Action Research - Do Something about It

 Action Research - Do Something about It

• Step 1: Spot the Gap (Pain Point) (On-the-Job Discovery)

  • Perform daily assigned tasks and notices an operational friction point (e.g., repetitive manual data entry, frequent translation/communication errors, slow onboarding, or inconsistent document filing).

  • Verify the issue with the workplace supervisor (Phi Liang) to confirm it is an actual pain point worth solving.

• Step 2: Propose the Fix (Plan)

  • Designs a practical solution or tool tailored to the task (e.g., a bilingual email template kit, an automated Google Sheet tracker, a quick-reference SOP guide, or a simplified customer FAQ flow).

  • Get quick approval from both the workplace supervisor and academic advisor before launching it.

• Step 3: Put the Solution to Work (Act & Observe)

  • Imlements the fix in the active work environment for 2–4 weeks.

  • Test it in real-time, train relevant team members if necessary, and collect basic before-and-after evidence (e.g., time saved per task, reduction in errors, or user satisfaction feedback).

• Step 4: Assess the Impact (Reflect)

  • Compares the baseline situation to the new workflow.

  • Document what improved, where bottlenecks remain, and what practical tweaks are needed for the system to run smoothly without them.

• Step 5: Handover & Report (Disseminate)

  • Hands over the finalized tool/process to the workplace team so it continues to add value after the internship ends.

  • Write up the findings—problem, intervention, results, and recommendations—into your internship report and present it for academic evaluation.

Individual Internship Action Research Task: Workplace Improvement Project

Objective:

Identify an operational challenge or friction point in your current internship workplace, design and implement a practical solution, and evaluate the measurable outcomes.

Project Deliverable: 1-Page Summary & Action Artifact

Complete each of the five milestones below directly within your day-to-day work duties:

• Task 1: Log the Gap (Discovery)
  
  
  • Identify one repetitive bottleneck, recurring error, communication gap, or inefficient manual process in your department.
    
    
  • Write a 2-sentence problem statement and obtain verbal confirmation from your workplace supervisor (Phi Liang) that this is a recognized operational issue.
    
    
• Task 2: Design the Solution (Plan)
  
  
  • Create a practical artifact or procedure to solve the issue (e.g., an automated tracking sheet, a standardized bilingual response template, an onboarding visual guide, a manual, or a simplified checklist).
    
    
  • Submit a draft of your tool/plan to your workplace mentor for approval before implementation.
    
    
• Task 3: Implement & Test (Act & Observe)
  
  
  • Apply your tool or workflow in your daily tasks for a minimum of two weeks (e.g.).
    
    
  • Track at least one concrete baseline metric before and after implementation (e.g., minutes spent per task, number of errors caught, or responses processed per day).
    
    
• Task 4: Evaluate the Impact (Reflect)
  
  
  • Analyze the results: Did the tool save time, increase accuracy, or streamline communication?
    
    
  • Note any unexpected challenges during implementation and detail what adjustments you made to make it work better.
    
    
• Task 5: Handover & Report (Disseminate)
  
  
• Deliver the finalized tool or template to your workplace team (e.g., shared drive, printed binder, or team briefing) so it remains functional after your internship ends.
  
  
• Summarize your project into a 1-page executive summary (Problem, Solution Artifact, Before vs. After Results, and Recommendations) and submit it for academic grading.