Developing Individuals, Teams and Organizations: HR Skills at Walmart

This report examines the essential HR skills and practices within Walmart, a global retail giant. It delves into the knowledge, skills, and behaviors expected of HR professionals, including communication, critical thinking, and organizational skills, while also providing a personal skill audit and professional development plan. The report explores individual and organizational learning, training, and development strategies to drive sustainable business performance, emphasizing the importance of continuous learning and professional development in a competitive market. It further analyzes factors considered when implementing inclusive learning and development, linking these elements to employee engagement and competitive advantage, as well as various approaches to performance management, including strategic decision-making and technical knowledge development. The conclusion highlights the significance of these practices in fostering a high-performance culture and commitment within the organization.

DEVELOPING INDIVIDUALS,
TEAMS AND
ORGANIZATIONS

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................3
LO 1.................................................................................................................................................3
Appropriate and professional knowledge, skills and behaviours of HR professionals...............3
LO 2.................................................................................................................................................6
Factors considered while implementing and evaluating inclusive learning and development to
drive sustainable performance of businesses..............................................................................6
LO 3.................................................................................................................................................9
Contribution of high performance working to employee engagement and competitive
advantage.....................................................................................................................................9
LO 4...............................................................................................................................................10
Various approaches to performance management supporting high performance culture and
commitment...............................................................................................................................10
CONCLUSIONS............................................................................................................................13
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................14

INTRODUCTION
In today's competitive world, every business organization aims at developing its market
share and gain competitive advantage by bringing innovation and creation. The success and
growth of business depends upon its individual employee's efficiency and capability. The
organization brings effectiveness and efficiency in business process by giving training and
development to its employees who are capable of bringing effective change for development and
growth. Walmart is large global organization operating its business in retail markets. It provides
wide range of product and services to its customers and operates various chain of hypermarkets,
grocery stores and discount department stores. In this study report, appropriate knowledge, skills
and behaviors of individuals expected by HR professional are explained and detailed
professional skill audit is also given. Individual and organizational learning, training and
development is used to drive sustainable performance of business organization.
MAIN BODY
LO 1
Appropriate and professional knowledge, skills and behaviours of HR professionals
Every individual needs to have knowledge and skills to bring innovation and creation in
business process which leads to bring effectiveness in business process. This knowledge and
skills brings professional as well as personal development and growth of individual. Every
business organization aims at hiring the best candidates for its business who can bring efficiency
and innovation for business and its related activities(Riemer, Schellhammer and Meinert, 2018).
Walmart's HR focuses on recruiting and selecting knowledgeable and skilled employees who can
help in achieving its target goals and objectives. Various professional skills, knowledge and
behaviors of HR professional which are needed by Walmart to drive sustainable business
performance are explained as follows:
Knowledge of HR
 Human Resource knowledge: HR mainly focuses on selecting and recruiting the best
candidates for organization so that they can bring effectiveness in business process by
using their talent and experience(Shalley and Gilson, 2017). HR needs to have knowledge
of understanding human behavior so that it can help in encouraging and motivating
employees and retain them in Walmart.

 Training and development: HR also aims at retaining talented and skilled employees by
applying various techniques and tools of HRM to satisfy them and retain them in business
environment.
 Law and government: HR professional needs to have knowledge of laws and government
which are applicable on Walmart business so that plans and policies are made
considering various rules and regulations.
 Management and administration: HR professional needs to have management and
administration knowledge which helps in proper management of business activities and
also its human resource. Management principles guides HR to make effective use of
available resources of organization(Liao, 2017).
Skills of HR
 Communication skills: HR professional needs to have effective communication skills
which can be used to guide and direct its employees. Effective communication skills will
encourage and motivate employees to bring efficiency and overall objectives will be
achieved.
 Critical thinking skills: HR professional needs to have critical thinking skills which helps
in decision making. Critical thinking also helps in resolving complex task and to arrive
on appropriate conclusion and results which can benefit in Walmart's development and
growth.
 Organization skills: HR professional needs to have organizing skills which helps in
proper arrangement of activities, distributing roles and responsibilities among employees.
Behavior of HR
 Positive behavior: HR needs to have positive behavior in managing business and its
activities. This will help in effectively guiding employees and also makes them satisfied.
 Flexibility: HR needs to be flexible in behavior as various factors influences business and
which results in bringing changes sin activities. Flexibility will allow HR to adapt to
changes easily and also bring changes in business plans and policies which results in
positive outcomes(Dulebohn and Hoch, 2017).
Personal skill audit of a HR professional is made and given below. Personal skill audit
identifies various knowledge, skills and behavior of individual. Skill audit also identifies strength
and weakness which can be used to develop skills and knowledge and help in personal and

professional development. Strength can be developed and weakness can be overcome by various
training programs.
Strength:
 I have in-depth knowledge and
understanding of my role in company.
 I do have adequate knowledge of law
and government for handling business
activities.
 I am flexible and adaptable in behavior.
Weakness:
 I have identified that I am weak in
organizing business activities.
 I feel hesitation while communicating
with higher authorities.
 I identified that I do not have positive
behavior in managing human resources.
Opportunities:
 I have opportunity to expand my
technical skills which can be used to in
operating business activities.
 I can learn business and corporate
ethics.
 I have opportunity to increase my time
management skill.
Threats:
 I have threat of competition from other
colleagues.
 I have threat of job uncertainty.
Professional development plan is done by identifying strength and weakness and then
finding measures to correct the weaknesses. Development plan helps to identify various skills
and strategies which can be used to eliminate weakness and results in personal and professional
development of individual employee, and is given as below:
Skills and
knowledge to be
developed
Strategies and techniques used to
develop the skills
Time duration Importance of developing
skill in professional
career
Organizational
skills
Organizing skills can be improved
by involving in business activities
and decision making of other
department.
2-3 months This will create future
opportunities as it will
allow me to properly
manage activities to
accomplish
objectives(Shalley and

Gilson, 2017).
Communication
skill
Taking participation in meetings,
sharing views and ideas and also
own experience will benefit in
improving communication skills.
1-2 months Developing
communication skill will
benefit to effectively
communicate essential
information in effective
way.
Positive
behavior
Positive behavior can be generated
by effectively listening and
reacting to situation and people
and by being calm(Mathieu and
et.al., 2017).
2 months Positive behavior will
guide me to take
effective decision and
also to resolve problem
and issues.
Development of various skills and knowledge will guide and develop professional career and
create future opportunities.
LO 2
Factors considered while implementing and evaluating inclusive learning and development to
drive sustainable performance of businesses
Walmart operates its business in retail markets which requires large number of employees
to handle business and its activities. Walmart offers pharmacy products, financial services,
wireless services and wide range of retail products to its customers. HR professional of Walmart
needs to accurately implement plans and policies to business activities so that it can help in
utilizing full skills and experience of individual employees and team as well. HR professional
also aims at providing training and development to its employees so that they increase their
knowledge and experience which can be used to increase efficiency and also to drive sustainable
business performance.
Individual and organizational learning is important for every business in order to bring
effectiveness in operations and also to gain competitive advantage. The comparison between
individual and organizational learning is given below.
Individual learning, training and development Organizational learning, training and
development

Individual learning focuses on developing
skills and knowledge which can be effectively
help in career development.
Organizational learning contributes and
develops knowledge and skill of employees
which can help in increasing efficiency and
increase productivity and profits(Moxen and
Strachan, 2017).
Individual learning is self-directed and makes
individual confident and also builds
motivation.
Organizational training and development is
given to employees by arranging various
training programs.
Individual training and development helps
employees to achieve its short term as well as
long term goals and objectives(Danzl Hunter
and Harrison, 2017).
Organizational learning and development helps
in guiding and motivating employees resulting
in achieving its overall objectives.
Individual training and development can be
done by identifying strength and weakness and
finding measures to correct it.
Organizational learning and training may
include training for succession planning and
strategic decision making which can bring
positive outcomes for Walmart.
Need and importance of continuous learning and professional development to drive
sustainable business performance. In today's competitive business environment, every business
organization needs to adopt continuous learning and training programs for its employees so that
it help in gaining competitive advantage by sustaining business performance. Walmart operates
in retail market offering wide range of products and services and so faces large number of
competition. Continuous learning helps in increasing skills and knowledge of individuals which
can support achieving overall goals and objectives of Walmart(Ben-Hafaïedh and Cooney,
2017). Continuous learning will help in professional development of individuals as it is a
repetitive process which guides about various changes happening in business environment.
Various importance of continuous learning are explained as follows:
 Continuous learning maintains and improves knowledge and skills of employees which
results in gaining competitive advantage.
 It creates new opportunities and areas for Walmart to increases its markets share and
profits.

 Continuous learning helps employees to keep updated with trends and technologies.
 This also helps in motivating, encouraging employees and also to satisfy them, and this
also results in lowering down the employee turnover.
 Continuous learning enables employees to bring innovation and creation in business
activities which can lead to improve in increasing efficiency.
 This helps in development of skills and knowledge of employees which can be used in
implementing new and updated techniques and technologies to bring effectiveness.
There are various importance of implementing continuous learning and professional
development in business environment. Learning cycle theories are used while implementing
continuous learning(Danzl Hunter and Harrison, 2017). It consists of four steps i.e. unconscious
incompetence, conscious incompetence, conscious competence and unconscious competence.
Continuous learning and professional development helps in improving skills and knowledge of
employees which can benefit organization to achieve its overall objectives and sustain in
competitive business environment and also to sustaining business performance.
Continuous professional development(CPD) ensures that employee's knowledge and
skills are updated and it also keeps pace with current situations and standards. CPD helps in
creating and identifying new opportunities and possibilities for career development and growth.
CPD also contributes in improving innovation and creation in business operations which results
in increasing profits and productivity. Continuous learning maintains and increases brand image
of company as it helps in improving customers related services. Continuous professional
development ensures that individual employees put their best potential in business activities
which results in effectiveness in business operations and activities. CPD also helps in developing
professional career of individual employees as it aims at improving skills and knowledge.
Professional development plan is made in order to identify learning goals and training
which helps in achieving sustainable business performance and overall objectives.
Continuous professional
development
Activities that supports in
continuous professional
development
Resources
Strategic decision making
techniques
Training and development
workshops needs to be attended in
order to develop strategic decision
Help and guidance from
higher authorities and

making techniques(Mathieu and
et.al., 2017).
different departments.
Technical knowledge
regarding technologies used in
business activities
Technical training and seminars
will help in increasing knowledge
regarding use of technologies.
Instructions from
professional technical
departments or external
agencies.
LO 3
Contribution of high performance working to employee engagement and competitive advantage
High Performance Working(HPW) combines various practices of HR, organizational
structure and procedures of business organization. HPW aims at improving skills and knowledge
of employees by providing them with training and development sessions. HPW focuses on
utilizing the best available knowledge and skills of its employees so that it can gain competitive
advantage and maintain employees engagement(Riemer, Schellhammer and Meinert, 2018).
Walmart applies HPW framework while managing business activities and aims at improving
employees engagement in activities so that it can achieve high level of commitment and gain
competitive advantage.
High Performance Working framework adopted by Walmart enhances effective
involvement of its employees and increases their performance level in managing business
activities. HPW aims at hiring right employees for right place and also provide them with
training and development that leads to increasing their skills and knowledge. This also makes
employees satisfied towards their job and also makes them retain in business. HPW adopted by
Walmart results in effective involvement of employees in serving customers, managing business
activities effectively and achieving business objectives. Walmart adopts various high
performance working practices to bring effective involvement of employees that results in
gaining competitive advantage, some are explained as follows.
 HPW provides proper and accurate guidance and direction to its employees which makes
them to take effective part in business activities and operations.
 It makes them to take part in decision making and ask for their suggestion and ideas.

 Walmart operates in retail market that needs effective communication between
employees and customers so HPW provides proper training and learning program to
improvise their skills.
 HPW practices ensures performance based pay which makes employee to increase their
skills and knowledge and improve their performance(Shalley and Gilson, 2017).
 Involvement of employees in decision making enhances innovative and creative ideas
which can result in positive outcomes for Walmart while implementing advancement.
High performance working benefits Walmart in various ways, some of them are explained as
follows:
 HPW ensures to build effective cooperation between employees and between different
departments as well.
 It generates better attitude of employees as it improves skills and knowledge. Employees
feel more confident and give better performance results in business activities.
 HPW helps Walmart by bringing innovation and creation and also ensure to bring new
products and services in markets.
 Employees effective involvement in business activities makes its customers satisfied and
happy which helps in increasing profits of Walmart.
 HPW creates a better working environment for employees and also creates corporate
social responsibility.
 This results in increased market share for products and services of Walmart which
benefits better financial stability for company. This can also benefit in increasing its
business in global markets.
 HPW benefits Walmart to gain competitive advantage by increasing skills of employees
and retaining them in business(Dulebohn and Hoch, 2017). Talented employees ensures
to bring effectiveness in busies s operations and also help in gaining competitive
advantages.
LO 4
Various approaches to performance management supporting high performance culture and
commitment
Performance management approaches enables effective performance of employees and
results in positive outcomes. Various approaches enables to increase knowledge and skills of

employees by assessing them. Performance management aims at evaluating performance level of
employees, provide feedback to them which results in creating positive impact on their
performance. Walmart should aim at improvising performance level of its employees so that it
can gain competitive advantage by innovating its business activities.
Walmart adopts collaborative working approach while assessing performance of its
employees. Collaborative working makes employees engaged in business activities and work
cooperatively with other employees and departments. This benefits co-operative working
environment in which sharing of ideas and views happen which results in creating new and
updated strategies. Collaborative working performance management enhances employees to give
their best potential in business activities and achieve organizational objectives(Liao, 2017).
Walmart aims at creating collaboration between employees so that every one put their efforts on
same track which can help business to create high performance culture and gain employee's
commitment. Collaborative working environment makes its employees engaged in business
activities and also makes them feel motivated and encouraged which results in their satisfaction.
Collaborative working environment makes every employees to utilize their full potential and
skills cooperatively which results in effective outcomes and also creates high performance
culture.
Performance management used in Walmart include various strategies and approaches
while measuring performance of its employees. There are various approaches of performance
management such as quality approach, results approach, behavioral approach, comparative
approach and attribute approach. Various approaches of performance management has different
suitability and features, therefore, Walmart should make use of one or combination of
approaches while evaluating performance of its employees. This will result in creation of high
performance culture and commitment.
 Comparative approach: this approach evaluates performance of employees on the basis
comparison. Different techniques and tools are applied by Walmart while comparing the
performance of employees, such as forced distribution technique, graphic ratings, paired
comparison, etc.
 Quality approach: this approach aims at measuring performance of employees and
providing them satisfaction which can results in their commitment towards Walmart. It
takes feedback from peers, leaders, manager or higher authorities regarding performance

of employees(Mockaitis, Zander and De Cieri, 2018). This approach makes involvement
of both internal and external stakeholders of business environment, such as customers,
clients, colleagues.
 Result approach: this approach aims at measuring performance of employees on the
basis of results. It aims evaluating performance results of employees and give feedback
which results in creating higher commitment of employees in business activities. This
approach considers various factors such as evaluation system, balanced score tool and
productivity measurement.
 Attribute approach: this approach considers different parameters for measuring
employees performance. Various parameters are used to evaluate skills and knowledge of
employees which relates to resolving conflicts, bringing of innovation and creation, level
of co-ordination. This results in bringing high performance culture.
 Behavioral approach: this approach considers certain scales while measuring employees
performance on the basis of dimensions of their job profile. In this approach various tools
and techniques are used such as Behavioral Anchor Rating Scale in which vertical scales
for rating are used to measure the performance level. This benefits to increase employee
engagement and also increase their commitment level(Fiore and Georganta, 2017).
High performance working enable to create effective involvement of employees in
business activities and operations and which increases their commitment for business
organization. Effective involvement of employees leads to bring innovation and creation in
business activities of Walmart by which it can gain competitive advantages. Various approaches
of High performance working enhances in increasing efficiency of employees and it also helps in
increasing their satisfaction towards job. High performance working aims at creating effective
involvement of employees in business and related activities that also creates their commitment.
Various approaches used by Walmart in High Performance Working are explained as follows:
 It gives performance appraisal and rewards to employees so that they feel motivated and
encouraged.
 HPW provides various skill and knowledge development programs to employees which
helps in improvising performance and build performance culture.
 HPW adopts various performance measurement techniques and gives feedback to
employees which results in increased performance level(Moxen and Strachan, 2017).

 Annual reviews of training and development programs that helps in increasing skills of
employees.
 HPW provides continuous development programs to develop knowledge and skills of its
employees which also creates development of their professional career.
CONCLUSIONS
Various skills, knowledge and behavior are necessary for HR professional to develop and
grow in professional career. Personal skill audit and development plan guides individual to
identify strength and weakness which helps in increasing knowledge. Individual and
organizational learning helps in driving sustainable business performance and also to gain
competitive advantage. Various approaches are used to measure the performance of employees
which creates high performance culture for business organisations. High performance working
enables to create employee engagement and commitment and also ensures in gaining competitive
advantage.

REFERENCES
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Online
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