Self Reflection | Learning And Performance

Self Reflection | Learning And Performance Self-reflection is the self-analysis of knowing oneself. This section describes the self-reflection of the researcher on own learning and performance. It facilitates the researcher to analyse his progress by considering the changes in his strengths and weaknesses. It analyses diverse learning styles theories put forward by various experts and examines the learning style of the researcher during the International Master in Business Administration course. It also describes about the various skills that were gained throughout this course. The various skills include communications skills, report writing skills, presentation skills, research skills and team player skills. Background of the researcher: The researcher completed his Bachelors degree in Information Technology from Madras University, India. IT skills were learned during this period. After completion of the degree, he worked in three companies before coming to Dublin Business School for International MBA. The first two companies that the researcher worked were IT based companies and therefore, the theoretical skills learned during the bachelors degree were transformed to practical skills during the term. The first six months in a job is the time when a new person in the job finds it difficult to get used to the job. The researcher went through this phase and the transformation was not easy. With the help of senior staff in the company, things went smooth. In the first company, the researcher got the opportunity to talk to customers all around the world through telephone, which enhanced his communication skills. He also got the opportunity train new people, which developed the presentation skills. In the second company, the researcher supported the customers through email and chat. This helped to develop the writing skills of the researcher. With more experience, the researcher was given the role of a team leader in the second company he worked. This enabled him to gain leadership skills. The third company that the researcher worked was his own family business. It was very different from the information technology companies that he worked before as this had real world experience. The researcher got a practical insight to the real problems faced by a company that did manufacturing and retailing of steel products. With the IT skills gained from previous years, he computerised the company using management information systems (MIS). This made all the process in that company faster. After gaining some experience, the researcher set plans to learn more about business and chose to get a masters degree in business administration. This is why he chose International MBA course in Dublin Business School, Irel and. Through the MBA International programme in Dublin Business School, the researcher was able to develop the research skills, time management skills, self-learning ability and other skills. There were group works involved in the first semester of the course when helped the researcher to improve team player skills, presentation skills and communication skills. In the second semester of the course, the assignments and examinations helped the researcher to gain self-learning and time management skills. Writing the dissertation proposal in the second semester gave an insight about doing the research. Research and writing skills were improved during this period. All the work had to be completed in certain amount of time, which developed the time management skills of the researcher. These skills have been utilised now, when the researcher is doing the dissertation. The reflections of this learning process can be related to Kolbs learning cycle because of the scope of learning something new is always there. Another method of learning has also been used for the review that was proposed by Honey and Mumford. Learning Reflection and Style: Kolbs learning reflection: According to Kolb (1984), learning is the process whereby knowledge is created through the transformation of experience. Knowledge results from the combination of grasping experience and transforming it. He described four stages in a learning cycle and viewed it as a circular process which involves the four stages which are Concrete experience Active Experimentation Abstract conceptualisation Reflective observation According to Kolbs model, the experience lays the foundation for observation and reflection, which are incorporated and condensed into concepts. These concepts are then tested to get a new experience. The cycle of activities such as experiencing, reflecting, thinking and acting occur in the learning process. There are four types of learning methods as shown in the figure below: Source: http://www.businessballs.com/kolblearningstyles.htm Diverger: This is the combination of concrete experimentation and reflective observation. They look at things from various perspectives but prefer to watch things than doing things. They also tend to gather information and use imagination to solve problems. Assimilator: This is a combination of abstract conceptualisation and active experimentation. These people can solve the problems and will use their learning to find solutions to practical issues. They are less focused on people and are focused on ideas and abstract concepts. Converger: This is a combination of abstract conceptualisation and active experimentation. They can solve problems and will use their learning to find solutions to practical issues. They prefer technical tasks and are less concerned with people and interpersonal aspects. Accommodator: This is the combination of concrete experimentation and active experimentation. They have the hands-on technique of solving problems. They rely on intuition rather than logic. They use others analysis and use a practical, experiential approach. During the International MBA course, the researcher used various learning styles in different situations. Assessing the researchers learning style according to the researcher has an accommodator style of learning. The researcher uses more trial and error method to solve the problems. This is a more practical approach to solve the problems even though it could be time consuming. The researcher feels that the proving things practically is better than talking the about the theoretical side of it. This enables the researcher to adapt to changes quickly to changing circumstances and allows making concrete decisions. Honey and Mumford Learning Style: Source: adapted from http://www.learningandteaching.info/learning/experience.htm) Honey and Mumford (2000), mentions that, the term learning style is used as a description of the attitudes and behaviours that determine an individuals preferred way of learning. According to them, there differnt of learning styles and categorise individuals into four types as shown in the figure above. Activists Reflectors Theorists Pragmatists Activists: They completely involve themselves into a new experience without any previous experience. They have the attitude of trying everything once. They act first and worry about the consequence later. (Honey and Mumford, 2000) Reflectors: They are very cautious and thoughtful people who like to consider all possible angles and implications before making a move. They like to stand back and evaluate the previous experiences before they commit something. (Honey and Mumford, 2000) Theorists: If it is logical, then its good is the main philosophy that is associated with theorists. They integrate observations into complex but logically sound theories. They think about solving a problem in logical, step-by-step manner. (Honey and Mumford, 2000) Pragmatists: They always positively search out for new ideas and take the first opportunity to experiment with its applications. They are always keen to see if the theory will work out practically. They are always associated with people taking practical decisions and solving problems. (Honey and Mumford, 2000) (Honey and Mumford, 2000, pp 11, 12) The researcher has more pragmatist style of learning. This is useful for the researcher in making quick decisions. The researcher likes to experiment a lot and get bored with long time activities. This is why for this research; the researcher tries to practically prove the things that have been mentioned in the theory. The MBA International program has helped the researcher to experiment the new ideas practically. Key Skills Learned from MBA International: The international MBA programme provided by the Dublin Business School helped the researcher to develop numerous amounts of skills through rigorous academic activities. Various activities included assignments, presentations, group work, exams and finally the dissertation. The skills that have been developed through the program can be divided into two. The first one is academic skills and the second one is personal skills. Academic Skills: The key academic skills that were learned were Research skills, Presentation skills, and Team player skills. Research Skills: Research and investigation skills are very important in terms of academic studies. It is the way one carry out the research about a particular subject. In this case, the researcher carried out different studies especially when doing the dissertation. Researcher understood about the different methods to be followed when doing a research. It was not as an easy task as the researcher had to consult the books, journals and magazines in order to find out the relevant information on the topic. Researcher also understood the importance of critical analysis, what different authors say about the same topic. Presentation Skills: The researcher developed this skill during the class time. The researcher had to give presentations for most of the modules which he did during the semester. Even though, there was trouble in the beginning because of the stage fear, things improved after some time. This gave him the real confidence to stand in front of a group of people without any fear. This would be very useful in future in a professional field. Team player skills: A few modules like International business management and integrated marketing communications had group work involved. This meant that the work would be equally divided among the team members and each had to do their own part. There were team members who would not cooperate for meetings or discussions. However, the researcher found his own ways to overcome this and ensured that the teamwork was done in the end. This would be helpful in future in a professional field as all the work these days are team based. Personal Skills: The key personal skills that were learned were communication skills, time management skills. Communication Skills: A cultural shock is customary for someone who has crossed the globe to study in a foreign country, which was the same for the researcher. The researcher found the communication slightly difficult in the beginning but later improved. The interaction with the international students in the class improved the communication skills of the researcher. The interaction with the lecturers and other staff in the college helped improve the communication skill by a great deal. Time management skills: Time management skills are very important for a person. During the MBA course and through the dissertation, the researcher had to set goals to be achieved in a specific time frame. The researcher had to meet the deadlines for various assignments, which he did successfully. This helped to improve time management skills by a great deal. Future application of the learning skills: The International MBA course has helped the researcher in developing many skills that lacking before. The hard skills of finance, marketing and operations and the soft skills such as communication, leadership and teamwork will be useful for the future. The research skills that were developed during the research will certainly help in the future to choose appropriate techniques and methods. With the help of presentation skills, the researcher will be able to convince people easily. The team player skills will enable him to work as part of a team without any problems. The improved communication skills will with an international exposure will give him the benefit when meeting other people. The time management will skills will help him to do things on time. The MBA program as a whole has contributed a fair deal in improving academic and behavioural competencies. The skills acquired throughout the MBA course will definitely help the researcher in career advancement.

Beowulf and Gilgamesh are Epic Heroes But the Seafarer isn’t and Here’s Why

In the stories â€Å"Beowulf† and â€Å"The Head of Humbaba,† the main characters reflect the descriptions of an â€Å"epic hero†. However in the story, â€Å"The Seafarer,† the main character does not reflect any descriptions of an â€Å"epic hero. † Beowulf and Gilgamesh fit the description because they both go on a quest and have the similar motivations of an epic hero. The Seafarer, in contrast, had a different motivation and an entirely different quest. Beowulf and Gilgamesh have journeys that fit the traditional epic hero. In Beowulf’s story, his journey consisted of killing monsters. He killed Grendel who terrorized Herot. â€Å"Beowulf, a prince of the Geats, had killed Grendel†¦from the rafters where Beowulf had hung it, was the monster’s arm, claw and shoulder and all. † (â€Å"Beowulf† Lines 510-517). Gilgamesh’s story also included murdering monstrous fiends. He killed Humbaba, the guardian of the forest. †Ã¢â‚¬ ¦he raised his ax up higher and swung it in a perfect arc into Humbaba’s neck. (â€Å"The Head of Humbaba† Lines 46-48) Gilgamesh and Beowulf also had similar motivations that fit an â€Å"epic hero. † Beowulf killed Grendel to pay off the debt to Herot because of his father. Gilgamesh provoked and killed Humbaba so he’d also be will known. Both reasons fit the descriptions for an epic hero. In contrast, the Seafarer doesn’t fit an â€Å"epic hero† because his journey and motivation doesn’t corr espond. The Seafarer’s journey was to simply travel the sea. His motivation was to make peace with God. Neither of those actions makes the Seafarer and â€Å"epic hero. † Beowulf and Gilgamesh are epic heroes because their journey and motivations fit what an epic hero stands for. They both fought monsters and both their motivation fit an epic hero. The seafarer isn’t an epic hero because his journey and motivation doesn’t correspond to one. He didn’t accomplish much and his motivation didn’t fit an epic hero.

How Did Napoleon Become Emperor

How did Napoleon become Emperor ‘I was born when Corsica was perishing, 30 000 French men spewed into our shore drowning the throne of liberty in waves of blood’ wrote Napoleon when the French army conquered his home country state of Corsica. Soon after his parents agreed that the impoverished island could give nothing more to their eight children, but only one country could, the one that Napoleon abhorred, France. Carlo, Napoleons father, accepted the overtaking of Corsica and began studying law soon after became a representative of the Corsican Parliament.When moved to France, Napoleon at the age of nine was sent to the Royal Military College, where he was to study military strategy for five years. Then at the age of fifteen, he was promoted to the Royal Military Academy in Paris, a highly respected college in France. A year later he starts as a soldier in France’s best artillery squad, but feels unaccomplished because the highest ranks are given to the families of high nobility.But, the French Revolution’s timing opens possibilities to Napoleon that he tough could never of happen, â€Å"to be 20 years old in1789, is very important, Napoleon’s destiny and the destiny of the whole country, become the same. † says Antoine de Baecque. As an artillery Captain at the age of 24, Napoleon was sent to Toulon, where his victory against the British overtaking of the city was an enormous opportunity fro Napoleon the prove himself and rapidly be promoted through the ranks of the French military where there was a vacuum for control cause by the fleeing emigre.Finally Napoleon was promoted. At home the Terror is still going, Napoleon sides with Robespierre’s view that liberty can no survive in France, if the heads of criminals do not roll. â€Å"(Napoleon) hated the terror but he hated chaos even more†, he believed that it was necessary to suspended liberties in the name of liberty. After Robspierre’s death, the Thermidorian assault obligated the government to call on Napoleon, because he was one of the only qualified military leaders still in France, to restore peace in Vendemiaire. We killed a great many of them, now all is quite, I could no be happier† wrote Napoleon to his brother. Finally he was a full general at the age of twenty-six. In less then ten years time he would be emperor of France. Tough his military achievements were key to his popularity and to his visions, luck, propaganda, and social manipulations also played a major role in his path to the top. ‘Great men become great because they have been able to master luck’ said Napoleon, but luck was also to be replaced by genius.In Italy he won multiple battle and obtained the support of the locals in stating that he was freeing them from tyranny and has no problem with the people of Italy only its despots. At this point in time Napoleon won battles after battles and gained moral and economic growth through th e spoils of war. But most importantly he sends back propaganda exalting him through his own newspaper, portraits and also art. Napoleon understood that victories were not enough to gain popular popularity so he focused strongly on sending back powerful and extravagant art of him and his victories.The Italian people were getting weary of Napoleons presence since he was still continuously demanding and sending back gold and silver. Moving from Italy to Austria, the Austrians asked to make peace, fearing Napoleons fast pace and unbeatable army, and Napoleon followed the peace agreement personally, enraged form the decline of the Austrian government he shouted ‘this is what will happen to your empire, your empire is like a maid accustomed to being raped by anyone’ simultaneously breaking a porcelain tea set. Finally the Austrians gave in and Napoleon achieved what he wanted.Through this achievement Napoleon saw that his military intelligence was not only limited to battle b ut to politics. Waiting to go back to France at the right time as an esteemed pioneer and general, Napoleon head to Egypt. There the British fleet sunk Napoleons naval army, the only communication he had back to France. During this dead lock, Napoleon matured and realized he was no invincible. During this time he lead an exposition to decipher the Egyptian past which was a mystery to France. But, back in France his goddess of wife bought a new house and was cheating on Napoleon.His brother sent him a letter telling him this and Napoleon responded by adopting his own Cleopatra. Soon after Turkey declared war on Napoleon. Napoleon after the close victory and thousands of injured and sick men, was too full of pride to admit he was not as victorious as he sent back to France. Adding to his fame and propagandist profession Napoleon was able manipulate words and acts to his favor. Abandoning his army in Egypt Napoleon sets sail fro France to seize the opportunity of his life time, to come home as a hero respected and wanted in the unstable mother land.A coupe was on the rise and Napoleon wanted to be a supporter of this, he believed this was to be an easy transition, but the two classes of the directory had to renew their oath taking hours to complete and Napoleon became impatient and barged in to the meeting place, there he was hated for since it is strictly illegal for outside people to intervene in parliamentary affairs. Shaken Napoleon stuttered over the opportunity of power and Lucien his brother saw this and unsheathed his sword and stated ‘if my brother had any intentions of becoming dictator I’d run him through. Finally the legislators fled and all was over, but later that evening Lucien and his consuls voted that three consuls were to be sworn in, making it legitimate. One of which was Napoleon. Soon Napoleon rewrote the constitution and became head consul, making him the most powerful men in France. Major achievements of Napoleon before he bec ame emperor are: he established a new economy, replacing he currency with the Franc, establishing the Bank of France, generalizing and standardizing tax collections, and passing indirect taxation to make France richer.Passed the Concordat, allowing him to control the church in directly through him controlling the priest’s paycheck, owning the church land and integrating Church and State. Establishing his Civil Code which is still France’s basis for government today. Also between 1801-1803 he used military funds to locally improve France through creating jobs for the unemployed and improving the esthetic and moral look of France creating a ‘feel good’ era for France. In total Napoleon is a military genius, foreign policies diplomat, socially accepted and wanted as ruler, reversed the economic path of France and its debt, all before he became emperor.France was content with the position it was in more power no less power given to Napoleon, but royalist were not happy with the path France was on. On a confused plot the assassinate Napoleon the royalist failed to eradicate the main column supporting France at this time. Through this attempted people were set on the idea of crowning Napoleon their emperor to reduce the possibilities of assassination plots. The pope of Rome was invited to the crowning but did not crown Napoleon, he was there only to legitimatize and justify the crowning. In Notre Dame de Paris Napoleon crowned himself on December 2 1804.

Test Bank International Economic - 1116 Words

Sovereignity- supreme amp; independent power or authority in government as possessed or claimed by a state or community. Being sovereign nations can be more indifferent to the interests of others. As long as nations exist, international economics will always need a separate body of analysis distinct from the rest of economies. Globalization- worldwide integration amp; development; extending to other or all parts of the world Euro Benefits * Low interest rates due to a high degree of price stability * More price transparency * Removal of transaction costs * No exchange rate fluctuations Disadvantages * Lack of strong Federal government * Two speed economies * To raise or lower interest rates *†¦show more content†¦If a consumer would be willing to pay more than the current asking price, then they are getting more benefit from the purchased product than they spent to buy it. The difference in the price that they would pay, if they had to, and the amount that they pay now is their consumer surplus. Allows us to quantify what the lower price is worth to consumers. Arbitrage- buying something in one market amp; reselling the same thing in another market to profit from a price difference Effects of consumers amp; producers- for the U.S (importing country) the shift from no trade to free trade lowers the market price U.S consumers benefit from this change amp; increase their quantity consumed. Comparative advantage- a nation, like a person, gains from trade by exporting the goods or services in which it has its greatest comparative advantage in productivity and importing those in which it has the least comparative advantages Production possibility curve- shows all the combinations of outputs of different goods and that an economy can produce with full employment of resources amp; maximum productivity. Pictures the production side of a country’s economy. Indifference curve- shows all the consumption points at which utility equals some constant. Each indifference curve is typically presumed to have a bowed shape. A country s factor endowment is commonly understood as the amount of land, labor, and capital that a country possessesShow MoreRelatedPersonal Finance959 Words   |  4 Pagesaccounting, 7/e martin ives terry k. Patton solutions manual and test bank Introduction to information systems 2e canadian ed rainer cegielski splettstoesser hogeterp sanchez rodriguez instructor manual Introduction to logic, 14e irving m. Copi solutions manual and test bank Introduction to managerial accounting 6e brewer garrison solutions manual and test bank introduction to organic and biochemistry, 8th edition solutions manual and test bank by frederick a. Bettelheim | william h. 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