Research Project: Motivation and Staff Retention at Marks & Spencer

This research project investigates the influence of motivation on staff retention within Marks and Spencer. The study begins with an overview, aims, objectives, research questions, and the rationale. A literature review explores existing research on motivation and its impact on employee retention. The methodology section details the qualitative approach, thematic analysis, and data sampling from M&S employees through questionnaires. The data analysis and findings section presents the data through tables and charts, interpreting the results and discussing them in relation to the literature. Key themes include employee tenure, preferred types of motivation (monetary, non-monetary), appraisal systems, reward systems, opportunities for growth, employee satisfaction, management support, the impact of motivation on productivity, and employee retention plans. The project concludes with recommendations based on the findings, aiming to provide insights into how motivation strategies can enhance staff retention within the organization. References and an appendix with the questionnaire are also included.

RESEARCH
PROJECT
“To understand the influence of motivation
on staff retention in an organization: A study on
Marks and Spencer”

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
Overview......................................................................................................................................1
Aim..............................................................................................................................................1
Objectives....................................................................................................................................1
Research questions.......................................................................................................................1
Rational of the research...............................................................................................................1
LITERATURE REVIEW (750)......................................................................................................2
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY....................................................................................................3
Type of methodology...................................................................................................................3
Data sampling..............................................................................................................................4
Sources of data.............................................................................................................................4
Research limitations.....................................................................................................................4
DATA ANALYSIS AND FINDINGS............................................................................................5
Presentation of data through tables, graphs and charts................................................................5
Interpretation of data..................................................................................................................10
Discussion and analysis of data with literature..........................................................................12
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION............................................................................13
Conclusion.................................................................................................................................13
Recommendation.......................................................................................................................13
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................14
APPENDIX....................................................................................................................................16

INTRODUCTION
Overview
Staff retention is considered to be an important aspect of profitability of the company.
Hence, various companies have been seen getting involved in motivational practices so that they
can retain their employees for larger period of time. It has been assessed that motivation plays an
important role in retaining the employees as it helps in increasing their satisfaction level. It acts
as a catalyst for the individual. Hence, it has been seen that team leader and managers constantly
involves in m motivating their team so that the objectives of the business can be effectively
achieved (Armstrong, 2011).
Marks and Spencer’s is a multinational retailer headquartered in London. The company
specialises in offering clothing, home products and various luxury food products to its
customers. The present research is conducted to understand the influence of motivation on staff
retention in Marks and Spencer (Saeednia and Nor, 2013).
Aim
The main aim of the research project will be:
“ To understand the influence of motivation on staff retention in an organization: A study on
Marks and Spencer”
Objectives
Based on the above aim, following objectives can be framed:
 To understand the concept of motivation and various factors related to it.
 To understand the significance of staff retention in the profitability of the company.
 To assess the significance of motivation in staff retention.
Research questions
Research questions are:
 What is the concept of motivation and various other factors related to it?
 What is the significance of staff retention in the profitability of the company?
 What is the significance of motivation in staff retention?
Rational of the research
It is important for the researcher to understand the relevance of the research. The study
must be able to serve the purpose a specific purpose. Hence, the present study on employee
retention hold adequate importance to understand the logic behind various motivation factors that
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can further help in retaining the employees for longer period of time. The researcher did not
carry adequate amount of knowledge regarding motivation factors and its influence on staff
retention, in that case, the present study has help the researcher to develop that knowledge aspect
(Boichuk and Menguc, 2013).
LITERATURE REVIEW (750)
According to the author Pinder, (2014) motivation is the process inspiring the people do
something. It makes the person to do the activities which are required by the others. He states
that there are many factors which are related to the motivation. Safe and secure working
environment, growth at the personal level, responsibilities etc. These factors decide the level of
motivation in the employee at the work place. All the motivating factors should be present in an
organisation to makes the performance of employees better. On the contrary as per the view of
author Elliot and Dweck, eds., (2013) motivation is the process of fulfilling the needs of person
and makes them do something in return. In the organisation the managers motivate their
employees by fulfilling their needs. Factors which are responsible for this process are to
understand every needs of employees if every need of person will be met than they will give
better performance for the organisation. According to the author Lazaroiu, (2015) if company
wants to motivate their employees than they have to consider all the factors which can help them
in this process.
As per the view of author Wang and Hou, (2015) staff retention is the most important
factor which can increase the profitability of the M&S. It the process which retain the most
skilled and talented employees of the company. Profitability is the one who can increase the
market share of the organisation and it is only possible when the employees of company will
give better performance. It is necessary for the firm to reduce the employee turnover rate for
giving sustainable business performance (Elliot and Dweck, eds., 2013). Retention is the process
of stopping the most efficient and effective workers who can give performance which will
eventually lead the organisation to increase their profitability. According to this author staff
retention is the best process which is very essential to enhance the profits in the cited business.
On the contrary the author Eshiteti and et.al., (2013) says that there are many more measure
which can help in staff retention to increase the profitability of the M&S. Those factors are safe
and secure working environment. The bad culture will never retain the staff. The company makes
and uses that culture which will be better and will make the employees satisfied. It helps the
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company toe retain the employees by making them happy in the business environment. Cultural
factors are those factors which can make the employees satisfied. It also eventually increases the
profitability of the cited firm. Skilled employees are the lifeblood of the business and retaining
will surely increase the profits.
In the view of an author Terera and Ngirande, (2014) motivational factors are also their
between the other factors which are useful in the process of staff retention. M&S successfully
retain their employees by using motivation process to fulfil all the needs of them. It is said
motivation is the process of inspiring person to make them do something. It makes the
employees to fulfil their needs and wants which are required by them. It is necessary to retain the
employees to make the company continuously grow in the market and give sustainable
performance. Motivation can effectively retain the employees or staff. Employees will never
leave if they are satisfied by the cited company. The firm can use many factors of motivation to
make the staff happy and satisfied. That factors can be involvement of employees, better
communication and interaction system etc. By using these factors of motivation employees feel
that they are important for the company and this feeling makes them satisfied. These employees
become loyal for the company and can never think of leaving it. This will surely retain the staff
in M&S. It states that employee retention is effectively done by the motivation process. On the
other hand this author Eshiteti and et.al., (2013) tells the motivation can also be done by creating
safe and secure environment for the staffs. It can effectively help the company for the staff
retention. This factor of motivation will create that environment which will be very beneficial for
the organisation to their employees happy. Staff feels sense of security by working in this
environment. The author says that employees will be fully satisfied if there is environment which
is safe and secure. They can work better and effectively in these conditions. This is the highest
motivating factor for them (Pinder, 2014). This motivation makes them satisfied with the
environment. Employees will be happy to work and will give efficient performance. By using
this factor of motivation M&S retains their staff.
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Type of methodology
There are basically two types of methodology to conduct the research. These are,
qualitative and quantitative. Qualitative research helps in collecting in depth knowledge
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regarding the subject matter. It helps in gathering underlying opinion, develop ideas through and
then reach to a conclusion. However, in case of quantitative research, different statistical tools
are used to understand the conclusion of the study. It can be a hassle to the researcher as
adequate knowledge regarding statistical tool is not possessed by the researcher. Hence, in the
present research qualitative technique of methodology has been used to carry out the research. In
qualitative approach, thematic technique has been preferred for the present research. In that case,
themes will be formulated based on the data being gathered by the researcher.
Data sampling
Sample is considered to be a subset of the population. In the present study, data will be
collected from 50 employees of Marks and Spencer. Closed ended questionnaire will be given to
them to understand the influence of motivation on staff retention in an organization.
Sources of data
There are basically two sources of data. These are, primary source and secondary source.
The primary data will be collected from the employees of Marks and Spencer’s in the form of
questionnaire. It has helped in collecting adequate amount of primary information in order to
fulfil the requirements of aim being formulated for the study (Çetin, Karabay and Efe, 2012).
Further, Secondary data regarding influence of motivation on staff retention in an organization
has been collected from books, journals, online blog posts, websites etc. Hence, in the present
research, data has been collected from both primary and secondary source.
Research limitations
There are various limitations that has been attached to the research. These are,
 Restricted access: Some of the information that could have proved to be beneficial for
the study are available at the websites which cannot be accessed due to restriction being
put by the owner. It has led to decrease in the scope of the study. Moreover, it has also
restricted secondary information that is available on the research project. Budget constraint: The budget that is available to the researcher is limited and all the
functions are required to be completed by the researcher in the specified budget only. It
can act as a limitation to the researcher as adequate investment in the study could have
helped to gather the data and present the report in appropriate manner (Chenail, 2011). Prolonged process: Conducting a research is a prolonged process and has various
aspects that are to be considered by the researcher. It is difficult to complete all the
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aspect in the specified time period. Moreover, it may lead to miss some important
information from the side of the research (Chiaburu, Diaz and Vos, 2013). Moreover, if
the time of the research is increased, in that case, it can decrease the importance of the
research. Hence, to overcome this limitation, the researcher adequately delegated the
time to every activity so that every aspect has been completed in the most efficient
manner.
DATA ANALYSIS AND FINDINGS
Presentation of data through tables, graphs and charts
Theme 1: Employees are there in Marks and Spencer since last 2-5 years
Responses Respondents
1-2 years 12
2-5 years 25
5-10 years 8
More than 10 years 5
Respondents
1-2 years 2-5 years 5-10 years More than 10 years
Theme 2: Monetary and Non-monetary both types of motivation is preferred by the employees
Responses Respondents
Monetary 12
Non Monetary 13
Both 20
None 5
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Respondents
Monetary Non Monetary Both None
Theme 3: Employees are appraised when they deserve
Responses Respondents
Yes 32
No 12
Sometimes 6
Respondents
Yes No Sometimes
Theme 4: Efficient reward system acts as a motivational factor for the employees of marks
and Spencer
Responses Respondents
Interpersonal relationship 7
Job security 6
Flexible working hours 5
Fair Administration policy 6
Efficient reward system 12
Comfortable working conditions 9
Career growth 5
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Respondents
Interpersonal relationship Job security
Flexible working hours Fair Administration policy
Efficient reward system Comfortable working conditions
Career growth
Theme 5: Adequate opportunities are given to the employees to grow
Responses Respondents
Yes 35
No 10
Sometimes 5
Respondents
Yes No Sometimes
Theme 6: Employees are satisfied with the reward system for marks and Spencer
Responses Respondents
Yes 32
No 12
Sometimes 6
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Respondents
Yes No Sometimes
Theme 7: Management of the company is supportive
Responses Respondents
Yes 33
No 16
Sometimes 1
Respondents
Yes No Sometimes
Theme 8: Employees will not stay in the organization if they are not given motivation
Responses Respondents
Yes 3
No 36
May be 11
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Respondents
Yes No May be
Theme 9: Motivation has direct impact on productivity
Responses Respondents
Yes 39
No 11
Respondents
Yes No
Theme 10: Employees are planning to stay in Marks and Spencers for next 2-5 years
Responses Respondents
1-2 years 11
2-5 years 23
5-10 years 7
More than 10 years 9
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Respondents
1-2 years 2-5 years 5-10 years More than 10 years
Interpretation of data
Theme 1: Employees are there in Marks and Spencer since last 2-5 years
From the above data analysis it is interpreted that there are maximum number of
employees who are working in M&S within 2-5 years which exactly amounts 25. On the other
hand 12 numbers of employees are working within the company between the range of 1-2 years.
8 numbers of workers fall in the range of 5-10 years. Only 5 numbers of employees fall in
category of working for more than 10 years in the cited organisation. It states that many
employees had left the job. New workers are recruited in the company but at a very law level.
Company need to take some measures for solving this issue.
Theme 2: Monetary and Non-monetary both types of motivation is preferred by the employees
By conducting the data analysis it is found that maximum numbers of employees prefer
both monetary and non-monetary types of motivation. On the contrary 12 employees prefers
monetary and 13 workers prefer non-monetary motivation in the company. Only 5 number of
people does not want any type of motivation. It states that motivation is essential to work in
better way for the employees.
Theme 3: Employees are appraised when they deserve
In the M&S maximum employees say that they are being appraised when they deserve.
On the other 12 people are totally against it. 6 number of employees say that it happen
sometimes. The above discussion states that employees get what they deserve in accordance with
their efficiency.
Theme 4: Efficient reward system acts as a motivational factor for the employees of marks
and Spencer
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