Call to mind a major event in your past, personal, volunteer or professional, that had a significant negative outcome as a result of you either performing an action (saying or doing something) that you should not have, or not performing an action that you should have. How did you arrive at the decision to perform or not perform the action? Some trigger questions to lead you off include (DO NOT use these questions to structure your write up or as headings!!): • Where does it begin and end? • What was the objective, purpose? • What was planned? • What events led up to the experience? Who was involved? • What occurred? What was the result? • What factors did you consider, if any? • Were all factors considered? • Whose views did you seek, entertain? • Who were the stakeholders? • Why were you disappointed? If alternatives were available, why were they not considered/chosen? • What was your reaction to the event? The objective of this stage is to capture the complex human and organisational factors behind the experience. The best way to describe what is expected
of this section is articulating what went on in your head and around you leading up to, and at the moment of, the occurrence. Why? To understand the logic behind the drivers that led to actions that led to results. You can probably see that the points are quite broad and can cover a number of dimensions such as technical issues, procedures used, communications, roles, responsibilities, organisational context (Campbell, 2008), stakeholders etc. This experience can be in the work place, in a volunteer/community group or at home. Present the facts as you perceive them (bear in mind that your own emotions/reactions at the time are as much a fact, as other more observable events). DO NOT attempt to rationalise or explain the experience. Also DO NOT tell me what you learned from the event e.g. “I learned that… and I am the better for it.” Marks will be awarded based on below criteria. The event has to be clearly and objectively detailed. After reading the essay, reader must understand the context and the significance of the event as well as its impact and the conclusions made.