Example of a personal development essay

1. This report has been prepared as a reflective work of my group's business plan for MBA
course. The purpose of this reflection sheet is to redirect how I and my team mates
worked while undertaking the project. The point of writing this report is to include my
thoughts and reactions to the experience. The reflective journal is a personal record of
my learning experiences (White, 2005). I have been asked by university management to
write an individual reflective journal on business plan that should consist of my critical
way of thinking in an analytical way. It has been written to reflect on my work which will
allow the readers to understand my achievement being a member of a team and my role
as a researcher, analyser, critical thinker, reporter and presenter (White, 2005). I tried to
be as specific as possible as this journal is a persuasive essay arguing on behalf of
myself. It includes where my inspiration comes from, how I made use of my ideas to
develop my work and my awareness of the context in which I work. This reflective
journal is an individual report that has described my work based on the business plan
that I have participated in. I was chosen to work in a team of five members to build a
business plan regarding launching a business in Cardiff. My team members for this
assignment were Archana Ashu, Gagan Deep Singh, Nadeem Khan and Rachit Ajmera.
The business plan that we have worked together, is regarding launching a multiplex
cinema in Cardiff. This business plan provides a 3 year operating plan for a Multiplex
cinema with a start-up capital of £5 million. In this report we highlighted and
analysed all the factors essential for a start-up. We considered market analysis, market
strategy and costing, staffing and resourcing, and financial projections for the first 3
years of the business. In this reflective journal I have described objectively what
happened, I tried to Interpret the events explaining what I saw and heard, my insights,
my connections with other learning, my hypotheses and my conclusions. I also
evaluated the effectiveness and efficiency of what was observed.
In this journal, I have described how I tackled team issues, interpreted my role as a team
member, what did I learn being a team member and How I approached challenges.
Other than problem solving I have recorded and mentioned knowledge and
understanding of relevant theories, synthesis of what would I do differently next time
reflecting on how the workshops/meetings helped develop my study? I have been asked
to reflect an analysis, taking into account aspects of my strategy formulation and
explaining how I built upon and applied knowledge from taught modules. I have made
sure that structure of work follows all the section headings and recognises marking
scheme, language is concise and this journal is presented according to school
guidelines.
Problem solving
I was chosen to work in a team of five members to build a business plan regarding
launching a business in Cardiff. My team members for this assignment were Archana
Ashu, Gagan Deep Singh, Nadeem Khan and Rachit Ajmera. Although I wanted to be in
a team of my close friends, the administration allocated teams randomly and put me in a
group of five students. Luckily I already had close friendship with one member and I
knew one other as he was in a same study group as mine. Initially I had objections with
the supervisors' decision of allocation but gradually as I started to know my team

2. members, this opposition faded away. I felt friendly and enthusiastic being in this team.
Being students from different backgrounds and societies naturally raised some problems
for us but we managed to solve all the issues quite amicably (Gillie, 2010). All the
disagreements were resolved and we worked together harmoniously. As a contemporary
management student, I understood the capability of a team is greater than the collective
abilities of the individuals within it. As soon as I was consigned in a team, I called
everyone for a meeting to know each other and discuss task in hand. For me, doing the
work in a friendly environment and more casually could make the task easier. Rest of the
team members did not agree and had some reservations but I motivated them and
persuaded them to follow my arrangement. In the meetings, plan was discussed and
ideas were revolved (Gillie, 2010). I also put forward my thoughts and plans. After
careful planning, thorough discussion and constructive arguments I made them agree on
the topic. We defined our roles according to our strengths in subject areas and tasks
were assigned to each member. My team set its standards of ethics and behaviours to
achieve positive synergy and to create effective environment (Levin, 2008). All team
members were highly committed and motivated. My strong area was marketing, hence id
been assigned with collecting, analysing and evaluating marketing aspects of the
business plan. I also convinced them to work closely and stay in constant contact.
Although we had to work individually on our tasks but I collaborated to help others in
their work and vice versa (Levin, 2008). Apart from problems mentioned above, I and
other team members faced some other problems such as lack of knowledge of how to
conduct the study, inexperience of research process, lack of critical analysis during
research process, less research was done on every individual's part and there were
critical judgements on each other's work, no involvement of critical thinking which made
our presentation look descriptive, and inconsistent decision making. All these problems
were solved jointly (Gillie, 2010).
I have learnt that team is more successful when members within it are able to create
synergy. Since our goals, objectives, tasks, and priorities were larger than any individual,
teamwork was required. When team members know how to be more effective together,
synergy happens and greater organizational success is achieved. I have also
understood the importance of teamwork (Sugars, 2005). I considered every member of
my team as important as each person brought unique skills, knowledge, and experience.
Team members also brought energy, drive, passion, and determination. Since not
everyone brings different amounts of all of these things, team members needed each
other. Increasing the strength of each team member produced greater team success and
results. I along with my team members approached all the issues quite confidently as I
knew our collective strengths could tackle any problem we face (Glover, 2009).
Knowledge and Understanding
By conducting a research as a team, I felt that there is no doubt team theory is relevant
in practice. I was confident to relate the research and the theory I have studied during
my MBA course (Sugars, 2005). Previous experience in management field also came
handy. The most important thing I have gained knowledge of is the effectively working in
a team. In the later stages of the project, coordination among team members increased

3. considerably. This helped in improving and polishing our communication skills. We
learned that everyone can do their own part to work towards a common goal and that
there doesn't need to be just one distinct leader (Glover, 2009).
Although different tasks were assigned to team members, I remained in constant contact
with every member and consulted on every possible occasion. This also helped me learn
and understand their approach as well (Glover, 2009). As an individual, working on a
business plan has helped me to understand how to make an official report. It assisted
me in research methodology, how to check different sources and how to carry out
research. The proposed business plan was solely concentrated on market penetration
and market acquisition with its customer service, facilities, ambience, and projection
technology and above all, operational benefits (Sugars, 2005). Beside this, I managed to
learn different marketing techniques and got a practical experience of how to apply
marketing models and theories. I considered myself an important member of a team in
formulating strategy and objectives to achieve this strategy. The main purpose of
conducting a market research was to identify and establish potential market and also to
get the reliable data for product. I have learned to analyse the market and potential
customers before entering the market. I understood the market analysis for business is
to check the feasibility and the absorbance of product in the market and to understand
the trends and behaviour of the consumers in market and to apply strategies accordingly
(Dyer, 2007). All this provided crucial and reliable information. I studied to carry out
market analysis; learned about market size and forecast; its share, trends and
behaviour. I also assessed competitors and their strategies, targeted market segments,
analysed our business' core competencies and critical success factors; marketing and
costing strategies. This business plan also assisted me in projecting financial position
and reports along with knowledge of staffing and resourcing for business (Sugars, 2007).
Synthesis
Although all team members planned the business plan and divided the tasks according
to their strengths but we still faced some problems. I would like to change my approach
a little next time I involve myself in this type of activity. I would definitely focus on time
management and motivation issues (Dyers, 2007). Others areas need to be improved
are analytical skills and market assessments. The area of critics of team needs some
perfection as well. Every member's presentation skills were weak that resulted in lower
marks. The report looked descriptive and team members just read that in the
presentation meeting. Experience gained from this project will definitely help to improve
the above mentioned areas in the future (Saunders et al. 2009).
There are a lot of aspects and factors that helped me develop my understanding and
improve my knowledge. Workshops and lectures taught me how to carry out a research
in desired fields, what method to select and what approach to take. Meetings provided
facilitation in problem solving and strategic planning. These also helped me in decision
making and working in a team (White, 2005).

4. Analysis and Evaluation
As a student studying MBA course from a renowned university, I was expected to apply
critical thinking and analyse the business plan. The modules that I have studied during
my lectures helped me apply marketing tools and techniques to my research. I learned
how to apply theory into practice. This was a new idea to me but I was successful in
interpreting this. This helped me gained both theoretical and practical knowledge. I
applied knowledge from the books and journals to formulate the strategic plan, mission
and vision of the company that I was working on. I applied different models successfully
such as McKenzie 7's model, Porter's generic strategies, Ansoff's growth model, IR
model, Porter's five forces model and some others (Kotler. 2010). The knowledge from
the lectures helped me how to search different sources which was useful in strategy
formulation. Overall the use of theoretical knowledge in practical situation helped me
understand the business plan. I used the theories to advance my understanding of the
business plan. The practical experience was built upon the theoretical knowledge
(Saunders et al. 2009). Theory asked me how to conduct a research; based on this I
practically collected data and information for analysis. Theory taught me how to
calculate; I practically used this knowledge to formulate a financial projection; Theory
explained how to apply different models; I managed to use these theories according to
my situation and constructed a whole report. I practically worked in human resource filed
to staff and resource my business.
Having completed this project, I have learned how to better argue a point in discussion.
Using facts and example, my arguments have become much better (Sugars, 2005). The
project taught me and my team members to be good team members, cooperative and
helpful. I felt a change as my researching skills increased considerably. I can better
understand the topic and use a variety of sources for search purposes which will help
me a lot in future research process. I can create a conclusive argument that can set a
tone of the entire project. Using latest techniques of researching and arguing, my paper
will seem clearer and my arguments more apparent (Bryman and Bell, 2007). I have also
updated my accounting knowledge by working on new accounting principles. I was
responsible for quite of lot of report writing. It was good for me to get practice at writing,
at proof reading, editing, etc. I did have a sense of achievement when a report was
finished. And finally my computer skills have also improved from writing reports and
through having 24-hour access to the computer. These skills are not great, but in
comparison to my own skills before working on this project they have progressed well.
I personally feel that business plan is viable as it helps us understand not just to apply
critical thinking and analyse the information but to use the theory into practice. This is
what I think MBA requires. It helps the students getting management experience and
applying what they have learnt in their lectures and workshops.