Challenges Faced by HR Manager in Managing Talent within Hospitality Sector

This research project focuses on the challenges faced by HR managers in managing talent within the hospitality sector, with a case study on Sheraton Hotels. It explores the concept of talent management, the specific challenges faced by HR managers at Sheraton Hotels, and different ways to overcome these challenges. The research aims to provide insights into talent management in the hospitality sector and offer recommendations for HR managers.

Research Project

Table of Contents
TOPIC – Challenges faced by HR manager in managing talent within hospitality sector. ............3
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
Research Aim..............................................................................................................................3
Research Objectives....................................................................................................................3
Research Questions.....................................................................................................................3
Rationale of research...................................................................................................................3
LITERATURE REVIEW................................................................................................................4
Concept of talent management....................................................................................................4
Challenges faced by HR manager while executing their responsibilities within Sheraton
Hotels..........................................................................................................................................4
Different ways by which HR manager can overcome from challenges faced by them in
managing talent within Sheraton Hotels.....................................................................................5
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY.....................................................................................................5
RESULTS AND FINDINGS...........................................................................................................9
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................18
RECOMMENDATION.................................................................................................................19
REFLECTION...............................................................................................................................19
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................21

TOPIC – Challenges faced by HR manager in managing talent within hospitality sector.
INTRODUCTION
Talent management define as a systematic procedure where managers of the company
examine vacant job position, hiring best and most suitable individual, improving skills in order to
match the requirements so that they can attain organisational goals and objectives. It is the most
essential factor which which has various challenges and issues which affects the performance of
the organisation (Bratton and Watson, 2018). In the present report, Sheraton Hotels & Resorts is
chosen as the base organisation which is a multinational hotel chain. This is a hotel which
operates its business across the whole world which includes North America, Caribbean, Africa,
South as well as Central America, Europe and so on. It has also been analysed the hotel manager
is facing various challenges while executing talent management within the organisation.
Research Aim
Aim of the research is “To examine the challenges faced by HR manager in managing
talent within hospitality sector. A case study on Sheraton Hotels.
Research Objectives
 To know the concept of talent management.
 To determine the challenges faced by HR manager while executing their responsibilities
within Sheraton Hotels.
 To ascertain different ways by which HR manager can overcome from challenges faced
by them in managing talent within Sheraton Hotels.
Research Questions
 What is the know the concept of talent management?
 What are the challenges faced by HR manager while executing their responsibilities
within Sheraton Hotels?
 What are the different ways by which HR manager can overcome from challenges faced
by them in managing talent within Sheraton Hotels?
Rationale of research
The main motive of conducting present research is to develop knowledge on the Talent
management and the challenges or issues which are faced by Human resource manager in

managing talent at workplace. Another motive of conducting this investigation is to develop
own understanding of investigator on the ways by which investigation is being conducted. Also,
it will support investigator in using these knowledge in the near future at the time of conducting
similar kind of research. Apart from this, investigator will also be able to improve their
communication, research, analytical, presentation and many more skills which will contribute in
the success of researcher.
LITERATURE REVIEW
Concept of talent management
On the basis of views presented by D’Annunzio-Green, (2018) talent management is
mainly determined as the effective commitm3ent of HR department to bring best talent within
the company with the medium of recruitment and selection and retain them longer within the
same organisation. The main purpose is to provide talented workforce to the company and
enhance their sustainability in order to maximise productivity as well as profitability of the same
company in appropriate form. In order to implement the same within the hospitality sector,
Human resource department of the respective hotel makes use of two main strategic approaches
that is performance assessment and effective compensation. Performance assessment is
considered as the effective way by which HR manager of the company can easily assess actual
performance worker and determine that whether they are performing work in rightful manner or
not. By doing so effectively HR manager can easily analyse employees performance and provide
them reward for the same. On the contrary effective compensation is seen as the another strategic
approach which states businesses should offer adequate amount salaries or compensation to
employees so that they can work within the company with their complete efforts. It also provides
support to businesses dealing in hospitality sector in attaining success in quicker manner.
Challenges faced by HR manager while executing their responsibilities within Sheraton Hotels
According to the viewpoint of Gupta, (2019), The Organisation has faces many
challenges while performing their responsibilities such as resistance to change employees takes
too much time to adopt any changes in the company thus it results in decreasing the productivity
and profitability of company. Thus, challenges may be providing training to employees. It is
necessary that company provide adequate training to employees thus it helps in increasing the
skill or knowledge of employees that results in enhancing future growth of company. Moreover,

HR manager of hotels focuses on providing good working environment to employees that
motivate or influence them to achieve goal or objectives of organisation. Another challenge
faced by HR management team is inequality due to this it decreases the morale or satisfaction
level of worker thus results in increasing employee turnover ratio. Personnel of different age
group are working together in company thus the behaviour or attitude of senior employees
towards their work and whole experience is differ from younger employees of company. So,
challenges faced by HR manager is to fill gap in order to achieve goal or objective of the
organisation (Flick, 2015). When employees of company have different ideas it creates conflicts
in organisation thus HR manager of hotels focuses on resolving conflicts or grievances between
employees of the company for enhancing future growth of the company. Cultural diversity is
other situation faced by HR manager because employees belongs to different culture results in
increasing disputes between them so it is the responsibility of HR is to reduce conflicts as well as
build a good environment in the organisation. So, there are various challenges that must be
resolved by HR manager for betterment or improvement of entity thus, it helps in increasing or
enhancing future growth of company
Different ways by which HR manager can overcome from challenges faced by them in managing
talent within Sheraton Hotels
As per the view point of Gioia, Corley and Hamilton, (2013), talent management is not a
simple task for a manger to perform as it involves a range of challenges such as difficulties in
managing employees manager relationship, lack of employees engagement, cultural barriers etc.
Therefore, it become very crucial for a manager to adopt right strategy for managing and
directing the employees so that changes can be implemented in effective manner. Despite of this,
managers must also focuses toward ensuring free flow of communication so that employees can
present the issues they are having and corrective actions can be taken toward their development
which ensure effective talent management. This in turn also support in improving the
relationship between the management and employees that contribute toward smooth flow of
practices related with promoting talent management.
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
It is defined as the scientific research which consists of gathering information from the
specific topic. It is a real based knowledge that is used to collect and analyse data from the

various studies. To find the solutions of the certain problems that are arising during the searching
of the information. It is the innovation and recognition of the various data involved in the
research.
Research method: There are two main types of research method which is qualitative and
quantitative research method used by researcher (Green, Camilli and Elmore, 2012). Quantitative
research method is used by researcher in order to conduct the investigation on the topic
“Challenges faced by HR manager in managing talent within hospitality sector.”
Data collection: Both primary as well as secondary method for collecting information is
used by the investigator. In case of primary data gathering method, researcher develop
questionnaire so that they will be able to collect favourable outcome in an effective manner. On
the other hand, in case of secondary methodology researcher use literature review method so that
information will be gathered in an appropriate manner.
Research sampling: In order to conduct the whole research in an effective manner,
researcher adopt random sampling method so that they can gather information without being
bias. In this context, investigator chose 30 respondents so that the research will be completed in
an effective manner and produce positive outcome.
Research philosophy: Research philosophy is determined as the belief undertaken by
investigator at the time of gathering, analysing and attaining outcome of research. This is mainly
bifurcated into two sections i.e. interpretivism and positivism. This research project has been
carried out by making use of interpretivism type of research philosophy. The main motive of
suing interpretivism is to obtain valid outcome on research with the inclusion of different
perceptions. For executing this in more detailed and authenticate manner literature review
sections has been conducted with the reliable sources along with this appropriate justification has
been provided with the same in appropriate manner.
Research approach: This is considered as the effective procedure which is followed by
investigator for conducting research in lucrative form. In context of present research, investigator
ill make use of inductive research approach. The reason behind choosing this is that it represents
overall information in the form of theoretical framework. Also, it will also contribute in attaining
research outcome in detailed manner.
Research strategy: Every researcher uses different strategies for conducting their esarch
in such a manner that provides them best outcome. In order to conduct present researrch in

effective manner researcher makes use of survey strategy in which they have finally selected as
the main survey method. Usage of the method has allowed investigator in gathering maximum
information. Also, the respective method is cost as well as time effective for the company.
Research design: It is the overall strategy that has been undertaken by investigator for
conducting research in logical manner so that research problem could be addressed in rightful
manner. In order to execute present research in best form investigator makes use of exploratory
kind of research design as it allows them effectively analysing all aspect of research for drawing
valid outcome on the same.
Time Horizon: Time horizon simply provides time associated guidelines to investigator
which ensures that research is going to be conducted in systematic manner. In this research,
conducted for Sheraton Hotel, cross sectional kind of time horizon has been adopted by
researcher in order to accomplish it within the provided time frame.
Ethics: Ethics are mainly determined as the moral values or principles of individuals
which are considered by them while performing their work in effective manner. With reference
to the present researcher, it can be said that there are range of ethical values as well as principles
that must be undertaken by them while conducting research in appropriate form. Here, main
ethical values which must be followed by investigators are maintaining confidentiality, informed
consent and anonymity. By following all of these investigator will be able to conduct research in
appropriate manner and also remain free from any sort of issue that might occur in the future.
Reliability and validity: This is also seen as another form of methods through which
investigator checks out reliability as well as validity of the research outcome at the time of using
questionnaire.
Questionnaire: it is the set of questions which are developed by investigator. All of these
questions are directly related to research topic. The main motive of developing these is to gather
maximum information on proposed research topic so that they can further draw valid outcome
over the same in rightful manner.
Questionnaire
Q 1) Are you aware with the concept of talent management?
a) Yes
b) No

Q 2) What are the main challenges that are faced by HR manager at the time of executing
their responsibilities within the hotels?
a) Cultural & Ethics
b) Talent acquisition
c) Adequate balance between employees and management
Q 3) According to your perception, What are the benefits that could be attained by
Sheraton hotel with talent management?
a) Enhancement of business performance
b) Reduction in employee turnover
c) Higher client satisfaction
Q 4) Do you think, talent management enhances sustainability of the company?
a) Agree
b) Disagree
Q 5) Does incorporation of effective talent management initiative helps Sheraton in
maximising their productivity?
a) Yes
b) No
Q 6) As per your view point, what are the main advantages of talent management for
workforce with hotel?
a) Confidence development
b) Attaining job satisfaction
c) Higher motivation among employees
Q 7) According to you, In what way HR manager of Sheraton Hotel identifies talent at
workplace?
a) On the basis of potential
b) On the basis of results

c) As per competencies
Q 8) In what manner talent management places impact over the performance of Sheraton
Hotel?
a) Positive manner
b) Negative manner
Q 9) Provide recommendation to the HR manager of Sheraton Hotels by which they can
overcome challenges faced by them

RESULTS AND FINDINGS
Questionnaire
Q 1) Are you aware with the concept of talent management? Frequency
a) Yes 20
b) No 10
Q 2) What are the main challenges that are faced by HR manager at the
time of executing their responsibilities within the hotels?
Frequency
a) Cultural & Ethics 10
b) Talent acquisition 12
c) Adequate balance between employees and management 8
Q 3) According to your perception, What are the benefits that could be
attained by Sheraton hotel with talent management?
Frequency
a) Enhancement of business performance 9
b) Reduction in employee turnover 11
c) Higher client satisfaction 10
Q 4) Do you think, talent management enhances sustainability of the
company?
Frequency
a) Agree 25
b) Disagree 5
Q 5) Does incorporation of effective talent management initiative helps
Sheraton in maximising their productivity?
Frequency
a) Yes 26
b) No 4
Q 6) As per your view point, what are the main advantages of talent
management for workforce with hotel?
Frequency

a) Confidence development 9
b) Attaining job satisfaction 8
c) Higher motivation among employees 13
Q 7) According to you, In what way HR manager of Sheraton Hotel
identifies talent at workplace?
Frequency
a) On the basis of potential 11
b) On the basis of results 9
c) As per competencies 10
Q 8) In what manner talent management places impact over the
performance of Sheraton Hotel?
Frequency
a) Positive manner 27
b) Negative manner 3

Theme 1: Concept of talent management
Q 1) Are you aware with the concept of talent management? Frequency
a) Yes 20
b) No 10
Interpretation: From the overall specified information, it can be said that talent
management is determined as the effective way by which company company can retain talented
staff within the company for longer period of time. Here, 20 respondents have expressed that
they are aware with the concept of talent management as they have read about this concept many
a times in their academic life. On the other hand, remaining 10 people have said that they do not
know anything about this term because this practices is not being performed within their
company. Thus, they are unfamiliar with this term.
20
10
a) Yes
b) No

Theme 2: Main challenges that are faced by HR manager at the time of executing their
responsibilities within the hotels
Q 2) What are the main challenges that are faced by HR manager at the
time of executing their responsibilities within the hotels?
Frequency
a) Cultural & Ethics 10
b) Talent acquisition 12
c) Adequate balance between employees and management 8
Interpretation: According to the graph, it is seen that there are mainly three types of
challenges which are faced by HR managers at the time of executing their responsibilities within
the firm. In this, 10 people believes that culture and ethics are main issues for HR managers.
Whereas, 12 people thinks that talent acquisition is the another challenge. The leftover 8 people
have specified that formulating adequate balance between employees and management team is
another challenge for HR in hotels as they finds it difficult to deal with the employees as well as
management team and also convince them for maintaining effective collaboration with each
other.
10
12
8
a) Cultural & Ethics
b) Talent acquisition
c) Adequate balance between
employees and management

Theme 3: Benefits that could be attained by Sheraton hotel with talent management
Q 3) According to your perception, What are the benefits that could be
attained by Sheraton hotel with talent management?
Frequency
a) Enhancement of business performance 9
b) Reduction in employee turnover 11
c) Higher client satisfaction 10
Interpretation: As per 9 respondents enhancement of business performance is the main
benefit that could be attained by Sheraton Hotel with effective talent management as talented
employees are working within the company for longer period of time. Whereas, other 11
respondents have specified that another important benefit is that it reduces employees turnover.
At last 10 people believes that it talent management directly contributes in the enhancement of
client satisfaction as talented employees are serving customers in most appropriate manner that
leads to enhancement in satisfaction level.
9
11
10
a) Enhancement of business
performance
b) Reduction in employee
turnover
c) Higher client satisfaction

Theme 4: Talent management enhances sustainability of the company
Q 4) Do you think, talent management enhances sustainability of the
company?
Frequency
a) Agree 25
b) Disagree 5
Interpretation: Incorporation of effective talent management practices directly provides
support to firms in improvising their sustainability effectively within the company. From the
overall provided description it can be said that 25 people have agreed to the statement that yes it
contributes in enhancing sustainability whereas leftover 5 respondents have denied to the same
concept.
25
5
a) Agree
b) Disagree

Theme 5: Incorporation of effective talent management initiative helps Sheraton in
maximising their productivity
Q 5) Does incorporation of effective talent management initiative helps
Sheraton in maximising their productivity?
Frequency
a) Yes 26
b) No 4
Interpretation: From the overall project it can be said that implementation of talent
management practices within the company are helpful in maximising productivity in effective
form. As per views of 26 people, implementation of talent management practices within the
company is good. On the other hand, other 4 people have denied to the same as they thinks that it
is time wasting activity which is directly hampering performance as well productivity of the
workforce.
26
4
a) Yes
b) No

Theme 6: Main advantages of talent management for workforce within hotel
Q 6) As per your view point, what are the main advantages of talent
management for workforce within hotel?
Frequency
a) Confidence development 9
b) Attaining job satisfaction 8
c) Higher motivation among employees 13
Interpretation: talent management activities also provides benefits to the employees
which directly contributes in their self as well as growth of the company in appropriate manner.
In this, 9 people thinks that talent management enhances confidence level of employees as they
are getting importance within the company. Whereas, other 8 believes that in contributes in the
effective attainment of job satisfaction within the firm. The leftover 13 people states that
incorporation of talent management maximises motivational level of employees.
9
8
13 a) Confidence development
b) Attaining job satisfaction
c) Higher motivation among
employees

Theme 7: HR manager of Sheraton Hotel identifies talent at workplace
Q 7) According to you, In what way HR manager of Sheraton Hotel
identifies talent at workplace?
Frequency
a) On the basis of potential 11
b) On the basis of results 9
c) As per competencies 10
Interpretation: HR manager of Sheraton Hotel makes use of different patterns through
which they identifies talent within the firm. According to 11 people, this identification of talent
is done on the basis of potential of employees. Whereas, other 9 respondents believes that it is
done on the basis of the results which are determined with the company. At last, the leftover 10
respondents have specified that HR manager focuses on exploring competencies in order to
identify talent among the available workforce within the company.
11
9
10
a) On the basis of potential
b) On the basis of results
c) As per competencies

Theme 8: Manner talent management places impact over the performance of Sheraton
Hotel
Q 8) In what manner talent management places impact over the
performance of Sheraton Hotel?
Frequency
a) Positive manner 27
b) Negative manner 3
Interpretation: Talent manager directly places impact over the hotel as well as its
performance. In context of Sheraton Hotel, 27 among the chosen respondents has stated that it
places positive impact over the company and its performance. On the other hand, remaining 3
have stated that its impact is highly negative as it wastes time of employees as well as HR team.
CONCLUSION
On the basis of overall description provided on the present research, it can be said that
talent management is acknowledged as the effective way by which human resource manager of
the company can easily manage its highly skilled and talented workforce. Along with this, it also
27
3
a) Positive manner
b) Negative manner

contributes in managing, retaining and sustaining employees within the company that leads to
attainment of organisational goals as well as profitability in quicker manner. Also, it has been
determined that HR manager especially working in the hospitality sector faces range of
challenges while implementing talent management activities. These issues directly places
negative impact over their performance. The main challenge determined from overall description
is that culture difference. This ultimately hampers HR managers work as they are not able to deal
with different culture of employees.
RECOMMENDATION
According to the overall information provided in this project, it has been acknowledged
that talent management is an effective activity through business can easily attain success. This is
so because they are able manage their workforce in rightful. It also supports HR manager is
retaining skilled workforce within the company for longer period of time. There are few
recommendations which are provided to the HR manager of Sheraton Hotel by which they can
easily implement their talent management activities within the company effectively. Few of the
main recommendation by which HR manager can easily overcome challenges are stated as
below:
 At first, it is recommended to the HR manager of the Sheraton Hotel to conduct meeting
with company at regular basis. This is so because, HR manager is able to attain
communicate about cultural differences. Along with this, these meeting sessions also
aware employees about their strong cultural values of colleague. This directly reduces
number of issues within the company as employees are accepting each others culture.
Also, with this HR manager is also able to execute talent management activities within
the Hotel.
 At next, it can be said that HR manager of the company must focus on balancing
effective relationship between employees and management team. In order to execute this
in appropriate form HR manager is suggested to represent information of management
team in front of employees in appropriate form. This representation will reduce the
chances of misrepresentation within the company in appropriate manner.

REFLECTION
From my own experience associated with the conducting this research, I have gone
through range experiences some among them were positive on the other hand another was not at
all good. The overall experience of mine states that talent management is an effective activity as
it allows HR manager in managing talent at workplace in appropriate form.
By conducting this research, I have developed my communication skill, research skill,
presentation skill and many other. This states that experience associated with the project was
highly good. On the other hand, negative experiences associated with this research was that
respondents were not at all corporation. This respondents believes that this research is a time
wasting activity as it is not beneficial for them. This directly reduces interest of respondents in
the research.
Apart from this, while emphasising on research experiences associated with the
conducting of secondary data was also very much learning for me. This is so because, I have
gone through numerous of articles for finding out authenticate and related information. Whereas,
I also faced difficulty in finding valuable and reliable information that could satisfy literature
review.
For conducting present research in appropriate form, I have made use of both the primary
as well as secondary information. While focusing on future research methodology or alternative
methodology, it can be said that in this research I have used questionnaire method which
contains close ended questions. This method does not provides options to respondents to answer
every questions according to their own perception as they have to answer from the provided
option only. Thus, in future researcher will make use of interview method as it contains open
ended questions.

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