Introduction

During the business simulation all the group members were asked to work collaboratively for developing a global policy and strategy for the Global Volunteers Company which operated within the Voluntourism industry. The Kolb Learning Cycle can help in effectively reflecting on the learning that I have attained while participating in the business simulation. This cycle can help in reflecting on the learning (Wallace, 2019). The reason of choosing Kolb’s learning cycle is that it helps in analysing the experiences that have happened in the process. I find it suitable in analysing my experiences in this business simulation.

Figure 1: The Kolb Learning Cycle

(Source: Based on Wallace, 2019)

Concrete Experience (Primary reflection)

During the simulation I have been provided with the responsibility of obtaining relevant and useful data from the business simulation. Kamis and Khan (2019) stated that concrete learning helps in encountering new experience where the learner can be exposed to a new activity or an innovative way of carrying the project. My participation in thus business simulation has been a new one which has also been challenging experience for me. The strength of my group has been the interpersonal communication which has helped me to devise appropriate strategies for completing this task. The secondary data resources have helped me to interpret the data and use it for the simulation. The official website of the “Global Volunteers Company” was the main source of all the organisational data that have been used in the simulation. The data resources have further helped me to establish a proper understanding of the industry and its operations. Overcoming the challenges has provided me the experience that can be useful for me even during my professional life.

Reflective Observation (Primary reflection)

I had the responsibility to make decisions regarding which data resources have to be chosen for the establishment of the entire research.  Through this reflective observation, I have been to understand and analyse my responsibilities and roles in the group. Tomkins and Ulus (2016) stated that in reflective observation, the learner reflects on the experience on individual basis. I have been quite interested regarding the responsibility of finding the resources for this business simulation. It has helped me to augment my researching skills and gain in-depth knowledge of policy and strategy that is required for a business. However, while executing the responsibility I have encountered a few challenges regarding the authenticity and relevance of the data to the actual business simulation on the chosen organisation and industry. During finding the secondary sources, I have found that not too published secondary sources are available regarding this policy and strategy. I have found that most of the journals are paid ones and very few journals contain relevant information concerning the topic. I found it quite difficult in selecting the right journals since selection of right journals having right information has been time consuming. Initially I have taken the help of internet for finding the required data sources but soon it turned out to be a huge problematic as I have not been able to do the right selection.

Abstract Conceptualisation (Secondary reflection)

Selection of my role has been the most difficult as seeking for relevant information from secondary resources in the form of internet journals, articles and books is quite difficult. It requires a great deal of patience, time and research in finding the data sources. In a group work, Sudria et al. (2018) stated that in abstract conceptualization, the learners are able to change abstract ideas or form new ideas as per the reflections that come from observation stage. it is required for everybody to share roles and responsibilities equally but I found it quite contradictory. Though my team members have their shared roles and responsibilities, I have found that they do not have adequate knowledge regarding finding of required resources. They also cannot help me in this process so I have to find other support for getting adequate information regarding this collection of data sources. I have found that working in a group involves more patience and collaboration in finding suitable approach for accomplishing team goals. I have also found that I have not been able to give a new direction to the team since I have no previous experience. During the course of finding required sources, I have understood that the activity is required to be segregated among the members. I have found that working in this team is difficult for me since I do not have adequate information about the business simulation. Pollack and Matous (2019) stated that team building requires a great deal of cooperation and coordination from the members since it is the collective approach which helps in accomplishing the goals. Assigning one single person for seeking all the required documents takes more time than doing it in a team.

In order to reduce the effect I have developed proper communication with other group members who have been working on different activities required for the simulation process. Intercommunication has helped to develop a sense of coordination among the entire group. Aryani (2018) stated that good communication is required for accomplishing the desired objectives while building improved relationships with others. Building of effective teams is concerned about the ways members of the team can collaborate and communicate together. I have only searched for the data that is required for our group assignment. Building relationships and communication with the group members have reduced my effort and helped me to find only the data that has been used for the business simulation.  In conversation with them, I have found my strengths and weaknesses as well. I have found that I lack time management and researching skills. I have also found that I lack critical thinking skills since I do not have the idea of including types of information for this business simulation project. This communication with other group members have helped me to analyse the ways various kinds of data sources can be found and the ways the information can also be included in this project. While finding the data sources, I have also understood that I need to jot down or highlight the key points which will help in enriching the study.

Active experimentation (Future Intentions)

In the future I would like to lead a team for better results. While working with this team, I have found that the members are not quite active and cooperative as desired. Being the submissive one within the simulation group has provided me with several disadvantages. I had to give more effort for the simulation than required. While working with this team, I have found that the members are not quite active and cooperative as desired. Having sole responsibility of finding data sources, I have found it quite disturbing and boring. For this reason, I have lost interest in doing this study. The lack of experience regarding global business has created a knowledge gap within me that has affected my contribution within the business simulation. I have found that I do not adequate idea of the concepts, strategies and policies that have prevented my approach in finding the desired sources.

I have found that I lack knowledge of improved business simulation which has prevented me in giving ideas and perspectives regarding the topic. This has initiated a sense of confusion and problems in my team. In future, I hope that this experience will prevent me to commit similar mistakes like this. In order to become a successful team player I have to be more vocal with my point of view and contribute actively within team activities. I have felt that I need to have more engaged approach with my team and collaborate with them more for accomplishing desired objectives. Beauchamp et al. (2017) commented that the engagement of all the members of a team is required for completely the tasks easily and swiftly. I found this lacking in me so in future I have to adopt a more communicative approach for improving my team building skills. In future, I would prefer to do more research on the given topics and frame ideas so that I do not face difficulty in meeting my goals. I hope that this experience will help in my professional career since it has given the idea of working in a team and ways of improving good relationships with the members. It will also help me to give proper direction to the team by involving in both personal and professional communication.

Conclusion

The four steps of the Kolb Learning Cycle have helped me to reflect on my experience of the business simulation and write it down in the form of reflective writing. This reflection emphasises on the various experiences that I have encountered while participating in the simulation process. It has helped me to understand both my strengths and weaknesses while working in a team and devise future course of actions. It has also helped me in understanding the ways of working in my team and the disadvantages in the team which can hinder group work. This project has helped me to understand the importance of team collaboration and cooperation which is required for meeting goals of the team. Overall, it has involved both good and bad experiences.

Reference List

Aryani, N.L., 2018. Implementation of communication ethics in building social harmony. International journal of social sciences and humanities, 2(1), pp.147-156.

Beauchamp, M.R., McEwan, D. and Waldhauser, K.J., 2017. Team building: Conceptual, methodological, and applied considerations. Current opinion in psychology, 16, pp.114-117.

Kamis, A. and Khan, B.K., 2019. Synthesizing Huber’s problem solving and Kolb’s learning cycle: A balanced approach to technical problem solving. Journal of Information Systems Education, 20(1), p.10.

Pollack, J. and Matous, P., 2019. Testing the impact of targeted team building on project team communication using social network analysis. International Journal of Project Management, 37(3), pp.473-484.

Sudria, I.B.N., Redhana, I.W., Kirna, I. and Aini, D., 2018. Effect of Kolb’s Learning Styles under Inductive Guided-Inquiry Learning on Learning Outcomes. International Journal of Instruction, 11(1), pp.89-102.

Tomkins, L. and Ulus, E., 2016. ‘Oh, was that “experiential learning”?!’Spaces, synergies and surprises with Kolb’s learning cycle. Management Learning, 47(2), pp.158-178.

Wallace, D., (2019). Parts of the Whole: Theories of Pedagogy and Kolb’s Learning Cycle. Numeracy: Advancing Education in Quantitative Literacy, 12(1).