Professional Development Report: HR, Skills, and Learning Cycles

This report analyzes professional development within the context of a Human Resources (HR) role at John Lewis Partnership. The introduction highlights the importance of development programs for individual, team, and organizational success. Task 1 focuses on the essential skills, behaviors, and knowledge required for an HR professional, including recruitment, communication, and legal knowledge, as well as a skills audit and a personal development plan. Task 2 explores the significance of continuous professional development through learning cycle theories. Task 3 examines the benefits of applying High-Performance Work (HPW) and Task 4 evaluates different approaches to support a high-performance culture. The report emphasizes the need for ongoing learning and skill enhancement to achieve both personal and organizational goals. The student has created a professional development plan to address areas of weakness, like labor legislation and problem-solving skills, and emphasizes the importance of time management and communication skills. The report concludes with a discussion of the benefits of HPW and approaches to fostering a high-performance culture.

Professional
Development

Contents
INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................................................................3
TASK 1.......................................................................................................................................................3
P1............................................................................................................................................................3
P2............................................................................................................................................................6
M1 Provide a detailed professional skills audit and professional development plan that demonstrates
evidence of personal reflection and evaluation........................................................................................9
TASK 2.......................................................................................................................................................9
P3............................................................................................................................................................9
P4..........................................................................................................................................................11
M2 Apply learning cycle theories to critically analyse the importanceof implementing continuous
professional development......................................................................................................................12
TASK 3.....................................................................................................................................................13
P5..........................................................................................................................................................13
M3 Analyse the benefits of applying HPW with justifications to a specific organisational situation.. . .14
TASK 4.....................................................................................................................................................14
P6..........................................................................................................................................................14
M4 Critically evaluate the different approaches and make judgements on how effective they can be to
support high- performance culture and commitment.............................................................................15
CONCLUSION.........................................................................................................................................16
REFRENCES............................................................................................................................................17

INTRODUCTION
A company is considered as business venture in which candidates are employed as well
as they perform their allotted task as that will aid firm in attaining their predetermined target and
objective successfully. For a company this is necessary to develop strategies and plans in order to
the development of individual which leads to develop or growth of team as well as organization
impressively and effectively. Moreover, development program also leads to some other benefits
such as increase motivation level of staff, enhance in performance, attainment of goal
successfully, and proper team working and many more (Bellisand Verganti, 2020). Company
chosen for the respective project is John Lewis Partnership that is operating its practices in the
retail sector as well as they offer cloths, jewelry, watches, giftware, furniture, beds, cosmetics,
beddings, food, direct services and many more. It is founded in 1929 by John Spedan Lewis and
its head office is located at the London, United Kingdom. Respective project contains numbers
of topics related to development of individual, team and company. Topics explain in report are
skills, behaviour and knowledge required for the Human Recourses professional profile as well
as it also includes professional development plan and personal skill audit. It also contains
knowledge about comparison of individual, organization training, learning and development.
TASK 1
P1
In respect of becoming a HR expert or professional at John Lewis Partnership, it is
essential for them to conduct improvement of skills, behavior and knowledge as that will help in
building or develop successful career opportunity. Through this a person can increase its
capabilities, skills, abilities and knowledge that aid them in retaining at the workplace for the
long time as well as it leads to achievement of predetermine outcome and target in the effective
way. Through this effectiveness of whole workplace get enhanced and it also improve the
workplace performance impressively(Brilingaitė, BukauskasandJuozapavičius,, 2020). There are
several skills, behavior and knowledge which a person needs to have who want to become HR
Professional at the John Lewis Partnership, from which some knowledge, skills and behaviour
are mentioned below: -

Knowledge Skills Behavior
Recruitment and selection
process –In order to become a
Human Resource executive at
John Lewis Partnership an
individual need to have
knowledge of recruitment and
selection process because
through that they able to select
most appropriate candidate for
the vacant position. Moreover,
it will also help in saving
training and development cost.
Understanding skill – It is
necessary for a person to have
understanding skill if they
want to become HR executive
in John Lewis Partnership
(Gupta, 2020). This is so
because through this skill HR
executive able to understand
need and requirement of
employees which help them in
developing proper decision for
the achievement of
predetermined outcome as
well as target impressively.
Transparency –For a Human
Resource executive of John
Lewis Partnership it is
essential to have transparency
behaviour because that will
help them in always be
transparent in front of others.
This will also help in
developing and maintaining
positive working environment
impressively which enhance
employee’s performance.
Knowledge of English –For a
HR Executive it is necessary
to have excellent knowledge
of the English in both oral and
written manner. This is so
because HR executive need to
communicate with superior,
clients, subordinates,
customers and so on and for
that they need to have use
English because it is
considered as widely used
professional language.
Communication skill –In order
to become a Human Resource
Executive, it is essential to
have communication skills
because through that skill HR
can easily interact with others
in effective manner as well as
through communication skill
Executive make other
understand what they want to
convey.
Creative nature –In order to
become human resource
executive in John Lewis
Partnership a person need to
have creative nature because
through that they able to make
innovative decision that aid in
attainment of predetermined
outcome and objective
successfully (Kautzand et. al.,
2020). This will also help in
developing creative training
and development session
which encourage staffs to
involve in the session properly
and effectively.

Labour legislation –For the
HR Executive of John Lewis
Partnership it is essential to
have legal knowledge because
through that they able to
develop proper policy, rules
and regulation which help
company in successfully
achieving their wanted
outcome and target in
impressive as well as legal
manner. Moreover, through it
they can also regulate
operations and functions
properly for growing business.
Problem solving skill – This is
determined as one of the
essential skill required for
becoming a HR professional at
the respective company.
According to this a person
need to have skill that they can
resolve issues of others in
effective ways as well as they
also need to have skills to
provide innovative solution
for an issues (Nightingale,
2020). Through this work will
conducted properly which
leads to achievement of
standard and target properly.
Solution oriented –In order to
get positive of Human
resource executive at the John
Lewis Partnership a person
need to have behaviour of
solution oriented because
through that they will provide
appropriate solution according
to the situation. This
behaviour will also help HR
executive in gaining more
goodwill at workplace which
leads to promotion.
Financial knowledge –
According to this it is essential
for a HR professional to have
knowledge and understand of
financial terms as they also
need to develop budget and
determine expenses of
company as well as
employees. At this time
knowledge as well as
understanding related to
financial will help them in
developing effective budget.
Communication skill – It is
necessary for a HR
professional to have proper
communication skill so that
they can interact as well as
communicate others in
effective manner by making
other understand what they
want to say.
Self motivated – It must be
trait of HR professional that
they must be self motivated so
that they can motivate others.
Team management – It is
necessary for a HR
Time management skill – For a
HR professional it is essential
Disciplined – It is also
essential for a HR professional

Professional to have
knowledge related to how to
management team effectively.
It is so because at every
company work are divided
into team and in team there are
different types of person. So it
is necessary that HR must
know how to manage work
properly in team.
that ever person at the
workplace manage their work
according to the given time
because through that they can
attain goal successfully. so it
is necessary that HR
professional must have
respective skills for attaining
goal on time.
that they must always be in
discipline as that will help in
conducting work properly as
well as in systemic manner
which leads to attainment of
goal successfully.
P2
In order to determine own knowledge, skill and behaviour effectiveness a person can
conduct personal skills audit as that will help in determine which skills, knowledge and
behaviour are strength and which are weaknesses. Moreover, for improving those weaknesses an
individual can create professional development plan as that will include strategies for improving
skill, knowledge and behaviour(Mazzaroland Reboud, 2020). Below analysis of my skills is
given for the position of HR Executive, for which I adopted personal skill audit format because
through it I can develop effective strategies for the improvement as well as enhancement in skills
and abilities. Along with this, in order to enhance weak skill, I create professional development
plan so that I can improve or grow my skills properly.
Personal Skill Audit – HR Executive
Rating – 1 to 5 (1 is lowest and 5 is highest)
Knowledge Rating Skill Rating Behavior Rating
Recruitment
and selection
process
4 Understanding
skill
5
Transparency
4
Knowledge
of English
4 Communication
skill
4 Creative
nature
5

Labour
legislation
3 Problem
solving skill
3 Solution
oriented
4
So, in order to enhance my lack or weak skills like labour legislation and problem-
solving skill I developed personal development plan so that I can develop strategies accordingly.
Plan of personal development is mentioned below: -
Professional Development Plan
KSA to be
developed
Activities
required for
development
Time
Duration
Development
monitoring
approach
Assessment
of
development
Detailed
evaluation
Labour
legislation
For enhancing
respective
knowledge, I
need to get
admission in
legal coaching
classes where I
can enhance my
knowledge about
the legal policies
and rules for a
retail company.
In addition to this
I can also attain
online as well as
offline classes
where I able to
get more
knowledge about
legal practices
related to firm. I
can also attain
2.5
Months
For
monitoring
my enhanced
skill, I will
conduct
online test or
conduct
discussion
with the
experts so
that they will
provide be
feedback
according to
my skill.
By enhancing
respective
skill, I able to
develop
proper as well
as appropriate
strategy,
policies and
rules and
regular so that
all work
conducted in
legal manner.
Superior
Legal Adviser
of the firm

different
workshops of
legal superiors or
experts.
Problem
solving skill
For improving
thisskill, I can
attain workshops
as well as I can
also go to
seminars whereas
I can observe
others and
understand who
they solve other
problems so
perfectly.
3 Months For analyzing
this skill, I
will interact
with others so
that they will
provide me
feedback that
I enhanced
my respective
skill or not. In
addition to
this it will
also help in
determining
gap according
to which I can
develop
strategies.
By having
respective
skill, I can
resolve issues
or problems
of other at the
workplace as
well as it also
help me
increasing my
performance
as well as it
also led me to
develop
creative
decision as
well as
strategies
properly.
Superior and
subordinate
Moreover there are several other skills on which I need to work i.e. communication skill so that I
can communicate effectively to the employees at the workplace as well as it will also help me in
conducting interaction with all senior, team members and other staff in effective manner. For this
I can attain classes as well as I can also practice by myself. In addition to this I also need to
enhance my time management skills so that I can conduct my work in timely manner as well as
in best way so that I and my firm both attain their desire goal and objective.

M1 Provide a detailed professional skills audit and professional development plan that
demonstrates evidence of personal reflection and evaluation.
For obtaining high level of post into firm, this is essential to attend training sessions for
increasing my competencies as well as knowledge at specific area. But this takes time to enhance
my own capabilities as well as competencies based upon the needs and requirements. Therefore,
through performing this type analysis, this will assist in into improvement of particular field.
Moreover, with the assistance f this they can able to obviate disputes among one another and aids
in maximizing the knowledge and competencies of specific individuals effectually and
appropriately.
TASK 2
P3
Learning is considered as essential part of life as through that a person can learn what
they want as well as it also helps in enhancing their skill, abilities and knowledge through which
they can accomplish work properly (Todd, 2020). The learning is totally depending on the want
and need of an individual that they want to learn new things or aspect or not. Along with this,
learning of employees is also depend upon the organization programmes and their consideration
which means management of a firm are serious about the learning of employees and for that they
develop different programmes and practices. There is also difference between organization
learning and individual learning, which are mentioned below:-
Organization learning Individual learning
The fundamental focus of organization
learning which may conducted by John Lewis
Partnership is related to academic and
theoretical inquiries.
On the other hand, if John Lewis Partnership
will implement respective learning style then
their fundamental concept will be related to
organizational development purposes (Brand,
2020).
If respective company will adopt
organizational learning then procedure as well
as practices related to learning will be
If respective company will adopt this learning
style then they will concentrated on different
aspects such as development and prescription

conducted within the company. strategies, cultural and system at the
workplace.
In respect of organization learning organization
involvement will be segmented into
organization, team and individual levels as
well as it is generally known as attribute of
organization learning.
In individual learning organization
involvement emphases include involvement of
everyone and different practices such as
leadership, reward system, culture
development and many more (Conway and
Edgar, 2020).
Along with organization learning and individual learning a person also need training and
development so that they perform their allotted work in best manner so that they as well as their
company attain goal successfully. The different between training and development in respect of
John Lewis Partnership is given below-
Training Development
Training is defines as the procedure of learning
in which employees are provided with in
opportunity that they can increase their skills,
knowledge and abilities properly which help in
fulfilling requirement properly.
Development is determined as a procedure of
education and learning in which overall growth
will be done of employees so they perform
duties properly for attaining desire goal.
Training which is provided by John Lewis
Partnership is of short team.
Development is considered as long term
process which is conducted by respective
company (Kowal, 2020).
The training strategy of respective company
will be focus on the present situation.
Development practices which are adopted by
respective company will focus on the future.
Training is generally considered as job oriented
practices.
Development is determined as career oriented
practices conducted by company.
The main objective of respective company
behind providing training is that they want to
On the other hand by providing development
strategies they want to focuses on preparing

improve work performance of employees. staff for the future challenges.
P4
Continuous learning is essential for every individual as that provide opportunity to
enhance skills, abilities and knowledge for the attainment of desire goal as well as objective
successfully (Imants and Van der Wal, 2020). In order to become a human resource manager a
person need to have ability to conduct continuous learning as that will help them in conducting
their work in effective as well as appropriate manner. Moreover it is also considered that
continuous learning is related to the nature of human as what they observe they starting behaving
in similar manner. A person who want to become HR professional at John Lewis Partnership
need to develop knowledge through internal as well as external environment because that will
help in developing effective decision.
In addition to this professional development is also necessary for the sustainable business
performance because through it employees able to perform their allotted work in effective as
well as best manner due to which company will attain their desire goal successfully. According
to this It is essential for companies to conduct professional development activities so that staff
able to develop skills, abilities, knowledge and capabilities related to the job role which help in
conducting responsibilities and task in effective manner (Sanudo and et. al., 2020). In respect of
John Lewis Partnership their management conduct practices related to continuous learning and
professional development so that their employees perform their allotted duties or jobs in
effective manner. In addition to this they also adopt different learning models from which one is
explaining below:-
Kolb’s learning cycle: - The respective approach help John Lewis Partnership in developing
values process as well as conduct ongoing learning so that they can attain their desire goal
successfully. It is consist of four phases through which learner will repeatedly processes,
explanation of these stages are mentioned below in respect of John Lewis Partnership –
 Concrete experience – In this stage a person conducts specific work and gets experience
through that so that next time they will conduct similar work in more effective way. In

addition to this it will also help in determining error which impact on outcome so that
employees will not repeat it again at their workplace while performing duties.
 Reflective observation – In this stage a person or employees of John Lewis Partnership
will review or reflect their own experience on a specific situation so that they will
determine whether they perform effectively or whether they are not (Zhang, Shi and Lin,
2020). According to this an employee itself develop strategies for the improving their
weakness in effective and appropriate manner.
 Abstract conceptualization – In respective phase respective company management will
conclude the whole learning which they get from specific experience so that they can
develop proper outcome or strategy from it. In this stage critical thinking will be done by
company management so that they will develop strategies accordingly.
 Active experimentation – It is the last stage in which a person or management will
conduct planning as well as they also try to find out what employees need to learn for
conducting work in effective manner. In this strategies or plan will be implemented on
the situation of John Lewis Partnership so that they will attain their desire or pre
determined target successfully.
Through respective model John Lewis Partnership able to conduct professional learning as
well as continuous improvement in effective manner and through it they able attain its pre
determined goal and target successfully in given time duration. Along with this another model of
learning is Honey and Mumford learning model which is mentioned below:-
Honey and Mumford learning model: -