Role of line managers and leaders in developing and retaining talented employee within an organisation

Research Proposal Form
Section One: Research title, aim, objectives, questions
Title or working title of research project
(in the form of a research aim, objectives and/or questions)
Title : R ole of line managers and leaders in developing and retaining talented employee within an
organisation
Introduction
A Line manager is the one who is directly managing all employees working in business organisation.
Leaders are the one who motivate employees towards achievement of organisational goals and objectives.
There are certain responsibilities of managers and leaders which helps the organisation in enchaining their
profits and productivity. They are managing employees and motivates them towards achievement of
business goals. The main responsibility of managers and leaders is to develop employee efficiency and
motivate them towards achievement of organisational goals and objectives. The managers of an
organisation are performing certain functions such as training and development methods rewards and
recognition, growth opportunities, employee engagements etc. This results in increasing employees
productivity and retain them for long time in business environment. Managers uses talent management
approaches within working environment which results in enhancing employees and developing their
efficiency as well. The organisation selected in this report is Marks and Spencer. It is one of the British
multinational retailer company which deals in selling home products, clothing and food products etc. this
report includes research aims and objectives. Further, it consider literature review and research
methodology which is needed for collecting data and information.
Research aim: “To identify the role of line managers and leaders in developing and retaining talented
employee within an organisation.” A study on Marks and Spencer.
Research project objectives: To identify the role of line managers and leaders in developing and retaining employee within Marks
and Spencer. To determine the benefits of employee retention and development in M&S.
 To examine the challenges faced by line managers and leaders while implementing employee
retention strategies.
Research Project questions:

 What is the role of line managers and leaders in developing and retaining employee within Marks and
Spencer? What are the benefits of employee retention and development in M&S?
 What are the challenges faced by line managers and leaders while implementing employee
retention strategies?
Section Two: Reasons for choosing this research project
Reasons for choosing the project
The rationale behind choosing this research topic is to identify the role of line managers and leaders in developing and
retaining talented employee within an organisation. A study on Marks and Spencer. This topic is important because
talent management strategies is most essential for the company now a days. A manager and leaders is playing essential
role in development of employees and helps organisation in retain their employees for long time. Further, while
conducting this research, researcher is developing their personal and professional skills. This helps researcher in
enhancing some of the skills like time management skills and communication skills. This research will help in analysis
more knowledge about a particular task. In relation with Marks and Spencer, their line managers and leader are playing
essential role in achieving organisational goals and objectives. In this research, researcher is using primary and
secondary data collection method. Researcher is using questionnaire survey to get true interpretation and on the other
hand, literature review is made for getting in depth information about a topic.
Section Three: Literature sources searched
Use of key literature sources to support your research aim, objectives and/or questions:
What is the role of line managers and leaders in developing and retaining employee within Marks and
Spencer?
A line manager is the one who is directly managing employee working in the business environment. They are
the one who is focusing on achieving organisational goals and objectives. The role of line manager is to
manage employees to make sure of successful execution of business goals and strategies. They are regarded as
a main point of contact between staff and management. In relation with Marks and Spencer, their managers are
providing guidance, direction and instruction to the employees so that they could develop efficiency and
productivity. On the other hand, leaders are motivating employee towards achievement of goals and objectives
(M&S - HR business partners getting the balance right, 2021). Leaders in M&S, focus on developing employee
motivation and provide them right direction to focus on their task. Line managers of chosen company are
performing certain roles like Recruitment and selection, training and on-boarding programmes, motivation
schemes, team bonding, performance management programmes, rewards and recognition etc. These strategies
will help the employees in developing their effectiveness and retaining in company for long time. Leaders of
Marks and Spencer is responsible for motivating employees, resolving conflicts and providing right direction to
employees working in business environment. When employees gets proper motivation and growth

opportunities, they automatically retains in company for longer duration. Retaining of employees results in
decreasing of employee turnover ratio. Thus, the line managers and leaders of marks and Spencer are
performing these roles which results in developing employee development and retention in working
environment for longer duration. This results in enhancing employees productivity and motivation as well.
What are the benefits of employee retention and development in M&S?
Employee retention is done for reducing employee turnover ratio of an administration. Employee retention is
the process of using strategies by organisation to develop and to keep talents within working environment for
longer time. This is regarded as one of the challenge for any organisation. In relation with Marks and Spencer,
they are taking benefits from employee retention and development schemes. Some of the benefits are cost
reduction- Marks and Spencer cost includes interviewing, advertising and screening, training and on boarding
etc. so employee retention and development schemes reduces all these costs and results in making profits of
organisation and increases productivity as well (The business benefits of employee reward schemes, 2021). The
next benefits which company is getting is improvement in morale. When employee is feeling more workload
and responsibilities, their motivation decreases and results in leaving from company. So for that, Marks and
Spencer is providing employee retention programmes such as motivation techniques and training and
development, which results in increasing employees motivation and morale and they retain in company for
long time. Next benefit is increasing productivity- employee retention and development programmes will be
resulting in building better relationship with employees and develops efficiency of employees as well. Another
benefit raised through employee retention is improving working culture- when employees get motivated
towards business goals and they are encouraged to build relations, this may result in behaving well and
developing positive working environment.
What are the challenges faced by line managers and leaders while implementing employee retention
strategies?
Employee retention programmes are more useful for organisation. But it is not easy to manage. The line
managers and leaders of Marks and Spencer are facing certain challenges while implementing employee
retention strategies. One of the major challenge faced by managers and leaders is salary dissatisfaction-
every employee is having high expectation of salary which is a main reason why employees leave from
company. Managers should provide proper rewards and recognition so that employee motivates and
retains in company for longer time. The other challenge faced by managers of M&S is job opportunities
are high- many of the other companies are providing job opportunities to talented employees so they leave
from company (How Marks & Spencer Hires and Retains Experienced Staff at their Manchester Shared
Services Center, 2021). There is high competition in market. Marks and Spencer is having certain
competitors like Tesco, Aldi etc. which are attracting talented candidates towards their organisation by
having attractive talent management strategies. These challenges could be considered by managers and
leaders and develop strategies accordingly.

Online
M&S - HR business partners getting the balance right, 2021. [Online] Available through
<https://www.hrzone.com/perform/business/ms-hr-business-partners-getting-the-balance-right>
The business benefits of employee reward schemes, 2021. [Online] Available through
<https://marksandspencerforbusiness.com/the-business-benefits-of-employee-reward-schemes/>
How Marks & Spencer Hires and Retains Experienced Staff at their Manchester Shared Services Center, 2021.
[Online] Available through <https://www.ssonetwork.com/business-process-outsourcing/articles/how-marks-
spencer-hires-and-retains-experienced-st>
Section Four: Activities and timescales
Activities to be carried out during the research project
(e.g. research, development and analysis of ideas, writing, data collection, numerical analysis, tutor
meetings, production of final outcome, evaluation, writing the report):
How long this will take: