Professional Development: Self-Managed Learning at Next Retail

This report provides a detailed analysis of personal and professional development within the context of Next Retail. It begins with an introduction to self-managed learning approaches, their benefits, and how individuals can foster lifelong learning. The report then evaluates the author's current ski...Read More

PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION................................................................................................................................3
1.1 Self managed learning approaches............................................................................................3
1.2 How people can increase their life long learning .....................................................................3
1.3 Benefits of self managed learning for an individual and organization......................................4
Task 2....................................................................................................................................................5
2.1 Evaluating current skills and competencies against professional standard and organisational
objectives.........................................................................................................................................5
2.2 Identifying own development needs and activities are required to meet them..........................5
2.3 Determining the development opportunities to meet current and future defined needs............5
2.4 Developing personal and professional development plan on the basis of identified skills......6
Task 3....................................................................................................................................................7
3.1 Explaining the processes and activities are required to execute the development plan............7
3.2 Document development activities as planned............................................................................7
3.3 Reflect critically on own learning against original aims and objectives set in the
development plan.............................................................................................................................7
3.4 Updating the development plan based on feedback and evaluation..........................................8
Task 4....................................................................................................................................................9
4.1 Selecting solution to work-based solution ................................................................................9
4.2 Communicating in a variety of styles at appropriate manner at various levels in the
negotiation.......................................................................................................................................9
4.3 Explaining use of time management strategies........................................................................10
Conclusion..........................................................................................................................................10
References...........................................................................................................................................11

Index of Tables
Table 1: Development plan...................................................................................................................7
Table 2: Updated development plan.....................................................................................................9

INTRODUCTION
Personal and Professional development is a process in which organisation as well as
employees provide their efforts to learn new concepts ans ideas to perform organizational work. It
is essential for employees to achieve different skills an abilities which can help them to achieve
organisational as well as personal goals (Haarhoff, Thwaites and Bennett‐Levy, 2015). Next is a
retail organisation which provides better retail product and services to its consumers in the Britain.
The present report describe about the self managed learning and its advantages and disadvantages.
It represents my current skills against my professional skills and corporate objectives. Further, It
discusses activities which are required to implement current plan in Next organisation. In addition
to this, it defines work-based problems and their solutions to reduce organisational complexities. It
also introduce the importance of time-management strategies for employees and organisation.
1.1 Self managed learning approaches
Self managed learning is the best way for the development, In this competitive world,
individuals are facing many problems in every stages. With the help of this learning approach,
people meet with other members and change their idea and increase their learning. There are some
self learning approaches which are explained below;
Seminars and conferences- In this people attend the seminar and change their ideas, views as well
as perception. Therefore, with this self learning approach they increase their knowledge in every
field and improve their confidence in speech because in this approach they have to speak in publicly
(Billing. and Steverson, 2013).
Internet- People can increase their knowledge by surfing on different websites and through social
media sites. On internet, so much knowledge is available which are related to every field, so with
the help of these they can support co workers at their working place.
Books and newspaper- These things provide information about what is really happening in the
world and personal experience of some people (Nicholls, 2014). With the help of these approaches,
they can relate themselves with the practical world.
Further, with the help of these approaches, individual can easily develop themselves in
personal and professional level.
1.2 How people can increase their life long learning
People can learn anything from anywhere, it depends on the person quality and the
determination. Life long learning is very helpful to know about the strength ,weakness and threats
which are related to themselves. After knowing their weakness, people can easily avoid and learn
from them (Swain, 2015). Further, by applying some tips, the individual can increase their life long

learning which are explained below lines:
Always have a book- Book is one of the best provider of learning. It does not matter how much time
a person take to read a book, because it increases there self confidence and level of thinking.
Learn form your past mistakes- In this learning approach, people can learn from their experience
and mistakes. So it is important to learn something good from them and do not repeat in the life
(Moon, 2013).
Teach others- It is the best way to acquire knowledge because person learn what they teach. So if a
person has any interesting and innovative knowledge so they can share with other people. By this
way you can get gain more ideas from them and know your mistakes.
The morning fifteen- It is very innovative and new learning style , in this you have to put your
morning fifteen minutes on yourself (Maloney, 2016). By applying this, you can easily know the
strength and weakness of yourself and after fifteen minute you can spend your whole day to
improve your quality.
1.3 Benefits of self managed learning for an individual and organization
Benefits for an individual
Compatible with all strategies- As per assumption, individual always select those learning style in
which they are mostly comfortable. With the help of self managed learning approach they can try
more styles and diversified themselves into other fields (Vetere and et.al., 2016). Further, they can
also design their own experience in learning duration.
Not time dependent- Self managed learning is not dependent on the time, so person can do their
work as per their capacity than after knowing their weakness slowly improve them. In this approach
they do not have to wait for teachers, classrooms or a proper schedule. According to their free time
they can mange their secession and improve themselves.
Benefits for the organization
Minimize the issue of transfer of learning- The main profit for an organization is, they can use
self-managed learning in their training secession because it is providing the latest technology. With
the help of this there is a high possibility to implement the training skills on their jobs (Olsen,
2015). So this style help the organization to minimize the traditional issue.
Minimum the expenses- This approach of learning include zero cost because with the help of
books, internet organization can easily gain all the knowledge, so they do not need any expert
adviser for it. By this, they reduce their expenses on trainers and training program.

Task 2
2.1 Evaluating current skills and competencies against professional standard and organisational
objectives.
Being Human Resource manager, effective HR skills are essential for me to meet out
objectives of Next organisation. As per the current condition, my communication skills are good
which do not create any type of complexities to interact with managers and superiors in the firm.
They also match with professional standards and corporate objectives (Zakarevičius and
Župerkienė, 2015). Further my coordination skills are not good which produces complexities to
coordinate my team members in the Next. Generally Human resource knowledge is good as per
professional standards which contribute effective role for me to develop better HR strategies. In
future, I can join the new courses of HR certifications which can aid me to increase my core
competency in HR field. In addition to this, my leadership skills do not appropriate as per corporate
objectives which produces issues to lead my team in the Next.
2.2 Identifying own development needs and activities are required to meet them
There are many needs as well as activities are required for my better development in the
organisation. To increase my communication skills more, I can share my ideas, views and concept
with my superiors and colleagues in the company. This activity can help me to reach my
communication skills at higher level in the Next. To improve my coordinating abilities, I can attend
seminars and conference which can help me to enhance my skills. This approach can help me to
share my work with my team members in organisation (Eddy, Eddy and Doughty, 2015). Further, I
can join new HR courses to update my HR knowledge and information which can aid me to
increase my core competency in my field. To improve my leadership skills, I can do internship,
training and development programs to enhance my abilities as per professional standards which can
support me to lead my team in the firm.
2.3 Determining the development opportunities to meet current and future defined needs.
As a HR manager, I can use many development opportunities to meet my current and future
defined goals for the Next retail firm. To increase my communication skills, I can join the group
discussion and one to one interaction with my superiors which can aid me to complete my current
and future needs in the organisation. In addition to this, I can make effective relations with mangers
and colleagues which can provide me better opportunities to participate in seminars and
conferences. This approach can help me to meet out with my present and future requirements for
next firm. Further, it can aid me to improve coordinating abilities in a appropriate manner (Korkko
Kyro-ammala and Turunen, 2016). To update my HR knowledge, I can join HR certifications from
better institute by taking suggestions of my superiors and colleagues in the Next. This activity can

aid me to select better education institute in the United Kingdom. To improve the leadership skills,
I can attend internship programs by contacting other managers of retail organisation.
2.4 Developing personal and professional development plan on the basis of identified skills
Personal and development plan can contribute effective role for me and my organisation to
improve my present skills. Some of them are described below in the paragraph.
Table 1: Development plan
Skills Ratings Improvement strategies Time scale
Communication Good I can take participation in various type of
group discussions and one to one
interaction with managers to improve my
communication skills in the Next.
1 Months
Leadership skills Poor I can attend internship, training and
development programs in the other retail
corporations.
2 Months
Coordination skills Poor I can participate in team activities of Next
which can aid me to enhance to
coordinating abilities (Pardo and Téllez,
2015). Further, I can also attend
conferences and seminars which can
contribute effectively to increase my
coordination skills.
2 Month
HR skills Good I can join courses of HR management from
popular institutes. Further, I can also read
certified journals and books to increase my
knowledge and information (van Aalderen‐
Smeets and Walma van der Molen, 2015).
1 month

TASK 3
3.1 Explaining the processes and activities are required to execute the development plan
There are many processes and activities are required to implement development plan in the
organization. I have to contact with managers to execute development plan in the Next organisation.
This process can give me better chance to attend seminar and conference in the many cities. It can
help me to improve my communication and coordination skills for organization. I can feel huge
reliability to complete goals and objectives of Next corporation in retail industry. In addition to this,
my technical skills like Microsoft word, excel and power point should be good which can me to
read online journal, books and managing HR operations in a appropriate manner within organisation
(Tseng, 2015). These process and actions can help me to implement present development plan
effectively.
3.2 Document development activities as planned.
According to personal and professional development plan, my communication skills are
good in the Next organisation. It will consume one month time to increase my interaction ability
with aid of group discussion and one to one interaction to reach better level in the firm. My
leadership skills is so poor which create issues for me to manage my team in the enterprise. It will
take two month time to improve my leading skills through training, development and internship
programs. Further, my coordinating abilities do not good which also produces complexities to share
my work with team members in the Next organisation (Bates, Phalen and Moran, 2016). It will
consume two month time to enhance this skill by attending seminar and conferences in the many
cities of UK. My human resources knowledge is good which can help me to develop effective
strategies in the Next. It will take one month to improve HR knowledge by reading journals, books
and HR certifications courses.
3.3 Reflect critically on own learning against original aims and objectives set in the development
plan.
My personal and professional development plan contribute effective role for me to improve
my various skills. Generally, my communication has been enhanced as comparison of before in the
Next. It also helps me to represent my ideas and view front of my managers and colleagues in a
better way. Further, my coordination skills are not improved which create problems for me to
manage my work load in the firm. Current practices do not create better impact to improve my
coordinating skills in appropriate manner within Next corporation (McMillan, McConnell and
O’Sullivan, 2016). In addition to this, leadership abilities do not improved as comparison of before
which also produces issues to manage my team. This process create issues to achieve goals and
objectives of corporation in retail field of United Kingdom. Further, my HR skills are also improved

which provide huge reliability to develop HR Policies and manage my operations as compared with
before in the Next (Loads and Collins, 2016). They contribute effective role for organisation to
achieve goals and objectives in the retail sector.
3.4 Updating the development plan based on feedback and evaluation
As per feedback and evaluation, many skills are not improved which create issues to manage
my HR operations in the Next organisation. Update development plan can help me to attain goals
and objectives of corporation. It is represented below in the table.
Table 2: Updated development plan
Skills Ratings Improvement strategies Time scale
Leadership skills Average I can improve leading skills through
analysing leadership skills of other
managers and taking effective suggestions
from them in the Next. This approach can
effectively help me to improve leadership
abilities which can provide me better
support to lead my team in the adverse
conditions (Grima-Farrell, 2015).
2 months
Coordination skills Average In this process, I can take suggestions from
my managers in the Next. In addition to
this, I can also read online articles, journals
and books to improve my coordination skill
which can help me to divide my work in
better way in the firm.
2 Month
Problem solving skills Good My problem solving skills are effective in
the firm. This process give me better
opportunities to solve my inter-personal
conflicts of team members in Next
(Stevenson and et.al., 2016). I can improve
my this skill through reading more real time
case studies of retail organisation. So this
approach can help me to solve complex
issues in the Next corporation.
1 month

Time-management
skills
Poor Generally current time-management skills
are not good which creates problems to
manage time in a adverse conditions. Due
to this reason, I often cross deadline of my
tasks which produce higher workload
situation for me and team members in the
Next organisation. So I can increase time
management skills managing proper time
and giving priorities to valuable tasks in the
organisation.
2 month
TASK 4
4.1 Selecting solution to work-based solution
Management of Next suffer with HR related issues which creates high complexities to
human resource division at the work place. Further, it increases turnover rate of employees due to
inappropriate HR Polices, discrimination and effective salaries in the organisation. Due to this
reason, management of corporation also realise the problem to develop better marketing and
operational strategies (Sheehan, 2013). So this HR problems create bad impact on the efficiency and
performance of Next organisation in the retail industry of United Kingdom. They disturb
organisational culture which motivate the employees to leave the job from the organisation.
Solution
There are many solution which can contribute effective role for organisation to reduce these
issues in a appropriate manner. Firm can change its inappropriate HR rules of regulation which can
help HR manager to reduce turn over issues of staff members. Further, Next can provide better
facilities like good salaries, medical insurance, promotion, incentives as well as timely increment to
staff members (Nicholls, 2014). These practices can inspire the employees to stay for long time in
the Next organisation. They can help the firm to increase performance of corporation retail sector
of United Kingdom.
4.2 Communicating in a variety of styles at appropriate manner at various levels in the negotiation
There are variety of communication styles which help management of organisation to
communicate with various type of employees. Next firm can use face to face communication,
emails, video conferencing as well as meeting to communicate with tactical, operational and
strategic level of employees. These practices can contribute effective role for Next to take any type
of decision which can help to develop better strategies (Swain, 2015). For example, E mail is a

effective tool to transfer various type of documents to other employees which provides huge
reliability to manage organisational operations of the firm. In addition to this, video conferencing
also helps the Next organisation to conduct online meeting with various managers and employees
which save time of them to develop any type of plan. Further, it also aids the organisation to
increase the speed of work at the workplace.
4.3 Explaining use of time management strategies
Generally, time management strategies can play important role for organisation to improve
efficiency of employees by increasing speed of their work. Corporation can follow different time-
management strategies like work time, priority, exercise as well as relaxation. Staff members can do
exercise like meditation which can contribute effective role for them to enhance their speed in the
Next (Maloney, 2016). This method can help the team members to manage their work load in a
appropriate manner. In addition to this, employees can take break from work which can help them
to reduce frustration which aid effectively to manage task. In addition to this, employee can allocate
job time to perform each task which can play important role for them to manage the time as per
work load in the Next. Further, staff members can provide priorities to perform important task
which can help them to meet deadline of project in the organization.
As per my suggestion, Work time and priorities of job can be important for HR managers of
Next organisation. These practices can contribute effective role for corporation to manage work of
Human resource manager (Zakarevicius and Zuperkiene, 2015). They also help employees to face
adverse conditions in appropriate manner by using these strategies within Next.
CONCLUSION
From the report, it is found that self-managed theories help me to improve my knowledge
and information in the human resources field. Advantages and dis advantages of self managed
learning help me to select better approaches for my effective development. Further, my updated
personal and professional development plan support me to improve my various skills in the Next.
In addition to this, Solution of work-based problems aids the organisation to reduce its HR issues at
workplace. It can be concluded that priorities and work time of each task help the management of
Next to manage their work in a adverse conditions.

REFERENCES
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