Report: Self-Managed Learning and Professional Development at M&S

This report focuses on personal and professional development within the context of Marks & Spencer (M&S), emphasizing self-managed learning. The introduction highlights the importance of continuous employee development through training and skill enhancement to improve organizational efficiency and effectiveness. Task 1 explores self-managed learning approaches, including visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learning styles, and their application. It then details strategies for lifelong personal and professional development, such as self-learning, teaching others, and following intuition. Task 2 is converted to a PPT. Task 3 outlines the implementation of a development plan, including activities to improve time management, presentation skills, and technological proficiency. The report discusses the processes, activities, and benefits of self-managed learning, aiming to enhance employee skills, achieve well-defined objectives, and foster self-reflection. The conclusion summarizes the key findings and recommendations for fostering a culture of continuous learning within the organization, ultimately improving productivity and profitability.

PERSONAL
PROFESSIONAL
DEVELOPMENT

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
1.1 Explanation on the approaches of self-managed learning................................................1
1.2 Explanation on strategy in regard to have life long personal and professionals..............3
1.3 Description on the benefits of the self-managed learning to the individual in the
organisation............................................................................................................................4
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................5
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................5
3.1 Description on the process and activities which are required to implement the
development plan. ..................................................................................................................5
3.2 review of own learning against original aim....................................................................7
3.3 Development of planed actives as per the organisation...................................................8
3.4 Critical review on learning aim and objective..................................................................9
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................9
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................10

INTRODUCTION
The term personal and professional development is also known as continues development
of an employee in terms of his skill and training. With the help of personal development an
organisation can lead towards professional development. In the corporation individuals comes
from different background every one have their own style of working so they perform their
activities in different manner. It is essential to provide good quality of training and knowledge so
they can complete their work in the excellent manner. It is very helpful in bringing effectiveness
and efficiency in the organisation (Boykoff, Moieni and Subramanian, 2009). Business enterprise
can lead to success by improving the skill, quality of work, ability to perform task and
knowledge of the employees. In this report it has been addressed to improvise the working
strategy of the organisation named Marks and Spencer's so with changes in employees quality of
performance. For an employee it is important to have self-managed learning so he can able to
solve the work based problem. Effective knowledge brings efficient performance of workers.
TASK 1
1.1 Explanation on the approaches of self-managed learning.
According to the present scenario every organisation have some objectives and to achieve
this employee have to perform task in coordination with one another. It can be possible if they
provide good and equitable learning style. Self-managed learning works as enhancing the life
long development of the firm. To have competitive advantage in the business enterprise there
should be requirement of skilled and talented employees. This report has been addressed on the
firm named Mark and Spencer. It has the world largest retail store. They are taking various
efforts in the terms of improvement in their performance level so they can add maximum
productivity and profitability in the organisation. The main aim of the business enterprise is to
have market share. Effective employee can easily attract he customer with their behaviour and
knowledge about the product and service (Caldwell and et.al., 2007). On the basis of this I
needed to improve my skill and knowledge so I can gather the attraction of various customer. For
improving working efficiency it is necessary to develop my personality and professionalism.
There are some approaches to self-managed learning style are as- Visual- The term visual learning style means to be associated the whole task as per the
graphs, images and diagram. It is very helpful in the process of performing roles and
responsibilities as being marketing manager. The activities in the business enterprise can
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be performed on the use of images, pictures, colours and mind maps etc. The persona can
easily under the need of the market. This practical approach helps in assisting the visual
presentation, effective communication etc. Auditory- According to this learning style individual can improvise ability to perform
task in skill manner and their capabilities of completion of work. It can be done by use of
various things like sound, listening and speak. It is very helpful in improving the
communication and learning skill. The Mark & Spencer take various steps in developing
this skill so they can work as attracting the more number of person (Collins, 2008). In
other words this term refer as to listen the work by keep watching the performance of
employees.
 Kinesthetic- According to this learning style an individual can develop his working style
on the basis of activities like dancing. Jewellery making art, drawing, writing and
singing, it is very helpful and interesting one. Being marketing manager this learning
style is very essential in improvement in developing the communication, presentation and
ability to convince. The goal of the organisation can be achieve with the help of this
learning style.
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Illustration 1: Approaches to self-managed leaning
(source:Crossley and Vivekananda-Schmidt, 2009)
1.2 Explanation on strategy in regard to have life long personal and professionals.
In the organisation named Mark & Spencer the whole productivity and profitability of the
firm depends on the maximum sale of product and service like clothing, food product etc. self-
managed learning style help in enhancing the lifelong benefit to the firm. With the help of
lifelong learning style an individual can never forget the kind of knowledge he has actually
gained. In order to achieve the organisational objective one need to improvise personal and
professionalism. An effective and excellent way of working in the business enterprise helps in
having maximum contribution to the firm. At each level in the organisation learning should be
done because it helps in making self evaluation (Creek and Lougher, 2011). It leads to achieve
the impressive outcome in the life. With the help of effective learning style business enterprise
can easily attain it desired objective. It is necessary to improve personality and professionalism
as being marketing manager. There are some approaches and strategy on the basis of which life
long learning can be improved are as follows-
Self learning- The self learning is important. It is one of the important method in order to
improve the personality and professionalism in the business enterprise. A person can also
develop its skill, ability to perform task and his knowledge by himself. He has to keep watching
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the organisational activities so he can catch the performance style of other workers. He has to be
done his activity in the actively manner. If self learning process has developed one time in the
individual then it will be forever in him or her. It is never ending style it has to perform at each
level in the firm so that work can be perform in excellent manner. It is one of the best way to
improvise the working performance and developing the personality of an individual.
Teach other- this term refer as sharing one knowledge to another, it can be done with the
process of teach and coach. It is one of the effective formula in order to keep watching one
another activities in the business enterprise. An individual can learn in better way while he is
transferring his knowledge to another (Forsetlund and et.al., 2009). The idea sharing can help in
bringing effective methods of performing task. It also helps in improvising the communication
with one another. Skill and knowledge of a person can be improvise by use of teaching to other
people.
Follow intuition- Self intuition means to make self decision or to choose the right one
among various alternatives. The person has several thoughts at a time on the basis of which he
has to analyse the whole surroundings. On the basis of own beliefs, thoughts and ideas individual
can observe and make analyse the surrounding environment and improvise its skill, ability and
capability in their life.
1.3 Description on the benefits of the self-managed learning to the individual in the organisation.
It is very helpful on the basis of making evaluation in the work performance of the
employees. It is the process by which individual can learn the new skill and its practical
approach gets higher. It helps in bringing new skills, ability in the employee and lead success to
the organisation. It is very essential task with the aim of improving the overall performance of
business enterprise. The major benefit of self learning is to analyse the current business
environment so the need of the organisation can be understood well. Following are some
advantages which can be taken as advantage of the self-managed learning in the Mark &
Spencer. Enhance the skill and ability of an individual- This is the major advantage in the terms
of the increasing the quality and skill of an individual helps in bringing the new talent in
the organisation. It is very helpful in making creative process (Kamel Boulos and
Wheeler, 2007). Once the skill and knowledge has developed in the individual then it
always leads to done activities in good manner. So it can be said that it is the important
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function in the business enterprise. During the training period of an employee he is
undergoing from various activities therefore what they learn can never forget in their life. Well defined objective- with the effective training and qualified skills an individual can
set his target as per the completion of task on time. He has developed that potential by
self-managed learning that push them achieve desire goal in the life. It works as
enhancing the skill, ability, talent and knowledge by which business enterprise can earn
maximum productivity and profitability.
 Self reflection- In this individual can improve its own working performance in the
organisation. With the help of his self managed learning person can know its own
working efficiency and can measure his performance with others (Kingma, 2007). By
evaluation self working strategy an individual can contribute maximum to the business
enterprise. In addition to this person can know his strength, weakness and working
efficiency by the use of self learning method.
TASK 2
Converted in ppt.
TASK 3
3.1 Description on the process and activities which are required to implement the development
plan.
It is essential to improve the productivity and profitability of the firm. For improving
such activities there should be identification of the weakness so that I can be the good manager
in the organisation and can perform the activity in well defined manner. There are the following
activities which is required to be done in order to implement the effective development plan-
Objective Process and activities
To enhance time management skill The time management skill should be effective
in order to maximise firm productivity and
profitability. Whole business enterprise work
should be done on given time. The
management skill helps to completion of
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multiple task on time basis. With the
effectiveness in the working an employee can
able to improve my time management skill
significantly (Kumagai and Lypson, 2009).
The activities of the organisation is performed
within the stipulated period than it cab be able
to achieve the great success to the organisation.
The main object of every organisation is need
to be the deal with the organisation activities
within the framework of time management
skill.
To improve presentation skill The lack of confidence is the major drawback
to the organisation. I was not able to give the
presentation in the effectively manner. This
process helps as developing the time
management skill by motivation so the
organisation activities can be done in well
accordingly manner. The work should be
schedules so the task can be complete in the
given framework (Kingma, 2007). The small
initiative as boosting the morale and build up
the whole information in front of mass public.
The presentation skill of an individual should
be confident enough to add strong brand image
of the business enterprise.
To develop technological skill Due to the poor technical skill the work get
delayed. Lack of technical skill leads to
decrease the productivity as well profitability
of the firm. To develop the technical skill one
have to read some internet skill on latest
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software. This will help as improving the
knowledge and skill. By improving the skill
company can develop the technological skill
(Kumagai, and Lypson 2009). This function
brings the new method to perform the task
which is essential for the business growth.
3.2 review of own learning against original aim.
Objective of an organisation is achieved through coordination of employees in an entity.
Many company set its goal in the starting of the year then they work for the whole year to
achieve target of an enterprise. It secures its aim by two ways of learning:
Personal Development: It includes training which are provided to employees to enhance
their skills as a result they work more efficiently and achieve its target. It also affects the
corporate performance, improve behaviours etc. It also helps in staff promotion, in which
planning is done for the assessment of individual on the basis of their performance which helps
in identification of future leaders. Aim of a company relates to one group of individual who are
working for mutual benefits when an entity grows and develops it directly impacts employees in
positive manner.
Time Management: It is essential to develop particular strategies to manage time as it
plays a very important role to be successful. It includes setting the goals of an entity then
breaking it in parts, reviewing performance from time to time. It assists in giving priority to
urgent work, make schedule. There are other ways to manage time to achieve aim of company. It
involves eliminate those activities which distracts to deviate from its aim (Mc Kee and Eraut
2012). It is necessary to take breaks at regular interval which relax mind of employees to
concentrate on their work in order to achieve target. Manager face increasing responsibilities and
short deadlines in such situation time management plays an important role. Various kinds of
training and seminars are provided to manage time and face challenges efficiently. It reduces
fear, anxiety etc.
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3.3 Development of planed actives as per the organisation.
Marks and Spencer focuses on personal development plan of its employees as it is a
technique which helps in overcoming the weakness and helps in improving skills. The main
motive behind personal development of employees is to improve their presentation skills
(Xyrichis and Lowton, 2008). The firm has organised the seminars which will help in developing
employees skills and knowledge. Besides, it is organised by the company as theses development
in personality of employees help them in increasing work efficiency and training of staff member
improve effectiveness in their work.
In contrast, M&S used this tool to improve time management of its workers when it
comes to multitasking. Further the company has analysed that seminars and training helped the
employees in managing time according to their work. The firm organise these type of seminars
and training session on regular basis as it helps them in development and to encourage them to
adjust with team members (Pedler, 2011). The technique of personal development also helped
the firm in conflict management, as employees interact with each other and build their friendly
relation. Hence, management of time among employees has increased the productivity of the
retail company.
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Illustration 2: Time management
(source:Payne, M., 2007)

3.4 Critical review on learning aim and objective.
Personal development is a method to improve employees communication skills and work
efficiency at work place. Personal enhancement aims at developing skills which are as follows:
Technological Skills: For improving this the company focuses on effective training and
development program which aims at enhancing technological skills. Hence, for this the company
needs technological experts and advanced technological equipments.
Presentation Skills: The firm organises seminars and training development programs and classes
to enhance the working skills and knowledge of staff members (Schaufeli, Leiter and Maslach,
2009). Hence, for this the organisation needs qualified people to guide the workers.
Time management skills: Marks and Spencer aims at improving time management of workers
by self assessment and self leaning programs. Moreover, training and session also helps them in
assisting and improving management skills. Hence, for this the firm requires high quality and
innovated computer systems, timer, notepad, projectors and timer watch.
Henceforth, the personal development of firm also aims at improving the communication
skills of employees, so that it can help them in interacting with experts and qualified people
related with the company (Ruch, 2007). Personal development of the company is to make staff
members efficient enough to take part in the decision making process of Marks and Spencer.
CONCLUSION
From this report it has been concluded that whole the activities of the organisation is
totally dependent on the development of personal and professional. It is a great tool which
develop the weakness and improve skill of sun personal. It refers as developing the skill, ability
to perform the task of the business enterprise. Once the individual learn the skill and ability to
perform the task in the organisation tan he will never forget such kind of knowledge in his life.
With the help of this development individual as well corporation can improve its performance so
that organisation can earn maximum amount of productivity and profitability.
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