal notes was to remind me of the specific things when it came to writing the notes up as well as revising the notes as Slack Chamber & Johnston (2010) guides. In addition to writing the notes, I recorded some notes that were relevant to the course work so as to help me get a sense of the culture and the environment when carrying out additional reading and research of the same. I found the tutorial sessions to be very helpful, this is because they helped me to understand the whole topic. In general, it provided the introduction of the whole course work. The introduction is relevant because it helped me to develop the ability to form an overview of the whole course as well as fin studying. We were introduced to operations and provided with some problems to solve.It helped me to develop critical thinking and critical approach to solving problems. In these problems we solved issues such as evaluating ways of increasing and maximizing profits for businesses. I learned many things from working in teams. I learned that good teamwork is the key to success especially when there is limitation of resources and time. Every team member plays their roles effectively leading to great success. We were given a task like activity; the purpose of this task was to help us be effective problem solvers. We also learnabout managing quality. I have learned thatbiggest concern for customers is quality and they are prepared to go to extra mile in buying quality products and services.Welearnt about business sustainability, this was around the fifth week. I learnt that there are other issues that a business must take in to account as it continues to generate its economic operations. I will do apply these sustainability issues in an organisation after completion of my studies as Hawken (2010) recommends. I have learnt the necessity and importance of technology in operations management. Conclusion Conclusively, I have learnt that the course will help me very much inmy personal life and career future planning as well as control of the workforce in an organisation.Lessonssuch as the operations management technology helped me to understand the importance of enterprise resource planning. As such, the course is a very good training ground for me on not only familiarizing myself with operations management technology but also to know how they work. Ialso learnt about operations management in a business, we learnt the work and responsibilities of operations manager and how they shape the future of an organisation (Dahlgaard & Dahlgaard-Park 2006).Essentially, through the teaching and discussion of the lessons, I have learned that it is very possible to turn the simplest things to amazing things if we put a lot of creativity and efforts in to working on them.I have learnt many lessons from all the lessons in this course and they will help me in my career as well as daily life. References Belbin, R 2010 team roles at work, Routledge. Brown, S Bessant, J & Lamming, R 2013 strategic operations management, Routledge. Dahlgaard, J & Dahlgaard-Park, S 2006 lean production, six sigma quality, TQM and company culture. The TQM magazine, 18(3), 263-281. Hawken, P 2010 the ecology of commerce: A declaration of sustainability, Harper Business. Pinto, J 2007 project management: Achieving competitive advantage, Pearson/Prentice Hall. Slack, N Chambers, S & Johnston, R 2010 operations management, Pearson Education. Read More