Individual assessment reflection

Introduction

“United we stand divided we fall” is a common slogan generally used by a group of people who decide to work together to achieve a specific objective. In this project, we followed the same saying that gave us the confidence to accomplish the task we had. In our project team, we had six players, and work distributed accordingly to ensure every member participated in making different contributions that could see us fulfill the intended goal. Members agreed to the saying, “More hands make for lighter work” and “Two heads are better than one.” In this spirit, members believed that working as a team in our project could help us develop more critical skills in our professional world.

Besides, positive group experiences mostly have been depicted to have a significant contribution to students learning, retention of information, and contribute to the overall university success. In this report, I will present reflectively on the work the group tackled by evaluating, describing, and analyzing them accordingly. I will include the interaction that members had in the group meetings, performance appraisal, teamwork, and add my individual experiences learned from the group project.

Team And Reflection Process

In our meeting with our client, in February 2020, we were briefed on the clients’ expectations, and specific tasks assigned to the team. In this regard, we agreed that we needed a plan on how best we can achieve the goal of our client. Therefore, we divided ourselves into groups of two to proper research on various parts of our project, and later consolidate the work done. The purpose of this to help us plan and manage the limited time properly and have accountability criteria for our group.

Members Duties And Responsibilities

It was necessary to have a working schedule that was time-oriented and having in mind the members’ health safety precaution measures as a result of the outbreak and spread of Covid-19 deadly virus. Deliberately, we assigned duties and gave the time frame to accomplish the given task where later on, we could forward it to our instructor. Also, we set a time to could visit our client to briefs on the progress of the project. Likewise, we could email the client the essential information.

We divided our group project into 2 phases where the two-member group could each do research and gather information on;

Step 1:  Yanna Chang and John Downing were to;

• Research on clients website, that is, Complete Communication Services LTD website
• Take and notes and discuss how they can increase attendance of the British Signs Language Course (BSCL).

Yuhao Zhang and Rui Ding were to mainly;

• To investigate how the clients, Complete Communication Services LTD, use social media.
• Assess what they do well and discuss how to increase attendance of BSCL.

Harry Watt and Sophie Eccleshall were to;

1. Research on clients’ competitors and how they promote their British Signs Language Course
2. Assess what they do best, and what can Complete Services Communication LTD learn from their competitors.

Step 2: Sophie Eccleshell and Yuhao Zheng were to;

Investigate their current marketing for these courses and the market situation, and give reasons for the demand for British Sign Language Courses.

Rui Ding and Harry Watt were to;

Research how competitors are increasing demand, for instance, what are the advantages and disadvantages of the competitors’ courses, how do they advertise, what do their social media do well, and what do they do poorly.

Yannan Chang and John Downing were to;

Study what we can learn from our competitors’ areas of weaknesses on their use of social media and advertising.

Through the outlined subdivisions, our work was made more manageable, and we effectively and efficiently researched on our group project, submitting it in the required time. Consequently, members bonded very well with each other and became a family. A more important part of the first meeting was for introductions and getting to know each other well. These introductions created a forum for us to bond and connection with one another. Through the given time frames in February, it was easier to keep each other on track regarding the shared portions of the project. This plan was drafted and completed on the 14^th February 2020 meeting.

On the other hand, we had other group tasks that needed all members to work together without dividing themselves. These tasks included interviewing the client, consolidation, and presentation of work amongst ourselves, evaluation of our work, and progress made. It called for a commitment from every participant. In the next meetings, we updated our project plan from the clients and notified the client. From this point, we began our research on the project by assuring that our project could cover and meet clients’ expectations. The idea of sharing these tasks was essential.

Performance Of The Team 

            The project progressed well as we had planned. However, we had some challenges, both internally and externally, and made us change our working schedules from time to time. In meetings, every member showed a high level of responsibility and commitment to the course of the group. We had a challenge in making changes to our plan after holding the first client brief. Additionally, the outbreak of Covid-19 disease harmed our program, hence prompting us to hold a meeting while maintaining one or two meters distance from each other.

However, our performance as a team was excellent, and every team was able to complete the tasks given. However, there were challenges due to the submission of some information that needed editing and appropriate corrections. We have to do the evaluation and compile all the relevant information to make our report complete. The information provided by the client in brief concerning the aims and objectives of their company, Complete Communication System, shows its great future ahead. The client was adequately informed, and the information he gave us laid the basis of our research. Luckily, the members’ knowhow and professionalism greatly impacted our research hence making us gather the information needed in a quick and concise time as required. In our study, we had to internalize the company’s performance. To aid this, we accessed the website of the company social media platform, which was a straight forward method for us in this moment of the Covid-19 outbreak. Additionally, we engaged in marketing strategies, which helped us reach an enormous market. Also, we accessed various competitors’ websites and related their activities to those of our clients’.

Team Dynamics

It refers to the psychological convictions that direct a group of people to act or behave. In our team, we had no much constraints since every participant adhered to the shared object and goal of our project. The crew related very well during our meeting and in small group discussions. However, the team faced some challenges brought about by the current pandemic hence limiting our one on interactions.

Critically the team was conversant with the need of the research. We used the exploratory study, which is when an investigation needs to find new evidence on Complete Communications Services LTD known problems (Hallingber et al., 2008). Also, my team used qualitative data since our research was not about numbers but information so that we can analyze and describe the information that we could find (Aspers & Corte, 2019). Importantly, by employing these strategies in our research, I was able to understand the market agility of Complete Communication Services LTD. Thus we have the right choices of the required business as customers.

Unconditionally, my team made sacrifices and more individual efforts towards achieving our objective. Every team player kept time and observed competency in all allocated tasks. In every phase of our research, each small team demonstrated the capability to work together in unity. As such, we were able to meet shortly and have successful meetings. Working in groups of two helped to save time and gather useful information. Thus, the whole process of our project helped me improve my leadership skills and get an understanding of the basic concepts of marketing strategies as we did to help our client. Also, I realized that commitment of the team is the basis of having a successful project (Michaelsen & Sweet, 2012)

Self And Academic Reflection

Basically, the project demanded critical coordination and teamwork efforts. The development of the project task revolved individual efforts and sacrifices. In my case, I was allocated the introduction part of the project with the help of my partner. In my introduction part together with my friend, we were supposed to research on Complete Communications Services LTD clients’ website and take notes about their websites and how they can improve it to increase attendance for their British Sign Language Course (BSLC). During our discussion with my partner, we could be forced to sit apart and not close to one another as per the regulations of WHO on the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic. I learned that group work brings the mind together, challenges the strategies of individual learning, and supports teamwork. The writing of a project diary helped us keep progressive records and planning for the next meetings. Through the first meeting where we introduced and got to know each other, I felt actively involved and fully aware of the task ahead. However, we lacked essential analysis tools in the processes of our work, but we were clearly informed of the business implications of the choices we made on the recommendation we gave to our client on customers’ multiplication in the British Sign Language Course.

In cooperation with my partner, we allocated responsibilities to each other for the success of our research. The whole process of sharing and delegating responsibilities, and later combining our efforts to fulfill set objectives, gave me a positive insight in making appropriate decisions. In addition, I learned the importance of collecting efforts in capacity building, whereby we could meet all of us to combine the different parts each researched on. In addition, during the project time, I discovered my social skills and my strengths and weaknesses. I discovered that I was able to work with diverse kinds of people in a different situation. Also, I learned the significant methods to use in marketing. For instance, we evaluated the strategies of marketing Complete Communication Services LTD are using in marketing their BSL course as compared to their competitors.

In our research on Complete Communication Services LTD, we realized its aim is to provide a one-stop solution for the purpose of communicating and educating people who need their services. This was made possible through the strategic approaches we applied, such as qualitative marketing research and secondary research. Notably, I experienced skills in business management, as it’s evident in classwork, whereby I was exposed to management theories, strategic models, marketing theories, and business strategies. Accordingly, I also learned how to analyze market trends, growth, and market competition. This was made possible by being attentive during a team meeting and practically being involved in making a contribution. For instance, market competition requires one to analyze and evaluate other peoples’ business strengths and weaknesses and learn how to improve your business to compete favorably.

The efforts that we made in selecting the ways of marketing to win customers for Complete Communication Services LTD were all informed by what we had learned in our course work on marketing strategies. In our project, I learned the power of social media as one business marketing platform. The use of adverts and video calls is essential, especially at this time of the covid-19 pandemic.

In summation, group assignment provides a wide scope of information and improves students’ individual experience. Through attending meetings, delegation, sharing roles, consultations, and engaging each other built our capacity skills. During this project, my desire to understand business marketing and competition were met. I was exposed to diverse marketing strategies hence improving my business skills. Throughout the project, members were exposed to business management practices, especially how to retain business customers (Ravesteyn, 2011).

Appendix 1 Gannt Chart

Appendix 2 Client meeting date and the notes

We met the client, which was Complete Communication Service LTD, on the 14^th of February. We discussed who their competitors where so that we could do a competitor analysis. They sent over an email stating that First-class-support, Amano support, and Clarion were the competitors to look at. We also asked if the brief was what they wanted us to look at, and they confirmed it was, but the competitor analysis and how we as students perceive their website and social media was their biggest concern as they wanted to improve their advertising in those areas. To help increase their Google search results.

REFERENCE

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Aspers, P and Corte, U. (2019) What is qualitative in qualitative research, Springer

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BL, British sign language, (2017) Available at https://www.bl.uk/collection-items/dwpsc-market-review-of-british-sign-language-and-communications-provision-for-people-who-are-deaf-or-have-hearing-loss-response-2017 )Accessed: 22/04/2020

Complete Communication, BSL interpreting (2020) Available at www.completcommuinicationltd.com (Accessed:27/04/2020)