Reflection Report: Professional Development and Management

This report is a reflection on a retail shop worker's experiences, focusing on key areas such as professional development and training, the concept of 'beyond budgeting,' management theories and practices, and leadership theories and practices. The report begins with an introduction to the importance of reflection in personal and professional growth. Task 1 delves into professional development, differentiating it from training and evaluating performance management systems. It then explores 'beyond budgeting' as an alternative to traditional budgeting. The report continues to discuss management practices, emphasizing the importance of employee engagement and adapting to market changes. Finally, it examines leadership theories, contrasting leadership and management, and highlighting current trends like participative and situational leadership. The report concludes by summarizing the importance of training, budgeting, and effective leadership and management in an organizational context.

Reflection

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK ..............................................................................................................................................1
Topic-1 Professional development and training.........................................................................1
Topic 2- Beyond Budgeting........................................................................................................3
Topic-3 Management Theories and Practice...............................................................................4
Topic-4 Leadership Theories and Practice..................................................................................5
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................5
REFERENCES ...............................................................................................................................6

INTRODUCTION
Reflection is known to be most influential tool when it comes to learning on the grounds of
personal and professional development. It is quite useful for people who are acquainted with this
concept and are known to apply reflection of their experience for enhancement of their skill and
knowledge. In this report, I will reflect upon my experience as a retail shop worker and focus on
segments such as professional development, beyond budgeting, management and leadership
theories and practices.
TASK
Topic-1 Professional development and training
Professional development is referred to a system in which focuses on enhancement of
knowledge and skills which are to be attained by the executives working with an organisation.
Whereas training only focuses on the areas which are essential for completion of task in an
improved manner 1. The evaluation of the training and development measures are carried out
with the help of performance management and reviewal system. They are known to define goals
which are to be achieved by employees working in an organisation. This approach is known to
be more transparent and automated which results in portraying actual performance generated by
employees. The concept of performance management system came into light in the year 1950,
known by the name of employee service records. But the drawback which has been encountered
is that only covered the performance aspect which could be fulfilled by training. Later on, therer
is a need to form a system that is able to cover holistic aspects of performance by focusing on
planning, reviewing and considering developmental aspects. The evolution of performance
management system can be identified in recent times as well, there is now multiple sources from
which feedback is obtained so that every aspect of employee development and performance
could be undertaken2. The commonly preferred tool at present is 360 degree appraisal. The
performance management is exposed to numerous problem such as there is an lack of credibility
1 Costen, Wanda M., and John Salazar. "The impact of training and development on
employee job satisfaction, loyalty, and intent to stay in the lodging industry." Journal of
Human Resources in Hospitality & Tourism 10, no. 3 (2011): 273-284.
2 Niazi, Brig Retd Abdus Sattar. "Training and development strategy and its role in
organizational performance." Journal of Public Administration and Governance 1, no. 2
(2011): 42-57.
1

for the supervisor which tend to affect this system. Unclear strategy and goals tend to create
major challenges for this system which are to be countered.
2

Topic 2- Beyond Budgeting
Budget is refers to a plan which is created by an individual which defines manner in
which financial resources are utilised. It is a crucial tool of planning as it determines whether an
individual possess adequate finances to fulfil his personal and professional requirement 3. The
reason for which budgeting stands important that it ensures a right balance between income and
expenses incurred by a person. It has been identified that budgeting influences decision making
to a great extent with the elimination of emotionalism, formulation of targets and most
importantly provision of balance between activities. It has become very important to
revolutionise budgeting process and move over traditional budgeting as it has been exposed to
numerous challenges. The major issues which has been encountered is that traditional budgeting
consumes too much time and energy and mostly ends being unresponsive to rapid changes in the
business environment. There is a great emphasis by managers in fitting the right numbers that
they lose sight of the strategic objectives which have been formed by the company. The market
today is uncertain and there is a needs for budgeting approach which is flexible and can be
adjusted as per the requirements. Participative budgeting, as the name suggests involves
members of the organisation which are influenced by the budget are involved in the decision
making process. There various issues which have surrounding this approach is that this approach
is complex and time consuming due to presence of numerous internal and external stakeholders.
Integration and further fulfilment of their demands emerges as a major challenge for the
administration.
3 Kelly, Janet M., and William C. Rivenbark. Performance budgeting for state and local
government. Routledge, 2014.
3

Topic-3 Management Theories and Practice
Management emerges to be most crucial part of an organisation which emphasises on
controlling and managing things that lead to attainment of organisational goals. It is referred to
be an art and science of managing resources of a business in the most efficient and profitable
manner. Management is defined as a problem solving approach which leads to attainment of
organisation goals with the ideal use of available resources. The management practices are
carried out by thoroughly engaging workers in the business operations so that they emerge to be
more productive 4. The best efforts of workers in the organisation are rewarded with monetary
and non-monetary awards which motivates us to perform better. It is very important to identify
what the business is being expecting from an individual so that he is able to fulfil it with the right
approach. Meeting which were conducted helps in getting more clarity about the targets and
goals which are to be fulfilled. The changes in the external market circumstances have enforced
numerous changes in the manner organisation resources are managed. The approach which are
currently emphasised in management are six sigma, retail management, knowledge process
outsourcing and merging operations with other retailer. The efforts in this contemporary market
are formed to make sure that inventories are utilised to a limited extend and market opportunities
are capitalised. The real reform have been carried out in the manner organisation resources are
utilised and treated within business environment. There is a special consideration to manner in
which physical and human resources are treated within the premises.
4 Watson, Tony. Management, organisation and employment strategy: new directions in
theory and practice. Routledge, 2013.
4

Topic-4 Leadership Theories and Practice
Leadership is referred to a mechanism which focuses on leading a group of people
towards organisational goals 5. The crucial role which has been catered by leadership is to
provide direction to employees so that they are able to achieve their goals and objectives in an
profitable manner. It can be said that leadership is not as same as management. There is major
difference amongst the virtue of two as leadership focuses on trust where as management
emphasizes on control which is practised on members of the organisation. The long term vision
which is possessed by leader is not followed in management which is short sighted. The latest
trends in the leadership practices approach involves participative, transformational and
situational which are practised according to the circumstances encountered by a business
organisation 6. Out of all participative approach is most employee friendly as it entertains their
views and opinion in the decision making and during crisis situation situational leadership is
undertaken. The scenario is completely different in 'real-life' situation in which a manager have
to continuously motivate its subordinates and are known to provide direction and making best
use of available resources which is similar in case of management as well.
CONCLUSION
It can be concluded from the above report that training and development stands crucial as
they help in upliftment of skills and knowledge of an individual. The business organisation are
known to take assistance from budgeting tool so that right balance between expenses and income
could be formed. The leadership and management approaches which are undertaken within an
organisation makes sure that available resources are utilised properly and objectives are fulfilled.
5 What Is Leadership?. 2013. [Online]. Available through:
<https://www.forbes.com/sites/kevinkruse/2013/04/09/what-is-leadership/
#394b14075b90>.
6 Kouzes, James M. The Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership-Technology. Vol. 292.
John Wiley & Sons, 2014.
5

REFERENCES
Books and Journal
Costen, Wanda M., and John Salazar. "The impact of training and development on employee job
satisfaction, loyalty, and intent to stay in the lodging industry." Journal of Human
Resources in Hospitality & Tourism 10, no. 3 (2011): 273-284.
Niazi, Brig Retd Abdus Sattar. "Training and development strategy and its role in organizational
performance." Journal of Public Administration and Governance 1, no. 2 (2011): 42-57.
Kelly, Janet M., and William C. Rivenbark. Performance budgeting for state and local
government. Routledge, 2014.
Watson, Tony. Management, organisation and employment strategy: new directions in theory
and practice. Routledge, 2013.
Pemsel, Sofia, and Anna Wiewiora. "Project management office a knowledge broker in project-
based organisations." International Journal of Project Management 31, no. 1 (2013):
31-42.
Kouzes, James M. The Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership-Technology. Vol. 292. John
Wiley & Sons, 2014.
Online
What Is Leadership?. 2013. [Online]. Available through:
<https://www.forbes.com/sites/kevinkruse/2013/04/09/what-is-leadership/
#394b14075b90>.
6