Strategies of Talent Management in Retail Sector: Study on ASDA

This study focuses on the strategies of talent management in the retail sector, specifically through a case study on ASDA. It explores the importance of recruitment, selection, training, and retention strategies in attracting and retaining skilled workforces. The study aims to provide insights into effective talent management strategies for retailers and other companies.

Research Portfolio

Contents
TITLE: To identify strategies of talent management in retail sector. Study on ASDA..................2
Background of topic....................................................................................................................2
Background of the company........................................................................................................2
Aims and Objectives....................................................................................................................2
Research questions.......................................................................................................................3
Research rationale........................................................................................................................3
Timeframe....................................................................................................................................3
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY....................................................................................................4
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................7
APPENDIX......................................................................................................................................8
Questionnaire...............................................................................................................................8
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TITLE: To identify strategies of talent management in retail sector. Study on
ASDA.
Background of topic
Talent management is a procedure of attracting as well as retaining skilled workforces within
business. It consists of some activities such as recruitment, selection, training, performance
appraisal and others (McDonnell and et.al., 2017). When companies manage talent and retain
them within their business then they are more likely to take competitive advantages and taking
an effective position in the market. Competition is increasing in retail industry and all retailers
are striving hard for making an effective position and attracting customers. Those retailers that
make use of effective strategies of selection, training, performance appraisal and retention of
employees are more likely to attract skilled workforce and accomplishing their goals. So, overall
it can be said that strategies of recruitment, selection and retention plays an important role in
talent management and meeting goals (Dempsey, 2017).
Background of the company
Talent management is one of the main key of business success and for this success there is
requirement of having effective strategies such as external recruitment, rewards for motivation
and retention to employees. This present study is based on ASDA retailer that is a British
supermarket retailer whose headquarter is in England (Young and et.al., 2017). This retailer was
founded in the year of 1999 by Peter and Fred Asquith. It is well known for its qualitative food,
clothing and home products. This study is going to show process of talent management and
activities that companies required following for better people management and taking advantages
of it. Further, it will also discuss some advantages or importance that retailers and other
companies can have by effective talent management such as: taking competitive advantages,
increasing customers’ satisfaction, improving productivity and others. It will also discuss several
effective strategies such as recruitment and selection financial, non financial rewards for better
people management (Bratton and Watson, 2018). Lastly, it will show effectiveness as well as
reasons of following all elements of research methodology in a systematic manner. Data
collection that is also one of the effective elements of research methodology also plays an
important role in making study successful.
Aims and Objectives
Aim
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“To explore effective strategies or ways of managing talent within organization”.
Objectives
 To identify steps or process of talent management.
 To discuss benefits of people management for retailers.
 To identify the best strategy of retaining or managing skilled workforces by ASDA.
Research questions
1. What is the process and activities of talent management?
2. How can ASDA make itself beneficial by managing people within its business?
3. Which strategy can help ASDA retailer in managing talent and increase staff retention
rate?
Research rationale
There are several elements and factors that needs to be considered by companies for taking
competitive advantages and accomplishing their goals. Due to technology and changing needs of
customers, competition is increasing in all sectors of companies that is putting pressure on
companies to adapt changes and making use of effective strategies. Several retailers and
companies believe that skilled workforce is one of the main resources of the company that can be
the key of success so; they need to retain them within business (Whysall, Owtram and Brittain,
2019). So, helping out all companies and retailers in identifying best strategies of managing
talent within business is one of the main reasons of selecting or choosing this topic. BY
developing study on this topic, companies can retain skilled workforce for the long run and
without getting affected in a negative manner they can take all advantages.
Timeframe
Activities to be carried out during the
project
Timeframe
Producing aim and objectives 1-2 days
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Conducting research methodology 7-10 days
Collection of data 7 days
Submission of proposal 1 day
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Research type: It is one of the main and preliminary step of research methodology on which
basis further steps depend. It refers a form of collection of data. There are mainly 2 forms in
which researcher can collect data such as numerical and non numerical. All those data that are
being gathered by researcher in numerical form is known as quantitative research. Whereas, data
that are being gathered in non numerical or words form is known as quantitative research
(Boddy, 2016). For this research study, researcher will focus on qualitative research or gather
information in words, feelings and non numerical form because it can help researcher in
gathering information in detailed and effective manner.
Research approach: As like research strategy or types, research approach is also being
categorized into 2 types such as inductive and deductive. A plan that consists of steps of broad
assumption in which researcher can collect amylase as well as make use of data is known as
research approach. In inductive research approach, researcher generates brand new theory
relevant to the research topic for main aim of gathering information and making study successful
(Istiqomah and Al-Badrani, 2020). In deductive research approach, scholar develops an existing
theory of hypothesis rather generating new theory. For this research, scholar will use inductive
approach because it is suitable with qualitative research strategy.
Research philosophy: Research philosophy is a belief about ways in which data should be
gathered by researcher. Interpretivism and positivism are 2 main philosophies that can be used
by researcher. Selection of research philosophy mainly depends on selected research approach. If
researcher chooses inductive research approach then he will have to select interpretivism
research philosophy. For deductive research approach, researcher requires selecting positivism
research philosophy. In interpretivism, researcher believes that individual are not puppet and
they very well know how to share feelings and how to react to external factors (Winit‐Watjana,
2016). Whereas, in positivism, researcher believes that society plays an important role and they
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shape individual behaviors. For this study, scholar will chose interpretivism because of selection
of inductive research approach.
Data collection: Collection of data is the main key and important step that needs to be followed
by researcher as it allows researcher in making study successful (Bongiorni, Maria and et.al.,
2018 ). By making use of collected data, researcher can take better decision and can accomplish
pre determined aim and objectives of research study. There are 2 types of data collection such as:
primary and secondary. As with the name it can be said that in primary data collection,
researcher gathers brand new data by making use of survey, interviews and questionnaire.
Whereas, in secondary data collection, scholars gather second hand data because they have been
published and generated before. By making use of books and journals, articles, library, literature
reviews, such information can be gathered (Prada-Ramallal and et.al., 2018). For this study of
talent management, researcher will focus on primary data collection and for this he will conduct
questionnaire.
Data analysis: It is important for researcher for following all steps of research methodology in a
systematic manner or step by step. So, as per this, researcher requires analysing data and
following this step after data collection. It is being followed for making changes in collected data
and making them accurate by which researcher can take accurate decisions and can help retailers
in identifying better strategies of managing talent (Mahlamäki and Nieminen, 2019). There are 2
types of data analysis tools such as qualitative and quantitative. If researcher gathers non
numerical data or conduct qualitative research, then researcher has to focus on quantitative data
analysis tools. For analysing numerical or qualitative research, researcher chose qualitative data
analysis tools (Woods and et.al., 2016). For this research study researcher will use thematic
analysis as qualitative data analysis tool for analysing qualitative research.
Sample: Sample refers a group of people that are being selected or targeted by researcher as
participants for research study. When researcher conduct questionnaire then he requires some
group of people that can give answers of questions related to the research topic. Process that is
being used and selected for targeting people is known as sampling that is of 2 types. Random and
non random are 2 sampling methods that is being selected by researcher. In random sampling,
scholar target people on random basis as there is no specific and set criteria of selecting people
(Etikan, and Bala, 2017). Whereas, in non random method, people are being targeted on some set
criteria and some basis of selection that may include: age, gender, qualification of people,
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experience and others. For this research study of talent management, researcher will choose
random sampling because it reduces discrimination and makes participants or target people feel
valued and increase their morale. 30 employees of ASDA will be targeted as a sample (Carlisle
and Loadsman, 2017).
Ethical consideration: Ethics also plays an important role while conducting research study
because it helps researcher in conducting study successfully by making them aware about
knowing the difference between the right and wrong (Battiste, 2016). There are some
consideration that needs to be focused by researcher includes:
 To not pressurize anyone for participating in research study.
 To provide fair chance to all target people for sharing their views.
 To provide option to participant to omit question.
 To maintain accuracy and keep personal and professional information safe and secure.
 To perform all functions and steps of research in an effective and ethical manner and not
hurting anyone in any manner.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Battiste, M., 2016. Research Ethics for Chapter Protecting Indigenous Knowledge and
Heritage. Ethical futures in qualitative research: Decolonizing the politics of knowledge.
111.
Boddy, C.R., 2016. Sample size for qualitative research. Qualitative Market Research: An
International Journal.
Bongiorni, Maria G. and et.al., 2018 EHRA expert consensus statement on lead extraction:
recommendations on definitions, endpoints, research trial design, and data collection
requirements for clinical scientific studies and registries: endorsed by
APHRS/HRS/LAHRS." Ep Europace 20, no. 7 (2018): 1217-1217.
Bratton, J. and Watson, S., 2018. Talent management, emotional labour and the role of line
managers in the Scottish hospitality industry. Worldwide Hospitality and Tourism
Themes.
Carlisle, J.B. and Loadsman, J.A., 2017. Evidence for non‐random sampling in randomised,
controlled trials by Yuhji Saitoh. Anaesthesia. 72(1). pp.17-27.
Dempsey, M., 2017. An investigation into talent management in the Irish retail sector (Doctoral
dissertation, Dublin, National College of Ireland).
Etikan, I. and Bala, K., 2017. Sampling and sampling methods. Biometrics & Biostatistics
International Journal, 5(6). p.00149.
Istiqomah, H. and Al-Badrani, M.J.H., 2020. Characteristic of Teaching Materials for Arabic
Reading Skill with Inductive Approach. Izdihar: Journal of Arabic Language Teaching,
Linguistics, and Literature. 3(2). pp.95-112.
Mahlamäki, K. and Nieminen, M., 2019. Analysis of manual data collection in maintenance
context. Journal of Quality in Maintenance Engineering.
McDonnell, A. and et.al., 2017. Talent management: a systematic review and future
prospects. European Journal of International Management. 11(1). pp.86-128.
Prada-Ramallal, G. and et.al., 2018. Primary versus secondary source of data in observational
studies and heterogeneity in meta-analyses of drug effects: a survey of major medical
journals. BMC medical research methodology. 18(1). p.97.
Whysall, Z., Owtram, M. and Brittain, S., 2019. The new talent management challenges of
Industry 4.0. Journal of Management Development.
Winit‐Watjana, W., 2016. Research philosophy in pharmacy practice: necessity and
relevance. International Journal of Pharmacy Practice. 24(6). pp.428-436.
Woods, M. and et.al., 2016. Advancing qualitative research using qualitative data analysis
software (QDAS)? Reviewing potential versus practice in published studies using
ATLAS. ti and NVivo, 1994–2013. Social Science Computer Review, 34(5). pp.597-617.
Young, W. and et.al., 2017. Can social media be a tool for reducing consumers’ food waste? A
behaviour change experiment by a UK retailer. Resources, Conservation and
Recycling. 117. pp.195-203.
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