Ocado Technology: Employability and Professional Development Report

This report delves into the realm of employability skills and professional development, specifically within the context of an IT professional at Ocado Technology, an online grocery supermarket. The report begins by assessing current skills and competencies against professional standards, followed by an evaluation of developmental needs and a personal and professional development plan. It explores the importance of teamwork, analyzing team roles using Belbin's Team Role Theory and discussing alternative techniques for managing teamwork. Furthermore, the report investigates different problem-solving methods and tools, culminating in a discussion of a Business Information System (Retail Information System) tailored for a retail store, analyzing its impact on the business. The report emphasizes the importance of soft skills, such as communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and leadership, for career advancement and personal growth within a technology-driven environment.

EMPLOYABILITY
AND PROFESSIONAL
DEVELOPMENT

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction......................................................................................................................................3
1.1 Current skills and competencies against professional
standards.....................................................................................................................................3
1.2 Evaluation of own developmental needs...............................................................................4
1.3 Personal and professional developmental plan......................................................................4
1.4 Own development against the set aim and objectives...........................................................5
Task 2...............................................................................................................................................6
Task 3...............................................................................................................................................6
3.1 Team Roles............................................................................................................................6
3.2 Alternative techniques to manage the team work..................................................................7
Task 4...............................................................................................................................................8
4.1 Different methods and tools used for problem solving..........................................................8
4.2 Business Information System for a retail store......................................................................8
4.3 Impact of System Development.............................................................................................9
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................9
References......................................................................................................................................10
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INDEX OF TABLES
Table 1: Personal and Professional Development Plan...................................................................5
ILLUSTRATION INDEX
Illustration 1: Belbin's Team Roles..................................................................................................8
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INTRODUCTION
Employability skills and professional development is required at the workplace in order
to become successful in the dynamic environment (Bailly and Léné, 2013). Every employee
irrespective of their job profile should have the soft skills of managing their work to match with
the professional standard of company. This report is emphasized on the employability skills of an
IT professional of Ocado Technology which is a online grocery supermarket. Moreover,
discussion has been made on the ability to take responsibility for own personal and professional
development and to demonstrate the acquired interpersonal and transferable skills. Further,
understanding of working with others has been discussed. Also, the discussion has been made on
the ability of developing strategies for solving problem (Griffith and Hoppner, 2013).
TASK 1
1.1 Current skills and competencies against professional standards
Professional standard and objective of Ocado technology is that it wants to be completely
technology driven firm. They wanted to hire the people with a powerful combination of technical
skills and creativity who can do the innovative work. Their objective is to have a team working
to push the boundaries of technology so that company can make themselves and their employees
better (Jackling and Natoli, 2015). The firm is working to achieve the vision of robotics system
with their best IT professionals.
The current skill of mine against company's objectives can be identified by using the
management tool such as reflective practice in which I can analyze my competencies by
watching what is going around, asking the supervisor and stakeholders about my skills, talking
with the coworkers, self-evaluation using self-evaluating tools, etc. Some of the skills are as
follows: Excellent Intuitiveness: I have an ability to assess the intuition so that I can foresee the
impact of any project on company. Therefore, I can say that I possess excellent
forecasting skills. This will enable to reach the organizational goals in an effective
manner. Good Communication Skill: To bring out the innovation in a creative manner, I require
communicating with the stakeholders of company to generate creative ideas (Joanna,
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2014). For this purpose, I have excellent communication skills in order to influence
people about the new ideas and about the change. Great Team Player: Company's goal is to go beyond the boundaries of technology by
working together. For this purpose, I possess an ability to work as a team and to
cooperate with other team members.
1.2 Evaluation of own developmental needs
After analyzing the current skills and competencies of mine by using reflective practice
which is a management tool, the evaluation of development needs can be done. There are many
skills which are needed to develop to meet the objectives of company. Some of the development
needs are as follows:
 Problem Solving Skill: I lack in this skill of problem solving. While working in a team, I
may encounter many problems and also, while developing any software, many issues
may arise (Parente, Stephan and Brown, 2012). To solve such problems, I need to
develop problem solving skills.
 Self-Motivation Skills: To work in a team and to bring out an innovative technology,
many issues may arise and it may become a lengthy procedure. For this purpose, I should
possess self-motivational skills so that external motivation can be gained.
 Leadership Skill: However, by working in a team, there may be chances to lead a team
in certain situation. For that purpose, leadership skills should be developed.
1.3 Personal and professional developmental plan
Table 1: Personal and Professional Development Plan
Development
Needs
Actions Success Criteria Application Deadline
Problem
Solving Needs
 By taking initiative to
solve the problem
during any issue.
 Solving the case
Able to identify and
solve problem
during any issue in
absence of
At the time of
workload when
issues arise, it can be
done at my end only.
4-6 weeks
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study. supervisor or
technical head.
Also, to reduce the
involvement of
senior in minor
issues (Cassidy-Rice,
2014).
Self-
Motivation
Skills
 Learning self-
motivating theories.
 Taking
developmental
training for self-
motivation.
Able to adopt the
soft skills to handle
pressure.
To motivate
themselves and other
team members while
doing innovation.
1 month
Leadership
Skills
 Taking initiative in
leading a team.
 Learning leadership
theories.
Able to lead a team
in an effective and
efficient manner.
At the time of
becoming a team
leader or in the
absence of a team
leader.
3-4 weeks
1.4 Own development against the set aim and objectives
The organizational objective is to become a technology driven by pushing the boundaries
of technology. They want their employees to be highly efficient and creative to bring out
innovative technology. Also, company is encouraging for team work so that together employees
can go beyond the boundaries of technology (Cooke, 2012). Along with that, development needs
of mine are problem solving skills, leadership skills and self-motivation skills. Comparison can
be made between own development against the organizational objectives. If I work for achieving
the organizational objectives then these required skills can be developed in me. At the time of
leading a team while working in a team, leadership skills can be developed. By solving problem
at my own end during excessive work, the skill of problem solving can be developed. By
attending training session and other motivational training, the motivational skills can be
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developed so that I can self-motivate myself and other employees also at the time of achieving
the organizational aim and objectives.
This development may enhance my career and also, it may lead to personal development
so that other than workplace, these skills can be used to solve the problem and I can initiate in
any event. Career opportunity may increase by developing these skills (EMPLOYABILITY
SKILLS, 2015).
TASK 2
Covered in PPT
TASK 3
3.1 Team roles
Ocado Technology has an objective of going beyond the boundaries of technology by
working as a team. For this purpose, teams are made in the organization and analysis of the role
of every team member has to be analyzed in order achieve the shared goals of an organization. It
can be done by using Belbin's Team Role Theory which is discussed as follows:
(Source: Leadership Solutions, 2007)
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Illustration 1: Belbin's Team Roles

 Shaper: This person challenges the team to improve and move forward. They possess a
lot of energy but they can be sensitive.
 Implementer: These people convert the ideas and concepts of team members into
practical actions. They are highly organized but are slow.
 Completer: They see that the tasks are completed thoroughly and work is done in a well
manner. They also place attention on smallest thing and ensure that errors or omission
does not happen. But these people do not trust on others.
 Coordinator: Such people acts as a team-leader and are much respected leader. They
coordinate the work and the team for accomplishing the shared goals.
 Team Worker: Provides support to the team members and care for individual team
members. This person can be a good listener and resolve minor team issues.
 Resource Investigator: These people are innovator and curious. They explore new ideas
and possibilities. They are good at making contacts and often negotiate with others to
make avail the resources for the team.
 Plant: They are the creative innovators who often come with new ideas and approaches
and solve the problem creatively. But they are poor communicators.
 Monitor-evaluator: They analyze the ideas and concepts of other team members
carefully and accurately before making any decision.
 Specialist: Special knowledge has been possessed by these people who are needed to
complete the job.
After assessing the roles in every employee then putting each member in a team, a
effective team can be made and can be motivated towards the achievement of shared goals of
organization.
3.2 Alternative techniques to manage the team work
In former question, it was discussed that by defining team roles, an effective team can be
developed and managed accordingly so that goals of company can be achieved (Delen, Liew and
Willson, 2014). But there are several techniques through which team work can be managed and
team goals can be achieved. Some of them are discussed as follows:
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 Volunteering: Team leader should volunteer the team members and whenever they
encounter with any issues, team leader will get the knowledge of it. This will help in
achieving the goals effectively.
 Providing Required Tools: IT team should be provided with every tool they require
during software development or building any technology. This may help in achieving the
goals in a better manner.
 Training and Development: By providing timely training, the team can be motivated and
issues of the team can be handled and training will bring efficiency among them and thus,
it will lead to the achievement of shared goals (PROFESSIONAL & PERSONAL
DEVELOPMENT, 2015).
TASK 4
4.1 Different methods and tools used for problem solving
Ocado Technology can adopt various methods in order to solve the problems of IT
department. Some of the methods are listed below:
 Proper Coordination: The management should do proper coordination of various teams
and their members in order to identify the problem and solve the problem at initial stage.
 Effective Communication: Management and team leader should communicate
effectively all the tasks so that any confusion would not arise. They should regularly ask
for the feedback in order to assess the problems among team members and inter team
problems.
 Brain Storming: If any work based problem arises then a brainstorming session should
be organized. In this, all the team members and experts sit together and discuss about the
problem and their effective solutions (Trought, 2012).
 Means-end Analysis: It is a common tool for solving problem. In this current state,
problem is defined and an action is chosen in order to reduce the difference between the
two.
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4.2 Business Information System for a retail store
As Ocado company is an online supermarket so for our business, a system has to be
developed that is Business Information System for the retail store. The system is named as Retail
Information System (RIS). This system would solve the problem of customers like what to shop,
when to shop and where to shop. Customers can download the application in their smart phones
to catch the location (Humphris, 2013). This application can be customized by the users. Here,
customer can place their needs and according to their needs, suggestions of customized package
will be displayed. Among those packages, customers can select the best package and
accordingly, it will be delivered at their place. If customers require urgent delivery than other
products then those can be stored in the cart and important requirement will be delivered and less
important will be delivered after sometime. This Business Information System will help
company to maintain the data of customers and also, the records of their needs will be
maintained.
Although this is a time consuming process, for that, IT team should be motivated on
regular basis and they should be equipped with every requirement (Marsh, 2012).
4.3 Impact of System Development
The impact of system development on Ocado Technology is that organization may
generate maximum profits because this will attract more people. Company can easily satisfy the
needs of customers by providing suggestions as per their needs. This will make the consumers
aware about the new products which will increase the sale of those products and of organization
as well (Rao, 2010). Company will get the data of these customers for maintaining record and for
promoting the goods and services to them. From customer’s perspective, they will also get
benefits out of this software.
CONCLUSION
After preparing report on employability skills and professional development, it can be
concluded that these skills are essentially required in business and also in personal life in order to
bring efficiency and effectiveness. In this report, IT professional of Ocado Technology has
developed many skills in order to achieve the goals of an organization as well as own goals. The
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personal plan has been developed so that employees can develop those skills within given time
line.
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REFERENCES
Journals
Bailly, F. and Léné, A., 2013. The personification of the service labour process and the rise of
soft skills: a French case study. Employee Relations. 35(1). pp. 79–97.
Cassidy-Rice, J., 2014. NLP promotes personal development and professional success: Process
gives the edge to both companies and individuals. Human Resource Management
International Digest. 22(3). pp. 38-41.
Cooke, A. N., 2012. Professional development 2.0 for librarians: developing an online personal
learning network (PLN). Library Hi Tech News. 29(3). pp. 1-9.
Delen, E., Liew, J. and Willson, V., 2014. Effects of interactivity and instructional scaffolding
on learning: Self-regulation in online video-based environments. Computers &
Education. 78(6). pp. 312-320.
Griffith, A. D. and Hoppner, J. J., 2013. Global marketing managers: Improving global
marketing strategy through soft skill development. International Marketing Review.
30(1). pp. 21–41.
Jackling, B. and Natoli, R., 2015. Employability skills of international accounting graduates:
Internship providers’ perspectives. Education + Training. 57(7). pp. 757–773.
Joanna, P., 2014. Do real estate courses sufficiently develop graduates’ employability skills?
Perspectives from multiple stakeholders. Education + Training. 56(6). pp. 562–581.
Parente, H. D., Stephan, D. J. and Brown, C. R., 2012. Facilitating the acquisition of strategic
skills: The role of traditional and soft managerial skills. Management Research Review.
35(11). pp. 1004–1028.
Books
Humphris, W. C., 2013. Employability Skills: Brush Up Your Business Studies. eBookIt.com.
Marsh, R., 2012. Skills for Employability Part One: Pre-Employment. Christal Publishing.
Rao, S. M., 2010. Soft Skills: Enhancing Employability : Connecting Campus with Corporate. I.
K. International Pvt Ltd.
Trought, F., 2012. Brilliant Employability Skills. Pearson Education Limited.
Online
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EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS. 2015. [Online]. Available through:
<http://www.youthcentral.vic.gov.au/jobs-careers/planning-your-career/employability-
skills>. [Accessed on 6th November 2015].
Leadership Solutions. 2007. [Online]. Available through
<http://www.leadershipsolutions.co.nz/belbin_benefits.cfm>. [Accessed on 6th November
2015].
PROFESSIONAL & PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT. 2015. [Online]. Available through
<https://continuingstudies.stanford.edu/courses/professional-personal-development>.
[Accessed on 6th November 2015].
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