University Work Experience Report: Valley Food Store Analysis

This report details a student's 70-hour work experience at Valley Food Store, a supermarket in Treharris, Wales. The report outlines the student's role as an assistant to the demands and supply manager, highlighting responsibilities such as creating demand lists and managing product packages for online orders. It examines the store's organizational structure, including its tall hierarchy, and its interactions with the political and economic environments. The main findings cover management problems like work allotment, coordination, and recruitment. The report also analyzes the student's personal development, specifically improvements in communication, teamwork, and time management, supported by relevant literature. The student gained insights into the management and staffing aspects related to human resource management, enhancing their understanding of theoretical concepts through practical experience. The report concludes with an evaluation of employability skills gained, including computer proficiency, technical knowledge, research and analysis, and communication, demonstrating a comprehensive analysis of the workplace experience and its impact on the student's professional development.

Workplace Experience

Table of Contents
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY.............................................................................................................3
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
MAIN FINIDINGS..........................................................................................................................4
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................10
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................12

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This report is having focus on the 70 hours work experience of Valley Food store which
is a supermarket situated in the Treharris in Wales. The main aim of this report is to provide a
information what I have gain while working in the organisation.
INTRODUCTION
This report is based on my experience working in Valley Food Store which is a super
market located in Treharris in Wales. It is a private limited company a which is providing public
convenience and general merchandise to localities, this organisation is having aim on the general
consumers which are having daily needs of the grocery products in their routine. They are having
their branches in those locations where peoples are having need of these products. A supermarket
contains all grocery and convenience merchandise which is a basic need of the customer. It has a
sections of products which helps to consumers to find out products which they want to buy.
Supermarket concept is based on the retail chain stores in which organisation is having their
branches in different markets and geo-graphical areas. The Valley Food Store is using the tall
organisational structure which provides them to manage proper hierarchy system and divide the
responsibilities in different management levels.
As they are working in the UK, The political environment always affects the business
because if government imposes the tax rate for grocery items will keep high the actual rates also
become high and it affects the daily routine life of the entire economy. The demand rate will
decline and it affects on so many business which may even to the shut down. The economic
environment also affects because the economy of every country is not stable. If there is a
depression the labour rate get decline(Brunhaver and et. al., 2010). Technologies are always a
significant thing for every business. If the technology are upgraded then they can make high
quality items which is not going to affect the consumers health. The main aim is to take care of
the health issues of the consumers. It is the basic duty of valley food store to take care the
interest of the society.
I was joined this organisation as an assistant of demands and supply manager, I have to
make demand list to sent it to suppliers. Organisation is focused to maintain the cost
effectiveness in the products so we have to discuss with the suppliers to maintain the standard
cost. Valley food store has using an internal software to maintain the level of efficiency in their

stock. So it is easy to analyse products which are limited in the stock. As they are using the
online system for their customers to purchase products so I have to make packages of the
products which are demanded by a particular customer and then send it by the delivery boy. As I
analyse while working their, they are having contract with the security and cleaner company to
provide use their services daily, so they had a security person and two members in cleaning staff.
The supermarket is having two different management levels of hierarchy in which senior
managers and than managers to in different departments to generate productivity by the
employees. The employer is having a positive attitude for the new employees and they are
supportive to provide essential skills. Different department are making coordination to make
business activities. They are having stock management, selling line, demands and supply
department. As I was worked in the supply and demands my manager helped me a lot to pursue
activities in the organisation. As the Valley Food Store is working in the retail sector, they are
having a tough competition with the ASDA and TESCO which are having 15% and 28% market
share of the retail sector.
MAIN FINIDINGS
MANAGEMENT PROBLEMS:
The Valley Food Store is a well structured organisation but it had some basic
management problems which are given under here which develop my personal employability
skills:
Work allotment: As they are having different management levels to allocate their work but our
managers are unable to divide their work in the employees. So I have participate in this and I
assist to my manager to take it in the first priorities. When I was working in the organisation
most of the time our seniors allot a work after 12 PM which create a delay in our schedule so I
initiate in this in my team and start assist my supply and demand manager to use a divide work
according to the team members skills which help to accomplish it on the right time.
Coordination: They are having a lack of coordination in between the team as sales and supply
and demands teams, so it is essential for them to make coordination in between the team to
increase the work efficiency to attain the targets. Each and every day organisation suffered
clashes in between the team members. Working in a team may or may not contribute to the task
assigned thus co-ordination in a team must be there and evaluation of each individual on the
basis of contribution to task should be there. It is the responsibility of the manager to make each

employee understand that how they are beneficial for the organisation and how they can
contribute.
Recruitment: They are using cost effectiveness methods so they are recruiting which are easily
available on less remunerations. Organisation recruit's people only if they saw potential in the
employees and be beneficial for the company. After it they provide them on the job train
methods to provide trainings, so when I was working in the company I also got training by this
method which increased my learnings and listening to the seniors and observation by their acts.
EVIDENCE OF PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT AND CHANGES IN PERSONAL
OUTLOOK:
According to my gains after the working in the Valley food store it increase my personal
abilities which are described under here:
Communication; Before the working in the organisation I resist to talk with unknown
peoples, even I was sot stuck if some one ask a question to me but after the I joined this it has
increase my communication quality. It is essential for a demands and supply assistant to be
communicative with peoples, they have to be in regular search of suppliers by making
communication in the field. As in the Valley Food store they are having focus to deliver best
products according to the demand of the customers. So communication helps in this process
because a demands and supply assistant can analyse the needs of customers by making
communicate with consumers(Giacalone and Jurkiewicz, 2015). now I am able to communicate
with the people who is unknown for me.
Team work; It is a very essential for an employee to make their efforts in team work, as
Valley Food store is having different departments and teams which is having their own
objectives and goals. So it was necessary for me to make my efforts according to the need of the
my manager. This one improves coordination with the team members and peoples at work place.
It emphasis on plans and strategies which helps to these sales teams to achieve their targets. It
has increased my team work efficiency.
Time management; My early life was totally mismanaged cause I have not use time
management in my life before. So most of my work were pending but when I ha s join in this
company it has increase my thought and views about the time management. This a need of
supply and demands managers persons to manage their times as they are having their targets. In
the the food store, I was having different types of targets to make supply of products to the

customers which can be possible by the time management. Our manager was also helpful for me
to divide my time in their work to use my all time in the work and fulfil all activities which is
having a need to perform in the day. Time management is a need of every person to perform
their work in an appropriate arranged manner. All of the employees are using this time
management in their personal life to make schedule of their work and as well as to reach out to
their ideal designation in their career(Marsick and Watkins, 2015). Now I am using time
management in my daily work to perform our routine activities. Now I am using time
management which is helping me to accomplish my targets on the right time.
APPROPRIATE USE AND APPLICATION OF THEORY/LITERATURE TO SUPPORT
FINDINGS.
According to the Behavioural change theory, changes in personal behaviours can be
counted in the health, education and skills which impacts on the person's behaviours. After this
work experience, me, my relatives and friends analysed that I have changed in my behaviours.
Now I does not resists to meet new peoples and now I am easily communicating with them. As I
have accomplishing my work on time it is increase my work capabilities.
DEVELOPMENT OF EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS CLEARLY ARTICULATED AND
EVIDENCED WITH APPROPRIATE EXAMPLES.
Some of the employabilty skills are here which I have gain form the working experience Computer friendly: For running online store one should be very friendly with
computers(Magnavita and Heponiemi, 2011). It is very important to be innovative and
creative in e commerce that how inviolately one should represent website and attract
potential customers. It increase my knowledge for e commerce and as well as use of
computer for business purpose. Technical: Technical knowledge is required to create website for online store and frame
important content and how innovatively and differently designed from others. web
designer is also technical as what colour and format is used which attract customer. It has
gain my knowledge for the website and how an organisation can use this for sales. Research and Analysis: Every organisation has this department. Research is being
conducted on a regular basis to about current trend as well as how can business do better
by taking certain changes(Holmes and et. al., 2011). Here in the food store sales team is

having liability to know about customer's demands and analyse what are their expectation
from the store. So it improves my analysis ability to assume right things for others.
 Communication: This is the basic factor for generating sales in Valley Food Center.
Marketing means selling product as per the needs of customer. Any query must be
resolve within small span of time. Communication can done through any mode like e-
mail, through phone or through online portal(Lunenburg, 2011). The retail store was
using telephones to take orders of their customers to provide home deliver to them. So it
increase my telephonic communication etiquettes.
INSIGHT AND LEVEL OF UNDERSTANDING SHOWN OF OWN PERSONAL AND
PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE
I have learn a lot about the management and staffing of the peoples which are related to
the subject of human resource management. As I am a student of the management, these learning
helps me in my study. I have practical knowledge of it and now I have to learn it by education so
it is clarifying my basic problems regarding to the subjects. Time management, staffing, work
place facilities are related to the my education.
These skills increase my personal abilities and as well as it develops my interpersonal
skills which helps me to get a big opportunity in my future. As I am working in between the
customers and employees it decrease my hesitation to talk with the peoples. My seniors helps me
to learn skills like time management etc. my senior sales person helps me to manages my time
according to the remaining time of the day. They helps me to set out my priorities as per I have
task to perform in the day.
The experience of valley food store change myself completely. I learnt so many things
from there from good habits to management of work. I always put my things on wrong place but
after working those members I learnt how the putting things on right place helps the person in
time saving but also helps to recover from unwanted stress. It also change my habit of going after
the time. From valley store I acquired that time is money. It also improves my skills of leaning
and it make me serious about my life. It also improves my intellectual level of mine. It also
taught me how to make targets for future and how efficiently I can achieve them in a proper or
appropriate manner. It also made me aware to make strategies for my targets of my future. And it
also helps me that how to secure my future. It is essential for me to make strategies and analyse
the supportive materials and person which can help me to attain my targets and objectives. This

also improves my communication skills. After leaving the store my behaviour towards the
individual got changed now I can communicate more easily with others and it also improves my
skills to deal with environment
MANAGEMENT DUTIES / TASKS / PROJECT(S)
Management has a duty to accomplish the needs of the employees to generate work from
them. According to my work experience it is essential for the HR manager to make their proper
focus to analyse the needs of the employees. In the Valley food store employers are providing all
the basic things which are essential for employees to perform their tasks like; calculators, phones
and machines to execute work.
PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT
These skills increase my personal abilities and as well as it develops my interpersonal
skills which helps me to get a big opportunity in my future. As I am working in between the
customers and employees it decrease my hesitation to talk with the peoples. My seniors helps me
to learn skills like time management etc. my senior sales person helps me to manages my time
according to the remaining time of the day. They helps me to set out my priorities as per I have
task to perform in the day.
PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE
Increased skills can help me in my future to perform professional activities, my
communication, time management and team working can help me to perform in the professions
which I can adopt in my future.
MAKE LINKS TO ACADEMIC PERSPECTIVES AND INCLUDE APPROPRIATE
REFERENCES
I learnt so much things from valley store not even the management but also the relation of
environment. I also leant how to made a interpersonal relation with others. I leant the
management of staffing but also how to manage the staff according to their skills. How to divide
work to the ones so they can work in a systematic manner(Kolb, 2014). I learnt to work effective
and efficient so the time can be managed. I knew how to use the resources so the result from
them is maximise. I also experience how to allocate or use the resources. The one more thing that
I could leant that how to attract the consumers so the profit growth can be maximise. Also
experience the “power of bundle of woods” which means the coordination work always get
success it can not be failed. Also got knowledge about the current market scenarios so that can

help me to work in that environment at any time. That 70 hours experience taught me how to
formulate the policies of the business. I also get know about the strength of innovative thinking.
The most awesome thing that I learnt was that always take care the interest of the society so the
resources not get harmed and damaged.
GIVE AN OVERVIEW OF YOUR ROLE, DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
I was working in the organisation I have to make supply of the products which was a
order of customers. I have to make supply of the products effectively classifying them. We were
having many orders in a day which I have to complete in a day on the right time and right place.
HOW DID YOU SECURE THE WORK EXPERIENCE AND THE RATIONALE FOR
YOU SELECTING IT
I have personal interest in the internal process work so when I got an opportunity to work
in it, it did not resist on it. This work experience increase my potentials for my future needs. As I
am a student of the management subject, this work experience help me to how to deal in the
corporates. It has a lesser level of the corporates but it has a same basic principles of a big
structures retail stores. I have learn many types of skills like; time management, discipline,
problem solving, team work and communication etc. which increase my capabilities to deal with
difficult conditions.
EXPLANATION OF THE TASK/PROJECT/PROBLEM/DUTIES
I have a task to manage the stock level and as well as to make supply to our consumers
appropriately. So I have to use my proper focus on my task which helps to me accomplish my
work on the time.
EVALUATE YOUR PERFORMANCE DURING THE WORK EXPERIENCE
As I was a fresher for this work so I had made many mistakes to make demands list, but
as my managers was very supportive for me I have learned a lot from them. Starting takes a time
to adopt the work environment and learn from it. So in the ending time I was working perfectly
according to me and my skills which I developed in the organisation.
SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE GAINED OR DEVELOPED FROM YOUR WORK
EXPERIENCE?
I have learned some skills like; time management, communication, IT skills and team
work which are helpful for me to perform my routine work. As well as these skills and
knowledge I can use in mi future job.

CAN YOU RELATE THESE TO YOUR ACADEMIC STUDIES?
As I am a management student, this work experience is having huge relevancy with the
with my academics. It increase my team working and communication skills which is a basic need
of the management students, cause they have to make communication with the team members.
Management studies are having proper focus on employability skills which are helpful to find
out work opportunity.
THE CULTURE OF THE ORGANISATION
Valley food store is having positive work culture to learn how an organisations work, as
I was a fresher in the organisation and I have learned a lot from it. We were having a proper
guidance of our managers which increase my personal skills.
THE PEOPLE YOU WORKED WITH
All the staff members have good relation with each other. They always maintain a
friendly environment with each other and with their consumers also. I learnt many things from
them. My relation with the other staff members was good. They always treat me like a kid and
always help me in my hard times of the store. I also maintain a good relation with the owner as
well as to the staff members. I also maintain a good relation with the consumers also. The staff
members did not expect that I worked so hard. After watching me their expectations also become
high from me.
HAS YOUR WORK EXPERIENCE AFFECTED YOUR FUTURE CAREER PLANS
AND ASPIRATIONS?
No this work experience not effected my plans opposite to it, it has increase my working
abilities and skills to perform work in the organisations. These skills surely helps me after my
graduation when I need a job for my future needs. So now I have a practical knowledge of
working in the organisation.
CONCLUSION
The above given report is having focus on the personal work experience given by the
Valley Food Store in actual working conditions. This whole report is having focus on my
personal skills which I learned from the Valley Food Store. It has increase my personal skills
like; time management, problem solving etc. It has explanation on to selection for the store and
evidence to prove it is a local store. It is containing the issues for why I left the job. Salary is a

matter why I left this job otherwise it is a good option for a fresher to learn about the retail store.
After leaving this job I have make a personal development plan to polish my skills.

REFERENCES
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