Personal Creativity Reflection

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
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Personal Creativity Reflection

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.

Strengths to Leverage

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

Known Strengths

Unknown Strengths

Leadership

Communication

Teamwork

Ethical Sensitivity

Organizing

Attention to Detail

Prioritization

Work Pace

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Personal Creativity Reflection

Areas to Develop

Known Development Needs

Unknown Development Needs

Asking Questions from the Audience

Decision Making

Address Consequences of Decision

Using Emotional Appeal

Eye Contact and Nonverbal

Attempt to Close the Sale

Communication

Speaking Confidently

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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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

Actions Steps

Goals

Completion

Resources/

Obstacles to

Date

People

Overcome

1. To fully comprehend the Extensively research

May 24,

The Internet,

Aversion to

effect of a debate with

famous and effective

2015

my

research, spending

emotional appeal vs. a

speeches that utilize

communicati

the time to

debate without emotional

emotional appeal in their

ons professor

watch/listen to

appeal

execution.

2. To understand

Identify techniques in the

August 24,

The Internet,

Pinpointing the

successful methods of

speeches where emotional

2015

Books, My

methods used

emotional appeal for public appeal is used, note if it

INAG110

instead of the

speeches and persuasive

was effective and how

professor

specific examples

3. Effectively implement

Actually giving speeches End of Fall

UMD Debate Finding the time

emotional appeal on a

joining toastmasters club

2015

Club, UMD

personal level and in a

and persuading friends

Semester

Toastmasters the club and give

public setting

and family

speeches

arguments

Plan to Make Public

Joining the Toastmasters

and courage to join

the speeches

Rewards/Punishments
Rewards: Winning

Evaluation Plan
Keep a journal every week with new thoughts

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Personal Creativity Reflection

club or debate team will

awards for the

and insights from the week of research, study

make the plan public and

Toastmasters club.

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

it will commit to getting

Punishments: Write a 5-

how far you have come between setting your

me out and practicing

page essay using

goal and achieving it. Evaluate progress

speeches #2 from the

emotional appeal every

monthly and adjust goal schedule as needed.

Creative Confidence list

time I skip a speech.

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