In my previous essay in Assignment 1, the issues faced by a contemporary business organization have been discussed, with Alibaba as an example. It exemplifies the analysis process by identifying and discussing the contemporary issues Alibaba is involved with, including AI and digital economy. To be more specific, with China upgrading its opening-up to the world and further its involvement in the WTO, the Chinese government gives full financial and political support to the development of e-commerce, pushing Alibaba to make another great stride in AI and digitalization. Also, the needs for AI and machine intelligence products are huge in China as the society evolves. Through the essay, I have learned a lot and lifted my ability to make an analysis. Therefore, in the reflective essay, I want to discuss the ability I have gained to analyze detailed issued faced by contemporary business organization through the process of learning in this module.
In the module, I think I have been greatly trained in the ability to analyze the contemporary issues faced by business organizations in a lot of aspects including the political, economic, social, technological, environmental and legal dimensions. In other words, I have learned to take all the related factors into account when analyzing a certain company and make use of different theoretical frameworks that underpin business research. By doing so, a complete analysis about the condition of a certain company will be given, so that all the parties, including corporate owners, consumers, stakeholder, market researchers, economists, can be enabled an access to the in-depth insight to its business and management conditions.
Also, I have learned to make use of models to carry out the analysis, which make the whole process more effective. For instance, in my essay in Assignment 1, PESTEL models were utilized in detail to work out the findings. In the process of research, I have found that the thinking mode I have been taught to form and the usage of models are both important in drawing the final conclusion. Such a ability is really of great significance to me who is going to take a job in the career of business. It is because only when a valid analysis is made, can I be able to make right strategies. Therefore, I hold the view that it is the most productive to my future career, which has significantly enhanced my knowledge and skills.
Among the companies covered in the module, Alibaba has helped transform my thinking about management practice generally. In the process of analyzing, I have summarized that after developing for nearly 20 years, China has grown to be highly cyber country, with 0.8 billion Internet users out of its total population 1.4 billion as of the middle of 2018. Those born after 1995, are called as Z-generation, as inherently digital people. They represent the Chinese net users who are tightly internet-bonded and now embracing the upcoming digital era with great zest. Under such a background, I have thought out some new perspectives of management practice for Alibaba.
To be more specific, after analyzing the issues faced by it from a lot of aspects, I have dawn the conclusion that it should first of all take full advantage of the political and economic factors to maintain its leading position and expand its scope of business to the emerging areas, by seizing opportunities and exploiting all kinds of resources. Two vital traits it should always maintain are innovative spirit and CSR. In this way, Alibaba can be assured that its development caters to the needs of the society, which can promote its development in return. For instance, at the end of October 2018, Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. announced it’s opening of a futuristic hotel staffed by robots. It is just an exact example of the innovative spirit of Alibaba.
Among the peer discussions, some have seized the crucial parts of the issues faced by a contemporary business organization, for which I think they are invaluable. But at the same time, some others have kept analyzing issues which are not the mains ones, for which I think they are relatively bad. I have found that there are some advantages and disadvantages at the same time when I work with others. On the one hand, by communicating with others, our different ideas can be exchanged, so that the opinions can be more diverse. In this way, we will be able to make a more complete analysis. Also, because we are peers, we can point out the problems of each other without considering too much.
As is known by us all, we will often fail to find our own mistakes, for which it is necessary to get others’ suggestions. By working with others, a lot of mistakes can be avoided. But on the other hand, there may exist cultural challenge among us. To be more specific, we may stick to different values sometimes, for which we will fail to reach an agreement in discussion. From the perspective of the peer discussions and the module, I have learned a lot of lessons. To be more specific, I have learned to maximize strengths and minimize weaknesses of working with others. For instance, when there exists cultural challenge, I should avoid extreme quarrels with others. If the challenge is not closely related to the project we are working on, I should avoid my attention on it and attach more importance to the project itself.
All in all, through the module, I have developed the ability to analyze the contemporary issues faced by business organizations with all the related factors being taken into account, making use of models. It is beneficial to my future career, which can help me to Also, in the process of working with others, I have found some advantages and challenges. To summary the lessons I have learned, I will design an appropriate action plan. I have found that I am a little stubborn when I have different opinion with others in working. In the future, I decide to overcome the problem and promote myself to consider others’ suggestions.