Foundation Project Research Plan

This project examines the relationship between non-financial incentives and employee retention at General Motors. It explores the importance of non-financial benefits, their role in retaining employees, and strategies for utilizing them effectively. The project utilizes a questionnaire-based primary research methodology and examines relevant literature to provide insights into the relationship between non-financial incentives and employee retention.

Foundation Project
Research Plan

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
Research Question: .........................................................................................................................1
Literature Review.............................................................................................................................1
Research Limitation.........................................................................................................................4
Research methodology.....................................................................................................................4
Research ethics.................................................................................................................................8
CONCLUSION ...............................................................................................................................9
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................12

INTRODUCTION
It is a fact that money does not always acts as a motivator for those individuals who
prefers self-actualization and esteem. In order to satisfy their needs in best effective way it is
essential to offer them non-monetary benefits incentives only (Agarwal and Randhawa, 2013).
There are certain non-monetary benefits that include, Job enrichment, Promotion opportunities,
Praise and recognition and security of service. Present case study has been conducted on,
General Motors which is a multinational automotive corporation founded in the year 1908 while
having its headquarter in Detroit, Michigan. Company engage in the offering of products like,
Commercial vehicles, Automotive parts and Auto-mobiles. General Motors believes that
employees act as one of the most important resource for organisational success for this they offer
non-monetary benefits in order to satisfy their workers self-actualization and self-esteem needs
in best effective way. Employee retention is a formative concept in which organisation provide
wide range of benefits to retain them in organisation place for long time.
Aim: An examination of the relationship between non-financial incentives and employee
retention
Research Question:
Does non-financial incentives aid General Motors to retain its employees for long run?
 Importance of non-financial incentives in a company.
 What is the Role of non-financial incentives in retaining employees in General Motors.
 What are the Strategies related with non financial benefits that can be used by
organisation in order to retain employees for long run.
Literature Review
Importance of non-financial incentives in a company
As per the view point of (Agarwal, R. and Randhawa, 2013). Non-financial financial
benefits acts as an those types of rewards which is not an employee's par part. These types of
benefits do not cost big amount for a company but carry most significant weight. Non-financial
benefits help an organisation to motivate and encourage their employees in a best effective way
in order to accomplish their goals. Non financial reward system model will effectively aid an
organisation in order to motivate their employees, in this model time off, activities and employee
of the month techniques are used by company. In general motors non-financial incentives impact
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on employee’s motivation and satisfaction level in a more substantial way (Brigham, E. F. and
Houston). General motors by effectively evaluating employees working conditions found that
major reason of an employee to leave their job includes, work climate, non-financial issues,
career development and recognition. For this company framed formative strategies in which they
provide different types of non-financial benefits in order to retain their employees for long run.
There are different types of non-financial benefits that has been offered by company include, job
security, promotion, responsibility and recognition. These types of benefits act as a most
important part in a growth prospective of an organisation as it will help employees to achieve
work fulfilment in order to realise their true potential. It can be seen that, every worker has
feeling to grow in their work by getting promotion and recognition this will encourage them to
serve their organisation in a more effective manner for long term basis (Cameran and
Pettinicchio, 2013). Non-financial incentives act a most important element within working
structure of General Motors as these types of incentives effectively can be prove to be raise
morale of employee in a more valuable way as to build their commitment with company in a
long term subsequent way. GM management offer attractive and positive non-financial benefits
such as, training opportunities in order to raise skills and efficiency of employees as to grow
their career opportunities, promotions as to increase their morale, flexible working hours as to
build creative and innovative thinking approach in their working style. All these effectively aid
company to increase their overall profitability and productivity while ensuing organisation long
term sustainability in an efficient way. In addition with this, by providing non-financial
incentives GM can create more versatile working environment for their labour force which will
not only aid company to improve quality of their production level but also benefit employees to
increase their inner enthusiasm to work effectively towards goals and objectives of company.
Therefore, it can be seen form the above discussed topic that non-financial incentives act as a
most important element with organisation as it help them to increase their overall development
structure in a best effective way and ensure their long term sustainability and profitability.
Role of non-financial incentives in retaining employees in General Motors
Incentives acts as a most important factor that help an organisation to influence their
employees in a motivating way as to increase their level of performance. Thus, General Motors
management effectively measure strategies and steps with the help of which they can effectively
improve performance of their employees there are some basic role of non-financial incentives
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such as, it helps in building job security among employees which aid them to make sure about
their job stability and their future income (Dey and Sircar, 2012). Along with this non-financial
incentives help General Motors to build job responsibilities among their work force, in this they
creates an motivational and positive environment in which they develop strong challenges for
their employees which aid them to increase their working capacities. Along with this it helps GM
to remove monotonous and dull boring job environment as to bring enthusiasm in them. In
addition to this, by creating challenging working environment which benefits employees to
encounter different types of organisational challenges in more developmental ways. Therefore,
non-financial incentives act as most important factor on order to bring effective sense of
responsibilities among employees which will automatically aid company to generate more
profitability and productivity (Hopkins, 2012). In addition to this, non-financial incentives also
play an most important role in order to motivate employees towards better performance.
Therefore, attractive non-financial incentives are offered by General Motors as to thank their
employees for their contribution and accomplishment. These are given by company as to reward
their employees in such a way as to maintain their self-esteem need in a best effective way.
Form the above discussions it is clear that non-financial incentives act as an effective intrinsic
motivational element that impact on employees performance and stimulate them towards
efficient growth. These types of benefits provided by General Motors benefits employees to
increase their motivation level by increasing level of their self-esteem in order to satisfy their
professional ambitions. Non-financial incentives play a most important role to encourage career
advancements of organisation employees and help them to gain more developmental
opportunities. Along with this, these types of incentives also play an effective role in building
smooth and positive relationship in between company and their employees which aid an
organisation to reduce issues related to conflicts. This will automatically benefit a company to
strengthen their market stability and aid them to acquire more value and goodwill within market
structure. Therefore, as per the above discussion it can be evaluated that non-financial incentives
plays a key essential role to combat with situations like, stressful working conditions, Lay-offs,
unsupportive peer contribution and unhealthy working environment.
What are the Strategies related with non financial benefits that can be used by organisation in
order to retain employees for long run
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As per the view point of (Hopkins, 2012)There are different types of non-financial
incentives such as, opportunity, recognition, reward and working hour flexibility that can be
offered by an organisation to their employees in order to increase their motivation and morale. In
the context of general motor there are various types of non-financial benefits offered by them to
their employees as to create positive motivational environment in order to improve their
performance. Non-financial incentives are provided by an organisation in order to retain their
employees for long run. Some of the non-financial incentives include, job security, flexible
working hours, recognition etc. In context with this, General Motors effectively take care of their
employees need and after ascertaining their requirements they find various different modes to
satisfy their needs by offering them non-financial incentives such as, job security and less work
burden (Wisman, 2013). This will effectively benefit GM to provide motivation to their
employees and retain them for long period of time.
Research Limitation
While conducting research lots of limitations has been faced that binds my scope to
conduct research in best effective way. Some of the certain limitations include, inadequate
sample size in order to collect statistical measurement along with inadequacy of previous
research studies on topic. Along with this lack of time is acts as an major limitation which is
faced as to conduct this research.
Research methodology
Research methodology is a formative process which is mainly used to gather data and
information in order to conduct research in effective way. These methodology consists, surveys,
interviews and other techniques of research. There are two types of methods with the help of
which information’s and data can be collected in best effective way. These methods include,
primary and secondary method which is described below:
Primary Method:
Primary research method is used as to get first hand information in order to collect
effective and required data as to conduct research in best effective way. These information can
be collected with the help of interviews, questionnaire, surveys etc. In present research analysis,
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primary method of questionnaire is utilized as it aid in getting face-to-face review and perception
form population.
Secondary Method:
This mode of data collection is used to gather data which is already published in a book,
article, existing facts and figures and reports. This mode of research is time and cost saving way
to collect data in order to conduct research in a formative way.
In this research, researcher is taking advantage of primary method to gather data and
information in order to conduct their research in best effective way. In primary research method,
questionnaire method is used in order to accomplish research invest effective way. Along with
this, researcher is also taking advantage of secondary method to collect data and other gatherings
in order to effectively conduct their research.
QUESTIONNAIRE
Theme 1:
Q1) Does Non-financial incentives motivate employees towards high
job performance?
Frequency
a) Yes 25
b) No 5
5
a) Yes b) No
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
Column B

Interpretation:
As per the above mentioned graph it has been seen that, non-financial incentives acts as
most important element in order to motivate employees towards high end job performance.
These types of benefits effectively motivate workers to perform their task with great enthusiasm.
As per the graph, 25 out of 30 respondents believes that non-financial incentives play a key
essential role to increase their job performance. While, 5 out of 30 respondents did not agree
with this fact they consider financial benefits are equally important as non-financial incentives
to motivate employees.
Theme 2:
Q2) Does Non-financial incentives stimulate career growth of
employees?
Frequency
a) Yes 28
b) No 2
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Interpretation: Non-financial incentives works as a stimulator for employees towards their
career growth as these benefits effectively increase motivation and morale in them which help
them to find more developmental opportunities. As per the above mentioned graph, it has been
seen that, 28 out of 30 employees are in the favour of the fact that non-financial incentives acts
stimulate effective career growth as these benefits motivate them to perform their work with
more handwork. While on the other hand, 2 out of 30 employees did not agree with the fact that
non-financial benefits act as an career growth stimulator they believes there is must to provide
tangible financial benefits as to actually stimulate career growth opportunities to an employee.
Q3) What are the most attractive and influencing non-financial
incentives?
Frequency
a) Working hour flexibility 15
b) Recognition 5
c) Job Security 10
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a) Yes b) No
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
Column H

Interpretation:
There are different ways with the help of which an organisation can effectively able to
provide numerous non-financial incentives to their employees. As per the above mentioned
graph it, it has been seen that, 15 out of 30 respondents believes that working hour flexibility acts
as a one of the most influencing factor that acts provide satisfaction to employees in best
effective way. While, 5 out of 30 respondents believes that recognition is most attractive method
on order to provide non-financial incentives to employees while on the other hand 10 out of 30
respondents believes that job security is one of the most important measure in order to motivate
employees in best effective manner.
Research ethics
Research ethics are the guidelines which are used for conducting fine and fair research. In
order to complete a research there are various factors which can help the researcher to identify
principles of research. To make research ethical in nature, there are three ways which includes
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a) Working hour flexibility b) Recognition c) Job Security
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
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anonymity, consent and confidentiality. In case of informed consent, the objective of the research
should be clear in the minds of research respondents so that a clear and accurate information can
be gathered. Apart from that, in case of anonymity, the details of the participants cannot be
included in order to maintain the integrity of the research. Finally, confidentiality shows that the
data about research should be opened in front of stakeholders of research only. This will provide
security and integrity of the data collected within research. Apart from these factors there are
principles of the research also which are helpful in making a research ethical. Honesty is the
basic principles in which the data should be interpreted correctly or accurately. This principle
suggest that the researcher should try to provide the data, results, methods and procedure
honestly. Fabricating false data will lead to an unethical consideration of conducting a research.
Carefulness According to this principle, the researcher should be careful enough while collecting
the data and negligence of the careless errors. Apart from that, it should critically examine the its
own work and the work of peers. The recording of activities should also be kept good which can
help in conducting the research ethically. Apart from the principles, there are various importance
of research ethics also which are helpful in providing value of research ethics. Following are the
importance of research ethics: Aim of research Research ethics is important to protect the aim of
research. Falsifying data, interpreting the researcher are not considered to be a research ethics.
These errors always hinder in achieving the aim of research. Research ethics are helpful in
achieving the objectives and aims of research. Essential in collaborative work This is the second
research ethics importance which suggests that it is important to conduct research in a
collaborative work. This importance includes trust, accountability, mutual respect in terms of
conducting a research ethically. Therefore, research ethics are necessary for the collaborative
work. Since research ethics are important for all of the researches therefore it is applicable in
terms of conducting fine and accurate research. In this research, the applicability of the research
provides integrity, openness, respect for intellectual property etc. Therefore, it can be said that
applicability of the research ethics is also important for the researchers.
CONCLUSION
As per the above mentioned report, it has been concluded that, non-financial incentives
act as a most important element in order to raise employees motivation level. These types of
incentives not only benefit workers to stimulate their growth but also help them to find many
career opportunities in order to stimulate their growth in best effective way. In this report,
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formative discussions have been made on, roles and importance of non-financial incentives along
with primary mode to collect information and data to conduct research. In addition with this,
there is a discussion that has been made on research ethics which effectively aid researcher to
conduct their research in best effective way.
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