Impact of leadership on job satisfaction and engagement level of employees

Dissertation on Mark
and Spencer

Abstract
The present study initiated to evaluate the concept of leadership and its impact over
increasing job satisfaction and enhancing retention of employees at workplace; therefore, in the
present current and steadily changing, cutthroat and unpredictable market, authority is likely
perceived as quite possibly the main donors which decide the achievement or disappointment of
a business. The study has shown that, leadership pose positive association with employee’s job
satisfaction and the engagement of the employees at workplace. Therefore, Marks and Spencer is
a large multination corporation which has its major focus over increasing the operations of the
business with the support of implementing effective leadership style. The literature review in this
report is relay over evaluating the concept of leadership, the importance of leadership within
business and he suitable leadership styles that can effectively be implement by the business to
attain growth. For this study a quantitative research design is being implementing by the research
with using a sample of 50 employees in Marks and Spencer. Participants were mentioned to
finish the Leadership Questionnaire, for measuring the views to generate significant outcome.
Results of stud mainly, show that there is a genuinely significant association between both
initiative styles and the work fulfilment and the representatives’ engagement. Democratic
leadership however, has a positive influence on the operations of Marks and Spencer. After that,
suitable suggestions to the business in relation to implementing the effective leadership style to
gaining more progression has been provide.

Table of Contents
Abstract............................................................................................................................................2
Table of Contents.............................................................................................................................3
Title: Impact of leadership on job satisfaction and engagement level of employees. A research
project on Marks and Spencer..........................................................................................................1
Chapter 1: Introduction....................................................................................................................1
1.1. Overview of the topic......................................................................................................1
1.2. Background of the organisation.......................................................................................1
1.3. Research problem............................................................................................................2
1.4. Research aim and objectives...........................................................................................2
1.5. Rationale for selection of topic........................................................................................3
1.6 Significance of the Research............................................................................................3
1.7. Research questions..........................................................................................................4
1.8. Scope and limitation........................................................................................................4
Chapter 2: Literature review............................................................................................................6
2.1. To evaluate about the vital concept of leadership...........................................................6
2.2. To identify the need and importance of effective leadership within an organisation.....9
2.3. To determine about the impact, lead out by leadership on the job satisfaction and
engagement level of the employees of Marks and Spencer.................................................11
2.4. To recommended some most appropriate and suitable leadership style for Marks and
spencer which would enhance the overall job satisfaction of employees along with improving
their performance and retention level...................................................................................13
Chapter 3: Methodology................................................................................................................14
Chapter 4: Results and discussion..................................................................................................20
4.1. Data analysis..................................................................................................................20
4.2. Interpretation of research results...................................................................................22
Discussion.............................................................................................................................34
Chapter 5: Conclusion and Recommendation................................................................................36
Introduction..........................................................................................................................36
Conclusion............................................................................................................................36
Recommendation..................................................................................................................37

REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................40
Appendix........................................................................................................................................46

Title: Impact of leadership on job satisfaction and engagement level of
employees. A research project on Marks and Spencer.
Chapter 1: Introduction
1.1. Overview of the topic
The investigation based on the aspect of leadership and its influence over the job satisfaction and
engagement level of the employees is becoming increasingly important in the situation when the
businesses wants to attain and sustain a higher competitive edge within today’s global economy.
Having an engaged labour force is important as the investigation indicates that the engagement
of employees aid businesses reap significance likewise expanded proficiency, more significant
level of purchasers fulfilment, high efficiency and the lower turnover rates. Hence, the
investigation contains the meaning of authority and its style over the movement of the business.
Authority has been singled out as an idea that has interested the consideration of numerous
researchers in the course of recent year. It is perhaps the most contemplated fields in the
sociologies and conveys weight in different social statuses identified with business,
governmental issues, instruction and religion etcetera (Holmes, Parker and Gibson, 2019) . In the
competitive business era, businesses are mainly seeking for attaining growth and development
and leadership assumes a fundamental part in helping the whole business tasks right way to gain
development. In this present investigation analysis is based on the study of Marks and Spencer,
as it is a large British multinational retailer firm, which deals in clothing, home products and
food products which are mostly sell out of its own label. The firm was established in the year of
1884 and the headquarter of the firm is in London, England. The business is mainly concern over
gaining significant development and for this; organisation is focuses over implementing suitable
leadership style as it is effective in increasing the satisfaction of employee’s job and also
enhancing the retention of employees at workplace.
1.2. Background of the organisation
Marks and Spencer Group plc that is also abbreviated as M&S is a well-known major
multinational British retailer that is having its main headquarters in London, England. Marks and
spencer tend to have specialisation in the selling of the clothing items, home products and food
products which are mostly sell out of its own label (Thai and Jie, 2018) . The Marks and Spencer
group was founded in the year 1884 by the Michael Marks and Thomas Spencer in the Leeds.
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Further, from 1884 till now the Marks and Spencer has currently operating through more 959
stores which are situated across the UK and comprises of 615 stores that only sell food products.
Effective use of promotional techniques through its television advertising are made to asserts and
promote the exclusive nature and luxury of its food and beverages across the world and now it
also offers an online food delivery service across various parts of UK. The estimated revenue of
the business in the year of 2020 is around 1,018.19 crores GBP, which addresses higher
advancement of the business. The organization is working with 78000 representatives who are
investing their critical amounts of energy in the development activities of the business (Ashraf,
2019).Therefore, having a wider workforce range the company needs to be concern over
enhancing the satisfaction of employees and retaining them for longer run. Thus, business is
implementing effective leadership style as to enhancing the operational ability of the business.
1.3. Research problem
The key issue which is needed to be discussed in this investigation is based on the effective
implementation of leadership concept and style within business as it affects the satisfaction of
employees and also the engagement of the employees. Therefore, this is the most concern aspect
to be studied in the modern and competitive era and need suitable recognition to improvise the
leadership concept and implement effective style to aid the business operations in right manner
(Elbaz, Haddoud and Shehawy, 2018) . Inappropriate assessment of leadership style creates
adverse influence over decreasing the satisfaction of the employees and also reducing the
retention of the employees at workplace.
1.4. Research aim and objectives
Research aim
The aim of current investigation is, “To evaluate about the concept of leadership along
with analysing the impact of leadership on the job satisfaction and engagement level of the
employees”. A research project on Marks and Spencer.
Research objectives
The main objectives of leading out current investigation are listed as below:
 To evaluate about the vital concept of leadership.
 To identify the need and importance of effective leadership within an organisation.
 To determine about the impact of leadership on the job satisfaction and engagement level
of the employees of Marks and Spencer.
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 To recommended some most appropriate and suable leadership style for Marks and
spencer which would enhance the overall job satisfaction of employees along with
improving their performance and retention level.
1.5. Rationale for selection of topic
The investigation into consideration is based on evaluating the concept of leadership along with
analysing the impact of leadership on the job satisfaction and engagement level of the
employees, and its key aim is to evaluating the potential impact of leadership over the
development of employee’s satisfaction and the retention level (Jambawo, 2018) .The key reason
of executing the study is that, leadership concept, employee engagement and the job satisfaction
of employees are the most concerned issue in today’s modern business era and these are widely
faces by the businesses and study about the aspect will supportive in providing significant
knowledge base, Thus, the study initiating suitable evaluation over the implementation of the
leadership style over the operations enhancement of employees. The suitable execution of the
study helps in enhancing individual understanding in relation to the aspect of leadership and how
it affects the work fulfilment of representatives and the maintenance of workers. Moreover,
another expectation of executing this examination is the individual premium of the specialist as
the agent needs to investigate own capacity corresponding to the present area and implement
them in their present or future projects (Schmidt and Pohler, 2018) .The investigation is also
creating value in enhancing individual personal as well as professional skills in the manner of
enhancing idea about the concerned topic and the suitable recognition about the execution of
investigation. Therefore, the enhanced skills and knowledge helps in gaining effective academic
records or executing the future projects in more liable manner.
1.6 Significance of the Research
The potential significance of this study is the enhancement of knowledge in relation to the aspect
of leadership and its impact over the job satisfaction and the engagement of employees at
workplace. The execution of the study is based on the analysis of Marks and Spencer as it is a
large multinational firm which is working for attaining competitive edge and providing high
competition to its rivals (Stewart and Brown, 2019) . The study is creating benefit for individual
who is executing the analysis over this specific area as the researcher will attain significant
benefits in personal and professional terms. In addition to this, the study is also creating
significance for Marks and Spencer as the firm is attaining benefits to analysing the concept of
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