Report on HR Professional Skills, Development and Continuous Learning

This report, focusing on Marks and Spencer, explores the critical aspects of human resource management, including the professional knowledge, skills, and behaviors expected of HR professionals. It details the importance of continuous professional development (CPD) and its role in maintaining and enhancing employee skills and knowledge, covering areas like problem-solving, ethical conduct, and technological proficiency. The report includes a personal skills audit and development plan for an employee, Jane Cambridge, outlining her strengths, weaknesses, and future goals. It then differentiates between organizational and individual learning, emphasizing the need for continuous learning and development programs to boost employee engagement and gain a competitive advantage, as well as the contribution of High-Performance Work (HPW) systems in fostering employee engagement and achieving a competitive advantage. The report concludes by highlighting the need for continuous learning and development within the organization.

Developing Individual

Contents
INTRODUCTION....................................................................................................................3
TASK 1......................................................................................................................................3
P1 Professional knowledge, skills and behaviours required by HR professionals.................3
P2 Completed personal skills audit and professional development plan...............................4
TASK 2......................................................................................................................................7
P3 Difference between organizational and individual learning, training and development...7
P4 Need of continuous learning and professional development............................................9
TASK 3....................................................................................................................................10
P5 Contribution of HPW in employee engagement and competitive advantage.................10
TASK 4....................................................................................................................................10
CONCLUSION.......................................................................................................................11
REFERENCES.......................................................................................................................12

INTRODUCTION
In today’s business environment, development is one of the important activity for
every business organization if order to improve workers performance at workplace.Basically,
it is determining as an important concern for company to bringing changes in organizational
activities which may leads in enhancing profitability level of the company at market place. If
business organization fails in focusing on workers development then they face various issues
and conflicts at workplace(Day and et. al., 2014). This will negatively effect on business
image at market place.Development of individuals is highly based on workers and manager
as well which may leadin attaining set goals and objectives in appropriate period of time. For
achieving the same, company also make an effective team for performing business activities.
It directly contributes in attaining better success at market place. Present report is based on
Marks and Spencer, is one of the biggest and famous retail company which cover over the
world by delivering their services.This report also discussed about professional knowledge,
skills and behaviour of the HR professional. Along with this, various factors also mentioned
in this report which enhance the overall performance of the company. In addition of this,
contribution of HPW is also mentioned in this assignment which may leads in enhancing
performance level of the company.
TASK 1
P1 Professional knowledge, skills and behaviours required by HR professionals
Human resource department is regarded as most necessary assets in an organisation.
Generally, most of the business firm wants that staff members which are working than I
should very effective as well as efficient which refers that managers should be very capable
of providing the better outcomes to business firm. For this, an organisation will measure that
those abilities which are required to developed in staff members. In addition to this,
continuous professional development is defined as continuous as well as planned procedure
under which managers or leaders themselves and try to be develop own professional as well
as personal skills qualities (Eimeand et. al., 2013). Their main focus is on make improvement
in practices as well as knowledge which help them to accomplishing aims and goals of an
organisation in specific period of time. It is helpful in safeguarding carrier of managers and
also gain more advantages or advantages from this. Main importance of CPD are given below
as above:
 It assures that manager maintain and also increase knowledge as well as abilities for
communicating with consumers and providing them better qualities of services of
goods at the reasonable cost.
 CPD is helpful in assuring that manager should be up to date their knowledge such as
changes which are happen in society and know current market trends.
Frameworks which are used through managers aim them in order to answer the questions:
 Which method chosen through managers for development?
 How will you make progress and changes in an organisation?
The significance of the continuously professional development which should
underestimated through an organisation. It will assess in maintain better ethics as well as

code of conduct at the workplace. There are some skills given below which are necessary in
HR:
Problem solving and conflict management- If firm wants to enhance its development
then this is examined that staff members should work together with staff members (Goetsch
and Davis, 2014). In addition, this, it is a responsibility of human resource manager to
motivate staff members to work together. Manager of Marks and Spencer listen problems of
employees and give them better solution.
Ethical and discrete- In an organisation, HR manager is regarded as conscience of an
organisation and have confident information regarded as an organisation. In addition to this,
managers should try to be managing and control responsibilities in better manner and do its
business activities in an ethical manner.
Knowledge of HR professional
Technology and communication- It is necessary that human resource manager should
have good knowledge about the technology and communicate with employees in better
manner so that they can satisfy from the job. Technology provides many effective
opportunities to company and enhance productivity.
Behaviour which are expected from HR manager
Quality focus- Under this, manager should focus on produce better quality of good
which can satisfy needs or demands of consumers.
Accountable- It is necessary that employer should be more accountable which should
have better capabilities to take responsibilities of their own commit as well as actions which
are ethical manner.
P2 Completed personal skills audit and professional development plan
Abilities as well as skills which are necessary to analyse of staff members of Marks
and Spencer Organisation. If in case skills of employees will be better than in this case they
will perform in better manner. In context to measure abilities of staff members, it is necessary
for manager to notice their performance and also compare with ideal performance which
should be necessary in them (Herrmann and Herrmann-Nehdi, 2015). In addition to Marks
and Spencer, workers which are working in company should know about their capabilities
and deal with consumers in an effective manner. It is helpful for an organisation to identify
all skills gap in staff members and make different in what they have and what they need to
be.
Personal skill audit of Jane Cambridge through Marks and Spencer Organisation given
below:
Skill Very Good Good Adequate Little or no
experience
Information
Technology

Use Microsoft
office word
✔
Use Excel
Spreadsheet
✔
Use specialist HR
Software
✔
Use a database ✔
Use the internet ✔
Use Email ✔
Use PowerPoint ✔
Skill Very Good Good Adequate Little or no
experience
Communicati
on skills
Drafting
contracts of
employment
✔
Taking notes
of disciplinary
hearing
✔
Write reports ✔
Produce
materials to
support
presentations
✔
Delivering a
training
session
✔
Resolving
disputes
✔
Interviewing ✔
Advising on
HR issues
✔

Skill Very Good Good Adequate Little or no
Experience
Problem
solving skills
Make good
use of verbal
reasoning
skills, able to
handle
complex data
and make
selective use
of information
✔
Explore more
than one
solution in
order to solve
a problem
✔
Consider the
ideas of others
to help solve
problems
✔
Supervisory Management
How much experience
have you had in your
Placements?
< 1 month
✔
1-3 months > 3 months
How many people
have
you managed at any
One time?
None 1-5
✔
Above 5

Personal development plan is a kind of plan which is prepared through business firm
in order to accomplishing the desired aims in well manner.
PDP plan is mention below:
Name Jane Cambridge
TIME
FRAME
Personal Goals Professional goals:
Next 12
months
Take Participation in training sessions
which are conducted through an
organisation. Through this, I will able
to determine my own abilities in
better manner.
To accomplish the better performer in
an organisation and want high positions.
Next 3
years Develop my personality and want to
be better person. To be the senior Human resource
manager in firm.
TASK 2
P3 Difference between organizational and individual learning, training and development
Organisational learning and individual learning cannot be linked with one another as
they both differ from each other. Thus, they cannot be mixed together at the same time with
similar methods for achieving better results and outcomes. Therefore, both the topics are
explained below in order to understand it in an effective manner (Dahlgaard, Pettersen and
Dahlgaard-Park, 2011).
Organisational Learning: This is a process under which worker tries to create more
knowledge by improving their skills and knowledge. It gradually enhances their power of
thinking and analysing things in an effective manner. Thus, it is very helpful while achieving
the set targets in short period of time. In order to develop organisational learning it a

company it takes quite longer time and it is gained as the person gains experiences.
Therefore, it is considered as a planned effort as the entire planning is conducted so as to
develop the skills, coping capabilities, attaining individual and organisational goals and many
more. If a person is working in a company than he/she must enhance the capability of
decision-making and problem solving skills with the help of improved knowledge and
information. According to Brown and Duguid, it can be said that learning can act as a bridge
between innovative ideas and work performed by an individual is considered. This will
enable the organisation in enhancing their profits and profitability. Henceforth, learning must
be determined and should be focused on attaining set goals and objectives in a specific time
frame. Thus, it is assisting them in achieving the set targets and gradually it improves the
knowledge level of an individual (Conboy and et. al., 2011).
Individual Learning: Under this, a person gets equal chance of improving the
existing skills and knowledge they possessed. This enables them in upgrading their
acquaintance according to the current market situations. Individual learning can boost the
morale of a person and through this, employees can bring confidence in their works and
worker as well. So, it is important that a person is using its knowledge whenever it is required
in an effective manner as it will help the organization in improving the image in front of its
consumers. The process of individual learning is much time consuming as skills and
knowledge acquire by an individual is first analyzed and then accordingly is evaluated so that
comparison can be made with organizational learning. Therefore, it is considered as a hectic
process as it is not possible to teach the same skills to all employees under specific time
period. Thus, it sometimes affects the entire process of business operations and a decrease in
the growth can be seen. Although individual learning has some or the other drawbacks but the
biggest advantage of this is that it improves the skills and knowledge which they can use for
their future proceedings (Chaskalson, 2011).
Therefore, Marks and Spencer is using these learning styles so as to attain the goals
and objectives whether long or short term goals. This will gradually increase the growth and
development of the firm.
Organisational Learning Individual Learning
 This process assist the individual in
maintain a healthy relationship between
employee and superiors in a company.
This kind of approach helps a person in
performing the task in a better manner.
 Through this, company can look out for
new and innovative ways for resolving
the issues and problems.
 It is a long process and includes a very
hectic schedule of getting better results.
 This is considered so as to enhance the
skills so that employees can utilise
these in order to enhance the
performance.
 It is determined as a training
programme through which they can
learn new things and information with a
specific purpose so that they can utilise
them according to different market
situations.

 Individual learning is very appropriate
and effective as it improve the work of
an employee because as the time passes
they become more skilled and
knowledgeable.
Voluntary coaching and monitoring programs are the process through which learning
is acquired whether in formal or informal manner. This happens because individual is given
freedom to work under experienced person and colleagues who can properly guide them so as
to achieve a set goals and objectives in given time frame (Bolman and Deal, 2017). In order
to build up skills at workplace, most of the companies are adopting work based learning
approach for performing the learning job effectively.
Henceforth, Marks and Spencer through this process can attain their targets because
of which an overall growth can be seen.
P4 Need of continuous learning and professional development
In order to achieve growth and development in business operations, company uses continuous
learning and development programmes as it give appropriate outcomes to the company. Professional
development programme is determined as the most effective process for attaining knowledge and
promoting them amongst the other employees. This will gradually increase the productivity and at the
same time help an individual in performing the work in a better manner. Therefore, these are like a
plan that assists a person in acquiring new skills and knowledge. Professional development can be
linked with various different factors like coaching, technical assistance and many more. Thus, they are
very helpful for attaining a good performance in business (Woodcock, 2017).
In terms of Marks and Spencer, employees who are working there are aware of need
of learning thus, they conduct various training programs so as to improve the performance of
an individual. Therefore, to accomplish this, company has join hands with many top
institutions who are giving them education facilities so that they can learn new things which
employees can implement in their future proceedings.
Some of the benefits are given below that are consequents of need for continuous learning
and professional development in a company.
Competency Leads to confidence: If an individual has good knowledge of everything
than confidence level will be higher which will gradually increase the efficiency. As a result
he/she will get more attention and people will come to them for getting better ideas for
resolving the issues and problems.
Facilitates employee growth: In terms of Marks and Spencer they have provided different
opportunities to a person so that they can acquire new things which they can implement in
their future proceedings (Rock, 2014).

TASK 3
P5 Contribution of HPW in employee engagement and competitive advantage
High work performance is considered as an important and effective HR practices
which helps in improving performance at workplace. It also provides better support to
employees at workplace at the time of performing their duties. With the help of this workers
easily perform their task and enhance their productivity level (Hitt and et. al.,
2011).Basically, it is conduct by each and every company whether it is large and small
company. This will contribute in improving economic condition which may leads in
enhancingproductivity level of the company at market place.Along with this, company also
provide positive and healthy work environment to its workers so that they effectively perform
their task and at the same time also increase their engagement in business activities. With the
help of this, Marks and Spencer easily achieve set goals and objectives in appropriate
manner. In this context, leader also play important role in motivating as well as controlling
workers by increasing their efficiency level at market place. This will direct contribute in
increasing productivity level of the company in most effective manner.
In addition of this, competitive advantage is also important for business enterprise in
which company established their positive image at market place by performing their activities
(Légaréand et. al., 2011). Furth more, it also helps in producing quality goods and services to
its customers as per their needs and wants. By this firm increasing their overall sales and at
the same time also enhance the profitability level. Thus, better performance of the workers
helps in attaining competitive advantage form its rivals.
Along with this, Marks and Spencer also use HPW is an effective manner as per
important HR practice. In this manager prepare appropriate procedures and strategies for its
workers and employer as well. This will leadin enhancing their commitment towards the
company.For example, if any company having skills and talents workers then they easily
manage entire activities and also attain desirable goals and objectives in set time frame. In
addition of this, manager also madean effective plan for their workers in which they involved
their employees to achieve overall results of the company. With the help of this, Marks and
Spencer easily improve their performance and also attain competitive advantage in
appropriate way.
TASK 4
P6 Approaches of performance management
Performance management is one of the important aspect for every business
organization to improve overall performance of the workers at workplace. For this, there are
some appropriate approaches which helps in managing the workers performance at workplace
in order to increase their involvement in business activities.
Collaboration Working: It is related with joint and partnership working which
consider by the company to attain set goals and objectives in appropriatetime frame.Along
with this, it also includes various tools and methods through which company increase their
performance level. In addition of this, workers are also share their views and opinion with
their team members in which they easily improve their performance level by increasing their

skills and knowledge(Performance measurement approaches,2017).In this context,
collaborative working activity provide better support to businessorganization to develop their
positive brand image by deliveringquality products and services. Along with this proper as
well as effective communication alsoplay vital role at workplace in which worker develop
new and innovative ideas to enhance productivity level of the company at market place. In
context of Marks and Spencer also use this working style in which all the workers perform
their activities with common purpose. This will aid in in improving overall performance of
the company and workers as well.
Quality aspect: It is also an important factor which help business organization to
manage workers performance. Basically, it is related with high performance of the workers in
which company focus on producing quality goods and services to its customers. With the
help of this company easily invite as well as retain loyal customers for longer period of time.
In this quality is major concern for company to increase their profitability level at market
place (Organisational learning, 2017).For this manager take workers views and opinion
towards the company products and services so that they effectively modifythe process and
provide better services to their customers. In context of Marks and Spencer, they also provide
diversifies products and services to its customers which may help them in increasing
profitability level pf the company at market place.
Hence, both are more effective approach of performance management of workers at
workplace in order to attainall the desired goals and objectives in appropriate period of time.
This will direct contribute in enhancingprofitability level of the company.
CONCLUSION
It has been concluded from the above given report that team work is very beneficial
and provides benefits to company. It provides positive outcomes and achieves aims and
objectives in an effective manner. An individual learning is effective for staff members in
context to increase their capabilities along as well as skills for develop innovative ideas
which can be developed in an effective manner. Collaborative working is a beneficial
approach for attaining aims and objectives of firm. Under this report studied about the skills,
behaviour and knowledge which are necessary in the HR professionals across department.
Difference among the individual learning and organisational also studied in given report.

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