Threats and Opportunities in Australian Retail Industry

The assignment delves into the effects of increasing automation and robotics in the Australian retail industry, identifying it as a threat to the job market. It also highlights the need for individuals to develop digital and interpersonal skills to adapt to the changing landscape and thrive in the industry.

PERSONAL
INSIGHT
1

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Executive summary.........................................................................................................................3
Choosing a job cluster.....................................................................................................................3
a) Personal soft skills...................................................................................................................3
b) Technical knowledge and skills..............................................................................................3
Industry requirement........................................................................................................................4
a) Jobs that are expected to change or disappear.........................................................................4
b) Reason behind this scenario....................................................................................................4
c) Changes in the next five years.................................................................................................4
My personal capabilities and performance......................................................................................5
a) Reviewing my experience.......................................................................................................5
b) Academic performance till date..............................................................................................6
c) Strength and areas for improvement........................................................................................6
SWOT and Gap analysis..................................................................................................................7
a) SWOT analysis........................................................................................................................7
b) Skills and knowledge required................................................................................................8
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................8
References........................................................................................................................................9
Appendix........................................................................................................................................11
Online test for cluster.................................................................................................................11
Results of personality test..........................................................................................................11
2

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
In the modern era, the competition among job market has become so intense that it is no longer
easy for individuals to sustain in the long run. It is required by people to select a particular job
cluster and acquire adequate skills knowledge to gain better opportunities in the same. I believe
that cluster of The Generators is more suitable for me and to achieve desired employment
opportunities; I am required to develop skills such as customer service, communication and
relationship building. According to the latest trend in the Australian retail industry, companies
are now looking forward to transforming the majority of their process from manual to
automation. The reason behind this change is to improve efficiencies and reduce cost. I have
identified that being emotional and highly sensitive is my major weakness.
CHOOSING A JOB CLUSTER
a) Personal soft skills
From the test conducted, it has been identified that job cluster i.e. The Generators is going to be
more suitable for me. The personal skills which will be required in this job cluster are effective
relationship building, communication and customer service. I will be required to carry out high
level of interpersonal interaction in this cluster (Chamorro-Premuzic, 2016). It can be expressed
that entertainment, hospitality, retail and sales are the key industry where I can work in the
future. Communication skills will support me to understand the changing need and demand of
customers. Furthermore, the skills will allow me to inform others about my ideas and views. In
fields such as retail, sales and hospitality, developing and maintaining a long-term relationship
with customers is also essential (Jankowski, 2016). Thus, I am required to enhance my
relationship building skills so that it can help companies to attain high degree of customer loyalty
and retention.
b) Technical knowledge and skills
The selected cluster, i.e. The Generators focuses on skills related to generating sales, hospitality
services and the front house of the retail. In the field of sales, I will be required to have technical
skills such as managing sales relationships, customer relationship management, customer
services, sales support and business development. Skills linked to social media campaign
analysis will be also needed in the sales industry (Gilal et al., 2016). On the other side of this, in
retail and hospitality industry, stock control, store management and merchandising are the
3

critical technical skills which will be required. To sustain in the industry and attain high growth,
I will be required to adopt and develop all the mentioned above technical skills.
INDUSTRY REQUIREMENT
a) Jobs that are expected to change or disappear
Considering the case of the retail sector in which I am looking forward to work in the future, it
can be stated that inventory manager or stockist is the job which is going to be disappeared
(Karumur et al., 2016). Apart from this, fast food cook, cashier, telemarketer etc. are some
significant jobs which will be vanished in the future. The people employed in the mentioned
above job roles need to become careful as the disappearance of these jobs is considered as a big
threat to their future professional career (Berger & Frey, 2015). The individuals are now required
to constantly work upon acquiring new skills and knowledge to become competent in the
marketplace. At the same time, they need to seek better employment opportunities or the job
which will remain secure in the future. Even the jobs linked to sales, marketing, and customer
relationship management are expected to change in the future to a great extent (Ways, 2016).
People need to focus on developing digital skills so that they can remain competitive and
irreplaceable in the future.
b) Reason behind this scenario
Automation and the introduction of robotic technology are considered as the primary reasons
behind this scenario. Robots have now become very advanced, and they have the capabilities to
replace human jobs in every possible manner (Hudson & Fraley, 2015). The calculation of
misplacing items, stock items and pricing errors can be calculated more effective by robots in
comparison with human beings. Another advantage associated with the use of robots is that like a
human being, these robots do not need holidays, and they even do not get sick (Smith &
Anderson, 2014). On the other side of this, many jobs are getting transformed from manual to
automatic process, and the reason behind this scenario is the cost associated with the same.
Making a process automatic is a onetime investment for companies, and in future, they can save
their cost of operations.
c) Changes in the next five years
At present, the changes such as the use of robots and automation are growing but at a very slow
pace. The rationale behind this can be considered as loose markets and adequate supply of skilled
and talented personnel’s. However, in the next years, many processes will become automatic,
4

and the demand for workers with digital skills will be at the boom. Thus, the people employed in
retail sector are required to update their skills sets to remain competitive in the marketplace.
MY PERSONAL CAPABILITIES AND PERFORMANCE
3A)
Introduction
To identify my core strength and weakness, I have given 16 personalities test online. I was
required to provide answers to the questions mentioned in the test. The test has helped me to gain
insight into my personality type along with outlining my core strength and weaknesses. It has
been identified that I am an entertainer kind of person who love spotlight and becoming the
centre of attraction.
Strength and weakness
Being bold and original is considered as my major and most important strengths. My strength of
being bold allows me to move out of my comfort zone and get things done in the expected and
the best possible manner. Being practical is another important strength which I have and this
strength supports in the process of decision making. Instead of relying on theories and concept, I
am keen towards the practical aspect of life and activities. Apart from this, strength such as
excellent people skills allows me to get the things done by people in every possible manner. I
love paying attention to people and this supports in creating high degree of satisfaction among
them.
On the other side of this, it can be argued that I am very sensitive and this personality trait can be
termed as my key weakness. I am very emotional, high vulnerable to criticism and this can create
obstacles in my future growth and professional development. According to the results of test
given, it has been identified that I am poor in long term planning and this is another major
weakness which I have. In the present scenario, effective long term planning is essential for
growth and long term success of an individual. Most of the time, I stay unfocused and this is also
a major weakness of mine. It becomes very challenging and complicated for me to do things and
activities which needs long term dedication and focus.
Career path
It can be stated that event planner, tour guide, trip planners and sales representative are some
careers which are suitable for people with entertainment personality type. I prefer the jobs where
5

I can get opportunity to work with others and I believe that career path as a tour planner or sales
representative will be more suitable for me.
Workplace habit
I always look forward for new task and challenges while carrying out my roles and
responsibilities at workplace. I am also interested in learning new things and adopting changes
quickly. At workplace, I prefer to give feedback which are honest and which can support in
growth and development of other staff members. I am more comfortable in working in an
organisation where the environment is not strict and has fun. I like to handle a team of
personnel’s and meet their needs in every possible manner.
Conclusion
It can be concluded that I am more interested in dealing with people and motivating them to give
their best towards success and growth of the organisation. I prefer to do accept and do new task,
activities and usually avoid repetitive actions and tasks. However, I am required to emphasise on
areas such as straying focus and carrying out long term planning so that I can acquire potential
opportunities for professional growth and development.
3B) Personal performance style
1 Structure
3=Very strong presence, 0 no preference
Less Structure Rating More Structure
I never plan my work 3 2 1 0 1 2 3 I always plan my work
I never use bookmarks 3 2 1 0 1 2 3 I always use bookmarks
I enjoy creative chaos 3 2 1 0 1 2 3 I enjoyed being very organised
2 External direction
3=Very strong presence, 0 no preference
Less external direction Rating More external direction
To develop my own projects 3 2 1 0 1 2 3 To be given set of assignments
To develop my own reading list 3 2 1 0 1 2 3 Tutors to give the reading list
To work out how to solve new
problems
3 2 1 0 1 2 3 Clear guidance on how to
approach new problems
3 Working with others
6

3=Very strong presence, 0 no preference
Preference for working with
others
Rating Preference for working alone
In a library I prefer to sit near
others
3 2 1 0 1 2 3 In a library, I prefer to sit on my
own
I prefer group work 3 2 1 0 1 2 3 I prefer to work on my own
I like to discuss study
assignments with others
3 2 1 0 1 2 3 I prefer to working alone on
study assignments
Above shown is my personal performance style. Mainly it has been identified that in terms of
structure I am more structured where I prefer to plan my work always, I enjoyed being very
organized. This is one of my strength as through organized activities I am directly benefitted. On
the other hand I never use bookmarks and it is my weakness.
In terms of external direction I am inclined towards less external direction where i develop my
own projects and the reading list. Moreover, I have clear guidance on how to approach new
problems.
In terms of working with others I prefer to work along as this represents my real ability. I prefer
to sit on my own and working alone. Apart from this, I prefer to discuss my study assignment
with others. So, this indicates my personal performance style.
a) Reviewing my experience
According to the results generated from a test of 16 personalities, it has been found that I belong
to consul personality. It can be stated that people with this type of personality always respect the
wisdom of leadership and the same results were reflected when I was provided with a leadership
role in my school (Gilal et al., 2016). There was a classroom activity, and the students were
divided into five different teams. I was the leader of one team and according to the consul
personality trait; I have taken my responsibility of leader very seriously. As a leader, I have also
encouraged my team members to follow the instructions and rules provided by the teacher
strictly (Hancock, 2015). However, I was leading a team of students, and some of them were
from a different background. Through this activity, I have realized that respecting views,
opinions and perception of other people is also essential to become a successful leader.
The key findings are mentioned below as:
7
People with Consul personality type are
considered as social creatures and they
always prefer to remain up-dated

b) Academic performance till date
Till now, my academic performance can be termed as satisfactory as I have always looked
forward to giving my best in the completion of activities and tasks assigned to me. During my
academic tenure also, I have always looked forward to harmony and cooperation in the school. I
was a very responsible student, and during the entire academic career, I have held a strong sense
of duty (Tyrer et al., 2015). Furthermore, I have always been loyal towards my study and my
personality trait also indicates that I am highly sensitive towards the feelings of others. This can
be justified by the fact that I have always been there for my mates and other students and I have
supported them in their assignment and studies in every possible manner. Role plays, and solving
case studies are the two important units where I have done well, and I have always enjoyed these
activities.
c) Strength and areas for improvement
According to my personality type, I am very good at social interaction, and this can be
considered as one of my major strengths. Further, I have always stood with my friends
8
Careers such as administration are best
fit or suitable for the person with such
kind of personality type
People with this personality type has
high sense of duty and responsibility
Consul needs to put constant efforts in
improving their skills and overcoming
their weakness.

irrespective of whatever the conditions or circumstances are, and this can be termed as my
strength (Karumur et al., 2016). In future also, I can demonstrate this strength by helping and
supporting other team members in accomplishing their tasks and activities.
Apart from this, my loyalty can be termed another major strength which is going to support me
in long-term growth and development. I am always eager to preserve the status quo, and this has
resulted in enhancing the overall degree of loyalty in me (Emerson et al., 2016). Nowadays,
companies seek for candidates who can remain faithful and loyal to the organization in the long
run and therefore, my loyalty is going to support me in acquiring better growth in the career
(Hudson & Fraley, 2015). The organization and management will easily rely upon me for
important task and activities because of my loyalty towards the same.
However, there are certain areas where I need to improve myself to achieve desired growth and
development in the future. For instance, I am highly sensitive, emotional and this can affect my
future growth in a negative sense. Instead of looking at a situation practically, sometimes I get
emotionally connected with this situation, and the result of this is wrong decisions. Apart from
this, I am highly vulnerable to media manipulation, superstition and this sometimes results in
affecting my overall performance to a great extent (Jankowski, 2016). I have a very stable and
caring approach towards life and in situations of uncertainties; I find it very complicated to deal
with the situations.
SWOT AND GAP ANALYSIS
a) SWOT analysis
Table 1: SWOT Analysis
Strength
 Strong practical skills
 High degree of loyalty
 Maintaining good connection with others
 Strong sense of duty
Weakness
 Emotional and sensitive
 Inflexible
 Worries about social status
 Reluctant to innovations
9

Opportunities
 Growing need of digital skills
 Increasing demand of loyal employees
 Rising need of interpersonal skills
Threats
 Increasing use of robotic technology
 Abundant supply of skilled and talented
labour
 Growing process of automation
From the mentioned above SWOT analysis, it has been found that reliable and effective practical
skills are my biggest strength. I am very good at managing the tasks linked with day to day
operations and functions. I am also very careful and concerned about the people who work with
me, and this helps in developing an environment of trusts and teamwork. I have a strong sense of
duty, responsibility and this can be considered as another major strength which I have. I always
look forward to accomplishing the tasks and activities assigned to me irrespective of whatever
the condition or circumstances are (Husson et al., 2017). I am also good at making a connection
with others, and this is my another strength which will support me in future growth and
professional development. I am looking forward to work in the retail industry, and here this
strength will help me to develop a good relationship with employees and customers which are
essential. However, it can be argued that I am emotional and high sensitive and this sometimes
creates issues for me. I prefer to stay within my comfort zone, and this can be considered as my
other weakness. In future, I have the opportunity to acquire certain skills and become a very
valuable employee for companies operations in the retail industry. However, the increasing use
of robotic technology and automation are the major threats which I am going to witness in
growth and development of my career.
b) Skills and knowledge required
Digital and interpersonal skills are the major and most important skills which I will be required
to develop to meet the industry standards and attain desired growth. I am looking forward to
building my career in the retail industry of Australia and nowadays, digital skills are in great
demand in the entire industry. I need to develop skills and knowledge about the use of digital
marketing channels such as social media, internet and emails. Furthermore, skills related to the
use of software such as electronic customer relationship management and electronic stock
management also need to be developed (Kroeger & Thuesen, 2013). Interpersonal skills will
10

support me to understand the need and demand of other employees and customers and then
deliver services according to the same.
CONCLUSION
From the above study, it can be concluded that the growing automation and increasing use of
robotics in the retail industry is a threat to the job market in the Australian retail industry. The
job cluster to which I belong is The Generators where effective relationship building,
communication and customer service are essential for the growth and development of an
individual. It can also be inferred that my personality is of a Consul which reflects that I am
observant and extroverted kind of person. My strength lies in practical skills, maintaining a
connection with others and strong sense towards duties and responsibilities assigned. To acquire
desired opportunities for growth and development in the retail industry of Australia, I am
required to work on my skills such as digital and interpersonal skills.
11

REFERENCES
Berger, T.H.O.R. & Frey, C.B., 2015. Bridging the skills gap. Dolphin, T.(Hg.): Technology,
Globalisation and the Future of Work in Europe. Essays on Employment in a digitised Economy.
London, pp.75-79.
Chamorro-Premuzic, T., 2016. Personality and individual differences. New Jersey : John Wiley
& Sons.
Emerson, T.L., English, L. & McGoldrick, K., 2016. Cooperative learning and personality types.
International Review of Economics Education, 21, pp.21-29.
Gilal, A.R. et al., 2016. A rule-based model for software development team composition: Team
leader role with personality types and gender classification. Information and Software
Technology, 74, pp.105-13.
Hancock, D., 2015. To test or not to test: Assessing personality traits. Practice Management,
26(5), pp.23-25.
Hudson, N.W. & Fraley, R.C., 2015. Volitional personality trait change: Can people choose to
change their personality traits? Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 109(3), p.490.
Husson, O. et al., 2017. Personality traits and health-related quality of life among adolescent and
young adult cancer patients: The role of psychological distress. Journal of adolescent and young
adult oncology, 6(2), pp.358-62.
Jankowski, J., 2016. The Advocate: Your Guide to the ESFJ Personality Type. New York:
LOGOS MEDIA.
Jankowski, J., 2016. The Inspector: Your Guide to the ISTJ Personality Type. New York:
LOGOS MEDIA.
Karumur, R.P., Nguyen, T.T. & Konstan, J.A., 2016. Exploring the value of personality in
predicting rating behaviors: A study of category preferences on movielens. In Proceedings of the
10th ACM conference on recommender systems, pp.139-42.
Kroeger, O. & Thuesen, J.M., 2013. Type talk: The 16 personality types that determine how we
live, love, and work. New York City: Dell.
Smith, A. & Anderson, J., 2014. AI, Robotics, and the Future of Jobs. Pew Research Center ,
p.6.
Tyrer, P., Reed, G.M. & Crawford, M.J., 2015. Classification, assessment, prevalence, and effect
of personality disorder. The Lancet, 385(9969), pp.717-26.
12

Ways, M.e., 2016. The future of business: global issues in the 80s and 90s. Netherlands:
Elsevier.
13

APPENDIX
Online test for cluster
Results of personality test
14

15