Analyzing Professional Identity and Practices at Thomas Cook Group

This report examines professional identity and practices within the Thomas Cook Group, a UK-based travel and tourism company. It explores the significance of ongoing professional development (CPD) for stakeholders, detailing its merits such as increased efficiency, staff encouragement, and confidence building. The report identifies essential skills and competencies sought by employers, including willingness to learn, problem-solving abilities, and positive behavior. It assesses skills and competencies for a Marketing Manager role, critiques learning theories like behaviorism, cognitive, and social learning, and proposes a development plan to address identified skill gaps. Additionally, the report includes an analysis of a job interview process, highlighting its strengths and weaknesses to provide insights into recruitment practices.

Professional Identity
and Practices

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
CPD for stakeholder groups along with merits............................................................................1
Skill and competency wanted by owner......................................................................................2
Significance of CPD....................................................................................................................3
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................3
Assessment of skill, ability and competency for the designation of Marketing Manager...........3
Critique of learning theories associated with professional and personal enhancement...............4
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................5
Development plan........................................................................................................................5
TASK 4............................................................................................................................................7
Job interview for Thomas cook group.........................................................................................7
Strength and weakness of interview process...............................................................................7
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................8
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................9

INTRODUCTION
Professional can be said to be an individual who is working independently by making us
of one’s competencies, knowledge base and skills in an appropriate manner with an aim to
enhance the organisational productivity. Professional identity is defined as the person with a
special identity who possesses distinct attributes, experiences, beliefs and values to stand within
a society. The present report has been conducted upon Thomas Cook Group to comprehend the
significance of professional identity and practice. TCG is a travel and tourism company engaged
in provision of holiday and tour packages to clients in the confines of United Kingdom. The
main purpose of assignment is to acknowledge the requirements of professionals within a
company and their significance in development of business plan. The report consists of
significance and merits of ongoing professional development, together with required traits within
a professional. Further, a development plan along with job interview for a specified job role is
also included.
TASK 1
CPD for stakeholder groups along with merits
Company Overview:
Thomas Cook is a UK based international travelling company that provides tourism as
well as airline services to its customers. The company was incorporated in the year 2007. The
company was also listed in London stock exchange which clearly shows that it is quite different
from other businesses belonging to the same industry. Top management team of Thomas Cook
mainly hire employees who well educated and owes attractive experience of same industry.
Effective selection of employees helps them in enhancing customers experience as they are
getting services according to their requirements.
Benefits from ongoing professional development
Ongoing professional development session at workplace helps employees in improving
their skills and knowledge. In order to enhance performance of employees, Thomas Cook
conducts continuous based professional development session which provides huge benefits to
them. Some of the core benefits of continuous based professional development are described
below:
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It helps to increase efficiency: The main benefit of professional development is that it
improves efficiency of employees as they are well skilled and knowledgeable now. This high
knowledge allows them to work in more effective manner that improves productivity as well
profitability of company.
Encourage staff: Ongoing professional development helps employees of Thomas Cook
in understanding new ways with which maximum number of opportunities can be gained by
them. This ultimately encourages them. As a result, they work with more energy and enthusiasm
for attaining their targeted goals and objectives.
Develop confidence: Regular training inflates the confidence level of personnel as they
get training for work through which their performance can be improved. In context to Thomas
Cook, it can be said that managers of this company provides ongoing professional development
training to its employees so that they can take confidently handle various situation which occurs
during their working time. Along with this, with high confidence employees also takes right and
quick decisions that suits to the situation more appropriately.
Aids while undertaking risks: Ongoing professional development training sessions also
ensures Manager of Thomas cook that risk is the part of professional life. These training sessions
motivates managers to take risk in their career at the time of taking professional decisions for the
purpose of attaining business success. These decisions also help company in improving its
profitability.
All of the above stated are the main benefits that are gained by stakeholders of business
organisations by conducting ongoing professional development training sessions in their
company at regular basis.
Skill and competency wanted by owner
The first and foremost aid of business organisation is to enhance their business for the
purpose of increasing its profitability. For this, manager of Thomas Cook focuses on hiring
skilled employees who owes capability of satisfying customer’s needs in such a manner which
influences their interest to stay loyal to the same company for longer period of time. It has been
seen that main services which are performed by employees in tourism industry includes
amenities, food services, room services and room cleaning. It can be said that manager of this
company expects certain things from hired employees so that number of customers for the same
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company can be increased. Some of the core skills and competencies expected by employer of
Thomas Cook from employees are described as below:
Willingness to learn: The first expectation of the employer of Thomas Cook is that it
wants their employees to be ready for learning new things at their own will. The manager of this
company conducts certain training session and expects that its employees willing participate in
the same for enhancing their knowledge so that their performance can be improved.
Capability to solve problems: At next, employer of Thomas Cook also expects that
hired employee’s should be capable of solving problems at their own level without getting
confused. This capability of employees will directly contribute in developing positive working
environment where employees collaboratively work with each other in effective manner.
Affirmative and good behaviour: It is another core expectation of employer of Thomas
Cook that its hired employees are having positive behaviour. This will ensure that employees
will behave effectively with one another and will not fight on unnecessary reason. As a result,
with fewer conflicts at workplace employees will be able to focus on their work. This will
ultimately improve their productivity as well as profitability.
Significance of CPD
Ongoing professional development is seen as the most effective practice which helps
business organisations in improving their overall performance and enhancing their profitability
in effective manner. This is because; it allows employees in developing their skills and
knowledge time to time according to the requirement of their job role. These training sessions
not only improve their performance but also provide capability to employees with which they
can take effective decision at work place that leads to business success. In context of Thomas
Cook, it can be said that ongoing professional development will also improves sustainability of
company at marketplace.
TASK 2
Assessment of skill, ability and competency for the designation of Marketing Manager
This is important for business persons to have knowledge about their skills and knowledge
which are owned by them and also helps them in performing their work and resolving issues in
appropriate manner. Skills are seen as the positive quality of individual or employee which helps
them in executing their business activities in effective manner. Skills are also required by an
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individual so that they learn new things in positive and quick manner. On the other hand,
competency shows whether an employee is capable of performing business activity in specific
period of time or not. In context of Thomas Cook, it can be said that its manager focuses on
analysing their own skills and competencies so that problems at workplace can be resolved by
them in effective manner. Here, it has been analysed that for the specific job role of marketing
manager in the Thomas Cook, the applicants are required to owe certain skills and competencies
so that their job responsibilities can be executed by them in effective manner. In order to
understand the effectiveness of the applied person, manager of the company have conducted a
skill audit in order to check out that whether the applicant is suitable for the company or not.
Skill audit is seen as the tool which aware individual about their strengths and weaknesses. Skill
audit of applicant for the job role of Marketing Manager is stated as below:-
No. Skills and competency which is
required in organisation
Scores Scores obtained from
other people
1. Communication skills (listening
and speaking )
8 9
2. Able to make successful plan,
organise and give prioritise job
7 7
3. Competent to attract the customers
and tourists
8 6
4. Problem solving skills and taking
corrective decision.
8 8
5. Interpersonal skills 7 9
Critique of learning theories associated with professional and personal enhancement
The manager of the chosen organisation that is Thomas cook uses different learning
theories and approaches with all staff of develop their learning and could also handle business
issues in effective manner. The main benefits of these theories and approaches are that it
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contributes in the improvement of productivity as well as profitability in rapid manner. Some of
the main learning theories and approaches are stated as below:-
Behaviourism: The approach states that changes attract new behaviour of individual or
employees. This means that whenever new behaviour takes place in then changes are ultimately
developed at workplace. In context to Thomas Cook, it can be said that the company is focusing
on bringing new technology for influencing interest of customers toward the company.
Therefore, in order to understand and use this technology employee of the company focuses on
using behaviour approach so that its related challenges could be accepted by them in positive
manner.
Cognitive: Cognitive theory represents that individuals can learn effectively by reading
mind of the learner. This means learning can be done effectively by understanding actual state of
mind of learner. With reference to Thomas cook, it can be said that its employees can effectively
learn by reading mind of their manager that in actuality what they are planning to teach them. It
makes employees learn at their own level by reading mind of others. As a result, they learn more
quickly.
Social learning: Social learning approach clearly states that individual can effectively
learn by observing others. In context of Thomas Cook, it can be said that employees of the
company observes working practices of manager. These employees learn from the mistakes of
manager makes employees learn about their impact. With this observance, employees will able
to decide that business practices are required to avoid by them in order to perform their work in
effective manner. As a result, they will be able to take more accurate and effective decision for
the company.
On the basis of above stated learning theories, it has been analysed that behaviourism and
social learning approaches is best suitable for Thomas Cook. This is because; with the usage of
these theories employees will be able to take right decisions in critique situations for accepting
the requirement of new technology.
TASK 3
Development plan
This can be referred to as the process through which business organisation aims to grow
by solving the issues and executing expansion of corporate activities. The manager of a company
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develops this plan in order to adequately carry out planning. The manager within Thomas Cook
renders T&D sessions for staff which assists in reduction of conflicts by making use of advanced
knowledge base. Thomas Cook Group has devised a development plan that seeks to solve the
problems by making use of certain skills-
Skills Measurable Activities need to be
undertaken
Resources Attainable
goals
Time
period
Willingness to
learn
It can be
measure with
past
performance of
organisation
that specify
needs of
training.
The manager of
Thomas cook group
should provide
training to employees
who wanted to learn
new things and will
help to solve the
conflicts among staff
by getting training.
The company has
adequate
quantum of
skilled as well as
experienced
personnel who
help to determine
how to solve the
conflicts and
teach new things.
By providing
training
employees can
take effective
business
decision that
will help to
expand the
business
functions.
Moreover, it
assists in
inflating the
knowledge
base as well as
and skill set of
personnel.
3 Months
Capability to
solve
problems
The manager
measures the
problems and
identifies the
reasons behind
them.
The corporation
needs to make
planning by
concerning with all
staff that helps to
solve problems which
are arising in business
As employer has
high skills and
competency to
solve the business
problems. It
should provide
guidance to
The manager
need to record
the
performance of
employees that
how they tackle
the critical
15 days
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functions. For this
there is also need to
have proper
communication
among employer and
employees.
employee how to
solve the
problems.
situation that
leads to solve
the problems.
Affirmative
and good
behaviour
Good behaviour
will help to
retain the
employees for
long period of
time.
This is required skill
that seeks to enhance
the quantum of clients
with the usage of
affirmative behaviour.
Need to provide
enough training
and make
improvements in
behaviours.
Regular
basis
TASK 4
Job interview for Thomas cook group
At the time of applying for job role within Thomas Cook, I acknowledged that I
possessed some essential skills and competencies that would aid me to execute the roles and
responsibilities associated with my position. I was asked a number of questions by the Process
Manager in interview, all associated with my professional experience and job role. The
interviewer as well as manager got impressed with my knowledge base. During the interview, I
also analysed that the internship assisted me in grabbing this opportunities as opposed to a large
number of potential candidates. As per my views, an individual should have adequate knowledge
and skills associated with the applied job profile. As soon as I got information about vacancy in
Thomas Cook, I began my preparations for interview and gained comprehensive knowledge of
the applied job role. This assisted me in availing this job opportunity so as to give an escalation
to my career. By appropriately responding to all the questions, I got selected for the post of
Marketing Manager and further received recognition for my broad knowledge.
Strength and weakness of interview process
In context of the interview process, it has been analysed that I possessed the following
strengths and weaknesses:-
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Strength: I analysed that the process of interview provided me assistance in enhancing
my skills as well as knowledge base as they form the key to attain success in any field of work.
Also, it was acknowledged that I smartly replied to all the questions and queries rose in front of
me which impressed the interviewer. The whole procedure gave me a lifetime experience. I also
felt that the training gained by me assisted me in clearing the interview quickly and feasibly.
Weakness: I acknowledged that lack of general knowledge and mathematical skills were
the aspects that acted against me in the interview process. Also, I noticed that I was under-
confident and in a state of panic at start but got comfortable with the passage of time as my
knowledge helped me in gaining confidence.
CONCLUSION
On the basis of above described report, it has been identified that professional
development is essential for individual as well as company in order to become successful.
Ongoing professional development helps an individual in improving their knowledge, skills and
competencies. In addition to this, usage of learning theory also business organisation in
providing effective training and development education to related person. Also, it has been
analysed that interview method helps company in finding out best suitable employees for their
vacant job position. Further, it has been acknowledged that within each and every company,
professional persons are hired with a view to gain comprehensive knowledge of the changes as
well as to accept the challenges that pave way to enhance corporate profits.
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REFERENCES
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Online
Key benefits of ongoing professional development. 2019. [Online]. Available
Through<https://www.kaplanfinancial.com/resources/pdc/5-benefits-of-professional-
development/>.
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