Strategic Management: Skills Application at Mark and Spencer PLC

This report assesses the application of professional development skills within Mark and Spencer PLC (M&S) to support the organization's strategic objectives. It begins by evaluating personal skills such as time management, communication, and stress management, followed by an assessment of professional skills including coaching, counseling, mentoring, and leadership. A skill audit is conducted to identify proficiency levels and future skill requirements. The report also reflects on preferred learning styles using the VARK model, identifying reading/writing as the preferred method. Finally, a personal development plan (PDP) for a six-month period is detailed, outlining specific skills to be developed, target capabilities, development opportunities, and evaluation criteria. The PDP focuses on enhancing problem-solving, self-learning, and application skills to improve overall performance and contribute to the company's strategic goals. This document is available on Desklib, a platform offering a wide range of study resources for students.

Running Head: Mark and Spencer PLC 1
Professional Development for Strategic Managers
Application of Professional Development Skills to help organizations
realize their strategic directions

Professional Development for Strategic Managers 2
Contents
Introduction.................................................................................................................................................3
Task-1..........................................................................................................................................................4
1.1 Proper methods to evaluate personal skills..................................................................................4
1.2 Techniques to assess the professional skills.................................................................................6
Task 2..........................................................................................................................................................8
2.1 Evaluations of the strategic skills......................................................................................................8
2.2 Preferred learning style....................................................................................................................10
Task 3........................................................................................................................................................12
3.1 personal development plans.............................................................................................................12
3.2 technique to evaluate the results of a PDP.......................................................................................14
3.3 Impact of own learning....................................................................................................................16
Conclusion.................................................................................................................................................18
References.................................................................................................................................................19

Mark and Spencer PLC 3
Introduction
Mark and Spencer PLC is leading British multinational company that headquarter is situated in
London. The company has around 78000 workers in 700 stores in the UK. It has number of
variety and stylish products, clothing and home products (M&S, 2018). It is vital for the strategic
manager to keep focus on the vision, mission and long term objectives of the company and it is
essential for the manager developing the personal as well as professional skills. To improve the
skills the manager should participate in the training and development program by M&S (Toms
and Zhang, 2016). The role of managerial skills is huge for the manager as it helps to manage
daily behavior and manage adverse circumstances to attain its aims. As an operation manager of
Mark & Spencer, I can use various tactics as well as tool to examination and to understand skills
I have and searching the skills require for further growth.

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Task-1
1.1 Proper methods to evaluate personal skills
Personal ability is vital requirement for every manager because the personality of the managers
have significant role that attract other employees to work together. Some personal skills are
defined below:
Time Management
Time managing is a significant tool that encourages completing the task within time frame. It is
essential for the mangers of M&S to direct its staff by adopting the time management tool to
attain objectives. It is possible for the mangers to oversee the time degenerate in the business and
handle with them effectively which will facilitates to straight them towards chosen task (Scott
and Walker, 2017). Along with that manager of the company must set the SMART Objectives
(specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, time-based) which will be helpful in bringing clarity
in the decision making process and provides direction. Strategic goals of the company can be
attained with this skill as the staff can perform their job effectively.
Communication skills
The skills of communication has imperial impact in the organization as it helps to define the
objectives, goals and the purpose the company with its employees in efficient manner. There
should be proper communication skill in the manager to deliver right information about the
company to the employees in various levels (Carroll, Levy and Richmond, 2008). Along with
that the manager has the potential to handle the conflicts in a significant manner.
Stress Management Skill

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There are number of unseen issues within the organization which can be matured and being the
cause of conflicts. In such condition, managers of the organization should have the problem
solving skills to handle the issue with purposeful solution. M &S was suffered by 0.9% of sales
reduces due to extremely spirited market builds stress among the people within the organization
(Cashman, 2017). Managers of the company should have developed the marketing approaches to
get progressed in its position (Chen, et. al., 2016).

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1.2 Techniques to assess the professional skills
It is necessary for the manager of the organization to use various practices to evaluate the
professional skills as per the requirements and objectives of the organization. Some of
professional skills are mentioned below to attain the strategic goals of the company.
Coaching and Counseling
There are a number of issues take place in the organization of M&S which are facing by the
employees of the company that impact the productivity of them significantly. There should be
proper mentoring, counseling and coaching skills used by the manager to give effective guidance
to employees (Walumbwa, et. al., 2008). It would be helpful to come out from the adverse
situations. The proper advice given by the manager to the employee can motivate them toward
performing work in well efficient manner (Eisele, Grohnert, Beausaert and Segers, 2013).
Mentoring
It is the skill of the manager which can be used by them to hold up their employees for
knowledge new executed systems in the M&S. It can be done by the manger with the help of
face to face short guiding on the job site, which is considered as the at ease to learn about the
new systems (Cooper, 2009).
Leadership Skills
The importance procedure of the company is change which can be adopted by the organization
because of the number of factors behind its environment like a change in the IT system, centrally
controlled budget and division structure (Kirkham and Mosey, 2017). The company can
overcome from this situation if the managers of the company adopt the good leadership style to

Mark and Spencer PLC 7
lead the company (Erasmus and Schenk, 2008). The managers of M&S should ensure the success
of the business and create a learning environment. Managers are entirely liable for the growth of
the M&S that is why the adoption of the leadership skills is crucial for the mangers (Spears,
2010).
Along with above skills, it is required for the managers of the company to use conceptual tools to
recognize own strengths and limitations. The leader must develop the current as well as future
job roles in the company and focus on management development and Continuing Professional
Development (CPD) programme (Rego, Sousa, Marques and Cunha, 2012).

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Task 2
2.1 Evaluations of the strategic skills
A skill audit is considered as the evaluation of remaining skills and recognizes the skills needed
for potential leadership requirements like transforms in integration and acquisitions and changes
in technology and moreover. This assessment helps to find out the required skills for present role
to perform in well efficient manner for future leadership requirements (I Beausaert, Segers and
Gijselaers, 2011). As an operation manager of M&S, it is required for me to develop the strategic
tools for increasing the sales, market share and the profit maximization.
Steps to recognize my proficiency or skills
a. Recognition of my obtainable skills and knowledge
It is vital for the current position to have the efficient knowledge about my skills. I should note
down the various skills that I have and endeavor to develop significantly.
b. Recognition of my future skills and knowledge
It is required for getting the professional growth to fulfill me present as well as future career
prospects within the association.
c. Rating my capability
My present capability in the organization is rated on the scale of 1 to 5. 1= little proficiency =
Not adequacy capable to use 3 = some proficiency 4 = High level of proficiency = fully
capability.
d. Review my capability ratings

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I can ask my colleagues and subordinates to review the rating scores as it facilitates me to
understand the point of view of them towards my performance within the organization. With the
help of appropriate feedback regarding my skills from them, I can improve them in an efficient
manner for further development (Beausaert, Segers, Fouarge and Gijselaers, 2013).
e. Potential progress
By evaluating the entire knowledge regarding me, where I will get a little score need to
development for effective presentation.
The following table will be helpful to evaluate my present and future skills need to improve for
future roles.
List of information and skills which should
be developed while performing in the
organization for my present role
Rating of ability from 1-5
Communication skill
Self- development skills
Coaching and mentoring skills
Technological skills
4
3
4
5
List of knowledge and skills which should be
developed while performing in the
organization for my future role
Rating of ability from 1-5

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Application
Problem solving
Self learning
3
2
2
2.2 Preferred learning style
Learning styles are referred as the set of cognitive, characteristics, psychological and emotional
aspects that provide as a comparatively steady pointers. It would help to understand the
behaviour of learner that how they interact and perceive and respond to the learning
environment. There is an efficient tool ofHoney and Mumford that develop the learning styles on
the basis of the work of Kolb and explains four wisdom priorities such as Activist, Theorist,
Pragmatic and Reflector. These learning approaches are preferred by an individual to understand
the scope of learning and improving the skills for potential.
Along with this there is another model the Neil Fleming’s VARK model which is most ordinary
and extensively used learning styles. It entails for preferences of learning such as Visual, Aural,
Read/Write and Kinesthetic (Vark Learn, 2018). The learning preferences of both model is
similar features and I determined to choose VARK Questionnaire to recognize my preferred
learning styles. After filling up the questions, I have found that the highest scores of 8 in my
read/write which shows that my favored learning style is reading/Writing. Although I constantly
prefer learning through different skills by following specific reading, instructions and pertinent
theories, models and involve in the group discussion. I feel relaxed at the time of writing scripts
which is the way of communicating that helps me to share the information in more efficient

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manner. In addition, I can observe things in quick manner and learn them in an efficient way that
help me out to enhance the vital skills through reading textbook, relevant information and
guidelines.

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Task 3
3.1 personal development plans
A personal development plan facilitates to recognize the major district of learning and
development movement that would be facilitated me to acquire develop existing skills. Personal
development plan for 6 months (May to October 2018) are defined below in tabular form which
will be helpful to make better understanding about the skills, present capabilities, target
capability, development opportunity, criteria for judging process and evidence.
Skills Present
capabilities
Target
capability
Development
opportunity
Criteria for
judging
process
Evidence
Problem
solving skills
Efficient
knowledge in
development
and
systematizing
Be an
outstanding in
conflict
management
and organizer
by the end of
the October
2018.
Involvement
in the
discussion in
group with
expert
facilitator
Report on
effectively
handles the
issues wisely
and improve
the plan for
team
mobilization.
Show in a self
assessment
template.