Reflective report

Activity/experience Description:

The reflective report deals with different activities which was been conducted in various weeks. In week 1, the design thinking and entrepreneurial activities was done. In this activity initially I was thinking that it was related to design in specific area of research but later I came to know that it was quite different and had much more broad perspective. In first week the lecturer had given us a task of creating a poster on communication devices and three students as a group was assigned to make the poster. The aim of this activity was to generate unique creative thinking about designs and to enhance the skills in poster making for future (see blog #1, 20 July 2017). Then in week 2, I had learnt about the four important steps that were important while designing a product which was thinking, deduction, reasoning, and logic. In this week the tutor also told us all about the 4 basic questions which was necessary to understand while designing thinking process, they are what is, what if, what wows, and what works (Poster, 2011). This workshop was quite helpful as it helped me in increasing my knowledge in making up the final project (see blog #2, 25 July 2017).

In week 3, we came to know about the various theories that explained design thinking. We also studied about the logic of reasoning that included inductive, abductive, and deductive reasoning. We also learnt about the loop learning and its types. Single loop learning was basic understanding of the actions taken in our daily life that will lead to the results (Sein, et al. 2011). The difference between the desired and actual result was overcome by following the assumptions: Are we doing right for the desired output? And are we doing the right thing? Further, in second loop learning, we was been driven by the emotions not by logic, we made assumptions before actions. Then in third loop learning our assumptions varied according to the situations. This was the three loops by which we try to do the right things (see blog #3, 1 August 2017).

Then in week 4, we got a feedback on the posters which was been presented by us. Further, the tutor then had asked us to make groups for assignment 2 and then asked to make 3 different things from triangle in 2 minutes. Also, in that activity we was told to make different shapes form 30 circles on a paper and we was been allotted 5 minutes for that. This activity was for testing how quick we can be and our creativity as well. This aim of this activity was to see how we work together as a group in conducting an assignment (see blog #4, 9 August 2017). Then in week 5, we all was been engaged in making posters as the submission of the same was in the same week. The tutor had told us about the various things in context of the poster that it should be very effective, simple and should convey the message in simple way. The tutor had also given an idea about the next assignment and also how to upgrade the level of thinking towards the final submissions (see blog #5, 27 August 2017).

In week 6, the workshop was about the design research in design. Research is about a systematic investigation and interpretation of the information with a clear facts and new conclusions (Wade et al., 2010). Also, I had learnt that to indentify the actual problem we need to collect correct data related to the problem and how can they be solved. In this workshop everyone was not able to identify the problems they was having many misconceptions and was suggesting solutions for those problems which was  not the actual problem. In this activity we was shown a video by our tutor and was been asked to find out 10 issues and how they could be solved. Further, in this week I came to know about the primary and secondary data sources and how they was been related to the current issues. Further, in this activity everyone had participated to provide their solutions for the actual problem (see blog #6, 27 August 2017). In week 7, the activity was of prototype designing which was important for designing thinking. This activity helps to know about prototyping. Further this activity helped to prepare prototype for a product. Prototype is the model of an end product which helps to save time, cost and effort as number of steps are required as modification. Further, it was important because the success of any product depends upon various positive modifications in design (see blog #7, 7 September 2017).

In week 8, we had learnt about learning launch. In this activity the professor has asked us to display our idea on white sheet. We have recorded our learning on a feedback capture grid which included the positive, negative and many unclear questions about our idea. The basic idea about this workshop was to do mind mapping or to identify the vital points for our idea ( English & Kitsantas, 2013). At the same time, the basic idea behind this workshop was to create an idea and visualize it, through the design thinking tools like, brainstorming, journey mapping, mind mapping, value chain analysis, assumption testing, prototyping, etc. (see blog #8, 15 September 2017). In week 9, the activity was on discussion in regard of how to have a campaign to target our potential customers. The professor has also shared a video regarding the campaign process which elaborated about the whole idea of potential customers. Firstly, it told us that where we could find them (customers). Secondly, who is first and who is second and so on. Thirdly, what they are looking for and when they are going to buy? Fourthly, why do they want to buy it? And lastly, how will you communicate with them, the methodology for the campaign? Further, the various problem or issues related to the design proposal was also been discussed (Zott & Amit, 2010). The problems regarding the market strategies, competitors and services was also been discussed (see blog #9, 24 September 2017).  In week 10, the workshop was related to the reflective writing that helped us out for our third assignment. It was about learning reflections like how blogs was used to explain learning. We also had learnt about the entrepreneurial innovations and fundraising. Fundraising was organized to gain an access to the financial resources that was needed to achieve the goals and also to get finance for innovations. This al fund was considered as external financial source which was either of the entrepreneur or the retained earnings. We had also discussed about the outline of next week demonstration of our innovative idea through presentation (see blog #10, 24 September 2017). Further, we had also learnt about the benefits and drawbacks of all internal and external finance resources.

Thoughts and Feelings DURING the activity:

During this 10 weeks of workshop, many activities was been held. I have enjoyed a lot and have gained and enhanced my skills, abilities and knowledge. I have felt totally ease in doing all these activities. Initially, I was quite nervous in conducting these various activities and I found it difficult to conduct these activities but slowly and gradually I was able to find and identify the issues and problems and then was able to solve these problems easily. I was not having enough confidence or strength for doing all the activities. Then slowly I started to observe others in context of how they are performing the activities, identifying the various issues and problems related how they were making notes, etc. After that I also decided to make notes. Gradually I realized that things will become easy once I start to narrate what I was seeing around myself in my head and then noting them down on paper. Though sometimes I had felt that the activities was quite boring and taking much efforts and time, but later it was found out that they gave me an opportunity to keep learning new things.

Thoughts and Feelings AFTER the activity:

The thought I had after completing these 10 weeks of workshop was that I was surprised of myself as earlier I was not aware of the level of creativity I had and also the level of observational skills I possessed. Also, I was not aware of the fact that how well I was able to perform as being a team player in conducting those various activities. These activities had further helped me to realize my inner potential, to know about my inner strengths and weaknesses, etc. After completing the workshops, I had realized that these activities had given me a lot to learn in respect of new skills, abilities, knowledge, etc. These activities which was been conducted in 10 weeks had also helped me to enhance my writing and reflection skills. Further these activities had also helped me to think and develop a positive outlook or approach towards dealing with the problems. At the same time, I had realized that how creative I was and how successful I was in generating new and innovative ideas rather than only trying to make things perfect in return. I had also realized that there are areas in which I should have changed my style and attitude to better conduct the activities and to achieve the results as well. I had also realized the importance of getting an effective feedback from various people.

What can you learn from this activity?

All activates are helped me to develop the understanding because I was not self awaked on the basis of the past thoughts and I increased my creativity in the different situations. In the week 1^st, a poster on communications devices activity helped me to learn about different theories that gave details on the design thinking and entrepreneurial activities. In addition, this activity also helps me to develop the unique thinking regarding the design for the future for making the poster. I have learned briefly about the process of the product design which includes the four steps like thinking, deduction, reasoning and logic to complete the design. This activity helps me to develop my understanding that the marketing is based on the customer needs which can be based on the data and statistics. It is also understood by me that four basic questions should keep in mind that what is, what if, what wows, and what work.

At the third workshop, I came to know about the logics of the reasoning for explaining the design thinking that includes the inductive, abductive and deductive reasoning. This activity helped me to learn on the subject of loop learning and its types such as single loop learning, double loop learning, three loop learning etc. (Flannery et al., 2013) Single loop learning provides the basic learning and understanding of actions in everyday life, the double loop learning describes that the assumptions are basic need for the effective logics and the third loop help to understand the situation on the basis of the assumptions. Assumption testing is necessary in the third loop learning according to the situation (Kang, et al. 2013). The fourth week helped me to improve my knowledge by the use of my feedback on the poster presentation and I have understood the benefits of the group assignment by the use of given task to make 30 circles in only period of 5 minute.

In the fifth week, I discussed in the class for the clear understanding about the effective poster making and me and my group members discussed about the problem in the class and helped each other for the effective solutions. This activity helped me to develop my understanding for taking decision making by the explaining the problem with the others in the class. The sixth workshop helped to develop my understanding about the research design for the systematically investigation and interpretation of the data. I came to know the identification of the actual problem for the collation of the correct data by the use of the data collation methods. It also helped me to justify the right solutions of the research problem which can occur due to misconceptions and wrong suggestions. This workshop also helped me to learn about the primary and secondary data source that is helpful for the research.

In the seventh workshop, I deeply understand about the prototype designing for the effectiveness in the design thinking. The prototype designing help me to understand the prior model of the finalized design to save the time, cost by removing the number of the efforts (Acklin, 2013). I have learnt that how to generate the prototype by the use of craft exercise.  In the next week, it helped me to improve my knowledge about the learning launch that provides the ideas about the design thinking. In this learning launch, we conversed journey mapping for increasing the customer experience to understood the value of the layouts and capture positive or negative feedbacks for the questions that provided me a deep learning about the design thinking ideas and helpful in the visualisation (Melton & Hartline, 2013).

Activates of the ninth week was helped me that how to focus on the target customers by the use of effective strategies and I also provided the understanding for the use of the effective methodology for communication. I also understood the importance of the divide the audience into the different segments which help me to solve the problem related with the market strategy and competitors (Lee, 2010). In the tenth week, I have learnt about the reflections of our blogs that provides the explanations of the learning by me in the campaign. Moreover, I found the pros and cons of the finance resources which can be used internally and externally in the activities.

What can you do to develop yourself further in the context of this activity?

These activities are provided me a deep understanding but I need to become more aware about the self activates. I am to develop my learning skill in order to communication device poster due to problems faced by me in the activity. It should be done by me that I need to ask the people that they should provide me more feedback on work which can help me to provide my positive and negative behavior in context of this activity. On the basis of the above activates, I could also develop my thinking for the innovative ideas, logics and reasoning which can help me in the analysis of the customer needs. For this, I can develop or understand the different theories of the reasoning like the Inductive reasoning, Deductive reasoning and Abductive reasoning. These theories can help me to provide the desired and right outputs and complete the activity on right thing (Blythe, 2014).

In addition to this, I could continue on this blog for the sustainable results of this activity and I can also start a journal with the reflective insights. It can enhance my knowledge and understanding about design thinking of the poster presentation and fulfill the provided needs of activates. On the other hand, it should be needed that I can increase my learning by the use of systematic research and investigation which should provide the clear thought and facts to the activity. I would also like to increase the practice on the provided activity for the effective results or outcome of this blog. Additionally, I need to develop the on the prototype designing which provides the prior model of the final product. The prior model could help to remove the weakness of the product by showing the product in small model (Madsen & Desai, 2010). Thus, it could be needed to me that I should develop an effective design of the product model.

References

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