This is exactly what I don’t think of when I think about group projects, especially ones that are arbitrarily assigned. Having had many bad experiences with group projects, I got really lucky with my marketing group. We got work done, and more importantly, we had tons of fun. Everyone took the initiative to improve our work and contributed significantly throughout the process. Through my experience, I know that it’s 1+1=3 could be possible.
I learned a lot intellectually. By delving deeper into Blackberry’s current environment, competitive advantages, etc., I gained new insights into the Company and the smartphone industry. It was through intensive research and brainstorming that I truly got a grasp of how competitive and changing the smartphone industry is. Ironically, Blackberry, the first mover in the industry, now struggles to dissociate itself as being a “follower” of Apple and Samsung. I came out of the project knowing much more about Blackberry and an industry that is changing people’s lives.
The group project helped me solidify my learning from classroom materials through practical applications. From filling a SWOT Table to formulating a viable positioning statement, I gained a firmer understanding of marketing concepts and learned the steps to thoroughly analyzing a company’s marketing strategy.
Lastly, working in a group also made me grow as a person. Beyond the fact that it strengthened my communication and organizational skills, I grew more aware of my weaknesses. One interesting weakness I discovered while doing voice-overs was that I said certain words with an accent. I also sounded like I was about to fall asleep. Now, I am much more aware of how I speak and continually strive to improve on my pronunciation and tone.
The list goes on and on, but all in all, I am grateful that I had this experience.