Role of Training and Development in Improving Employee Performance

This research report investigates the role of training and development in enhancing employee performance, with a focus on Marks & Spencer. It explores the importance of training and development, reasons behind decreasing employee performance, and ways to improve performance through training and development. The findings highlight the significance of training and development in enhancing employee skills, increasing retention, and encouraging innovation.

Information HR 4
1

CONTENTS
Contents...........................................................................................................................................2
Context.............................................................................................................................................3
Planning...........................................................................................................................................4
Stakeholders.................................................................................................................................4
Proposed methodology................................................................................................................5
Action plan...................................................................................................................................7
Research activities and findings......................................................................................................9
Research activity summary..........................................................................................................9
Research findings.......................................................................................................................11
Conclusions................................................................................................................................15
Recommendations......................................................................................................................16
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................17
2

Context
The employee’s performance and their efficiency in working plays a significant role
within the growth and success of an organisation, as the effort of employees help a company in
reaching to its final goals and objectives. In today’s business world the retail industry is consider
to be one of the most competitive sectors among all which make it difficult for retailers to
survive in market as the customer demand is changing frequently (Mira and Odeh, 2019). This is
one of the major issues which make it difficult for employees to deal with challenges. This is so
because the change in demand as well as technology make the task of employees more and more
difficult to operate as they do not have much knowledge in each field. This is considered to be
one of the biggest issues that the retailer usually has to face while operating their business in
such a competitive world.
So, in order to determine solution to this issue the current research is performed so that
the investigator become able to identify the actual issue the retailers are facing which is affecting
the performance of employees. Addition to this, investigation also support in determining how
the training and development practices help in improving the employee performance. This is so
because the training and development is considered to be one of the most significant practice of
human resource management which support in providing additional knowledge to employees and
support them in gaining new skills and capabilities which support them in dealing with future
challenges (Guterresa, Armanu and Rofiaty, 2020). So, this research report is based over
determining the role of training and development in enhancing the employee’s performance. In
order to perform this investigation, the Marks and spencer is taken into consideration which is a
larger multinational retailer that operates its business throughout the world. It offers range of
product categories such as clothing, home essentials, grocery items and many more. The
company have to deal with several changes in its offering due to variation in demand in different
geographical area and updating of technology (Ugoani, 2018). So, this organisation best suited
for this study in order to cover the issue concern in this study. The aims and objective of this
study is mentioned below
Aim:
To investigate about the role of training and development in improving employees
performance. A study on Marks & Spencer.
Objectives:
3

 To understand the importance of training and development within organisation
 To determine the reason behind decreasing performance of employees within Marks &
Spencer.
 To ascertain the ways in which training & development can be used to improve employee
performance.
Planning
Stakeholders
This study helps in determining the importance of training and development in enhancing
the performance of employees within the organisation (Gautam, 2018). When this study get
performed it remain area of interested for stakeholders such as employees, managers and
shareholders. This can be understood better using following description,
Employees: This investigation will remain interesting for the employees as they will
provided information about the ways through which their performance can be improved which in
turn help in motivating them and reducing their stress toward increasing challenges within their
work. The rationale behind this is that it will help in encouraging them to attained training and
development session with more concentration and dedication to get best result out of it.
Manager: The investigation over importance of training and development within an
organisation to improve the performance of employees will remain area of interest for managers.
With the help of this study managers will be communicated about understanding regarding the
ways in which the training and development practices can be used to enhance employee’s
performance. The rationale behind this is that the managers would be able to direct right kind of
behaviour in this regard to enhance overall performance of employees (Hidayat and Budiatma,
2018).
Shareholders: The shareholder of Marks and Spencer also hold knee interest within this
investigation. This investigation will provide them with information about the ways through
which employees’ performance can be improved which in turn provide them an idea about the
way in which their return can be enhanced (Diamantidis and Chatzoglou, 2019). The rationale
behind this is that it helps them in forming up decision regarding future investment within the
plans of Marks & Spencer.
4

Proposed methodology
The research methodology is considered to be a significant part of an investigation which
allow the researcher in performing investigation in systematic manner by adopting a right
combination of tools and methods for conducting the research practices. The current study is
based on quantitative investigation where the data is gathered within the numerical form in order
to justify the information in more accurate manner (Scotland, 2012). Addition to this for
performing the investigation in effective manner both the sources such as primary and secondary
data collection sources will be used which help in getting right kind of information to be
presented within chosen area of study i.e. importance of training and development within
improving employees performance.
Primary data: It is defined as fresh information which so gathered for the first time for
investigating about particular area of study. This data is gathered for specific purpose only and
due to which it provides more reliable and accurate data for investigation. The primary data is
gathered by having a direct interaction with people who are affected with particular event and
due to which it remains quite expensive and time consuming. There are several sources through
which primary information can be gathered such as questionnaire, interview, focus group, survey
etc.
Secondary data: The secondary data is one which is collected by some another person
previously for their study and now used by the researcher for current study area in order to
develop understanding about the nature of study based of previously set knowledge (Flick,
2015). The secondary information is mainly gathered from other studies performed earlier,
experiments or survey, records, journals, book, article etc. Due to this it is less expensive and
also less time-consuming method of data collection.
The sources used to gather primary and secondary data are mentioned below:
Secondar Information
needed
Research
source
Justification
for the
source
Advantages of the
source
Disadvantages of the
source
5

y sources
Importance
of training
and
development
Journals The main
aim behind
selecting
journal is
that it
contains
information
of the
investigation
performed
by scholars
earlier
which
provide
better
information
about the
study area
 The academic
journals are
considered to
be most
effective mode
of gaining in
depth
knowledge(Gr
een, Camilli
and Elmore,
2012).
 It allows
researcher to
explore both
qualitative and
quantitative
data for study.
 The journals are
performed by
considering
another study
area which is
similar to current
study but not
exactly same
which can affect
the data
presentation.
 Information may
not remain
specific to the
research question
as each
investigation
done with specific
aim.
Ways in
which
training help
in improving
employee’s
performance
Online
articles
The online
articles are
suited best
for
secondary
data as it
gets
regularly
updated.
 This provide
the updated
information
which is
helpful for the
study.
 This is a low
cost method to
gather
information.
 The data
provided over
online article not
remains to be
accurate each
time.
 There remains a
confidentiality
concern.
Primary Information
needed
Research
method
Justification
for the
method
Advantages of the
method
Disadvantages of the
method
6

methods
Importance
of training
and
development
Questionnaire This method
helps in
collecting
larger
amount of
data at a
time and
doesn’t
require the
presence of
researcher.
 It consumes
less time in
getting
executed
 It is
economical
way for
gathering data
means cost
effective.
 Questionnaire
provide limited
data for a study
area.
 There always
remain inability to
probe responses.
Ways of
improving
employee’s
performance
Interview This method
of primary
data
collection
allows the
researcher
to have a
one to one
interaction
with
respondents
which
ensure
better
collection of
data (Gioia,
Corley and
Hamilton,
2013).
 Interview
helps in
getting
detailed
information
which can be
evaluated to
bring better
outcome.
 It provide an
idea whether
respondents
are
understanding
the questions
in right
manner.
 This method is
more time
consuming as
compare to
questionnaire.
 This method
requires more
money to invest
in.
Action plan
An investigation is required to be performed within a systematic manner so that appropriate
outcome can be achieved. For this it is very crucial for an investigator to prepare an action plan
which represent the set of activities involve within an investigation along with their sequence in
7

which they are required to be executed (Manzoor and et. al., 2019). This can be represented
effectively by making use of Gantt chart, which is a graphical tool which represent the set of
activities involve within an investigation in systematic manner as per their priority for execution
along with time taken by each activity while getting executed. The Gantt chart is a graphical
representation of research activities which support in directing the investigator to perform
investigation in sequential manner (Wiek and Lang, 2016). The activities involve within current
research are mentioned below with the help of Gantt chart,
8

Research activities and findings
Research activity summary
This research is based on determining the ways in which training and development practices can
be adopted by marks and Spencer in order to improve the overall performance of employees. So,
for performing investigation over this primary method of data collection is adopted among them
questionnaire is taken as a tool for collecting primary information (Beltrán-Martín and Bou-
Llusar, 2018). For this first of all the questionnaire is being prepared which contains set of
questions that can fulfill the information requirement of research aim. The questionnaire is used
for this study as it help in collecting view point of several people in less possible time period.
After preparing the questionnaire the sample size is being selected that are managers of Marks
and Spencer to whom the questionnaire is being sent with the help of email. There are around 10
managers are selected for gathering this information which are selected on convenient basis by
using the non-probability sampling method (Walliman, 2017). The main reason behind choosing
convenient sampling is that the managers who usually provide training to employees remain
more experienced and knowledgeable which make it helpful in collecting right set of information
without any kind of irrelevant data. This is the reason the managers are selected as per
convenient basis.
After collecting all the data it is then arranged in the form of frequency table in order to
represent the most favorable answer which support in concluding the outcome in more
appropriate manner. These frequencies are further presented along with themes in order to
interpret the gathered data for converting it into more meaningful information which remain
explanatory to the stakeholder and be able to achieve the objective behind the conduction of
research (Akhtar and et. al., 2016). The data gathered from questionnaire is represented with the
9

help of graphs to make result more visible to stakeholders and then interpret it to provide
meaning to unmanaged data for concluding the findings in relation with research aim. The
frequency table is mentioned below:
Q1 Do you think that training and development is a crucial part of
employee management within an organisation?
Frequency
a) Yes 8
b) No 2
Q2 According to you, what is the importance of training and development
for an organisation?
Frequency
a) Enhance employees’ skills 3
b) Increase employee retention 1
c) Encourage innovation with gained knowledge 6
Q3 As per your perception what is the major cause behind decreasing
performance of employees within Marks & Spencer?
Frequency
a) Increasing competition 2
b) Changing market demand 5
c) Upgradation of technology 3
Q4 Do you think training and development help in improving employee’s
performance in Marks & Spencer?
Frequency
a) Agree 9
b) Disagree 1
Q5 Among the following which one is appropriate way of using training
and development as a method of improving employee’s performance in
Marks & Spencer?
Frequency
a) Guiding best way to perform particular role 1
b) Updating the employee’s knowledge 7
c) Teach employees to use new technology 2
10

Research findings
Theme 1: Training and development is a crucial part of employee management within an
organisation
Q1 Do you think that training and development is a crucial part of
employee management within an organisation?
Frequency
a) Yes 8
b) No 2
Interpretation: The training and development is a part of human resources management
practices which help in increasing the knowledge of employees toward their job role. From the
above-mentioned information, it has been interpreted that around 8 out of 10 respondents said
yes that training and development is consider to be a crucial part of employee management
within an organization. On the other side, remaining 2 respondents said no to this as according to
them organizational policies are more important to manage employees instead of training and
development practices. From the overall analysis of data it can be conclude that majority of
managers are in favor of this as training and development sessions are the one which help in
improving the skills and capability of employees that further support them in getting adjusted to
the organizational culture and be able to perform their job role in appropriate manner.
Theme 2: The importance of training and development for an organisation
Q2 According to you, what is the importance of training and development
for an organisation?
Frequency
11

a) Enhance employees’ skills 3
b) Increase employee retention 1
c) Encourage innovation with gained knowledge 6
Interpretation: The training and development practices are considered to be very much
crucial for an organization. By performing research over this it has been identified that around 3
people out of 10 said that training support in enhancing the employee’s skill. On the other side 1
respondent said that training and development practices support in increasing the employee
retention. But despite of these 6 respondents said that training is crucial as it help in encouraging
the innovation by providing adequate knowledge required by employees. From the overall
analysis of data, it has been determined that majority of people are in favor of encouraging
innovation with gained knowledge. This is so because the training support in providing adequate
knowledge to employees which they required to perform their job effectively and this in turn
also support in motivating them which in turn contribute toward brining new ideas to perform
work in effective manner.
Theme 3: The major cause behind decreasing performance of employees within Marks &
Spencer
Q3 As per your perception what is the major cause behind decreasing
performance of employees within Marks & Spencer?
Frequency
a) Increasing competition 2
b) Changing market demand 5
c) Upgradation of technology 3
12

Interpretation: By performing research over this it has been identified that according to
2 respondents out of 10 increasing competition in marketplace is the major issue behind
decreasing performance of employees. On the other side 5 respondents said that changing market
demand is the main reason behind lowering down of employee’s performance is due ti changes
in market demand, while 3 respondents said hat upgradation of technology within industry is the
biggest cause which is affecting the employee’s performance for Marks and spencer. From the
overall analysis of data it has been identified that majority of people are in favor of changing
market demand as major cause, this is so because the changes in market in term of product
demand, technology and other factor create a requirement to bring changes within the operation
and offering by Marks & Spencer. This becalm a major challenge for employees and without
appropriate experience and knowledge they do not able to perform operation and their
performance get affected.
Theme 4: Training and development help in improving employee’s performance in Marks &
Spencer
Q4 Do you think training and development help in improving employee’s
performance in Marks & Spencer?
Frequency
a) Agree 9
b) Disagree 1
13

Interpretation: The training and development plays a significant role in employees’
development in term of their skills and capabilities. To further understand about the investigation
is performed over its role within employees performance within Marks & Spencer, from this it
has been found that around 9 managers out of 10 sad that they are agree that training and
development session organized by marks & Spencer support in enhancing the performance of
employees, while one among them said that they are disagree with this statement. From the
overall analysis of data, it has been identified that majority of people are agree with this
statement. This is so because the training and development support in sharpening up the skills of
employees as well as upgrading the knowledge of employees which in turn help in motivating
them and thus encourage them to perform well. This in turn help in improving the employee’s
performance.
Theme 5: Appropriate way of using training and development as a method of improving
employee’s performance in Marks & Spencer
Q5 Among the following which one is appropriate way of using training
and development as a method of improving employee’s performance in
Marks & Spencer?
Frequency
a) Guiding best way to perform particular role 1
b) Updating the employee’s knowledge 7
c) Teach employees to use new technology 2
14

Interpretation: Training and development plays a significant role in enhancing the
employee’s performance. By performing investigation over this it has been found that 1
respondent said that training help in directing employees over the best way of performing their
role within organization. On the other side 7 respondents said that by providing training for
updating the knowledge it become easier to enhance employee performance. While 2
respondents said that training and development process can be used to teach employees for
making use of new technology. From overall analysis of information, it can be said that majority
of people are in favor of providing training to employees for updating their knowledge. This in
turn help them in keeping employees aware about the new trend’s ad technology along with the
actions they must be taken to deal with it. Hence it supports in making them proactive to
situation which further contribute toward enhancing tehri performance.
Conclusions
From the above performed investigation it can be summarized that training plays a
significant role within management as well as improvement of an employees. The reason due to
which the performance of employees get affected is to due to increasing in competition which
further increases expectation of customers. Other reasons are changing market demand and
updating of technology. But by arranging regular training for employees an organization be able
to enhance the knowledge of its employees, sharpen up their skills to deal with new challenges
and make them learn to be proactive so that they can respond to any situation effectively. Hence
for this an organization must focuses toward providing training in a manner that they guide
15

employees with best suitable way of performing tehri job role, upgrade their understanding and
knowledge about current changes and train them to use new technology.
Recommendations
For enhancing the performance level of employees, it is crucial for the manager to adopt
right strategy to deliver training so that best possible outcome can be extract. Following are some
recommendation which are provided to the manager of Marks & Spencer which they can
consider while delivering training to employees for enhancing their level of performance
(Therrien and Doyle, 2018). These are explained below:
 The managers of Marks & Spencer must focus toward evaluating the need of learning n
and development of employee so that appropriate action plan can be prepared to deliver
the training to employees. The main advantage of determining the need and arranging
training will be helpful in motivating the employees by resolving the issues they are
facing while performing job and hence improve performance. On other side while
implementing it may bring some demerits like employees may feel demotivated due to
they are getting training for work they are actually performing which make them realise
that they are not performing well even after giving efforts. This may create barriers like
lack of acceptance from employees. But it would be feasible when the employees are
motivated by presenting them that they would get personally developed when their skills
get enhanced and also get an opportunity to move forth in their career.
 The managers of Marks & Spencer must regularly organise development sessions for its
employees so that they become able to enhance their skills and knowledge about their job
roles and be able to apply those understanding within their work practices (Saputri and et.
al., 2020). With implementation of this M&S would be benefited with minimising the
chances of error and also enhance the overall performance of employees. On the others
the implementation of this may create more job growth expectation among employees
which if not get satisfied then it may create more dissatisfaction among employees.
Additionally, it may also face barriers like cultural beliefs, lack of acceptance to changes,
lack of employee’s involvement. But to implement it successful the manager of M&S
must focus toward making employees realise about the requirement of development
session alomg with benefit it provide which ensure more efforts from employees and it
become implemented successfully.
16

REFERENCES
Books & Journals
Akhtar, A., and et. al., 2016. Impact of high performance work practices on employees'
performance in Pakistan: Mediating role of employee engagement. Pakistan Journal of
Commerce and Social Sciences (PJCSS), 10(3), pp.708-724.
Beltrán-Martín, I. and Bou-Llusar, J.C., 2018. Examining the intermediate role of employee
abilities, motivation and opportunities to participate in the relationship between HR
bundles and employee performance. BRQ Business Research Quarterly, 21(2), pp.99-
110.
Diamantidis, A.D. and Chatzoglou, P., 2019. Factors affecting employee performance: an
empirical approach. International Journal of Productivity and Performance
Management.
Flick, U., 2015. Introducing research methodology: A beginner's guide to doing a research
project. Sage.
Gautam, P.K., 2018. Training Culture and Employees Performance in Nepali Banking
Industry. International Research Journal of Management Science, 3, pp.64-80.
Gioia, D. A., Corley, K. G. and Hamilton, A. L., 2013. Seeking qualitative rigor in inductive
research: Notes on the Gioia methodology. Organizational research methods. 16(1).
pp.15-31.
Green, J. L., Camilli, G. and Elmore, P. B. eds., 2012. Handbook of complementary methods in
education research. Routledge.
Guterresa, L.F.D.C., Armanu, A. and Rofiaty, R., 2020. The role of work motivation as a
mediator on the influence of education-training and leadership style on employee
performance. Management Science Letters, 10(7), pp.1497-1504.
Hidayat, R. and Budiatma, J., 2018. Education and job training on employee
performance. International journal of social sciences and humanities, 2(1), pp.171-181.
Manzoor, F. and et. al., 2019. An examination of sustainable HRM practices on job performance:
An application of training as a moderator. Sustainability, 11(8), p.2263.
Mira, M. and Odeh, K., 2019. The mediating role of authentic leadership between the
relationship of employee training and employee performance. Management Science
Letters, 9(3), pp.381-388.
Saputri, P. and et. al., 2020. THE INFLUENCE OF TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT TO
EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE. International Journal of Economics, Business and
Accounting Research (IJEBAR), 4(01).
Scotland, J., 2012. Exploring the philosophical underpinnings of research: Relating ontology and
epistemology to the methodology and methods of the scientific, interpretive, and critical
research paradigms. English language teaching. 5(9). pp.9-16.
Therrien, R. and Doyle, S., 2018, March. Role of training data variability on classifier
performance and generalizability. In Medical Imaging 2018: Digital Pathology (Vol.
10581, p. 1058109). International Society for Optics and Photonics.
Ugoani, J., 2018. The role of training and development in performance effectiveness in
Nigeria. American Journal of Business and Society, 3(2), pp.17-27.
Walliman, N., 2017. Research methods: The basics. Routledge.
Wiek, A. and Lang, D. J., 2016. Transformational sustainability research methodology.
In Sustainability science (pp. 31-41). Springer, Dordrecht.
17

18