Work-Based Learning Report: Morrisons Business and Personal Audit

This report provides a detailed analysis of work-based learning within Morrisons PLC, a major UK supermarket chain. It begins with an introduction outlining the report's focus on how employees learn and develop professionally within the organization. The report then delves into the business environment of Morrisons using tools like PESTLE analysis to assess political, economic, social, technological, environmental, and legal factors. SWOT analysis is employed to evaluate internal strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Porter's Five Forces model examines the competitive landscape, including the threat of new entrants, supplier power, buyer power, substitute products, and rivalry among existing firms. The report further explores management practices, such as reward systems and training and development programs, and their impact on employee performance. Finally, the report includes a personal and professional audit, outlining personal development plans and the acquisition of new skills and competencies. This report provides a comprehensive overview of Morrisons' business environment and the importance of work-based learning for employee and organizational success.

WORK-BASED LEARNING

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1 Business environment of the organisation.........................................................................1
1. PESTLE Analysis£..................................................................................................................1
2. SWOT.....................................................................................................................................2
3. PORTER'S FIVE FORCE analysis ........................................................................................4
4. Management Practice..............................................................................................................5
TASK 2 Personal and professional audit.........................................................................................5
1. Personal development and it influenced as an individual person...........................................5
2. New skills, knowledge and competencies for Professional development ..............................7
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................8
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................9

INTRODUCTION
This report is all about work based learning, that means employees work in the
organisation and simultaneously learn different thing while working in the organisation that help
them in their personal and professional development and helps in achieving the organisational
target. This report is based on the Morrisons plc, which is the fourth largest supermarket chain in
the United Kingdom. It has number of stores in number of countries, net income of the
Morrisons as on 2018 was £311 million. Report will include business environmental tools such
as PESTLE, SWOT, Porter's five forces that affect the organisation and work of the employees.
This will also explain management practices of the organisation that have huge impact on the
employees performance. Further more this report will explain the audit of personal and
professional development that expect to achieve from work environment.
TASK 1 Business environment of the organisation
1. PESTLE Analysis£
To identify the impact of the external environment on the Morrisons, management use
PESTLE analysis tool. This tool help the organisation to find out the how external environment
affect organisation ant its employees. This include the six factors which are as follow:
Political factor – Political factor play significant role to determine the impact on the Morrisons.
This political factor affect the long term profitability of the Morrison in certain country. Like
taxation, wage legislation, anti trust laws, industrial safety all these affected by the instability
instability. Morrisons have to change its pricing and wages and taxation. This will affect the
employees performance as they leave the organisation or do not work effectively. Because of the
taxation, Morrison increase the -price than it will decrease demand of the products (Martínez,
Galván and Alam, 2017).
Economic factor – Countries economic system and condition affect the Morrison and its
operation. Countries exchange rates, efficiency of the market, labour cost, economic growth rate,
inflation and unemployment rate affect the Morrisons. If labour cost is high than it is difficult for
the organisation as to hire employees and have to pay a lot to them this will affect the operation
of the Morrisons and if Morrisons will not get the employees because of the unemployment rate
then can not work and operate on that particular country.
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Social factor – This include demographic and skill level of the country, education level, culture
like gender, role, attitude of the people. Lack of skills people affect the Morrisons as they do not
perform well. And Morrison have to produce products as according to culture and demand of that
country's people. If it is not then can not perform on t hat country. Attitude of the people affect
the other employees behaviour as they spread the negativity in the organisation (Jenkins and
Williamson, 2015).
Technological factor – This technological change affect the Morrison company and its
performance. As rapid increasing technology in the Morrisons help the company to produce
quality products and also help the employees as they can for easily and it save the time of the
employees. With the help of the technological change, Morrisons become able to produce large
amount and different varieties of the products and reaching them to the end customers. This
increase the market share of the Morrison by increasing demand of the product (Morrison (Wm)
Supermarkets Plc PESTEL & Environment Analysis,2019).
Environmental Factor – environmental factor that Carbon emission, carbon footprint also have
to take care by the Morrisons company. Air and water pollution regulation, waste management,
attitude toward the green or ecological products as it provide the organic and environment
friendly products to the customers. And climate change and other weather condition affect the
operation of the Morrisons company.
Legal Factors – legal framework like anti trust law, copy rights, health and safety law of the
employees, consumer protection law. All have to be consider by the Morrison plc as to operate in
the country. If it does not customers and employees will not trust and work with the company.
And this affect the profitability and image of Morrisons company (Jenkins and Williamson,
2015).
2. SWOT
For the internal environment impact and influence on the Morrisons organisation and on
the employees Morrisons use SWOT analysis tool. That identify whole internal environment that
affect the Morrison. This include four factors which are:
Strength
 Morrison is the fourth largest supermarket chain in the United Kingdom with 11% of
market share.
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 From the last four year it has consistently strong revenue and profitability growth
enabling £1.1 billion.
 Morrison have unique selling point.
 Morrison has effective and strong supply chain that help the company to fulfil the
demand of the customers on time by delivering products and material in the market
(Takata, 2016).
Weakness
 Morrisons has limited geographical reach as comparison to the other competitors.
 Business of the Morrison is mainly depend on the UK market.
 It has weak convenience store presence (PESTLE AND SWOT ANALYSIS OF WM
MORRISON’S,2017).
 It does not provide the products online, as other competitors start online business and
give different offers to the customers.
 Morrison's management is delayed in make changes in the strategies for the customers.
Opportunities
 Morrison can establish its business globally and can become the largest grocery retailer in
UK.
 Morrison organisation can make changes in their operations and improve its convenience
stores (Rothaermel, 2015).
 Morrisons can start its online business for he customers and provide the home deliver and
offer different coupons to them that increase the profitability of the company.
 Morrison ca also provide the green, organic, ethical products to the custo0mers and can
increase the product range.
Threats
 Increasing market share of the competitors are the main threat of the Morrisons.
 E-commerce business by the other companies affect the business of the Morrison.
 Political instability, Govt. policies and changing taxation affect the decision making
process and operation of the Morrison organisation.
 Rapid changing technology is also a risk for the Morrison as it need high amount to bring
new technology ion organisation and also need to invest in training and development
program of the employees (Takata, 2016).
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3. PORTER'S FIVE FORCE analysis
This Porter's five force model is the strategic management tool that help the organisation
to determine competitive advantage of the company. Morrisons use this Porter's model in order
to identify the competitive force in the market. This model include:
Threats of new entrants – Threats of the new entrants in the retail market for the Morrison is
low as to open a supermarket and manage different rage of the products need high amount. But
this new entrants can affect the Morrisons and put pressure on it by brings innovation in retail,
new ways of doing things. Morrison can overcome this threat by providing providing new
products and services to the customers, by reducing the cost, and increase products range in the
market (Donate and de Pablo, 2015).
Bargaining power of suppliers – Bargaining power of the supplier for the Morrison is average.
As Morrison bis the retail company so it has contact with number of suppliers to buy their raw
materials. Is one suppliers denied to work with the company Morrison switch to another supplier.
But many case it can affect the Morrison as to delay in reaching the products in the market and
bring raw material for the company.
Bargaining power of buyers - As the bargaining power of the buyers is very high for the
Morrison. As the buyers are often demanding more and want to buy best offer products at
minimum price as possible. They can put pressure on Morrison by denying to buy products. If
large number of buyers denied to buy products from the Morrison, then Morrison plc have to
reduce the cost of their products else this will affect the revenue and gross profit of the Morrison
organisation (Morrisons Porter Five Forces Analysis,2018).
Threats of substitute products or services – Substitute products not entirely replace the
existing products but buy introducing the new technology or reduce the cost or production of the
same product. This substitute products affect the Morrison and its pricing policy to make
available all the products to the customers at low price (Truman, Mason and Venter, 2017).
Rivalry among existing firms – As there are number of competitors in the retail industry which
provide different products in large variety this increase the threat for the Morrison. Like other
competitors provide online services to the customers but the Morrisons do not provide this
service it affect the Morrison and its business as whole. Increasing rivalry affect the Morrison
and have to make changes in their policies and strategies.
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4. Management Practice
Management is the core function of any organisation and it is responsible for all the
activity in the organisation and well being of the company and its stakeholders such as
employees and investors. And management practices are those activities that is applied by the
management in the organisation to increase the performance of the employees and to obtain the
overall organisational goal. Management of the Morrison apply the many practices in their
organisation that help it to improve and increase the employee's performance. Which are:
Reward system – Morrison company apply the reward system in their organisation by the
management and provide the best reward on the basis of the performance of the employees. This
reward system motivate the employees to work well and gain the reward. As it is also a
prestigious factors that also motivate the employees and influence their work. Employee improve
their performance and to gain the rewards they work effectively and help the Morrison
organisation to obtain its goal. As the Morrison give rewards to the employees in front of all thee
employees and members, employees try to do their best and increase the performance efficiency
to get the reward and this will also help the employees to build their good image in the Morrison
company (Noe and et.al., 2017).
Training and development – Training and development helps the employees to learn new
things which is needed in the organisation and for their job role. Morrison provide the best
training and development program to their new employees and also establish the on going
training and development program to enhance the performance of the employees. This training
and development program in the Morrison helps the employees to learn new skills and technique
to do their work effectively and improve the performance by ongoing training and development
program. Through this employees get to know and understand their job role easily and with this
they start working according to it and this increase the performance of the employees (Thompson
and McLarney, 2017).
TASK 2 Personal and professional audit
1. Personal development and it influenced as an individual person.
Personal development plan
Skills Activities Resources Time Feedback
Communication Attending Coaching, 3 months Can take
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skills personal
development
classes and
coaching.
internet, reading
books and
watching TV chat
shows.
feedback from
other employees
in Morrison
company and
from leader as
well.
Time
management skill
Using, Mayo jar,
ribbon activity
and making table.
Set the task
according to its
priority and
calculate the time
of completing the
task.
2 months Can do self
assesment and
al;so take the
review from the
team leaders and
management.
Team working
skills
Attending
workshop, more
actively
participate in
group activities.
Group work,
actively
participate in
team discussion
and tasks.
2 months Can take
feedback from the
group members
Decision-making
skill
Evaluation table,
taking test on
internet on
making decision.
Internet, books,k
experience from
leaders.
4 months Can take
feedback from
Employees,
managers and
leaders.
Problem solving
skill
Solving different
puzzles, and
analyse different
situation.
Internet, books,
Solving cube and
puzzles.
5 months Can take
feedback from
management and
leaders of the
team in
company.
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This personal development skills helps the individual to improve its personality and and
can change the whole personality of an individual. These personality development skills help an
individual to improve its behaviour with other and also in doing the task weather it is a personal
task or for the organisation. Individual can also achieve these skills from their workplace by
seeing their senior employees, leaders and manage4rs who have the best communication skills,
who effectively complete its task and on the time and who make the strategies and take the tough
decision that help the organisation to achieve its organisational target. These personal skills of an
individual help in its personal life to make balance and also help in professional life to any work.
As Morrison is retail company where number of people come in contact. Individual's effective
communication and other skills alike problem solving skill help it to solve the problem of the
customers. And can effectively make relation with them and other employees in Morrison
company (Sawalha, 2017).
2. New skills, knowledge and competencies for Professional development
Professional development involves the developing yourself as respect to understand the
entire job role and how it can be improved. It also involve the necessary skills to carry the job
role in the Morrisons to work effectively for longer time. This also helps individuals to working
life in the personal aspect. This include some skills, knowledge and competencies which are as
follow:
Discipline – As to work in any organisation individual have to be very disciplined and have to be
professional. This discipline helps the individual t work properly and on the time. Discipline
helps an individual to follow all the procedures, rules and structure and work effectively that help
individual to do things on the time and and also helps Morrisons organisation to achieve target
(Young and Ghoshal, 2016).
Leadership skill – Individual also require leadership skill in the Morrison organisation that help
individual to its professional development. This leadership skill require to individual to lead
employees in Morrison organisation that and guide them in the direction to achieve the personal
target and also to achieve the organisational target. With this leadership skill individual can grow
more in the Morrison organisation.
Management Knowledge – For the professional development an individual need to have
management knowledge. Management of the Morrison organisation is responsible for all the
activities and operations in the organisation. To operate the Morrison organisation smoothly and
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enhance individual professional development, need to have management knowledge to apply
models and theory in the Morrisons that can help the organisation to make its strategies and
planning to achieve the target and to increase the revenue and profit (Breen and et.al.,2016).
For all these skills individual need support from their company managers that can guide
and evaluate their performance. And to apply these skills in practical, individual's previous work
experience help them.
CONCLUSION
From the above study it has been concluded that work based learning is a important part
of the employees working life and also to understand job role to work effectively in the Morrison
organisation. Morrison use the management tools to analyse the impact of the external
environment that influence the company and its operation and decision making process. With
these management tools company can improve its operation and performance and by removing
the weak elements can achieve it target. Rewards and training and development management
practice helps the organisation and employees to improve their performance. Also included that
with the help of some personal and professional skills and knowledge individual can improve its
working style.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Breen and et.al., 2016. Time for management training? Investigating the support for the
continuous professional development of critical management skills amongst community
and hospital pharmacists.
Donate, M.J. and de Pablo, J.D.S., 2015. The role of knowledge-oriented leadership in
knowledge management practices and innovation. Journal of Business Research. 68(2).
pp.360-370.
Jenkins, W. and Williamson, D., 2015. Strategic management and business analysis. Routledge.
Martínez, A.B., Galván, R.S. and Alam, S., 2017. Financial Analysis of Retail Business
Organization: A Case of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. Nile Journal of Business and
Economics. 3(5). pp.67-89.
Noe and et.al., 2017. Human resource management: Gaining a competitive advantage. New
York, NY: McGraw-Hill Education.
Rothaermel, F.T., 2015. Strategic management. McGraw-Hill Education.
Sawalha, I.H., 2017. A context-centred, root cause analysis of contemporary terrorism. Disaster
Prevention and Management: An International Journal. 26(2). pp.183-202.
Takata, H., 2016. Effects of industry forces, market orientation, and marketing capabilities on
business performance: An empirical analysis of Japanese manufacturers from 2009 to
2011. Journal of Business Research. 69(12). pp.5611-5619.
Thompson, J. and McLarney, C., 2017. What effects will the strategy changes undertaken by
next Plc have on themselves and their competition in the UK Clothing Retail
Market?. Journal of Commerce and Management Thought. 8(2). p.234.
Truman, K., Mason, R.B. and Venter, P., 2017. A Model to Operate an On-Campus Retail Store
for Workplace Experiential Learning. Asia-Pacific Journal of Cooperative
Education, 18(1), pp.43-57.
Young, C. and Ghoshal, S., 2016. Organization theory and the multinational corporation.
Springer.
Online
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Morrison (Wm) Supermarkets Plc PESTEL & Environment Analysis.2019.[Online].Available
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supermarkets-plc.php>
Morrisons Porter Five Forces Analysis.2018.[Online].Available
through<https://www.essay48.com/term-paper/13970-Morrisons-Porter-Five-Forces>
PESTLE AND SWOT ANALYSIS OF WM MORRISON’S.2017.[Online].Available
through<https://www.123writing.com/free-sample/pestle-and-swot-analysis-of-wm-
morrison%E2%80%99s-2016-2017>
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