Impact of Soft Skills Training on Manager's Performance in Retail Organization

An Analysis on the impact of soft skills training on the
manager’s performance within Retail Organisation.

Abstract
The present investigation is clearly based on impact of soft skills training on the
manager’s performance within Retail Organization. Training has been acknowledged as the
common method that is adopted by businesses belonging to any sector for enhancing skills as
well as knowledge of workforce in effective manner. It has been analysed that the preliminary
aid of conducting training sessions for employees is to prepare them about the forth coming task
which is required to be performed by them in the near future. Training is acknowledged as the
common method that is adopted by businesses belonging to any sector for enhancing skills as
well as knowledge of workforce in effective manner. It has been analysed that the preliminary
aid of conducting training sessions for employees is to prepare them about the forth coming task
which is required to be performed by them in the near future. For performing research on this, 20
managers had been chosen as the sample size that will further provide detailed information
through the medium of interview method. It has been later analysed that training of managers or
employees are absolutely important in this changing environment or atmosphere. This has been
determined as an effective and valuable activity of human resource department which supports in
enhancing the competency of manager. Training provides a lot of advantages to the managers
such as betterment in effectiveness and efficiency, creation of self-conference and supports
everyone in their self-management.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
At first I would like to provide big thanks to god for giving me opportunity to perform
this research with best possible efforts so that it could get accomplished in the quicker manner.
Along with this, I also want to thanks to my respectful mentors who have supported me a lot
while conducting dissertation and also reviewed my overall pattern of performing the work and
also provided me suggestion wherever I required them a lot. Apart from this, I would also like to
thanks my guides from the retail sector that is superiors and management team who have
collaboratively supported a lot in obtaining authenticate information on the selected topic. Lastly,
huge thanks are provided to my lovely family and close friends who have always trusted me and
provided to required level of support throughout the project completion process.

Contents
Abstract............................................................................................................................................2
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT...............................................................................................................3
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION....................................................................................................7
1.1 Research background........................................................................................................7
1.2 Research aim, objectives and questions...........................................................................8
1.3 Contribution of study........................................................................................................9
1.4 Research structure............................................................................................................9
CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW.......................................................................................12
2.1 Introduction:-..................................................................................................................12
2.2 Conclusion of Literature review.....................................................................................23
CHAPTER 3: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY...........................................................................25
3.1 Introduction....................................................................................................................25
3.2 Research Philosophy......................................................................................................26
3.3 Research design..............................................................................................................26
3.4 Research Approach.........................................................................................................27
3.5 Research Method/Strategy and Justification..................................................................28
3.6 Data Collection method..................................................................................................29
3.7 Data Analysis Methods...................................................................................................30
3.8 Research choices............................................................................................................31
3.9 Time Horizons................................................................................................................31
3.10 Ethical considerations...................................................................................................32
3.11 Conclusion....................................................................................................................33
Chapter 4: Results and Analysis....................................................................................................34
4.1 Introduction....................................................................................................................34
4.2 Analysis..........................................................................................................................34
4.3 Results............................................................................................................................39
4.4 Conclusion......................................................................................................................40
CHAPTER 5: Discussion & Analysis............................................................................................40
5.1 Introduction....................................................................................................................40

CHAPTER 6: RECOMMENDATIONS & CONCLUSION.........................................................44
6.1 Introduction....................................................................................................................44
6.2 Summary of Research.....................................................................................................44
6.3 Expected benefits versus observed benefits...................................................................45
6.4 Expected barriers versus observed barriers....................................................................46
6.6 Recommendations..........................................................................................................46
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................48
Appendix........................................................................................................................................53
REFLECTION......................................................................................................................53
Professional Statement.........................................................................................................55
Gantt chart............................................................................................................................56

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION
1.1 Research background
Training is determined as the effective way by which employees as well as staff at
workplace can develop their desired skills as well as knowledge in effective form. This
development at regular basis provides opportunities to employees to improvise their performance
at workplace in such a manner that contributes in the attainment of organisational goals as well
as objectives in quicker manner (Seidle, Fernandez and Perry, 2016). Along with this, constant
based training session directly provides support to employees which motivates them. Also, this
influences employees commitment towards the work as they are feeling attached to the company.
Strong motivation level influences employees to take self-initiative in organisational work which
also enhances chances of creation of innovation at workplace. It has been later seen that training
and development is not only valuable for employees but at the same time training is highly
important for managerial level (Memon, Salleh and Baharom, 2016). With reference to the post
of managers it has been determined that like e employee managers also needs training as with the
changing time their roles and responsibilities with the company are also modifying. In order to
deal with the same and develop their own skills as well as knowledge, managers are required to
attend training programs where they can obtain adequate amount of guidance and develop their
required skills in appropriate form. In addition to this, these training are not only related with the
work or any new up gradation on the technology based work. But, at the same time these training
sessions aware manager about soft speaking and other technique by which they can easily
manage workforce at workplace and influence to them work effectively without creating any
kind of disturbance. Overall, training given to managers are beneficial for the whole company
and also support firm in attaining its predetermined goals and objectives in effective manner.
The present report is based on TESCO, a large scale multinational retail company
belonging to UK. The respective company was propounded by Jack Cohen in the year 1919 and
has its supermarket stores in 7 countries of Asia and Europe. Apart from this, this company also
has its operations in Ireland, Hungary, UK and Thailand. Its major market share has been
witnessed in UK that is around 28.4%. With the passing time, product portfolio of this company
has been diversified into range of sections such as books, software, financial service, toys,
electronics, clothing, furniture, petrol, internet services, software etc. TESCO has approx. 6800

shops worldwide which is being operated by approx. 450000 number of employees. The Overall
performance of the company is good and remarkable as its top management team is managing
work in rightful manner. Apart from this there are several other companies like Marks and
Spencer, ASDA, Aldi, Waitrose & Partners, John Lewis Partnership, Next etc. belonging to the
same sector which are having good positioning at marketplace and holds noticeable market share
too. It has also been seen that products and services offered by these companies belongs to the
same range which still might vary in terms of quality and prices. But, still it has been analysed
that top management team of these companies have noticed that they are not able to implement
their business activities effectively. The main reason behind this is their regular based interaction
with the huge workforce. The managerial level staff also finds it difficult to handle workforce as
they do not know how to manage the employees with the usage of soft skills (Koohang,
Paliszkiewicz and Goluchowski, 2017). In order to improvise this problem in appropriate
manner, the respective investigator has planned to conduct research on analysing the effects of
training and development on the performance of the managers. For this, they have formulated an
effective research team who knows to conduct research in lucrative form and find out proposed
outcome on the stated topic. In this regard, chosen researcher has developed research aim,
objectives and questions which would be followed by them as well as their team member for
conducting this research in effective manner.
1.2 Research aim, objectives and questions
Research aim simply provides preliminary goal to investigator which is required to be
attained by them by the end of study. In context of this study, the prime motive of this
investigation is to find out effects of training and development on the manger's performance
belonging to retail sector (Brewster and Söderström, 2017). Also, it includes range of sub
objectives which makes work of investigator easier as they can easily bifurcate their work
according to the objectives and attain proposed aim in quicker manner. Research aim, objectives
and questions are stated as below:
Research Aim
The proposed research aim for the current dissertation is to analyse the effect of soft
skills training on manager’s performance.
Research Objectives
 To understand how soft skills training improve on manager’s performance.