Crafting Your Future Professional Practice and Research

This article discusses the retail industry's competitive environment, changes, and trends. It also covers the skillset required in the retail industry and creative and ethical leadership skills. The article includes a personal development plan to help readers develop their skills and achieve their goals.

Crafting Your future
practice and Research

Contents
Contents......................................................................................................................................................2
TASK 1- Research Essay.............................................................................................................................3
Presenting brief background and context of the industry.........................................................................3
Critically analysing retail industry’s competitive environment, changes and trends................................4
Critically evaluting skillset required in the retail industries.....................................................................5
Describing creative and ethical leadership skills required in retail business............................................6
TASK 2- Self reflection...............................................................................................................................7
Analysis of your journey.........................................................................................................................7
Action......................................................................................................................................................8
TASK 3- Personal development plan...........................................................................................................9
Personal analysis.....................................................................................................................................9
Setting goals..........................................................................................................................................10
Personal Objectives...............................................................................................................................12
REFERENCES..........................................................................................................................................14

TASK 1- Research Essay
Presenting brief background and context of the industry
Retail industries in current era are most famous as most of the people are interested in
consuming various goods and services that are unique and innovative. Also, retail industry
comprises of departmental stores, electrical stores, grocery stores and much more. Furthermore,
such type of industry is highly competitive, fast-paced industry that is vital to success and growth
of the economy. Also, retail industry is growing at higher rate due to the fact that most of the
businesses now are selling the goods online Thus, people are now able to purchase variety of
goods sitting at home in just a click and in most convenient manner. Also, through providing
seamless experience companies are able to remain competitive and sustain in the market for
longer time period (Pantano and Vannucci, 2019). Moreover, retail industries are focused on
ensuring the quality of products so that more market share might be gathered and efficiency of
the firm might be maintained for longer duration. Furthermore, the retail industries are
developing policies that would allow them to develop the best product image so that higher level
of brand awareness might be created in the target market and good might be sold to
geographically vast areas.
Furthermore, retailing has allowed people to have the best lifestyle by consuming good form
various regions. Also, the retail industries are the biggest contributor in the GDP of any economy
as it is driving force that encourages sustained growth in the country in various situations and
hard times. Further, government also supports such type of industries as it is helpful in providing
maximum employment that is needed for workforce that is living in different parts of the world.
Also, retail industry is one that is important area for the subject of research as all various other
functions such as marketing and the management falls into such type of industries that allows the
researcher to know about various concepts and elements in detail. Also, the major role that
retailer in such industries does is collecting the required information from the customers and
communicating the same to the manufacturer so that best of services and products might be
offered in the future within short period (El Sayad, 2022). Also, it creates utilities and value of
services so that there is regular production and consumption of goods in the market. Retail
industries are now focused on not only providing variety of goods but are also actively involved
in creating value for money so that maximum customers' satisfaction might be provided and

retail expenses might be minimized. Also, the retail market is expanding in the growing number
of people and hence small retailer’s in UK market are constantly entering into the market so that
more people are able to get the variety of goods in he the lowest reason le
Critically analyzing retail industry’s competitive environment, changes and trends
According to Cormorant and Etwall. (2018) In retail industry there are various competitors
that compete with each other through using various marketing strategies and pricing methods so
that greater revenues might be generated. Also, for retail industries it is important to follow
various regulations in UK so that there is successful operation of the business. However,
Dargaville and Etwall. (2021) argued that high level of competitive environment in retail
industry would only result in decrease in the productivity and quality of products in the market
which in turn would decrease the customer market for small retail business. Furthermore, Dlalisa
and Provender, (2020) stated that retail market have been changed in the recent times as it can be
seen that more companies are focused on selling the products more in rural areas so that largest
market share might be covered. Although Earth and et al., (2018) critically argued that
implementing such techniques are good for the small retail industries in short run but might not
work well if the market is not analyzed properly in terms of the changing customer demands,
trends, cultural beliefs towards consumption of certain goods and services

Thus, from the above chart it can be said that in UK etail bsuiens shave sharpenly rose over the
years and with upcomoing of the online business it has reached to the great heights even more.
However, during the time of pandemic it had fall short because of the less income but inspite of
it had aagin increased especailly with the food retail business where people consumed lot of
household and other items for survival. Fruthemore Howell, Roberts and Mancunian (2018)
stated that with improved technology retail business have been able to enusre proper monitering
and the managnet of inventory so that there is no wastage of reosurces within the workpalce and
maximum profits are earned in the end. Athough Ere (2020) argeued that inspite technology had
made ease in the working of retail industry but success of any company depends of the effecient
employee workforce that is capable enough to handle all the equipments and is well qulaified to
apply certain skills to enure running of the various business operations in successful manner.
Also, with the changes in political stucture and the new brexit reforms retail business are finding
diffciluties in selling the goods to various european market due to import export restrictions.
However Rhosbeirio, Savanilla and Zhejiang (2018) argued that there are various other regiosn
where the relatilers have the opportunities to sell goods and services depending upon the trends
and state of economy so that unique goods and value to the cutomers might be provided within
specified time thus increasing the goodwill of the company.Also, there are various tools such as
SWOT, PESTLE , porter five forces models etc. that are applied by the retail business so that
target market competitiveness might be known and therefater best strategies might be applied for
gaining success. Furtehmore, through closely analysing the trends in the current target market
most of the retail bsuienss are able to develop techniques that allow to build up greater customer
loyalty and best relationships that attract lot other customers towards the organisation.
Critically evaluating skillet required in the retail industries
For working in any retail industry it is very crucial that there is presence of proper skillet so
that work might be carried out in most efficient manner. Also, it is essential that individual has
the effective communication skill so that it is able to interact with large number of customers and
the solved most of the queries relating with the goods or services in best of manner. Furthermore,
through establishing the good interaction with customers individual would be able to create
brand awareness and also build customer loyalty that is required for the growth of the business.
Also, having the good industry knowledge is another skillset that is very important if any
individual wants to work in retail sector. Thus, through knowing the recent trends, customer

preferences and competitors in market the person would be able to devise better strategies and
solve complex problems in the easiest manner. Also, customer services skills are required to
handle the diverse customers and also to collect timely feedback for them so that any corrective
action required might be done on time within any organization where the person is working.
Hence, these are some basic skillset that is must for any person that wish to work in any retail
industry in future (Nuankaew and et.al., 2019). However apart from these there are some other
skills such as technical literacy, product knowledge, and active listening skills etc. that are
required to gain excellence in this sector and gain the height of success. Also, for achieving such
type of success it is required that individual work in practical environment where such skill
might be developed in timely manner and methods of working are also identified to avoid future
problems and grabbing of the best business opportunities.
Describing creative and ethical leadership skills required in retail business
Retail industry work on some basic principles that are pledged by every organization so
that transparency in working might be assured and also customer trust is maintained.
Furthermore, it can be said that retail business works in environment that is ever-changing and is
unpredictable. Hence, it is required for every retailer to maintain the creative thinking level so
that new and innovative products might be offered in the target market (Nieto and et .al., 2019)..
Also, through the creative levels retail organizations are able to maintain competitive advantage
against the top competitors and also allow the business to sustain in the market of longer time
period. Furthermore, practicing the right leadership skill would reduce the duplication of
resources and also helps in minimizing the overall cost. Also, ethical leadership is one where all
the duties and responsibilities are distributed in right manner in the group without creating any
kind of biasness. Hence, through showing such kind of ethical leadership skills at the workplace
would help the individual to avail better opportunities at the workplace and develop long-lasting
relationships that is required for the success in the industry. Also, the ethical leadership skills are
shown in form of respect, fairness, integrity, honesty and much more that are required to make
effective decisions and ensure smooth working within diverse groups.

TASK 2- Self reflection
Analysis of your journey
After completing my graduation course at the university I have made up my mind to work in
retail sector where I would be able to enhance my current skills and learn new concepts that
would be beneficial for my own future success. Furthermore, during my graduation course where
I have opted for learning in retail business, certain assumptions have been made by me as this
course would easily complete by me because of my great networking skills and critical thinking
power. However, this assumption was proved wrong to me when I get to know that working in
diverse group of people is very different as people have different views and opinions regarding
any statement and each have to be respected to avoid any type of conflicts. Another assumption
thought by me was that is no such thing like group think. Group think is situation where one
dominant person in the group impose its opinions on rest others without proving it to be
actually right (Oliván Blázquez and et.al., 2019) .However, this also proved to me wrong during
the retail learning course where I was asked to work in group of five in which one dominant
member of the group divided that task among all other member and rest other have to do as it
was being told. Although this group project was quite interesting to me as I have been able to
identify my strength’s and weakness inside me. Furthermore, I have realized that my technical
skills are not very good as I have to ask others and always remain dependent when any online
work needs to be done and technical knowledge have to be applied
Also, I have come to know through research that retail is not limited to only sales of goods
but also it includes various elements such as human resources, supply chain, inventory
management etc. that needs to be closely analyzed before opting to work for any retail business
in the future. Moreover, through applying the Gibbs model of reflection I have learn that
challenging times have to be considered as opportunity to grow rather than as threats that would
degrade one learning process (Sarkar, Overton, Thompson and Rayner,2020.). Thus, my learning
towards the retail business journey had allowed me to know about various business processes
and retail working pattern. Also, it had taught me that strategic business are taken only with
presence of certain skills along with existence of creative level and little practical experience so
that better outcome might be derived. Further, if similar things happen in the future than it might

be faced in more effective manner. Moreover, I have come to know through such learning that I
do have existence of required skills that would allow me to work in nay retail business in the
future but in spite of it I need to work harder so that greater competencies might be developed in
most systematic manner.
Action
From the overall experience that I have made up my mind to identify closely my
strengths and weakness through myself and taking feedback from the others so that there is no
difficulty in carrying out various tasks in the future. Also, through clear identification I would be
able to take future retail roles based on my competencies so that more productivity might be
shown and efficiency might be achieved in various tasks. Furthermore, I would take professional
advice for experts that are already working in retail sector or industry so that I am able to align
my efforts in achieving various short and long term objectives for my own personal growth and
development (Tusting and et.al.,2019). Also, attaining various retail related seminars would also
increase my knowledge in knowing how things are carried in any retail business. Further, I
would learn the time management skills so that entire task in any future workplace and in my
own daily life might be carried on time without the delay or missing of any deadline.
Also, through the whole situation I have learn that if things are known and are carried out
within the time and in right manner than the best positive outcomes are achieved. Also, this helps
the individuals in living stress free and quality life that further helps in overcoming the complex
situations in the easiest manner. Furthermore, the skill of working in diverse groups have taught
me that communication is key to success as it develops healthy relationships and also helps to
solve various groups problems. Also, through my researching skills I have learned from the
situation that to understand any team in the best manner groups members have to first
categorized in on the basis of the Belbin team role model so that there are no conflicts and
confusion while carrying out various group tasks (Kanakaratne, Bray and Robson, 2020). Also,
earlier the same problem had arisen due to which the task was not submitted on right time and
proper format. Hence, this model will overcome such group’s issues even while handling any
complex individual projects in any retail organization in the future. Although if such type of
situation arises in the future than it is better that proper consult would be taken from the expert or
any other known so that cost is not higher and the work is carried out in the best possible
manner. Thus, through such learning programs and self-assessment I would be able to grow best

as individual and would be able to garb better opportunities in the future in any big retail
business in the future.
Moreover, through developing proper personal development plan I would enhance the skills
that are required to achieve excellence in retail sector and achieve great heights of success. Also,
if this personal development plan gained success than it might be used by other people also that
is struggling to gain success in the same field. Furthermore, the plan would not only allow me to
work in the best manner in any retail organization but would also help me to develop better as
individual that is ready to take certain challenges in positive manner.
TASK 3- Personal development plan
Personal analysis
Strengths
 I have good researching skills and able
to research about various retail topics in
correct and accurate manner.
 Effective networking skills that allows
me to establish good links with other
people in any working place (18 Retail
Skills Every Sales Associate Should
Have (and How to Develop Them),
2022)
 Good communication skills that helped
in establishing interaction with other
people and getting quick feedback for
them.
Opportunities
 To work in any big retail organization
in future through more development of
communication skills
 Working in any ecommerce business
through powerful networking.
 To start up own retail business through
expertise knowledge and using the own
research skills and creative mind
Aspirations
 To complete the post-graduation course
in the retail field
 To avail the best business opportunities
in any retail business
Results
 The above goals would be measured
through setting the benchmarks
 Moreover, the short term goals would
be measured through various key

 Complete the professional retail
business course either online or offline
performance indicators.
 Also, timely feedback form others
would also help in gathering the
accurate information about the
progress.
Setting goals
What do I
want to
learn?
What do I have to do? What support and
resources will I
need?
How will I
measure my
success?
Target
date for
review of
results
Time
management
skills
 Schedule
various
activities based
on time.
 Prioritizing the
activities on the
level of
importance
 Completing the
activities
through using
smart solutions.
 Digital
Clock
 Timer
 calendar
 Through
completion
of the entire
task on the
given
deadlines.
 Positive
outcome of
all the task
 Praise from
the seniors
in any
workplace
for the task
that have
been
accomplish
ed
5-6
months
Technical
skills
 Working daily
on various
 computer
 Internet
 Through
being
4 months

software’s.
 Practicing the
MS word, MS
excel and others
through help of
friend or
professionals
 Joining any
kind of online
technology
learning courses
connection expert in
managing
all the
software’s.
 Less
dependency
on others
for the help
 Carry out
various
projects
faster and
accurate
manner
through
using MS
excel, word
etc.
Teamwork
skills
 Participating in
more group
activities
 Analyzing the
working of
other groups
 Listening big
leaders in
seminars on the
same.
 Identifying each
individual
strengths and
 Journals
 Articles
 Strong
relationship
with others
 Greater
level of
trust and
loyalty for
any
problems
arise during
the group
work
 Less or no
3 months

weakness. case of
conflicts
within the
group
Personal Objectives
Short-term goals (next six months)  To complete the degree in retail
business
 To apply for online course
 Attending workshops
 Training and development programmes
Medium Term Goals (next 2 – 3 years)  Learning new skills
 Learning new knowledge
 Getting new job
 Earning certificate
Long Term Goals (following 3 to 5 year)  Gain global experience
 Becoming the expert
 Starting up own retail business
 Learning various software knowledge
for the business
Thus, from the above personal development plan it can be said that these are some skills and
objectives that I wish to achieve in certain time period. Also, through these skills I would be able
to manage my personal as well as professional goals in most efficient manner. Furthermore,
through efficient time management and critical thinking skills I would be able to work in big
retail firms in UK such as Sainsbury and Amazon (Har and et.al., 2022). Moreover, through
proper setting of the short, long and medium term goals I would be able to align my personal
goals with the overall organizational goals in the future. Furthermore, this plan would help me in
overcoming certain weakness and would allow me to build up greater morale and confidence to
achieve height of success. Also, through the practising the plan on regular basis would help me

discover new areas of learning and would foster growth for the future. Further, through using the
measurement techniques such as benchmarks all the past records might be compared with the
present performance so that improvement level might be measured. Moreover, key performance
indicators such as success criteria, goals achieved would help in making the required changes in
the current working and would allow achieving personal growth and success in well-defined
manner on specified time period. Also, it helps in monitoring the progress through collecting the
feedback from the professionals and the other people. In context to my current improvement skills,
to work in team, effective communication skills would help me to attain aims and objectives to
work in any retail organization in most productive manner. Thus, through team building I can
work in team and make strategic decisions efficiently. Moreover, PDP would help me to grow
through allowing me to lead any diverse team in prospective manner. Thus, this current skill of
mine will help myself in achieving desired targets and goals with aim of fulfilling in respective
way.
Also, PDP is one where my set plans would be executed in proper manner as I have taken
various training sessions from my mentor so that I get deep insights about various topics
regarding the skill and personal development and working in the retail sector in the future
Moreover, PDP will develop certain habits such as time management skills, academic skills,
reading habits etc. that will help to clarify certain objectives so that assessment can be done in
better way (The Importance of a Personal Development Plan , 2022). Furthermore, Outcome of
PDP can come in different forms and in my case it would be shown through delivering of
excellent results in professional field. Moreover, it would be depicted in form of best reviews
from my supervisors and also after completion of my learning session it would develop feeling
of satisfaction and self-confidence that was earlier lacking in me. Thus, it can be said that PDP
would allow me to redesign various strategies so that I am able to work in diverse groups and is
able to gain the best practical experience in any retail firm in the future.

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Online
18 Retail Skills Every Sales Associate Should Have (and How to Develop Them).2022. [Online].
Available through:< https://www.vendhq.com/blog/retail-skills-sales-associate/>.
The Importance of a Personal Development Plan .2022. [Online]. Available through :<
https://engineering-jobs.theiet.org/article/the-importance-of-a-personal-development-plan/
#:~:text=A%20personal%20development%20plan%20or,you%20think%20you%20may%20have.>.