Organisational Leadership Styles in UK Retail Industry: A Study of Morrisons

Dissertation
HOW CAN ORGANISATIONAL LEADERSHIP STYLES
ADOPTED IN THE UK RETAIL INDUSTRY IMPROVE ON
THE BUSINESS PRODUCTIVITY? A STUDY OF
MORRISONS."
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Title: How can organisational leadership styles adopted in the UK retail industry improve on
business productivity. A study of Morrisons...................................................................................3
CHAPTER 1 – INTRODUCTION..................................................................................................3
Chapter 2 Literature Review............................................................................................................4
Chapter 3: Research Methodology.................................................................................................12
References......................................................................................................................................17
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Title: How can organisational leadership styles adopted in the UK retail
industry improve on business productivity. A study of Morrisons.
CHAPTER 1 – INTRODUCTION
To overcome challenges, strong leadership is crucial as it helps organization to overcome
the challenges by maintaining confidence and motivation among the workforce. With the help of
good leadership organization can create an effective and strong workplace environment that will
not only help team to be motivated but also help organization to keep their stakeholders happy.
In this modern business environment the changes in business atmosphere is dynamic which
requires organization to embrace the importance and need of leaders and leadership to assure
higher growth and competitive position in the industry (Anderson and Sun, 2017). The present
research include discussion on the need of leaders in an organization and leadership styles
adopted to improve the business productivity and performance. To conduct this research
Morrison has been selected which is 4th largest supermarket chain in the United Kingdom. The
research will analyse the concept and need of leaders and leadership within UK retail industry
along with this in depth discussion of the role of leaders to make improvement in business
performance and productivity of company is also being evaluated. Research also include
discussion on the leadership styles adopted by company to make improvement in the business
performance and productivity along with the challenges that has been faced by the company due
to the absence of effective leadership. In this with the help of effective literature review in depth
analysis has been conducted. Research also include research methodology section in which use
of appropriate research methods tools and techniques is being in deathly evaluated which will
help investigator to conduct overall research in an effective manner.
Background of the organisation
Morrison is one of the famous British supermarket and is among the 4th largest
supermarket chain in the provinces of United Kingdom, as of the year 2021 the organization had
approximately 497 supermarket across England, Scotland and Wales. The organization
headquartered in West Yorkshire, England and offers wide range of products and services to
consumers around the globe. The company operates in retail sector and was founded in the year
1899. Organization offers wide range of products inclusive of clothing, food, books, homeware,
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magazines etc. By the year 2021 organization is having 110,000 employees which is contributing
in the overall success and growth of company. In addition to this it has been underlined that
organization with help of strong employee base is serving wide base of consumers across
different geographical location which is providing them a competitive edge in the industry.
Review of problem/issue
The organization selected for the current investigation is Morrisons which is one of the
leading organization in the UK retail industry and its operating its roles and responsibilities in
different parts of the world. The main issue that is being faced by the current organization is
challenging due to the absence of effective leadership. The present research will determine the
challenges that has been faced by the respective organization because of the effective leadership
absence. Research will also determine the concept and need of leaders and leaders within the UK
industry along with the role of leaders to make improvement in business productivity and
performance. This research will also help in determining the leadership styles that has been
adopted by company. This research will effectively help in overcoming and conduct in depth
analysis of the challenges that has been faced by the company through which organization can
implement effective strategies to overcome the issue at a significant way.
Research aim, objectives and questions
Research Aim:
To investigate the need of leaders in an organisation and leadership styles adopted to
improve the business productivity and performance. A study on Morrisons
Research Objectives:
 To identify the concept and need of leadership and leaders within UK retail industry
 To determine the role of leaders to improve the business performance and productivity
within Morrisons
 To examine the leadership styles adopted by Morrisons for improving the business
performance and productivity
 To evaluate the challenges faced by Morrisons in the absence of effective leadership.
Research Questions:
 Explain the concept and need of leadership and leaders within UK retail industry?
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 What is the role of leaders to improve the business performance and productivity within
Morrisons?
 What are the leadership styles adopted by Morrisons for improving the business
performance and productivity?
 What are the challenges faced by Morrisons in the absence of effective leadership?
Rationale for selection of topic
The main rationale behind the selection of his topic is to understand the need and
importance of leaders and leadership style within organization in UK retail industry to make
improvement in business productivity and performance. In today’s business environment is
motivated workforce is a crucial element for organization growth and success. Negligence of
implementing strong leadership practices will impact on organization in adverse manner such as
high amount of employee turnover that will automatically impact on organization growth and
profitability. The present research is rational as it will help in determining the role of leaders to
make improvement in business performance and productivity along with the leadership style
adopted by the company to make improvement in business performance. This research is also
rational as it helps in determining the challenges that has been faced by Morrisons in the absence
of effective leadership. With the help of this other organizations in the same sector can determine
the extent of challenges and their impact on organization growth and can understand that
importance of leadership for their long term growth and sustainability. The present research is
also rational as it will help in enhancing researcher knowledge an understanding of the need of
leadership and leaders within UK retail industry sector. This research will benefit researcher to
apply the same research conducting ability for future research. Research will benefit investigator
in both professional and personal way as it helps in enhancing the academic skill ability that will
benefit resulted in future in a well defined and effective manner.
Significance of the research
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The present research is significant as it is conducted on the research am which will help
to investigate the need of leaders and leadership within organization along with the importance
of leadership styles to adopt in order to make improvement in business productivity and
performance. This research will help in identifying the concepts along with the need of leaders
and leadership within the UK retail industry that will benefit organisations in this sector on
different scales to understand the importance of leaders and leadership styles to make
improvement in their overall productivity and performance. Present research is also significant as
it helps in determining the role of leaders to make improvements in the business productivity
within Morrisons. This will help organization operating in the same sector to implement different
leadership styles and understand the role of leader through which they can effectively manage
the overall business productivity and performance. This research will also benefit in identifying
challenges that has been faced by Morrisons in the absence of effective leadership. With the help
of this company can determine the challenges and can implement effective leadership styles to
overcome these challenges to assure long term sustainability and growth. The present research is
also significant as it will help in enhancing the researcher current level of understanding and
knowledge of the need and importance of leadership styles leadership and leaders within the UK
industry. This will effectively benefit researcher to conduct future research in appropriate
manner, as the present research will efficiently enhance the research conducting ability and
decision making ability of researcher in appropriate an effective manner.
Chapter 2 Literature Review
Literature review is defined as an overview of previously published work on a specific topic. In
simple terms this is mainly a comprehensive summary of previously conducted work on a
particular topic it includes survey of scholarly article, books and other sources associated to the
particular area of research (Zulch, 2014). Literature review place important role for overall
research as it helps in evaluating in depth study of different survey, scholarly articles, books etc.
With the help of this research work and conduct in depth analysis efficiently. In context to the
present study literature review on the present research topic the manner in which organizational
leadership style adopted in the UK retail industry to improve on business productivity a case
study on Morrison has been evaluated.
Concept and need of leadership and leaders within UK retail industry
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