This course stimulated my interest and growth in analysing and solving organisational problems especially for its authentic outlook. In the course space, learning experiences were continuously provided that allowed us to work independently and collaboratively to ponder on, research and use tools to execute tasks. There was also a strong instructor presence in this course, where, on receiving feedback, we could reflect on our performance and assess our results. The course’s projects were based on case-studies. With the first project, we were tasked with transferring the problem to our work context and to carry out the data collection in that environment. This afforded us the opportunity to actively investigate and to initiate a process of inquiry, critical thinking and communication. Moreover, on reflection, I have come to the realisation that a huge aspect of the course was about explicitly communicating our justifications, thinking systematically and making modifications as necessary. Whilst there were a gamut of tools and methods that could be selected to solve the issue of the identified problem, learners were placed in a position to defend or justify their actions against alternatives and to weigh the pros and cons. Consequently, this allowed me to make decisions with authority and to internally reflect on those decisions. It also opened an arsenal of best practices that I can use for future use. It is important to mention too that this process led me to modify some of those existing tools where I found that simple enhancements and changes to some existing tools led to better results. Due to the fact that I have relied and benefitted from those existing tools, I plan on giving back and sharing those tools perhaps as Open Resources so that other interested Needs Assessors could benefit from those tools. In addition, I am also considering designing an e-Learning course and offering one-on-one coaching sessions.

In addition, on reflecting further, one of the areas that I need to improve on is my project management skills. During the course, two of its main projects enter a point of overlap. This therefore meant that as leaders, we should have planned, managed our times and been wise with our task delegation and so on. This is an important area of improvement for me especially since there is a high possibility of projects running concurrently in the real-world. Therefore, I have learned that thorough planning and leading and task delegation skills will need to be paramount going forward.

The first artefact that follows is a project-based assessment based on a case study. Using the case study as the foundation, participants systematically conducted a Needs Assessment on our working environment. The second artefact is a Needs Assessment presentation brief conducted by my groupmates and me. Select each artefact to find out more.