Personal Creativity Reflection

Iliad Assessment 37

Iliad Assessment

The Iliad Assessment is a 150-minute managerial simulation that combines two presentations, a brain

storming session, and an in basket full of memos, emails. The exercise is designed to take much more

than the two and a half hours that were allotted. Every student was told they would assume the role of

a high-ranking employee for a publishing company, Iliad. I was assigned executive vice president of

high school textbooks. Though I had no background in dealing with publishing, nor was I familiar

with any of the business terms used in the stockholders report we were given as background reading, I

actually enjoyed the exercise. Many of my classmates said that the simulation was stressful and they

came away feeling like they did poorly, I finished all of my in-basket and felt confident about my

performance for the day. The score breakdown is available in Appendix II.

Reactions

As a whole, I was somewhat surprised with how well I did. I scored in the 98th percentile, and in the

top three in my class. I was unsure about how they were grading the assessment, though that I would

be penalized for responding to the memos briefly, even though I had dealt with all of the memos.

However, I scored very well on that portion in the 94th percentile for writing quality, 100th for

prioritization and work pace, and 98th for attention to detail. I was however disappointed by my three-

minute presentation score. I received a 64 for my presentation on why the publishing company should

expand to Western Europe. I knew that I would be penalized for forgetting to ask questions at the end

of the presentation, but overlooking that fact, I thought I would have done much better on that section.

Perhaps I was most surprised by my rating on the decision-making portion of the assessment: 64. I

thought my solutions to the problems were innovative and connected multiple portions of the

simulation. I would definitely like to know more in-depth reasoning why I received such low marks.

The most valuable feedback did not come from the actual assessment results, but instead from

Professor Wellman. When I received the email telling me that I had scored within the top three

students in the class and how to apply my results, it instantly became more useful for my future, I

realized the impact of scoring so well on the assessment. The Iliad assessment has definitely impacted

my future in a variety of ways. As I mentioned earlier, I joined the QUEST program to continue to

invest in myself and diversify myself as a person. As I continue to grow and explore a field that is

Personal Creativity Reflection

Iliad Assessment 38

different than what I ever expected to be learning, I will take the Iliad assessment into the account. The

score report that I received reassures me that I would find success in the areas that I would be working

in during my time in the QUEST program.

The most important thing that I learned from the Iliad assessment is that the sciences are not my only

strength. It really showed me that if I choose to follow my plan Z for any reason, I would not be

struggling in a different industry. It also showed me where I can improve the most. The score

breakdown for the presentations and brainstorming session showed me precisely where I can improve

my performance, and I will work to better these areas in all aspects of my life, not just the professional

aspect. Changing habits that I have been forming all of my life will be challenging, but ultimately it will

benefit me as a professional, and as a person as a whole.

Feedback

Assessing my feedback in an analytical view is critical for receiving the full impact of my analysis.

Below is a summary of the breakdown offered in the score assessment (located in Appendix II).

Strengths to Leverage

Known Strengths

Leadership

Teamwork

Organizing

Prioritization

Unknown Strengths

Communication

Ethical Sensitivity

Attention to Detail

Work Pace

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Iliad Assessment 39

Areas to

Develop

Known Development Needs

Asking Questions from the Audience

Address Consequences of Decision

Eye Contact and Nonverbal

Communication

Speaking Confidently

Unknown Development Needs

Decision Making

Using Emotional Appeal

Attempt to Close the Sale

Known to You Unknown to You

Development Plan

Once the scores have been read an analyzed, it is essential to make use of this information. It is critical to work on fixing the weak areas, especially the ones that you were unaware of. Continuing to develop your strengths is also advised. However, in order to actually commit to improving areas of weakness, one must make a development plan and set goals over time for themselves. Setting vague and lofty goals will not actually help someone improve, instead the goals must be very specially laid out. First, the goals must be specific, attainable, and measurable. This ensures that one can work towards their goals, and measure their progress until they reach their goal. Secondly, the goals must be in levels. Setting one large goal will seem very daunting unless it is broken down into several smaller pieces. Breaking the smaller pieces into individual goals with specific dates by which they must be accomplished will help the individual to stay on track. Finally, the goals must be relevant for success. If the small pieces have nothing to do with the overall goal, they are not relevant and will just waste time and effort. Once a developmental plan has been set in motion, it is important to follow some advice from the action catalysts advised in Creative Confidence.

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Iliad Assessment 40

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Based on the feedback I received in my Iliad Assessment score report, I have developed a plan to help

improve my professional skills. Below is a graphic describing my plan.

Individual Development Plan

Target Behavior: Using Emotional Appeal

Why important?: Time and time again, emotional appeal has been proven effective in persuasive

speeches. More commonly known as pathos, persuasive appeal manipulates the audiences emotions to

help them agree with one side of the argument.

Development

Goals

Actions Steps Completion

Date

Resources/

People

Obstacles to

Overcome

1. To fully comprehend the

effect of a debate with

emotional appeal vs. a

debate without emotional

appeal

Extensively research

famous and effective

speeches that utilize

emotional appeal in their

execution.

May 24,

2015

The Internet,

my

communicati

ons professor

Aversion to

research, spending

the time to

watch/listen to

speeches

2. To understand

successful methods of

emotional appeal for public

speeches and persuasive

arguments

Identify techniques in the

speeches where emotional

appeal is used, note if it

was effective and how

August 24,

2015

The Internet,

Books, My

INAG110

professor

Pinpointing the

methods used

instead of the

specific examples

3. Effectively implement

emotional appeal on a

personal level and in a

public setting

Actually giving speeches

joining toastmasters club

and persuading friends

and family

End of Fall

2015

Semester

UMD Debate

Club, UMD

Toastmasters

Finding the time

and courage to join

the club and give

the speeches

Plan to Make Public Rewards/Punishments Evaluation Plan

Joining the Toastmasters Rewards: Winning Keep a journal every week with new thoughts

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Iliad Assessment 43

club or debate team will

make the plan public and

it will commit to getting

me out and practicing

speeches #2 from the

Creative Confidence list

awards for the

Toastmasters club.

Punishments: Write a 5-

page essay using

emotional appeal every

time I skip a speech.

and insights from the week of research, study

and practice. Evaluate a percentage (1-100%) on

how far you have come between setting your

goal and achieving it. Evaluate progress

monthly and adjust goal schedule as needed.