Introduction 

This is an individual reflection of the group work where all the members are required to work in coordination with one another for this business simulation. In this context, we are required to develop a global strategy and policy for Global Volunteers Company, operating in Voluntourism industry. In this aspect, I have chosen Gibbs Reflective Cycle which has helped me to analyse my performances in this group. The reason of choosing this theory is that it offers framework which helps in examining our experiences in a cyclic way which also helps in analysing repeated experiences.

Gibbs reflective cycle 

Figure 1: Gibbs reflective cycle

(Source: Influenced by Tanaka et al. 2018)

Description (Primary reflection)

During this project of business simulation, I have been given the responsibility of doing this project since the others members have been involved in gathering required resources. Tanaka et al. (2018) stated that this cycle helps in reflecting the experiences in a group while analysing difficulties and opportunities in a group work. I have been supposed to collect information from those sources and include them in the study for completing this project. Actually, the responsibility of completing the project has been shared by me and one of my team members. The other members of the team have given us the required data and sources from which we have to include the information. I have gathered all the secondary sources from my team members for including the required information in the study.

Feelings (Primary reflection)

While including information from various sources, I have found it quite a difficult task. Though I have got many information from the reports and websites of the company, I have experienced great difficulty in selecting the things to be included and excluded from the sources. Though I have taken a lot of time, energy and effort in going through every source, I found myself to be in a deep ocean as I have been still confused.  I have got into a conflict with the other member regarding the information to be excluded and included since she has also been doing some part of this project. Schoss et al. (2020) stated that team conflicts arise when there cannot be an agreement among the members regarding the needs, methods or goals of the team. In this context, I have a disagreement with her regarding the information to be included. In the course of time, I have also found that both of us have done the same part of the study. This has increased my conflict with her since we have blamed one another for this loss.

Evaluation (Secondary reflection0

In the course of doing this project, I have found that the members of my lack effective communication and coordination. I have encountered a great sense of difficulty in including information from the sources since I have not been able understand which kinds of information have been included by another team member who is also doing this another part of the study. For overcoming this difficulty, I have communicated with my tutor who has helped me to give a better understanding of the subject. Avena-Koenigsberger et al. (2018) stated that effective communication can help in overcoming problems and solving discrepancies since it helps in analysis of various perspectives.  Along with this, I have also taken help from the learning and modules of the class for completing this project effectively. I have understood that improved communication among the members is required for accomplishing the objectives effectively. However, i have seen that the members of my team have given the sources to me but there has been no adequate discussion regarding this topic. For overcoming this, I have started my interaction with others for analysing the ways they are approaching their project. This has helped me to gain an idea of the ways I can approach this project. Inadequate coordination among us has resulted in unorganised work. My tutor has suggested me that I should have regular communication with my team members for completing this work. Since there has been no regular coordination between us, I have to again start from the scratch and remove all my previous writing.

Analysis (Secondary reflection)

During the course of this project, the acquiring of data sources by the members of my team have been quite helpful. It has minimised effort of searching the required sources but the problem of inclusion and exclusion criteria have not been solved adequately. I have found it quite tiring and time consuming in going all through the sources and then including the required information from them. I believe that working in a team requires more collaborative and coordinative approach from all the members which have been deficient in this context. Along with this, conflict with the team member has further delay the project. It has created a lot of misunderstandings among us. Lehmann‐Willenbrock and Chiu (2018) stated that failure in resolving conflicts can have a negative impact on the productivity and hamper desired outcomes.  In the course of doing this project, I have found that I lack communication skills, decision making skills, and time management skills. Ocak and Boyraz (2016) stated that time management skills require prioritising those activities and work which require urgent attention. I have understood that giving an individual of completing a project is not possible if there is no coordination. The problematic part is that the members of my team have not highlighted points to be included or showed active participation in doing this project effectively. Seeing this delay in completing the project, I have again coordinated with my team members. I have communicated my difficulties to them and told them to give their inputs in doing this study effectively. They have agreed with my proposal and with improved communication we have been able to resolve our conflicts.

Conclusion (Secondary reflection)

During the course of group work on business simulation, I have understood that I have lacked planning organising and coordination approach. I have also understood that conflicts in a team are inevitable due to various perspectives and ideas. It requires a great deal of acumen in reaching a consensus for ensuring that the project is completed within time. McKibben (2017) stated that members working in a team should align their actions with goals of the team so that work can be accomplished within stipulated time. I have understood that the members of team have the habit of procrastination which is completely opposite to my nature. This has also been the reason of last-minute rush in our project. It has also been the reason of this conflict in the team since I have found it quite annoying and disturbing. However, my communication with other group members has also helped me to analyse approaches and strategies of doing this study. My communication with my tutor has aided me in devising ways of completing this study. This study has helped me to understand various concepts and strategies which I have been unaware before doing this project. I have realised that interpersonal communication is effective in analysing root cause of problems and framing solutions for getting desired results.

Action plan (Future Intentions)

This group work has given me both bad and good experiences which are going to enrich my future prospects. In future, I would like to work in a more active team though this team has helped me in completing this project effectively. The problems that I have suffered in this team are may be due to their inadequate experiences and my inability in establishing a coordinative effort. The coordination and cooperation level in this team has been quite low which had created problems for me. I have expected that the members will be giving inputs for this project which have proved to contradictory. They have felt that just giving me the required resources, their responsibility for this study is over. It has surprised me since they are giving the entire responsibility of completing the study to me and my member. I have also suffered conflicts with the other member since she has not coordinated with me well in completing this project. I have also found that there has been knowledge gap since the other member is not well acquainted with this business simulation project. In future, I hope that I get myself well acquainted with my team members so that I do not experience the difficulty as I have faced in this project. In future, I will be involving effective planning, organising and coordinating approach so that I can establish good relationship with me team members.

Conclusion 

This reflection has helped me to analyse my shortcomings and advantages while giving me an overview of the capabilities and working approach of a team. It has helped me in understanding functions of a team and delivering improved skills and capabilities for improved coordination. I have felt that my approach in this group work has helped me to become more tolerant. This has helped me to analyse various perspectives and opinions than framing my mindset in completing this study. This study has helped me to improve my capabilities of working in a team which will help me in my future professional prospects.

References 

Avena-Koenigsberger, A., Misic, B. and Sporns, O., 2018. Communication dynamics in complex brain networks. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 19(1), p.17.

Lehmann‐Willenbrock, N. and Chiu, M.M., 2018. Igniting and resolving content disagreements during team interactions: A statistical discourse analysis of team dynamics at work. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 39(9), pp.1142-1162.

McKibben, L., 2017. Conflict management: importance and implications. British Journal of Nursing, 26(2), pp.100-103.

Ocak, G. and Boyraz, S., 2016. Examination of the relation between academic procrastination and time management skills of undergraduate students in terms of some variables. Journal of Education and Training Studies, 4(5), pp.76-84.

Schoss, S., Urbig, D., Brettel, M. and Mauer, R., 2020. Deep-level diversity in entrepreneurial teams and the mediating role of conflicts on team efficacy and satisfaction. International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, pp.1-31.

Tanaka, M., Okamoto, R. and Koide, K., 2018. Relationship between Reflective Practice Skills and Volume of Writing in a Reflective Journal. Health, 10(3), pp.283-288.