MGT1044 POLC Reflection: How to Write It and What Markers Want
Quick answer: the MGT1044 individual reflection rewards a real, specific situation, analysed through planning, organising, leading and controlling, with honest evaluation and a clear plan for future practice. Pick one situation you genuinely lived through, write in the first person, and show what you thought, what you did and what you would change. Description alone earns the lowest band.
This guide explains how to approach the Sunway Business School Principles of Management individual assignment (20 per cent of the grade, about 2,000 words, APA 7), what markers look for, and how to avoid the mistakes that keep students in the pass band.
Want to see the actual task first? Read the MGT1044 Principles of Management individual assignment question.
Need personal guidance on your own situation? Our management assignment help page explains how our subject team supports students.
What the assessment actually asks
You reflect on one situation in which you were personally involved. It could be a group assignment, a club activity, a part-time job, a family business, volunteering or a workplace project. You then examine it through the four management functions and connect it to the first course learning outcome: applying the basic functions of management.
The key word is reflect. A narrative of what happened is only the starting point. Markers want to see how you judged your own decisions.
Remember the practical limits too. The assignment is individual, worth 20 per cent, due in mid-November 2026, written in APA 7 style, and checked for similarity. Treat it as a skills exercise: it tests whether you can apply management ideas to something you lived through, not whether you can recite definitions from the textbook.
A good test before you start is to ask yourself one question for each function: what did I decide, and was it the right decision? If you can answer that with evidence and a little doubt, you have enough material to write a strong reflection.
Reflection versus description: the mark difference
| Level | What the writing does | Example in planning |
|---|---|---|
| Basic (around C) | States what was done | “We made a schedule for the event.” |
| Clear (around B) | Explains why and links to a concept | “I set weekly milestones because a plan needs measurable steps.” |
| Insightful (around A) | Evaluates, names weaknesses, shows contingency and dependencies, and links to the planning process | “I mapped which tasks depended on approval, built in a backup venue, and realised I had assumed everyone’s availability without checking.” |
The top band is not about a more impressive event. It is about a more honest and more analytical account of an ordinary one.
Choosing the right situation
Choose a situation that has a clear objective, other people, at least one real challenge and a visible outcome. A small situation with a genuine problem is better than a grand one with no tension.
- You must have been personally involved, with a role you can describe.
- It should involve at least some coordination of people or resources.
- You should remember enough detail to give a timeframe, actions and results.
- It should allow all four functions to appear naturally.
A step-by-step plan for the 2,000 words
- Write down the facts first. List timeframe, role, objective, people involved, the key challenge, your main actions and the outcome. Keep them on one page.
- Allocate words. Aim for roughly 250 to 300 for the introduction, 350 to 400 for each of the four functions, and 350 to 400 for learning and future application.
- Pair each function with one concept. For example, goal-setting or the planning process for planning, span of control or delegation for organising, a leadership style theory for leading, and the control process for controlling.
- Draft each section in three moves. Say what you did, evaluate how well it worked, and say what you would change.
- Link the functions. Show where a planning weakness caused an organising or leading problem.
- Write the learning section last. Make each lesson specific and include an action you will actually take.
- Check APA 7 and similarity. Use at least three credible sources, including the prescribed textbook where suitable, and keep Turnitin similarity below the required level.
What markers want in each function
Planning
Show goals, milestones, dependencies between tasks and a contingency. Mention an assumption you later found to be wrong.
Organising
Explain how you divided work, who had authority, and how resources and communication were coordinated. Say where the real structure differed from the intended one.
Leading
Describe how you motivated and communicated with people, and identify your leadership style honestly. A moment of conflict or low motivation is useful material.
Controlling
Show how you monitored progress against a standard, what you found, and what corrective action you took. Note whether you measured the right things.
Not sure your situation is strong enough? Our essay writing service page shows how we help students shape reflective work. For a worked layout, see our illustrative POLC reflection sample, which is for reference only and not to be submitted as your own work.
How to turn a description into a reflection
A simple three-sentence pattern helps in every section. First, state the action. Second, judge it. Third, say what you would change. Here is how the same event reads at different quality levels.
| Function | Descriptive sentence (weak) | Reflective sentence (strong) |
|---|---|---|
| Organising | “I split the team into two groups.” | “I split the team by skill, but I did not state who could approve changes, so decisions queued up behind me.” |
| Leading | “I encouraged everyone to work harder.” | “I used the same directive style for everyone, which suited new members but frustrated experienced ones.” |
| Controlling | “We checked progress each week.” | “Our weekly check measured output only, so a quality problem stayed hidden until the final week.” |
Notice that the strong versions admit a limitation. That honesty is not a risk. It is the evidence of reflection that the top band requires.
A realistic writing schedule
Many students leave a reflection until the last night because it feels easy. It is not easy, because the analysis takes more time than the story. A seven-day schedule keeps the work calm.
- Day 1: choose the situation and write the one-page fact sheet.
- Day 2: read the relevant textbook chapters and note one concept for each function.
- Days 3 and 4: draft the four function sections.
- Day 5: draft the introduction and the learning section.
- Day 6: edit for first-person voice, evaluation and word count, then format the references.
- Day 7: proofread and run a similarity check before submission.
Mark-maximising checklist
- One real situation, described with a timeframe, role and objective.
- First person throughout, with feelings and decisions explained.
- All four functions covered in similar depth.
- At least one named weakness per function.
- A concept linked to every function, used to explain and not just to decorate.
- Planning evidence of milestones, contingency and dependency thinking.
- Controlling evidence of both monitoring and corrective action.
- A learning section with specific future actions.
- At least three credible academic or textbook sources, correctly formatted in APA 7.
- No encyclopaedic or investing websites as sources.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Telling the story and stopping. A narrative with no evaluation stays in the basic band.
- Choosing a situation with no problem. Without a challenge, there is nothing to reflect on.
- Treating the functions as separate. Strong work shows how they affect each other.
- Using “we” for everything. The marker wants to see your role and your decisions.
- Listing theories. One concept used well beats five names dropped.
- Vague lessons. “I learned to communicate better” is weak; “I will agree decision limits in writing” is strong.
- Ignoring the word limit. Go outside the range and you risk losing marks.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use a group assignment as my situation?
Yes, if you can describe your own role and decisions. Focus on what you personally planned, organised, led or controlled, not only on what the group did.
Is first-person writing allowed?
Yes. The brief expects it, because this is a personal reflection. Keep the tone formal and the analysis disciplined.
How many sources do I need?
The brief asks for at least three credible academic or textbook sources, including the prescribed textbook where appropriate. Using more is fine if each one does real work.
Can the situation be from a part-time job or a family business?
Yes. Any real situation you were personally involved in is acceptable, as long as it lets you cover all four functions.
What if my situation went well?
Even successful situations contain weaknesses. Identify a decision that could have been better, an assumption that was lucky, or a risk you did not manage.
How do I keep Turnitin similarity low?
Write from your own experience, paraphrase theory in your own words, and keep direct quotations short and rare. A personal reflection is naturally original when it is specific.
Ready to move from outline to a polished submission? Browse student reviews to see how others rate our service, then send your requirements for a quote.
About the expert
This guide reflects the management knowledge of Amirul Azam, whose profile lists an MBA with expertise in marketing, management, organizational behavior and international business.
