Summary Reflection Assignment (10%)

In this assignment, you will use a summary generated by artificial intelligence and answer
questions that examine the difference between the original text and the artificially
generated summary. You’ll also consider the role that summaries provided by artificial
intelligence play and will continue to play in your academic and workplace careers.

Due Date and Submission:

 Submit your Summary Reflection Assignment by the deadline specified in our
Brightspace Week 7 module.
 Your submission must adhere to the rules of Academic Integrity.
 All assignments must be submitted through Brightspace.

Purpose:
The purpose of this assignment is to identify the elements of an effective summary and
understand the implications of using artificial intelligence to help us process information.

Instructions:
Read the article, “Why Gen Z workers are starting on the back foot” published on the BBC’s
website and answer the following questions.

In your responses, please use examples from the original article and, when required, the
artificially generated summary.

Questions:

1. Compare the original text with the artificially generated summary: What are the
differences between the two? What important information, tone or detail, if
anything, is missing or different?

Respond in point form or in full sentences (your choice) and use examples
from the text. Be sure to cite these examples using APA format.

In the article “Why Gen Z workers are starting on the back foot,” the author, Alex
Christian (2023) writes:

“It’s particularly centred around communication,” explains Helen Hughes, associate

professor at Leeds University Business School, UK. “It’s things like understanding
norms, values and etiquette: Who should you call? How should they be contacted?
Are some people out of bounds?”

These sorts of questions were once promptly answered in face-to-face settings – a

desk drop-by, or quick tag in the office kitchen. Navigating office politics would
also be intuitive, based on subtle but tangible cues: fixed seating arrangements
tend to indicate hierarchy; body language suggests when colleagues are most
approachable. “Social comparison is harder in a remote or hybrid environment –
you can’t see everyone around you and get a sense of how you’re doing,” says
 Hughes.

Hughes says this makes even mundane work tasks harder to accomplish.
“Miscommunication is easy in a virtual environment; for example, incorrectly
inferring tone from an email. There can be a lack of understanding of when to set
up a meeting – whether it’s appropriate to wait and build a list of questions, or set
up a call each time something is needed.”

ChatGPT summarizes this passage as follows:

Helen Hughes, an associate professor at Leeds University Business School,

highlights the communication aspect, emphasizing the importance of
understanding norms, values, and etiquette in the workplace. The lack of face-to-
face interactions makes it challenging for entry-level workers to pick up vital cues
related to behavior, collaboration, and networking. Hughes notes that the virtual
environment makes even mundane tasks harder due to potential
miscommunication and difficulty in gauging appropriate times for meetings.

2. Compare the original text to the summary and explain in 2-3 sentences whether
this is an effective summary or a plagiarised summary. Use examples from both
texts to explain your response.

From the text:

“In some ways, Gen Z employees are thriving in the new world of work. They’ve entered
the workforce at a time when flexibility is commonplace, digital communication is
ubiquitous and employees have the leverage to ask companies for what they want
(Christian, 2023).”
-
Summary:

The author of the article explains that people from the Gen Z generation are often doing
well in the workplace because workplaces offer greater “flexibility” and they have an
ability to ask for “what they want.”

3. Compare the original text to the summary and explain in 2-3 sentences whether
this is an effective summary or a plagiarised summary. Use examples from both
texts to explain your response.

From the text:

“Ultimately, says James Bailey, professor of leadership development at the George

Washington University School of Business, based in Washington, DC, chance encounters
 with colleagues help build trust, fostering an environment of risk-taking and innovation.
“Serendipity is a big part of face-to-face office life that can’t be replicated online,” he
says. “Some of our best ideas come from watercooler chats with colleagues – if you want
to replicate those casual conversations on Zoom, you have to set up an appointment in
someone’s calendar (Christian, 2023).

Summary:

In the article, the author, Alex Christian (2023) reports that a business professor says
that chance encounters with colleagues helps people to build trust and foster new ideas.
Meeting people randomly can result in some of our best ideas but replicating those
conversations with colleagues online means scheduling an appointment with them.

4. To demonstrate your own summary and paraphrasing skills, write a summary of

the following paragraph of the article. Be sure to include a signal phrase and an in-
text citation.

“Of course, it’s not the case that every young worker who is at least partially remote
is struggling. But for many of these inexperienced employees, virtual work settings
can exacerbate new job stress. “Many of these issues are still anxieties for new
employees in a typical office environment, but remote working seems to accentuate
the transactional aspects,” says Hughes” (Christian, 2023).

5. Which statement is the most accurate summary of the article?

a) Once Gen Z’ers get back to the in-person workplace, they’ll develop the necessary
skills.
b) Gen Z’ers are enjoying flexibility in the workplace but have missed out on
important in-person interactions in the workplace that help to build skills that
contribute to productivity and resilience in the workplace.
c) Gen Z’ers are not as mature as other generations.
d) An overuse of technology means that Gen Z’ers have fewer social skills.

Reflection questions that require critical thinking

Respond to 1 of the 2 following questions in 4-6 full sentences.

6. How do you feel about Alex Christian’s main message in the article “Why Gen Z
workers are starting on the back foot?” Do you agree with his assessment?
Disagree? Explain your answer by including 2 specific points from the text or from
your personal experience.
7. What approach do you think professors should take towards the use of artificial
intelligence in their classes? What approach should companies take towards this
use?

Please be specific and provide an example in at least 3 sentences from either a

specific class you are taking or provide a workplace scenario.