Training and Development Methods

This assignment delves into the realm of training and development methods employed by organizations. It examines different approaches to employee learning and skill enhancement, highlighting their respective advantages and practical applications. The focus is on understanding how these methods contribute to organizational effectiveness and individual growth.

Personal and Professional
Development
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Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION................................................................................................................................3
TASK 1- ESSAY..................................................................................................................................3
TASK 2.................................................................................................................................................6
a) Current skills against professional standards...............................................................................6
b) Identification of development needs...........................................................................................7
c) Development opportunities..........................................................................................................7
d) Personal development plan..........................................................................................................8
e) Processes and activities................................................................................................................9
f) Document development activities................................................................................................9
g) Learning against aim...................................................................................................................9
h) PDP based on evaluation and feedback.......................................................................................9
CONCLUSION..................................................................................................................................10
REFERENCES...................................................................................................................................11
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INTRODUCTION
Personal and professional development is considered as a technique which provides
accomplishment of new desired skills, knowledge and information that are beneficial for the advanced
career opportunities. With an improvement in skills, individual can advance its experience level at the
work place (Yu, 2004). This clearly indicates that it is essential for individual to focus on personal and
professional development plan in order to meet the standards of high experience level.
In the current report, learning will focus on diverse approaches which can enhance self-
managed learning within individuals. It will also provide information about key factors which can
provide lifelong learning in both personal and professional context. It will also have spot light on the
identification of development opportunities in order to meet the current and future needs. It will also
provide improved level of learning in the context of personal and professional development plan.
Furthermore, it will also focus on effectiveness of time management strategies within development
activities.
TASK 1- ESSAY
Self-managed learning
Being a marketing executive at retail organisation, it is necessary for me to accomplish number
of task. In this respect, I need number of skills which can facilitate me to accomplish organisational
goals. I can focus on number of approaches in context of self-managed learning which are classified as
reading, conferences, internet sources, etc (Throop, 2009). With an assistance of educational
institutions, I can improve my technological skills which can facilitate me to perform diverse
marketing task through technological equipment. I can also focus on advancement in learning
regarding marketing activities by concerning to any diploma courses of marketing domain.
Moreover, reading article and books is also one of significant learning styles which can
facilitate me to amend my motivation and leadership skills. With an improved level of motivation and
leadership, I can easily accomplish my career objectives and organisational goals (Sangster, 2000). In
order to have better improvement in communication and presentation skills, I can focus on attending
various seminars and conferences which are beneficial for performing operational activities within
organisation. It will assist me to present my ideas among other members in order to meet goals. Other
than this, I can also concentrate on internet surfing (Pratt, 2004). It will provide me information
regarding the diverse subjects which can amend my career opportunities. I can understand current
trends and innovative products available in the market.
Lifelong learning
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In order to have lifelong learning, it is necessary for me to identify future needs which will
provide me information about long lasting learning concept. In this respect, I can focus on observation
skills, it will provide me information about diverse factors which are beneficial for the advancement in
career opportunities (Pratt, 2004). It is a way through which I can observe global trends, market
changes, technology modifications in order to have lifelong learning. Moreover, I can also focus on the
implementation of diverse innovative and creative ideas within daily life events. It will improve my
creativity skills and amend the possibilities to attain better learning regarding the new concepts.
In respect to have lifelong learning, I can also prefer active participation in meeting and
conferences. Participation in seminars provides wide range of information in form of thoughts of
diverse experts (Ottewill, 2002). It will provide me proper knowledge regarding the communication
skills. I can also use my observation skills and analyse the expert’s way of talking in order to
understand the significance of communication skills. I can also attend training and development
programs which will provide me various advancement in skills and facilitate in effective management
of lifelong learning.
Benefits of self-managed learning
It has been spotted that the self-managed learning provides number of benefits to individual as
well as organisation. Self-managed learning is beneficial for the advancement in career opportunities.
Learning influences individual skills and level of expertise which impact directly on the performance
of individuals in a positive manner (Self managed learning, 2013). If I will focus on continuous
improvement in technical and theoretical knowledge, then it will enhance possibilities of promotion at
workplace. On the other side, advancement in productivity of employee is beneficial for organisation
as it facilitates in effective accomplishment of organisational goals (Professional standards, 2005).
Improvement in my skills will assist me to carry out my task in an effective manner which may have
direct positive impact on the earning capacity of the organisation.
Moreover, self-managed learning increases career opportunities that leads to enhance the
income level of individuals. If person is getting promotion and providing best outcome as compared to
other employees, then chances of advancement in income level are also extremely high (Rockwell,
2006). Improvement in productivity and employee skills is also advantageous for the reduction in
wastage of resources. It will cut down the overall cost of operations and provide better opportunity to
increase its profit margin ratio. Improvement in individual skills will also assist in identifying various
innovative ways which can reduce the wastage of resources.
Work based problem and solution
Being a marketing executive at the retail business firm, I have faced few issues which impacted
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my performance in a diverse manner. I have faced issues regarding lack of coordination level among
all staff members. It has influenced my marketing activities in a negative manner. I have also faced
conflicts due to lack of time management skills (Robinson, 2002). In this respect, it is essential for me
to focus on various ways which can overcome these issues in an effective manner. I can focus on time
management strategies like scheduling of all activities so that I can manage my tasks in a suitable way
and coordinate with other members.
Moreover, in order to overcome the issues or problems at workplace, it is also significant for
me to analyse the key reason behind the problem. It will provide better understanding regarding the
key factors and facilitate in creating innovative ways to handle problems (Zepeda, 2011). In order to
boost the coordination level, process also requires effective participation of my colleagues. It will also
assist in developing systematic approach to monitor problem. Improved level of focus on monitoring
will provide proper identification about that the problem is resolved or not.
Communication ways
It has been identified that there are number of ways through which I can communicate while
dealing with different levels. In this respect, it is necessary for me to understand the significance of
communication process. It will also facilitate me to reduce the barriers among communication system.
In support of this, I can prefer open communication system while dealing at strategic level. In this,
person can easily express ideas and feelings which are beneficial for the effective designing of
strategies (Wright, 2009). I can share my ideas with management and other members in order to make
effective designing of strategy.
At tactical level the management can focus on formal communication method. It will provide
structural way to communicate with all members within organisation. In this, I have to share my views
in structural manner. Such as I can only share my perception towards tactics formation with my juniors
and marketing manager (Wilkins, 2007). It is necessary for me to follow the formal procedure in order
to have easy communication. Moreover, at operational level I can use various communication tools to
meet the standards of direct communication methods. In this, I can use email, wireless and other
technological tools to have direct communication with members (Whitefield, 2006). With an
assistance of this, I can easily provide guidance regarding operational activities to my juniors by using
wireless system. It will also amend operational activities effectiveness within organisation.
Time management strategies
Time management strategies plays key role in effective accomplishment of organisational goals
as it provide assistance in work management activities. It allows me to design activities in proper way
so that task can be accomplished in desired time period (Webster, 2009). In this aspect, it is necessary
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for me to have improved level of focus on diverse factors such as planning, goals formulation, setting
time period, etc. With an improved focus on these elements I can focus easily improve my time
management skills and manage work in most suitable manner.
In this support, I can schedule my work on daily basis and weekly basis. It will made me
understand about the importance of task and motivate to complete as per desired time period. I can also
schedule my work as per significance of task to the operations and organisation (Wade, 2002).
Moreover, effective allocation of time period to all tasks is also essential in order to have effective time
management. If I am wasting my time to meet any specific task then it will have direct negative
influence on other activities effectiveness. Other than this, I can also delegate some task which are not
essential for business organisation as it will provide ability to allocate more time on another significant
task (Berghman, 2003). It is also necessary to ensure that urgent task are set out first in priority list. It
will also improve time management within organisation and enhance operational productivity.
TASK 2
a) Current skills against professional standards
Name: XYZ.............
Age: XYZ................
Contact:XYZ...........
Career Objective: To use my skills in the best possible way for achieving organisation goals.
Strengths:
 Improved level of knowledge in marketing domain.
 Good team player and self motivated person. Always ready to learn new concepts.
Education:
 120 hour diploma in event management.
 Masters in Marketing from XYZ university
 Scholar degree in business management. 1 year diploma in international marketing management.
Technical skills:
 Basic certification in computing skills.
 Improved knowledge of analytical tools like SPSS. Good knowledge of advertising tools.
Work experience:
 6 Months internship at XYZ retail firm as sales person.
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 1 Year experience as assistant advertiser at XYZ organisation. 2 Years experience as marketing executive at XYZ firm.
Others:
 Winner of swimming competition held at national level in the year 2013.
 Participation in various business simulation games held at national level.
 Surfing on internet to gather information about diverse subjects.
b) Identification of development needs
It has been identified by me that there number of weakness which impacts my development. I
have noticed that I am not good at time management activities which influences my overall
development and performance. This clearly indicates that it is one of my key need to improve skills
which can enhance my work management and time management (Cardno, 2005). Time management
skills are essential for better delivery of services and promote goods in better way among customers.
Other than this, I have also noticed that the lack of attention over work also influences my overall
development. It is one of key weakness that I am not able to concentrate properly on activities which
take long time period. So my another development need to to advance my focus and morale in order to
overcome the issues regarding lack of attention over work (Cox and et. al., 2007).
Moreover, it has also been noticed by me that I have lack of leadership skills which impacts my
work performance. However, I have good skills to work in team activities but leadership skills
advancement is also essential for better team work. It is one of my key need to overcome this weakness
as it will assist me to gain better competencies in context of managerial skills.
Personal Objectives Action Plan Required Resources Required
To enhance time management
skills
 Time administration
activities.
 Effective scheduling
of all activities.
 Job delegation.
 Expert assistance
regarding time
management.
To improve leadership skills  Take responsibilities
in team
 Involvement in diverse
decision making
activities within team.
 Challenges in team.
 Senior assistance
To improve learning about
diverse factors
 Focus on marketing
and activities.
 Reading of books,
journals, articles, etc.
c) Development opportunities
It has been spotted by me that I have number of development opportunities which can amend
my skills and career opportunities. In this respect, I can say that I can acquire more information
regarding information technology by joining diverse courses and self practice. In order to have better
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career opportunities it is also necessary for me to have advancement in communication skills (Davies,
2006). It will assist me to meet diverse organisational goals and convey my ideas among members in
proper way. In the addition to this, with an assistance of communication skills I can improve my
presentation skills which is advantageous for professional growth. Moreover, the managerial skills
improvement is also one of key opportunity for me as it will facilitate me to have effective planning
and organising of marketing activities (Karp, 2013). Other than this, I can also focus on various
problem solving strategies which assist me to overcome issues in effective manner. Time management
and other skills are also one of great opportunity for me as it will assist me to meet diverse goals in
both personal and professional context.
d) Personal development plan
Professional
Skills
Time Period Current
Level
5=strong
1=weak
Best Current
Example
Ways to Improve
Communication
Skills
Short term goal
(1 week)
2 I face few while
communicating
with top level
management and
collogues in
meeting
With an improved
participation in
group discussion.
Listening Skills Short term goal
(2 week)
3 Few times lack of
listing creates
miscommunication
among me and my
team members
I can attend
number of
conferences to
improve listening.
Leadership
Skills
Long term goal
(4 week)
2 Lack of leadership
skills which
influences various
marketing events.
I can organize
some marketing
events.
Managerial
skills
Long term goal
(5 week)
3 Improper planning
and organising of
team activities and
marketing actions.
I can concern my
seniors and experts
to improve my
skills.
Problem solving
skills
Long term goal
(4 week)
2 I face issues while
dealing with
various issues and
impact my work
performance.
I can focus on
various case
studies to improve
skills.
Professional
cognition
Short term goal
(2 week)
4 I have improved
level of knowledge
regarding
marketing and other
operational
activities.
I can focus on few
professional
degrees.
Self- Long term goal 3 I can manage my I can evaluate my
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Management (4 week) work activities but
few time I face
quite issues due to
lack of confidence
(Klein, 2005).
daily work to
improve skills.
Time
administration
Short term goal
(3 week)
4 Time management
skills has improved
which creates better
development
opportunities. But
still needs
continuous
improvement.
With an improved
level of scheduling
and allocation of
work.
e) Processes and activities
It has been spotted that there are number of activities which are needed to be implement in
development plan. The classification of activities can be as planning, organising, forecasting, collection
and implementation. In the support of this, it can also be said that the development plan execution also
requires high level of monitoring process in order to have better development (Karp, 2013).
Improved level of these activities will facilitate in accomplishing both short and long term
objectives. Moreover, it is also essential to ensure that the development plan is implemented in
accurate manner in order to meet goals.
f) Document development activities
In order to have effective implementation of activities it is necessary to have proper
documentation. Number of policies ad estimation is also required within documentation. It is also
necessary to ensure that the activities are well designed and it will have positive outcome in respect of
efforts (Davies, 2006). Objectives of plan are also need to be considered in appropriate manner to meet
the estimated outcome. Moreover, activities can be considered as,
 Activities on divisional and team basis.
 Improve relations with number of professionals in order to boost career opportunities.
 Approach to diverse professional groups and experts to have development in diverse areas.
 Improvement in communication (Cox and et. al., 2007).
 Improved focus on presentation and other concerned activities of projects.
g) Learning against aim
It has been spotted that the learning is defined in a way individual perform or act towards work.
I have acknowledged that set of knowledge and information that we acquire is always beneficial
because it provide assistance in diverse life events. I have also noticed that the self managed learning is
more suitable for development in skills and knowledge. It increases the morale and motivation level of
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person (Cardno, 2005). With an assistance of self managed learning and other types of learning the
professional can have number of developments such as communication skills, time management skills,
presentation skills, etc. It also provides understanding regarding diverse new concepts and motivate to
take various responsibilities in order to have better opportunities.
h) PDP based on evaluation and feedback
After feedback and evaluation, it has been identified that the development plan requires few
changes in order to meet objectives. In the support of this, it can be said that the evaluation process has
accomplished within 2 weeks. In this, number of activities performed by me were observed by my
colleagues and team members. I have also worked collectively with my team members for two weeks
in order to understand their nature. I have focused on number of observation actions and collective
work activities to identify my weaknesses and strengths. As per the feedback the communication skills
still require few improvement so it is necessary for me have regular interaction with diverse
employees. In order to have better leadership skills, it is also essential for me to focus on effective
identification of my colleagues and organisation needs so that I can take decisions as per their needs
and meet objectives. Number of alternative ways can also be adopted to improve my managerial and
professional skills. Such as regular base reading and internet surfing can assist in better improvement.
CONCLUSION
As per above study, it can be concluded that personal and professional development plan plays
key role in skills and career development. With an assistance of self managed learning and diverse
activities the individual can improve skills and knowledge level. Time management activities and other
activities are also beneficial for individual in diverse aspects. It has been identified that there are
number of ways in which can be used by professional to communicate while dealing at different levels.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Berghman, L., 2003. Towards an effectiveness model of development centres. Journal of Managerial
Psychology. 18(6). pp.511 – 540.
Cardno, C., 2005. Leadership and professional development: the quiet revolution. International
Journal of Educational Management. 19(4). pp.292 – 306.
Cox, D. B. and et. al., 2007. A study of managerial derailment characteristics and personality
preferences. Journal of Management Development. 26(9). pp.857 – 873.
Davies, A., 2006. Management development through self managed learning: the case of West Sussex
County Council. Development and Learning in Organizations. 20(4), pp.16 – 18.
Karp, T., 2013. Developing oneself as a leader. Journal of Management Development. 32(1). pp.127 –
140.
Klein, M., 2005. Survival Analysis: A Self-learning Text. 2nd ed. Springer.
Ottewill, R. 2002. Student self-managed learning – cause for concern?. On the Horizon. 10(1). pp.12-
16.
Pratt, K., 2004. Professional sustainability in facility management. Journal of Facilities Management.
3(1). pp.83-91.
Robinson, R. and Carrington, S., 2002. Professional development for inclusive schooling.
International. Journal of Educational Management. 16(5). pp.239 – 247.
Rockwell, S., 2006. Implicit Theories of Intelligence and Self-managed Learning. Graziadio School of
Business and Management, Pepperdine University.
Sangster, C., 2000. Planning and organizing personal and professional development. Cornell
University.
Throop, K. R., 2009. Reaching Your Potential: Personal and Professional Development. Cengage
Learning.
Wade, R. M., 2002. Relationship between job skills and performance: A study of webmasters. Journal
of Management Information Systems. 18(3). pp.71-96.
Webster, A., 2009. Reframing Professional Development through understanding authentic professional
learning. Jstor. 79(2). pp. 702-739.
Whitefield, D., 2006. Personal and interpersonal skills: The process of prescribing definitions in an
accounting degree. Asian Review of Accounting. 14(2). pp.101 – 121.
Wilkins, P., 2007. Personal and Professional Development for Counselors. London: SAGE
Publications ltd.
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Wright, W. A., 2009. Reframing Professional Development through understanding authentic
professional learning. Review of Educational Research. 79(2). pp.702-739.
Yu, H. 2004. Leadership and Management in Education: Developing Essential Skills and
Competencies. Journal of Educational Administration. 42(1). pp.116-119.
Zepeda, J. S., 2011. Professional Development: What Works. 2nd ed. Eye On Education.
Online
Professional standards, 2005. [Online]. Available through:
<http://www.cipd.co.uk/NR/rdonlyres/3BF07636-4E9A-4BDB-8916-95CC94F72EC9/0/
profstands.pdf>. [Accessed on 17th December 2015].
Self managed learning, 2013. [Online]. Available through:
<http://www.selfmanagedlearning.org/about-sml/>. [Accessed on 17th December 2015].
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