Personal and Professional Development Report: Self-Managed Learning

This report delves into the realm of personal and professional development, focusing on self-managed learning within the context of Ikea. It explores various approaches to self-managed learning, such as conferences, group discussions, and SWOT analysis, and assesses their benefits for both the individual and the corporation. The report emphasizes the importance of lifelong learning through continuous learning and enhanced communication skills. Furthermore, it addresses work-based problems, offering solutions and explaining different learning styles to overcome challenges at various levels. The report also includes an evaluation of effective time management strategies. Task 2 focuses on self-assessment, defining current skills and competencies, identifying development needs, and creating a personal and professional development plan. The report highlights the need to improve communication, financial, project management, and team leading skills, and it discusses the activities required to address these needs, such as coaching and further training. This report offers valuable insights into how individuals can enhance their skills and contribute to their organization's objectives.

PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Table of Contents
Introduction..........................................................................................................................................3
Task 1....................................................................................................................................................3
1.1 Explain approaches to self-managed learning.......................................................................3
1.2 Suggest ways in which lifelong learning in personal development and professional areas
could be encouraged....................................................................................................................4
1.3 Assess the benefits of self-managed learning to the person and corporation.......................4
4.1 Select solutions to work-based problems..............................................................................5
4.2 Explain learning style to overcome the problems at various levels......................................5
4.3 Evaluation of effective time management strategies............................................................6
TASK 2.................................................................................................................................................6
2.1 Define own current skills and competencies against professional standards and organisational
objectives....................................................................................................................................6
2.2 Determine own development needs and the activities required to meet them......................7
2.3 Measure development opportunities to meet current and future defined needs...................7
2.4 Develop a personal and professional development plan based on identified needs.............7
3.1 Explain the processes and activities required to implement the development plan..............8
3.2 Undertake and document development activities as planned...............................................8
3.3 Explain critically on own learning against original aims and objectives set in the
development plan........................................................................................................................9
3.4 Update the development plan based on feedback and evaluation.........................................9
Conclusion..........................................................................................................................................10
References...........................................................................................................................................11

INTRODUCTION
Personal and professional development is approach of increasing capabilities and skills of
persons by providing them training. It also aids in understanding about managerial ability,
motivation and leadership to enhance performance and efficiency of the individual in the
organization. This process is necessary for the employees to increase lifelong transformation in
personal and professional life in appropriate manner (Nicholls, 2014). Ikea is one of the major
company in furniture manufacturing in the United Kingdom. The present report defines introduce
role of self managed learning in the lifelong improvement in the Ikea organisation. Further, it also
represent the needs and activities necessary for personal and professional development. It also
introduces work based complexities in corporation. In an addition, it also describes the
communication style for interpersonal skill in firm.
TASK 1
1.1 Explain approaches to self-managed learning
Approaches of self managed learning help to individual in the personal and professional
development in the organisation.
 Conferences- It is also good method for individual improvement in the Ikea. Mainly, in this
process, person can rise their queries front of experts in meeting. They can give possible
answer in the assembly (Haarhoff, Thwaites and Bennett‐Levy, 2015). This way, individual
can increase their operational knowledge for corporation. On the other side, sometimes,
employees does not get their answers in the conference because they have permission of
asking only few questions in the meeting.
 Group Discussion- It is also optimistic approach for self-managed learning in the
organisation. Employee of the Ikea can participate in various group discussion which help
the person to take different type of knowledge and information. According to Fullan (2014)
sometimes, group discussion is unable to reach conclusion (Fullan, 2014). Individual does
not clear their doubts regarding operation management which create problem in self
managed learning.
 SWOT Analysis- This approach also is also very for effective self assessment in the
organisation. Individual can recognize its strength, weakness ,opportunities as well threat in
the firm. Employee can convert their strength into core competencies. Person can find its
weak areas to improve their issues in the organisation (Lumpe and et.al., 2014). Individual
can use opportunities as personal growth and get many advantages in the company. With the
help of this tool, employee can be aware about their threat and also take corrective steps to
stop it. On the contrary note, often person is unable to find opportunities, threats and

weakness which affect their personal and professional development in the firm.
1.2 Suggest ways in which lifelong learning in personal development and professional areas could
be encouraged
There are many way in which lifelong learning in personal and professional development
can be encouraged in the organisation.
 Continuous Learning- This is also best process for the improvement of individual and
organisational in the firm. In this process, individual can select any type of medium to
increase their knowledge in their field. Person can also read latest books, journals, online
articles as well as magazines to enhance its information level in the operation management
(Cox, Bachkirova and Clutterbuck, 2014). This way, person can collect optimistic data
regarding its subject in organisation. Continuous learning also increases the research skill of
employee in corporation. This type of approach also develop good personality which
provide good benefits to individual in the firm. It also improves also efficiency and
performance of employee which gives good growth in personal and professional
development in the enterprise.
 Enhancement of Communication and Relationship- This process can greatly help the person
increasing interaction and relationship skill in the organisation. This way, person can get
many opportunities to develop their personal and professional ability (Bassot, 2014). For
example, employee can get good chances to attend seminar, conference and group
discussion with help of optimistic relationship which improves their knowledge level in the
United kingdom. This process can be helpful for its personal and professional development
in the firm (Bates, Swennen and Jones, 2014). Communication skill also provides effective
help to the person for future growth. This skill also aid the person to get various type of
information from different type of managers regarding operation management.
1.3 Assess the benefits of self-managed learning to the person and corporation
Self managed learning is very useful for individual and organisation. Some of them is
described below paragraph.
Benefits of Self Managed Learning for Corporation
 Self managed learning helps organisation to discover talented staff members which are able
to take initiative for project. These employee’s are highly motivated which aid the other
person to inspire them in the Ikea.
 This approach also contribute effective role regarding saving of monetary funds in the
organisation (Skiff, 2009). This type of learning also reduces cost of training program which

provides huge benefits to the Ikea.
Benefits of Self Managed Learning for Person
 Self managed learning also increases core competencies of operational manager regarding
its subject which automatically increases its knowledge in the particular operational field.
Individual can perform its work better way. So, this approach provides good promotion and
incentive to staff member in the Ikea.
 This process also improves communication skill of operation managers. This way, individual
can put their ideas, opinion and concept front of management of company (Gonzales and
Lambert, 2014). This approach also improves image of person in the firm.
4.1 Select solutions to work-based problems
Being operation manager, Currently I am facing quality of raw material issues in department
which is creating so many problem in the organisation. Customers complaint regarding material is
also increased as comparison of previous years in the IKEA. This impact is coming on sales of
organisation which is reducing revenue of organisation in the united kingdom. This process is
creating very complexities for management of corporation. To solve this type of problem, I can
suggest the firm to check actual quality of raw material to find out variation between standard and
real commodities in the firm. Then after, after the analysing report, I can reveal the this report front
of suppliers in the UK (Wyganowska, 2008). I can communicate with vendors regarding
requirement of standard quality of raw material. I can fix my agreement with supplier as per term
condition after negotiation of price. There is also one more options to solve this problems. I can also
search new suppliers to purchase raw material. This way, I can solve this problem in the
organisation.
4.2 Explain learning style to overcome the problems at various levels
With the help of continuous learning style, it is easy to overcome the workplace problems in
IKEA. With the help of this, it will be easy to understand the basic issues behind occurring the
problem. To communicate this information within the different management level of IKEA, there
are variety of styles like mobile phones, email, meetings,video conferencing and social media for
operation managers in the IKEA which can be used for appropriate communication at strategic,
operational and tactical level. Person can use also use emails to interact with high level management
to share the department information in the organisation. Individual can fix meeting with operational
level to discuss about various strategies and policies in the firm by using mobile phone (Moorhead,
Boetto and Bell, 2014). Operation manager can also use mobile phone to call important
conversation in the organisation to take any suggestion in the firm. This way, person can also
contact the various level of employees in the Ikea. Individual can also use email to give any type of

data for tactical level staff members in the organisation. Operation managers can use various type of
communication modes to contact other employee’s as per their suitability in the firm. Generally
video conferencing is also useful for the operation manager to communicate with operational and
strategic level in the Ikea (Prosek and Hurt, 2014).
4.3 Evaluation of effective time management strategies
There are many time management strategies such as priority, work time, exercise along with
relaxation which improve job of operation managers in the company. With the help of prioritization,
individual can give priority in order to select sequence of doing job in the organisation. Work time
is also important thing for the employee (Anderson, 2012). It also help the person to allocate job
time to perform each work in the firm. This process also provide reliability to complete any task in
the Ikea. Exercise and relaxation is necessary aspect for the staff members because continuous work
increases irritation in the person. This thing directly affect efficiency and performance of the
employees in the organisation. Exercise and relaxation help the individual to increase the
effectiveness in the IKEA (Sankey and Machin, 2014).
For operation manager, priority and work time is important in the Ikea. This way, person can
handle sensitive project like sales projection and quality control in effective manner in the
organisation. So employees gets appropriate help to complete the work in the corporation.
TASK 2
2.1 Define own current skills and competencies against professional standards and organisational
objectives
My current skill and competencies create impact regarding meeting of organisational
objectives in the Ikea. Being operation manager, I have few skill which provides optimistic support
to the organisation in respect of its goals. Generally my communication skill is very poor which
creates problem to interact with consumers and my employees. I do not understand needs of
customers which create issues for me as well as my customer (Moss, Gibson and Dollarhide, 2014).
Mainly my financial ability is very good in the firm. I can easily understand balance sheet, income
and cash flow which provide me good help to make polices like sales and purchase projection in the
operations. Project management skill is also good in the Ikea which gives good efficiency to handle
my operational projects like purchase and processing of raw material. On the other side, my team
leading efficiency is not better which create problem for me to direct my employee’s in the
organisation. In an addition, my managerial skill is not good in the firm. As result, I unable to
manage my employee regarding job allocation during higher work load in the Ikea. So this process
creates complexities for me in the Ikea. Mainly my problem solving capacity is not optimistic in the
organisation. I am not able to handle my employee’s issue in the department. This process directly

affect the efficiency and performance of my division which create adverse effect regarding
completion of goal and objectives in the Ikea (McArdle and McGowan, 2014).
2.2 Determine own development needs and the activities required to meet them
There are many skill where I am lacking in the organisation. This is necessary to improve for
my effective personal and professional development. Currently, I am lacking in the communication
skills in the organisation. I have need of conducting many activities to meet them. I can use
coaching method to improve my interaction skill which can increase the my interaction skills in the
firm in the upcoming time. At present time, my team leading ability is not good in the organization
which create problem to lead my team. So I can improve my quality through reading journals and
latest books on the leadership (Van der Heijden and et.al., 2015). This process help me to guide my
group in the Ikea in future. At current time, my managerial skill is not better which create so many
complexities to handle my employee’s in the organisation. So, I can increase my managerial skills
by attending seminar and conference on the management which can help me greatly to overcome
from this problem in the Ikea. At present time, my problem solving is not optimistic in the
enterprise which reduces efficiency of my employees in the firm. So, I can improve this quality
through reading more case studies of operation management in the organisation. This process give
me sufficient help in the corporation to sort these issues for employee’s.
2.3 Measure development opportunities to meet current and future defined needs
There are many development opportunities to meet current and future define needs in for
personal and professional improvement in the Ikea. I have many opportunities to improve my
communication skills like coaching, self assessment, one to one interaction and group discussion.
This way, I can increase my interaction skill in a appropriate manners in the firm. I have many ways
to enhance my team leading and managerial ability such as online articles, seminars, conference,
latest journals, meeting with expert, books as well as internship which improve my these skill for
me and my organisation. To increase more my financial knowledge, I have many options like taking
advice with expert and team members, finding out current economy status for organisation.
Generally, my problem solving capacity is too weak in the Ikea. I have opportunities to improve this
quality (King, 2014). I can prefer case studies and identifying needs of staff members which can
reduce these problems in the Ikea.
2.4 Develop a personal and professional development plan based on identified needs
Generally this personal and professional development plan help me to determine my needs
in the organisation.
Skills Rating Strategies Time scale
Communication Poor I can improve this ability through coaching 2 month

with the help of good trainer in the city.
Team leading Poor I can enhance this quality by reading journals
and books and internship.
2 Month
Financial Good I can increase this skill through understanding
proper financial concept with aid of expert.
1 Month
Project management Good I can improcve this quality by atteding
conference and reading books of project
management (Kosnik and et.al., 2015).
1 Month
Managerial Poor I can enhance my magerial skills through going
in seminars and self assessment.
2 Month
Problem solving Poor I can increase my ability by reading more case
studies and reading latest online articles of
operations management.
2 Month
3.1 Explain the processes and activities required to implement the development plan
There are many process and activities is need to execute development plan for personal and
professional development. To implement this strategy for communication improvement, I can find
out all coaching centres in the city of United Kingdom. Then after, I find out performance status all
institutes in the nation through friends, other employees online ratings of this centre. I can choose
my institute in city after the complete evaluation. To enhance team leading skills, I can prefer
library for reading latest journals on the leadership. I can make relationship with other furniture
companies to take internship program by contacting managers of other firms in the United Kingdom
(Thorpe and Tran, 2015). To enhance my financial skill, I can make good relationship with financial
expert, this way, I can increase my fiscal knowledge and information for Ikea organisation. To
improve my project management skill, I can make contact with top level manager to participate in
conference. I can purchase latest project management book with certified author. This approach can
also increase my quality for company. To improve my managerial skill, I can find out future
seminars events to participate in this program. This way, I can improve managerial skills for Ikea
corporation. To improve the problem solving skills, I can contact to IEEE websites to read latest
journals and online articles. I can search latest case studies on the internet which can give me better
knowledge to increase problem solving skill in the Ikea firm.
3.2 Undertake and document development activities as planned
There are many development activities which can increase the growth in my personal and
professional development. To bring improvement in my skills, I can increase power point ability in
the firm. This quality greatly help me to present my ideas and concepts front of company. This
process also increase my communication skill in the organization (Gregory and et.al., 2014). I can
enhance my working practices through collecting operation management data from various sources

like books, seminar and journal and taking advice from expert. This approaches also increase my
team leading and managerial skill in the Ikea. So this way, I can manage my employee’s in the
organisation regarding my operational work. This approach also increase efficiency and
performance of my team in the Ikea.
3.3 Explain critically on own learning against original aims and objectives set in the development
plan
There are many skills which help the organisation to complete aim and objectives in the
development plan. Generally, my communication ability is improved as comparison of before in the
Ikea. Now I am effectively interact with my employees and customers in the firm. I can easily
understand the needs and requirement of consumers in the company which is giving great advantage
to me as well as my organisation to complete its goals and objective. My team leading ability is not
improved which is still creating is problem in the firm (Chou and et.al., 2014). I am not managing
my team in a effective manner in the organisation. Generally my financial skill is giving optimistic
advantage to my company. Now I can make my policies and strategies better as comparison of
before in the Ikea. This approach is effectively helping me to complete my organisational goals and
objectives. My project management skill is also better as comparison of before in the firm. Now, I
can effectively handle my project in the organisation. On the other hand, my managerial ability is
not improved in the corporation. So I am not able to manage my employees in the enterprise which
affect efficiency and performance of my division. On the other side, my problem solving is
enhanced as comparison of before. Now I can easily manage my complexities regarding my work
(Harland and Kinder, 2014).
3.4 Update the development plan based on feedback and evaluation
Mainly, I can increase my skills by developing new my personal development plan and
adding some abilities for my improvement. It is described below the table.
Skillls Present Ratings Improvement strategies Time scale
Team leading Poor I can improve this quality by taking
advice and observing working style of
good leaders in the firm.
2 Month
Managerial Poor I can increase managerial skills through
internship in management where I can
observe work of other works of other
manager in various firms.
2 Month
Communication Good I can enhance my communication skill 2 Month

through one to one interaction and group
discussion in the firm (Sugrue and
Solbrekke, 2014).
Time management Best I can improve my quality by prioritization
of work in the organisation.
1 Month
Conflict management Good I can handle my division conflicts through
reading case studies and meeting with
other operational managers of various
firms.
1 Month
Presentation Good I can improve my skill by watching
demonstrations videos of other managers .
1 month
CONCLUSION
From the report, it is found that conference and group discussion are effectively helping
person to increase the self managed learning in the Ikea. Communication, relationship and
continuous learning are improving overall development of individual. Updated personal and
professional improvement plan is enhanced various type skills in me which is giving effective
benefits to the company. My suggested solution is helping the organisation to eliminate raw material
problem in the Ikea. In an addition, various communication modes like email, mobile phones and
meeting are providing huge reliability in the job. It can be said that effective time management
strategies are increasing performance and efficiency of operation managers and other employees in
the organisation.

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