Self-Managed Learning and Development in Aldi

The assignment explores the benefits of self-managed learning for both individuals and organizations, focusing on its effectiveness in contrast to traditional training methods. It specifically examines the challenges faced by Aldi in implementing modern training approaches and suggests solutions for improvement. The document also delves into the significance of time management in enhancing work efficiency and outlines strategies for personal and professional development through SWOT analysis and personalized development plans.

PERSONAL AND
PROFESSIONAL
DEVELOPMENT

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION....................................................................................................................... 1
TASK 1....................................................................................................................................... 1
1.1 Approaches of self managed learning and their suitability and also different learning
styles....................................................................................................................................... 1
1.2 Encourage life long learning in personal and professional contexts...................................3
1.3 Evaluation of benefits of self managed learning to the individual and organization...........4
4.1 Identifying work based problems and its solutions.............................................................5
4.2 Learning styles used to solve the problem of Aldi and then this information
communicated to strategic, tactical and operational levels.......................................................6
4.3 Time management strategies and how this help individual to manage there time...............6
TASK 2....................................................................................................................................... 7
2.1 New CV ........................................................................................................................... 7
2.2 Needs of personal and professional development and the activities to meet the needs.......8
2.3 Development opportunities to meet the above needs..........................................................8
2.4 Personal and professional development plan based on needs.............................................9
3.1 Short term and long term objectives of PDP....................................................................10
3.2 Undertaking and documenting of Planned activities........................................................10
3.3 Reflect own learning against original aims set in PDP.....................................................10
3.4 Update PDP based on evaluation and feedback................................................................11
CONCLUSIONS........................................................................................................................ 12
REFERENCES.......................................................................................................................... 13

INTRODUCTION
Personal development means when individual improve there talents and there skills in
organisation or in society. Professional development is done by individual to understand there
jobs and also to improve individual skills to improve there jobs. The examples of professional
development is includes IT trainings, health and safety, Accountancy or budgeting and legal
knowledge or expertise. The methods to provide professional development is classroom based
learning, e learnings, coaching, consultations etc. in this we going to discuss the personal and
professional development of employees of Aldi which is a private retail company of United
Kingdom (UK). It is the discounted supermarket chain which have 10000 stores in 18 countries.
In our report we discuss about learning styles, self managed learnings, life long learnings and
time management in the employees and Aldi. We also discuss interpersonal and transferable
skills of Aldi. We also implemented the personal and professional development plan for Aldi.
TASK 1
1.1 Approaches of self managed learning and their suitability and also different learning styles
The best way of learning efficiently is self managed learning. This learning can be done
by watching current business and identify the problems and then evaluate the problems and find
the solutions of problems. This includes the research of environment around business and take
decisions on the basis of environment of business. The approaches used in self managed
learnings includes seminars and conferences, social networks, and internet.
 Seminars and conferences : These are the best way to increase learnings of employees
in Aldi because when the individuals attend conferences and seminars they share there
experiences and knowledge with others peoples. Sharing knowledge and ideas with other
people improves personal skills of employees and also develop confidence in them speak
in public which is very important for Aldi.
 Social networks : This is the most common means of learning nowadays. People spents
lots of time on internet and share informations with each other with help social platforms
which includes Facebook, twitter, and many others. In this way the individuals personal
skills and personality is developed. With the help of these social sites it also develops the
communication skills of individuals.
 Internet: This the most important and cheapest way of learnings. With the help of
internet individual of Aldi can go online and search the contents on different websites
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and then share the information with there workers which help them in increasing there
skills and learning powers.
With the help of self managed learnings individuals of Aldi can develop there skills and
also there confidence. This help of this learning person experienced personal things which
encouraged them to learn more and develops there personal and professional skills.
Learning styles and techniques are the common ways by which an individual can learn
and develops there skills. Everyone has there learning styles some peoples can learn through
only one learning style, some can learn by different learning styles in different situations. There
is no fixed mix of learning style and also there is no fix style of every person. Different learning
styles also help individual to understand the things in Aldi.
Visual learning styles
The persons who have visual learning styles can easily understand things with the help of visual
learning materials which includes pictures, images and videos etc.
 Benefits : The persons are generally aware about the environment around business and
things in terms of practical ways.
Aural learning styles
This learning styles help people in understanding things with the help of sound and musical
learning materials.
 Benefits : The people using these styles are very clever and smart in turning there
information into lyrics and in interesting rhymes to remember things.
Verbal learning styles
This learning styles can be performed with the help material that are in form of speech
and in writing (Garvey, 2014.). They can understand things by using words either in speaking or
in written form. They used to read books and now red on internet to expand there knowledge.
 Benefits : This learning makes the learner a good speaker which very helpful in
communication in organisation.
Physical learning styles
This learning styles help a person in understanding things by using body, hands, and sense of
touch. They understand things by making diagrams, etc.
 Benefits : This learning makes the individual a good artist and person who use there body
in learnings.
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Logical learning styles
This learning is based on justification and on logics behind the content and the person
who is teaching must be ready for the questioning and also ready to give justification for there
answers.
 Benefits : The learners of this style are very fast in grabbing things because there
knowledge is logical they not only learn the content but also learn reasons behind the
learnings of that content.
Social learning styles
This is interpersonal learning styles in which person can understand things with help of group
discussion and by sharing there knowledges and skills with others.
 Benefits : This learning involves interactions with other persons and also develops the
team spirits among the individuals.
Solitary learning styles
It is intra personal learning style where person can understand the things when they learn alone
and used to do self study.
 Benefits : This made them understand their own interests and help them in making their
own objectives.
1.2 Encourage life long learning in personal and professional contexts
To encourage life long learning to personal and professional context help in improving
personality of employees and also improve communication among employees and other people.
Self evaluation can be done with help of SWOT analysis of life long learnings.
Strengths:
 Good learning skills developed.
 There aims are clear.
 Friendly behavior
Weaknesses:
 Short tempered.
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 Get stressed
Opportunities:
 Better environment.
 Better jobs.
 Learning new techniques.
 Improving talents.
 Continues studies
Threats:
 Huge money is required.
 Time consuming.
 Can affects health.
Continuous learning means learning with personal and professional experiences. This learning
grow as the experiences increases. Effective leadership : In organisation the people work around the person they don t know
but have to work with them to achieved common goals. Self life long learning process
they tackle different situations in different manners with there skills. Good communication and relationship is generated among employees and also between
employees and managers (Connor, 2012). With the help of effective communication
effective planning, organising, directing and controlling can be done.
 Achievement and motivation : The life long learning increases the level of motivation of
employees they get self motivated. By using there learnings in work for increasing
productivity the employees get chance to earn rewards and this rewards give motivation
to employees. Motivated employees work hard to achieve the organisational objectives.
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1.3 Evaluation of benefits of self managed learning to the individual and organization
The self managed learning has many benefits on individual as well as on Aldi. The self
managed learning has positive impacts on individuals and also on organisations.
Benefits of self managed learnings on individuals:
 Improves decision making skills of individuals with their personal and professional
experiences.
 Individual skills are developed and also they get to learn new things.
 It increases confidence level of an individual.
 It helps individuals in finding there strengths and weaknesses so they can increase
strengths and also minimises there weaknesses by improving there existing skills.
 Sharing informations also help in making individual social.
 The individual became more friendly with there co-workers. Helps them to remove variances between actual and budgeted performance.
Benefits of self learning on organisation:
 Self learning increases the skills of individuals and that leads to innovations in the
organisations.
 Self learning develops better coordination between the individuals of an organisation
which improves productivity.
 It also develops a knowledge sharing work culture in organisation and also generate
team spirit.
 Self learners are very focused related to their own growth and focuses on increasing the
profitability of organisations.
4.1 Identifying work based problems and its solutions
I am the HR manger in Aldi company which we already discuss that it is a retail
company of UK. Aldi is working very efficiently but there is one problem which effects its
profitability i.e. Aldi use traditional methods of trainings which are very time consuming and
expensive (Fletcher, 2012). Traditional methods includes presentation methods in which
presentation visual or audio are made to train employees, hands on methods in which employees
are had to get present in trainings and if not able to present then no trainings for that employee,
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group building methods in which groups made which take lots of time and then these perform
tasks which within there groups.
Solution for this problem is that Aldi should adopt modern methods of trainings which
are less expensive and time saving. These methods improve efficiency of employees of Aldi. To
select modern methods of trainings firstly we analysis the style of learning for each employees
and then start the methods of trainings (Garvey, B., 2010). Modern methods of trainings includes
digital learning methods includes learning through internet, social networks etc. These methods
help in reducing cost by there is no travel expenses, no cost of preparing material as all are
available on internet. It increases efficiencies of employees by 10 to 25% and also improved
quality. This also develops team spirit and improves coordination as the employees share there
knowledge with there co workers and also takes new knowledge from co-workers. The methods
of modern trainings solve the issues of traditional methods of trainings and make Aldi
employees smarter and make them capable to achieve goals more efficiently and effectively.
4.2 Learning styles used to solve the problem of Aldi and then this information communicated to
strategic, tactical and operational levels.
In above point we already discuss that Aldi has one problem which effects its
profitability is they use traditional methods of trainings and solution of this problem is to use
modern methods trainings. To use this modern methods efficiently we have to evaluate learning
styles by which employee can understand things more efficiently (Schneider, 2010). Learning
and trainings are interconnected to each other. Proper trainings can be done only with the
learning ability of employees. Aldi have to organise trainings for employees on the basis of there
learning styles so they can understand things more effectively. There is no particular learning
style to solve this problem. The combination of learnings styles can be used to solve this
problem.
Visual, aural and verbal learning styles Aldi can be combine to train those employees
who can understand things by watching, listening and in musical form. Those who can
understand things by there physical presence then Aldi can provides them trainings like on the
job trainings and job rotation can be used to experience things live. The person who can learn by
their own or alone studies then provide them such trainings (Higgins, 2011). The group can be
combined with all the learning styles except solitary learning the staff can be trained in group to
generate team spirit. The logical learning is a style which can be combined with all learnings
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styles. Digital learning methods can be apply on these styles and then the proper trainings given
to employees to improve there efficiencies in Aldi.
4.3 Time management strategies and how this help individual to manage there time.
Time management is done to do right things by managing time. The main aim of time
management is to do achieve objective efficiently in less time. Time management help
individuals to do there work efficiently and save there time. Time management can be done by
using proper strategies.
 Start working with a clear objective that what work is to done and how is to be done.
 Make a task list or to do list which is very helpful in doing work.
 Focus on activities which are more important for your work.
 Avoid distractions like cell phones etc. between work so there is no waste of time.
 Take timely break to maintain efficiency.
 Avoid multitasking.
 At end of work review your work and identify that weather all goals are achieved or not.
For Aldi workers the time strategy is useful is that they should have prepared to do list
which includes those tasks which have to be done on the day. This take 5 minutes of individual
but help them in saving there several hours of wasted time. In that list they have to put those
tasks at preferences which increase profitability of the work and can increase the sales for the
day. They should avoid distractions between the work such as no phones are allowed at the
workplace and no other distractions like Facebook etc. The employees of Aldi also includes
break in there to do list to take rest which also very important to improves efficiency. In to do
list they should focus on the one task not to start other task without completing first task. Then at
end employees of Aldi rate there work to know there performance by comparing actual
performance with the standard performance in to do list.
TASK 2
2.1 New CV
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2.2 Needs of personal and professional development and the activities to meet the needs
There is need of personal and professional development because I have degree in human
resource management but there are more skills required in practical life. Some needs that I focus
upon is comfort, safety, tradition, environment etc. It is so the workplace should be secure
enough to protect the person from any danger or harmful measure. Interaction is essential
because one cannot focus on the work continuously. Some sort of interaction is necessary as
well, as it helps in keeping the mind fresh, thus helping in staying more focused towards the
work.There is a need to manage employees of organization so there efforts can be directed to
achieve the goals of organization. Time management skills are required by managers so they can
make there workers to do right work in a less time. There is need of activities to organize
training for making presentations and also how to handle multiple tasks when there is over
loaded work. Leadership skills is very much important to leads the work of employees to achieve
organizational objectives. The HR mangers need to be good in motivating there employees
otherwise employees get disinterested for jobs (Proctor, 2014). So to meets the above needs of
personal and professional development the organizations have to organize training and
development programs to meets the needs.
2.3 Development opportunities to meet the above needs
Strengths :
 Bachelor and masters degree in human resource development.
 Good communication skills.
 Confidence and positive attitude.
 Good team player
 Good decision maker.
 Friendly
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Weaknesses:
 Weak at the time of multiple work.
 Time management skills are not proper.
 No certificate in people management.
 No presentation skills.
 Bad in leadership.
 Less motivational skills.
Opportunities :
 There are number of online and offline courses.
 Training programs.
 Increasing job opportunities in HR field.
Threats :
 Company prefer those having new advanced knowledge in every field.
 Company prefer multitask worker.
 People with good leadership skills required.
2.4 Personal and professional development plan based on needs
Skills Requirement Activities needs
to be
undertaken
Resources Results
Skills to manage High 3 months online Time and money Certificate of
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employees course course
Leadership and
motivation skills
High 3 months online
course
Time and money Certificate of
course
Multitasking High Request top
management to
assigned multiple
projects
Projects Project outcome
Presentation
skills
Medium On the job
training
Time Training
certificate
Upgrade
knowledge in HR
field
Medium Online books,
blogs and HR
communities
Time Monitoring
Time
management
Medium On the job
training
5 days
Training
certificate
3.1 Short term and long term objectives of PDP
Short term objectives: These objectives are those which are to be achieved to perform day to day
tasks effectively and efficiently.
 To properly develop the management skills by joining a 3 months course which can be
available online as well as offline.
 To generate a particular time frame so that the courses can be completed in a particular
time frame.
 To get enrolled in trainings related to develop presentation skills and time management
skills.
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 To do multiple projects because it will help in increasing the ability of the person. . To gather all books and journals and materials to enhance knowledge.
Long term objectives: This are objectives which can be achieved by achieving the short term
objectives. These are long run objectives which are achieved by overall growth.
 To reach at higher level by effective work and improved skills.
 Personality development because it will help in every phase of the life. It is not limited.
 Overall growth of individual and organisation which can be a very essential factor for the
person in the long run.
3.2 Undertaking and documenting of Planned activities
The planned activities includes joining the courses which help in improving efficiencies
in particular fields like in people management, time management, leadership and motivational
skills' development activities and many more. The planned activities may include the time frame
of a particular course and it need to be accomplished so that the person may not feel burdened
and can be able to manage the work. Pre planning of a task helps in an efficient way of
completing the task. We have to make plan to perform these activities to develop personal and
professional skills. We have to make proper plan for making available time and money for
joining courses for people management course and for leadership and motivational courses. We
also have to enrolled in the trainings provided by companies for developing presentation making
skills and for time management. The planning is required for upgrading knowledge by reading
books and journals, by connecting peoples online through social media, and joining HR forums.
Planed activities are performed and help in the personal and professional development.
3.3 Reflect own learning against original aims set in PDP
Reflecting own learning needs and to evaluating it necessary for continuous learning.
This reflection help in focusing on behaviour and improving quality of overall performances.
Needs of Personal and
professional development
Activities
Skills to manage employees Take admissions in the courses available online and offline.
Leadership and motivation
skills
Take admissions in part-time courses
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Multitasking Requests superiors to assign multiple projects.
Presentation skills Take part in 2 days training next week.
Upgrading knowledge in fields
of human resource
management
Make available materials online and offline to improve
knowledge.
.Time management Take part in training of 5 days next month.
3.4 Update PDP based on evaluation and feedback
After reflecting activities performed it becomes easy to make a revised development
plan.
Skills Requirement of
learnings
Activities to meet
the needs
Resources
required
Results
Skills to manage
employees
High To take
admissions in
online courses
and skills can also
be develop by
learning from
other sources.
Money and time Certificate of
course
Leadership and
motivation skills
High admissions results
in achieving goals
Money and time Certificate of
course
Multitasking High Waiting for
superiors to
assign projects
.Availability of
projects
Outcomes of
projects
Presentation skills Medium Attend the
training program
Time Training
certificate
Upgrading HR
skills
Medium Reading books,
online blogs and
article online and
attend the HR
communities
Time Continuous
monitoring
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programs.
Time
management
High Attend the
training
programs
.Time Training
certificate
CONCLUSIONS
The report is concluded that self managed learning is the best way of learning which
develops the individual as well as organisation. All employees have their own learning styles
which help them in understanding things more efficiently. The Aldi company problem is that
they use traditional methods of trainings which can be solved by developing modern ways of
trainings in Aldi. Time management is very helpful in doing work efficiently in less time. The
personal and professional development is can be done by identifying strengths, weaknesses,
opportunities and threats. Personal and professional development plan is also in doing planning
related to developments.
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REFERENCES
Books and journals
Garvey, B., Stokes, P. and Megginson, D., 2014. Coaching and mentoring: Theory and practice.
Sage.
Connor, M. and Pokora, J., 2012. Coaching And Mentoring At Work: Developing Effective
Practice: Developing Effective Practice. McGraw-Hill Education (UK).
Fletcher, S. and Mullen, C.A. eds., 2012. Sage handbook of mentoring and coaching in education.
Sage.
Garvey, B., 2010. Mentoring in a coaching world. The complete handbook of coaching, pp.287-
390.
Schneider, S.C., Zollo, M. and Manocha, R., 2010. Developing socially responsible behaviour in
managers. Journal of Corporate Citizenship. 2010(39). pp.21-40.
Higgins, D. and Aspinall, C., 2011. Learning to learn: a case for developing small firm
owner/managers. Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development.18(1). pp.43-57.
Frost, D.E. and Wallingford, V., 2013. Experiential learning for developing managers: a practical
model. Journal of Management Development. 32(7). pp.756-767.
Online
Proctor, T., 2014. Creative problem solving for managers: developing skills for decision making
and innovation. Routledge.
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