My Retrospective Reflection of MGMT 3210
Business Communication Skills Applied at Work
Going into this class, I knew it would be super beneficial for my full-time position as an Event Coordinator in the summer. Communicating with vendors and event attendees is a vital part of my job and I wanted to make sure I simply didn’t just learn about business communication but implement it as well. Through this course, I learned the importance of understanding the audience before creating a message for them, and ensuring that all the necessary information is inputted to enable conciseness and accuracy. A month into my job, I realized that these practices can boost my professional image as well as my company’s. In addition, my job involves communicating with my coworkers on a regular basis. This includes letting them know what kind of events are occurring, what their roles are during those events, and ensuring feedback response from them to make future events more successful. All these actions involve communication that needs to be concise and to the point job performance can greatly reflect on that.
Highs and Lows of the Course
The online format of the course was less friendly for a better learning environment compared to in-person. I had to make the most of it due to my work schedule but I was not displeased at how it turned out. The course material was very enlightening and the break-out room conversations enabled me to share my ideas with my fellow classmates, and learn new perspectives from them as well. The break-out rooms were a great ice-breaker method that helped me get a lot more comfortable with participating in class discussions and answering questions. Going through the workshop activities and their solutions together in class was an excellent method of receiving feedback and retaining information. The textbook was a significant source of information that I utilized all throughout the semester for my workshop activities and to reinforce and support the group work.
Near to the end of the course, however, it was a lot more difficult for me to be more available in class and dedicate more time to classwork due to my work schedule. I realize now that it would have been a good idea to communicate that with the instructor so that they were aware of it. Sharing that could have allowed my instructor to provide guidance on the situation and perhaps accommodations for certain due dates. Despite the challenges, I managed to contribute enough to the group project because our group made sure to work together in a schedule that suited every member.
Group Work
The transition from class to group work was very interesting because keeping in touch with the group at the start of class for the workshop activities was an effective way to figure out every group member’s strengths and weaknesses, and build trust among the group members. This enabled us to allocate our roles for the group project responsibly, set goals at an early stage, have a basis for expectations.
Probably the most frustrating part of the course was when our group size changed from five members to three. Our group wanted to get started with the group project as early as possible, but two members dropped the course after we exchanged contact information. A new member was added to our group and, although he was responsive, he did not complete any group work. This resulted in three members struggling to re-do the group structure and making sure we were on the right track.
This incident helped me realize that it is important to adapt and be flexible to group changes, especially with due dates. Having better communication skills can assist in making sure that the three remaining group members are on the same page. The emphasis on effective communication as learnt from this course, was reflected on this matter. Regular communication with the instructor was also beneficial because the instructor gave us key information to make sure the disruption did not reflect on our grade for the group project.
The Use of AI in the Course
The UNESCO ChatGPT course was a very interesting start to the course. I believe it is important to understand the ethical implications of AI and realize its potential in aiding and developing education and communication. It was also great to know that the course allowed the use of AI with proper documentation. The selection of AI topics by my classmates for their current events presentations provided valuable insights into the diverse applications of AI in communication, resulting in a deeper understanding of AI. AI application in the workplace and its effect on culture and identity were just a few examples that sparked my interest.
Overall Experience in the Course
I would definitely recommend this course to anyone going into the career world. Effective communication is the basis of professional/workplace relationships and company culture. The skills I learned from the course helped my group to set a foundation of trust and compatibility, and guided me in my role as an Event Coordinator. For those taking the course in the future and want to excel in it, I recommend and emphasize frequently practicing the PAIBOC analysis and participating in class discussions. The analysis is an excellent groundwork method for any and all communications. Attending class and being active in class discussions will help you cover the vital aspects of the course and learn things you might miss out on otherwise.
