Whirlpool HR: Skills, Development, High Performance, and Commitment

This report analyzes the skills, knowledge, and behaviors required of HR professionals, focusing on a case study of Whirlpool. It evaluates personal skills, including communication, problem-solving, and leadership, and develops a professional development plan to address skill gaps. The report compares individual and organizational learning, highlighting the importance of training and development programs for enhancing employee performance. It also examines how high-performance working contributes to employee engagement and competitive advantage, discussing approaches to performance management and the support of a high-performance culture. The analysis includes a SWOT analysis of the HR professional's strengths and weaknesses, along with strategies for improvement and achieving learning goals. The report emphasizes the need for continuous learning and professional development to meet organizational objectives and improve overall performance. The findings provide insights into how HR practices can drive employee commitment and enhance organizational effectiveness.

Developing
Individuals, Teams
and
Organisations

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION..........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
P1 Evaluate appropriate knowledge, skills and behaviour required by HR professionals ....1
P2 Evaluate the personal skills and develop a professional plan...........................................2
D1 Career development plan to set the learning goals ........................................................4
M1 Detailed description of professional skills that presents personal reflection..................5
P3 Comparison between individual and organization learning,training and development ...6
M2 Evaluate learning theory to analyse the importance of professional development..........7
P4. Need for continuous learning and professional development .........................................7
D1. Detailed professional development plan to achieve the objectives ................................8
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................8
P5 High performance working contribute employee engagement and competitive advantage. .8
M3 Benefits of applying HPW (High Performance Working).............................................10
D2 Contribution of HPW and mechanisms in improving employee engagement, commitment
and competitive advantage ..................................................................................................11
TASK 4..........................................................................................................................................11
P6 Different approaches to performance management........................................................11
M4 Different Approaches to support high-performance culture and commitment..............13
CONCLUSION .............................................................................................................................13
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................14

INTRODUCTION
Organization has to provide good quality of goods and services which satisfy the
customers and to achieve their goals and objectives. For maintaining a unique position in the
market, company f has to give training to employees for their development. This increases the
knowledge and skills to perform better (Anderson and Anderson, 2011). They are also motivated
and work with full dedication to accomplish their targets. Assignment is based on Whirlpool
company which is founded by Louis and Emory Upton in 1911. Firm is operated in U.S. It
provides home appliances products such as refrigerator, televisions, A.C. etc. which satisfy the
consumer needs and wants. Company do business in various places. Report talks about the
appropriate skills, knowledge that is needed by H.R manager, evaluate these to do personal
reflection and make a professional development plan. Project talks about the differences between
organization and individual learning and need of firm learning to increase the business
performance. Assignment discusses the methods in which high performance working contributes
to competitive advantage. It also talks about the ways through which performance management
and effective communication can support high performance and commitment.
TASK 1
P1 Evaluate appropriate knowledge, skills and behaviour required by HR professionals
Each organization has to apply the knowledge and appropriate skills to perform
efficiently and effectively. This can be done by training and development programmes and
seminars. Through this employees perform better to achieve targets and objectives.
KSB is -1. Professional knowledge - It is the information and theoretical concepts which can be
acquired through observation and experience. This helps in improving the business
performance. For instance, knowledge of contract law, training and development
techniques, project management, talent management. Level of professional knowledge
proves as a tool that differentiates among HR professionals on the basis of their
efficiency.

2. Skills – This process means ability to apply the knowledge according to various
situations. They are used in proper manner so that firm's can perform better and give
good results. Skills needed for a HR professional are communication, problem solving
skills, leadership, expertise, negotiation, conflict management etc. These skills acts as a
way of success because with the help of these, perfection in management can be
achieved. Also it will ease selecting process of right employee for WHIRLPOOL.
3. Behaviour – All employees have to behave properly towards each other so that there is
proper coordination and cooperation can be maintained in the departments. This results in
efficient functioning of all activities and tasks. Behaviour required from HR professional
are ethics, confidentiality, transparency, adaptability, and purpose oriented. An
organization always want appropriate behaviour from HR professionals so that they can
set example for other employees. Behaviour of them affects behaviour of all employees
working in WHIRLPOOL (Bolman and Deal, 2017).
P2 Evaluate the personal skills and develop a professional plan
HR professionals always motivate employees so that they can perform efficiently and
effectively (Online key behavior, 2017). They organize training and development seminars so
that all staff members can develop their skills, abilities and knowledge to achieve their goals and
targets (Decuyper, Dochy and Van den Bossche, 2011). Analysis of skills, knowledge and
behaviour along with ratings are as follows:
Requirements Personal
audit(rating
scale: 0-10)
GAP Remedial
action/Strategy
Deadlines for
remedial action
Skills:
-communication
-problem solving
skills
-leadership -
expertise
8
9
7
5
I need to improve
leadership skills,
expertise and
conflict
management
skills
By observing
seniors, reading
books and
applying theories
into practical
scenario
On going

-negotiation
-conflict
management skills
8
6
Knowledge:
-knowledge of
contract law -
training and
development
techniques
-project
management
-talent
management
9
7
8
7
Need to
familiarise myself
with training and
development
techniques, talent
management
By attending
various seminars,
sessions,
workshops on
training and
development
1 Month
Behaviour:
-ethics -
confidentiality -
transparency -
adaptability
-purpose oriented
10
6
8
9
7
Need to improve
focus on purpose
and
confidentiality
law
By reading books,
taking advice
from others and
then implement
changes in self
behaviour
On going
1 week
Self SWOT analysis:
 Strength
1. Good communication skills – I can interact with all employees efficiently and effectively.
This helps me in solving all problems and grievances of staff members.
2. Dedication – I can do the work with full dedication and passion. This helps me to
complete all my activities and tasks in proper time.
 Weakness -

1. Leadership skills - I have low management skills which is required by HR manager in
the organisation for doing work in better manner. As well as leadership skills is my
weakness and I can’t manage group or team in better manner.
2. Conflict management - Sometimes I am not able to resolve conflict between peoples in
better manner this is my major weakness (Hitt and. et. al, 2011).
 Opportunities
1. Promotion - Due to good communication skills I can interact with employees easily
without hesitation. Thus staff members works efficiently and effectively.
2. Incentives - There is good performance of organization due to efficient functioning of
departments and other activities. So organization can give more incentives and bonus to
HR.
 Threats
1. Competitive activities – Due to competitive firm's performance HR manager cannot make
the plans and policies accordingly.
2. Environmental changes - I cannot adopt the changes in the environment. So this reduces
the productivity of firm (Morgeson, DeRue,and Karam, 2011).
D1 Career development plan to set the learning goals
Below mentioned is the professional development plan -
S. No. Learning
target
Present
Proficiency
Target
Proficiency
Development
Opportunities
Judging Time
1 Efficiently
and
effective
work
HR manager
took lot of
tension and
stress
Evaluate
methods to
remain cool
in every
situation
Through
relaxing and
refreshing
mind between
work I can
manage all
things in an
efficient
manner thus
Through
Online
tests
60 weeks

leads to
productivity
2 Should have
knowledge
of recent
technologies
I cannot
adopt the
changes.
I have to
take
knowledge
of recent
changes
through
different
sources
Through
adopting
these changes
organization,
I can perform
well and it
can give
strong
competition
to other firms
Through
question
and
answer
session
40 weeks
M1 Detailed description of professional skills that presents personal reflection
There are different professional skills through which HR can develop herself. They can develop
the skills, knowledge so that they can recruit and manage qualified staff members. HR have to
give training to workers so that their enthusiasm and energy level increases to work better.
Through this there is increase in productivity of firm (Obiwuru and et. al, 2011). Various
strengths and weaknesses of HR of Whirlpool are described below-
 Strengths
1. Good communication skills - HR manager must have good communication skills because
for managing organisation and employees within Whirlpool there is requirement of
proper communication skills in Human Resource manager which I have. HR can easily
communicate with all the employees. They can solve all problems and disputes of
workers. Staff members can work with more concentration. Through this they can
achieve their goals and employees give good results. Thus it improves their performance
in the long run.

2. Dedication – This is the strength which require for solving issues within company and to
do work in better manner.
Weakness –
 Stressful and irritated - Due to more work I cannot remain cool in every situation and
took lot of tension. So, I cannot manage all the activities and tasks properly. I should
have to solve these issues because human resource manager must be patient.
 Low confidence - Sometimes I am less confident in doing a particular work. Due to it I
cannot supervise all staff members properly which reduces the productivity (Penuel and
et. al, 2011).
P3 Comparison between individual and organization learning, training and development
Individual learning: These all are done to increase the abilities and skills of employees so
that they can perform better. This refers to a process which is based on autonomous study. Study
can be of books, newspapers, novels etc.
Organizational learning: Organization learning is a process of sharing knowledge
between the firm. It can improve itself through time (Salas and et. Al, 2012). While Individual
learning is through experience and life. This can be done at any age.
Training and development: Training and development programmes are developed by the
Whirlpool. It is to give motivate and encourage employees. They use two type of training
methods on the job and off the job. On job includes training on actual fields and through it
workers can get practical exposure in the their jobs such as rotation,coaching etc. Off the job
includes process where they do not get practical training. It includes the conferences, lectures
and case study.
Comparison of individual and organization learning of Whirlpool are described as below-
Individual learning Organization Learning
It can be done through practical knowledge and
experience.
It helps in sharing knowledge among the firm
Through tough tasks and challenges, defeats
individuals properly.
Firm can enhance its performance through
experience and time.

Individuals take recent technologies and learns
different. They work with full dedication and
passion.
In this organization learns through learning
curve.
Individuals can take decision to share the data
with other employees or not.
Organization have to share the information so
that all employees can get knowledge and they
can perform the work efficiently and
effectively. Thus workers can give good results
and it increases the profits of company.
Difference between training and development
Training Development
 Training is provided in the organisation
for doing work on particular task.
 Training provided to employees is only
beneficial for the development of
organisation.
 Development is related to improvement
of individual personality.
 Development is beneficial for
individual along with company.
M2 Evaluate learning theory to analyse the importance of professional development
Effective learning is seen when a person progress through the cycle of four stages:
Concrete Experience - a new experience or situation is encounter or a reinterpretation of existing
experience.
Reflective observation- Of particular importance are any inconsistencies between experience and
understanding.
Abstract Conceptualization- Reflection give rise to a new idea, modification of an existing
abstract concept.
Active experimentation- the learner applies them to the world around them to see what results.
P4. Need for continuous learning and professional development
Continuous professional development is important in every organization as the market is
changing rapidly. WHIRLPOOL has to innovate and transform the products according to the

environmental changes. It has to take new technologies which can make unique items. Company
needs to make new plans and policies so that all functions can perform well. Training and
development seminars and workshop are organized to motivate the employees as well as for
continuous learning.
Learning theories that can be applied in any organization are:
Kolb's Learning Cycle: In this theory, emphasis is on learning from experiences through
positive and negative reinforcement, punishment as well as reward system. These are acquired
by external environment. Stages in this cycle are experience, reflect, conceptualize, and plan.
Honey and Mumford and Lewin: This theory is developed by Peter Honey and Alan
Mumford and Curt Lewin. Name of this learning style is 4MAT. According to this, needs of
learner's changes in learning cycle. Elements involved perceive, processing, experimenting,
engaging, informing and applying. These learning’s are based on own knowledge, understanding
and experiences.
Professional development theoretical perspectives: Aim of professional development is to alter
behavioural component, attitudinal component, and intellectual component. This is performed to
bring desired changes in professional behaviour.
Continuous professional development is important for individual and organisation both
because throw this particular person can gain better future opportunities in the business
environment. Whereas, company gain employees with better knowledge and skills which help
them in doing day to day business activities in better manner as well as in generating more and
more revenue.
D1. Detailed professional development plan to achieve the objectives
Professional development plan is developed in the organization. It involves five steps
which helps in development of individuals so they can attain business performance objectives.
Firstly it involves active experimentation which means employees can make plans to learn new
communication skills so that they can interact with each other and it reduces the conflicts.
Secondly concrete experience is gained for getting a experience when employee work in a
particular direction so they can attain business performance objectives. The third step is

reflective observation where learnt knowledge and experience is used at the time of doing the
task. Learning will be concluded when business objectives are attained the end.
TASK 3
P5 High performance working contribute employee engagement and competitive advantage
This include that it is important to render proper, healthy and comfortable environment of
working to manpower of an organisation so that they can work more effectively and efficiently
to attain goals or missions of company. The firms have to provide several opportunities of
learning to employees for enhancing their abilities or skills as well as conduct meetings to share
creative or innovative ideas, views or opinions which may be implement in future to facilitates
better outputs and productivity (Ford, 2014). The WHIRLPOOL need to provide certain rewards
or bonus to workers for their excellent performance in critical situations so that they feel
valuable and motivated to work more effectively or generate a thought that not to leave the
organisation. Competitive advantage refers to ability of WHIRLPOOL to manufacture goods and
services in more effective manner as compared to competitors. As it increases, value of firm and
of shareholders also increases. Thus, HPW helps in achieving economies of scale so that
probability can increase. HPW drive workforce to become more focussed and develops interest
in work to achieve economies of scale.
High performance working is indirectly related to competitive advantage in a manner that
if employees will give their best to company then company will also give reward to them. Then it
will automatically leads to reduction in employee turnover ratio. In this way, employees will
remain loyal to WHIRLPOOL and also company can create pool of better professionals. If
expertise will be in hand of WHIRLPOOL, then resultantly it would give competitive advantage.
The organisation have to take following steps for employee participation:4. Rewards and bonus: the firm have to provide several kind of rewards and bonus for
motivating workers to enhance their working efficiency because they know that their
performance will be directly proportional to compensation.5. Clarity of goals: It should be clearly defined about missions and objectives to staff
members which facilitates the efforts of employees in correct direction to attain targets