24. My Values Reflective Report
Purpose:
The first assignment focuses on identifying your values using at least one self- assessment (work values inventory; interview with significant other; structured autobiography), reflection on experiences and academic readings.
Values are deeply embedded in our identity and usually we are not conscious of our values, or the values of other people. One way that we can become aware of these implicit values is when they clash. Thus, in this report you are asked to describe and reflect upon experiences in which you have experienced value conflict. The report can be written in the first person, as it is a report about you.
The report should focus on conflict that has an ethical dimension, rather than issues of quality or worth. Such as: Health or safety, Moral or religious concerns, Fairness or equity.
Tips
• Adhere to all requirements
• Focus on ethical situations – Eg You were asked to lie, ?cheat or steal, or someone is being dishonest, morally ?questionable etc
• Do not use work performance issues. Eg Being told off for ?being late or making a work process error
• Focus on understanding actions rather than attributing ?blame
• Apply knowledge from assigned readings
Required Format:
1. Introduction: Define values (approx. 200 words)
a. Using at least two academic sources, define what values are and identify core values.
b. How does the definition/s relate to your personal and work experience?
2. Describe 2 experiences of values in conflict (approx 800 words):
2a Experience 1
Recall a time in your work experience* when your values conflicted with what you were expected to do, in a particular important work-related decision, and you spoke up and acted to resolve the conflict. In your description include the answers to the following questions:
i. Describe what happened and the impact of your action.
ii. What motivated you to speak up and act?
iii. How satisfied are you with the action? How would you have liked to
have responded? (This question is not about rejecting or defending
past actions, but rather about imagining your ideal scenario)
iv. What would have made it easier for you to speak or act? (Consider
both things within your control and things within the control of others).
2b Experience 2
Recall a time in your work experience when your values conflicted with what you were expected to do in a particular important work-related decision and you did not speak up and act to resolve the conflict. In your description include the answers to the following questions:
i. Describe what happened.
ii. Why didn’t you speak or act?
iii. How satisfied are you with the action? How would you have liked to
have responded? (This question is not about rejecting or defending
past actions, but rather about imagining your ideal scenario).
iv. What would have made it easier for you to speak or act? (Consider
both factors within your control and things within the control of
others).
* You can use experiences from your full time job, summer job, internship, student
club, student team project or family setting. Always describe your role in the organization at the time of the decision.
3. Conclusion: Reflection and lessons learned (approx. 500 words)
Reflect on the experiences described above in light of the results of
at least one of the self assessments (WVI, ISO and autobiography).
Identify 2 lessons learnt from the experiences above. Apply what you
have learned about yourself to your career. You are expected to use at least two academic sources to support your analysis.