Role of Line Managers and Leaders in Staff Growth as part of Talent Management Strategy

This research proposal aims to determine the role of line managers and leaders in the staff growth process within companies, focusing on a case study of Marks & Spencer. The objectives include understanding the concept of employee growth, analyzing the strategies used by leaders and managers, and evaluating the problems faced by them. The research approach will involve using a deductive research methodology, with data collection through questionnaires and secondary sources. The expected milestones for the project are submitting the research proposal and the research project report. The research is important for understanding the role of line managers and leaders in talent management strategies.

Research Proposal Form
Student Name:
Student Number:
Centre Name:
Tutor:
Date:
Unit: HNBS 311
Proposed title:
“To determine the role of line managers and leaders into staff growth
process as part of talent management strategy”.

Section One: Title, objective, responsibilities
Title or working title of research project ( in the form of a question, objective or hypothesis)
“To determine the role of line managers and leaders into staff growth process within company. A case
study on Marks & Spencer”.
Research project objectives
Research Objectives
 To understand the concept of employees growth within retail organisation.
 To analyse the strategies utilised by leaders and line manager of organisation for their growth within
company
 To evaluate the various problems faced by both leaders and managers of Marks & Spencer while
executing employee growth strategies at workplace.
Research Question
 What is the concept of employees’ growth within retail organisation?
 What are the strategies utilised by leaders and line manager of organisation for their growth within
company?
 What are the various problems faced by both leaders and managers of Marks & Spencer while executing
employees growth strategies at workplace?
Section Two: Reasons for choosing this research project
Reasons for choosing the project (e.g. links to other subjects you are studying, personal interest,
future plans, knowledge/skills you want to improve, why the topic is important):

One of the key intent of opting respective topic is to determine the leaders as well as line managers role within
the procedures of staff growth into company. Moreover, this also aids in obtaining information related to
strategies utilised through retail firm for their staff growth. Additionally, this aids investigators in context of
both professional and personal. In professional context, this would assists researcher for dealing with
circumstances in which this would perform into upcoming times. In personal respect, this aids into growth of
competencies like data interpretation, time management, data collection, communication and many more.
Furthermore, the current investigation would assists in performing upcoming research in much appropriate and
relevant manner.
Section Three: Literature sources searched
Use of key literature sources to support your research question, objective or hypothesis:
Concept of employees’ growth within retail organisation.
As per the view point of Kate Heinz (2019), Employees growth is essentially undertaken as professional
development that may be maximise staff involvements process into company. Additionally, this effectively
utilised for attracting efficient talents at work area. Moreover, respective concepts is adapted through firms for
supporting as well as retaining their competencies and attributes that might aids to provides both external and
internal development opportunities. Also, staff growth helps entity to enhance their level of productivities, gain
market shares and others.
Strategies utilised by leaders and line manager of organisation for their growth within company.
According To Alainia Cornard (2020), This is crucial for line managers as well as leaders for forming effectual
staff growth strategies so that it may retain much competent personnel who have its abilities for dealing with
changes that takes place within business atmosphere. Moreover, this is analysed that one of the effective strategy
is facilitating personalised training programmes to workers as this aids to develop employees for indentifying
proficiencies and used them to obtain development. Additionally, providing career development opportunities is
also known as staff growth strategy as this aids to develop optimistic workers mind sets towards performing the
task because of which overall practices are executed systematically and on time.
Problems faced by both leaders and managers of Marks & Spencer while executing employees growth
strategies at workplace?
As per the view point of Paul, (2019), There are several problems that are faced through line managers as well
as leaders at the time of staff growth process. So, one of the essential issue is having lots of time for providing

the training to staff as it have to conduct its continuous job roles. Also, some more problems are current
pandemic situation, ineffectual leadership and others.
REFERENCES
Books & Journal
Staniškienė, E. and Stankevičiūtė, Ž., 2018. Social sustainability measurement framework: The case of
employee perspective in a CSR-committed organisation. Journal of Cleaner Production, 188, pp.708-
719.
Matti, D.P., 2020. Aligning Society, Organisation and Employee Development Through Volunteering. NHRD
Network Journal, 13(2), pp.178-183.
Xu, Q., Kim, S. and Yunlu, D.G., 2019. Work and Nonwork Support for Employee Development.
Online
EMPLOYEE DEVELOPMENT: WHAT IT IS AND WHY IT MATTERS, 2019 [Online] Available
through; <https://builtin.com/company-culture/employee-development>
Employee Development strategies,2020[Online] Available
through;https://www.selecthub.com/learning-management/employee-development-strategies/
Biggest Challenges Faced byorganisation, 2019 [Online] Available
through;https://www.deakinco.com/media-centre/news/biggest-challenges-faced-by-modern-
workplaces
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:

Milestone one: Submitting the Research Proposal
Target date (set by tutor): 8 June 2021
Milestone two: Submitting the Research Project Report
Target date (set by tutor): 17 July 2021
Section Five: Research approach and methodologies
What type of research approach and methodologies are you likely to use and why?
What your areas of research will cover:
Research methodology is undertaken as the procedures as well as ineffective aspects for investigators as this aid
in performing overall research through utilizing efficient tools. Additionally, this is also aids in obtaining
information from relevant as well as valid sources. Moreover, for following the procedures into appropriate way,
researcher utilize the research opinion framework which incorporates several phases as well as ascertain
effectualness of every steps for accomplishment of investigation effectively and efficiently.. the various layers
of research onion framework is discussed below:
Research philosophy: This is regarded as initial layer of research onion where researcher select effective

philosophy with intent to accumulate and determine information related with research. Moreover, this is crucial
for investigator to opt appropriate philosophy as whole conclusion depends upon it. In addition to this, there are
mainly two kinds of research philosophy that are interpretivism and positivism. For this research positivism is
used as it aids to gain data from relevant sources as well as also gather information depending upon the essential
facts and figures.
Research approach: It is undertaken as other essential research onion layer which would be followed into
investigation for analyzing effective information related with respective topic which is the leaders as well as line
managers’ role into staff growth process. Moreover, it is mainly of two kinds such as inductive and deductive.
For respective research, deductive research is used as this si appropriate and aids to determine information that
is into quantitative way. Additionally, this assists investigators to gather information into optimum time as well
as costs.
Research strategy: This is regarded as other research onion layer in which various research strategy kinds that
are survey, case study and others. In respect of respective research, survey is undertaken as this allows
investigators to accumulate both secondary and primary information from relevant and valid sources.
Research choice: This is regarded as the essential research onion layer which effectively focuses upon form of
information that is needed to be accumulated and analyzed through researcher. Moreover, the two kinds of
research choices are quantitative as well as qualitative. For respective research, it is utilized as this aids to
accumulate efficient statistical data from reliable sources.
Time horizon: Respective research onion layer describes the effectiveness of time so that overall research is
accomplished into specified time duration. Moreover, time is one of the crucial aspects while performing
investigation as this aids to attain objectives of research into specified time duration. Additionally, it is mainly
of two kinds that are cross sectional as well as longitudinal. For this investigation, cross sectional approach is
used as this aids to attain whole objectives at stipulated time duration.
Data collection: This is undertaken as one of the essential aspects into research methodology as outcomes
depends upon this. Additionally, this is vital for investigators to opt effective information method so that
relevant and valid conclusion may be drawn. In addition to this, there are several manner by that information
may be accumulated as well as it is essentially divided in two such as secondary and primary. Within respective
investigation, both primary and secondary data collection methods are utilized. So, form accumulating primary
data, questionnaires would be formulated through researcher as it assists to obtain understandings on particular
topic. While for secondary data various journal articles, books and others.
Sampling: This is undertaken as procedure of choosing particular sample from overall population for

performing research as well as accumulated data. Moreover, there are essentially two kinds of sampling which is
non- probability as well as probability sampling. For respective research, probability sampling is used as well as
also random sampling is utilized as part of probability. Furthermore, samples that are chosen for this is 30.
Research instrument: This is considered as techniques which aid to accumulate data related to particular topic.
Moreover, there are several kinds of research instruments are interviews, observation and others. In respect of
respective research, questionnaire is selected as this aids to gain deep information related to topic and attain
research objectives effectively.
Comments and agreement from tutor
Comments (optional):
I confirm that the project is not work which has been or will be submitted for another qualification and
is appropriate.
Agreed: (name): (date):
Comments and agreement from project proposal checker (if applicable)
Comments (optional):
I confirm that the project is appropriate.
Agreed: (name): (date):
Research Ethics Approval Form

All students conducting research activity that involves human participants or the use
of data collected from human participants are required to gain ethical approval
before commencing their research. Please answer all relevant questions and note
that your form may be returned if incomplete.
For further support and guidance please see your respective Unit Tutor.
Before completing this form, we advise that you discuss your proposed
research fully with your Unit Tutor. Please complete this form in good time
before your research project is due to commence.
Section 1: Basic Details
Project title: “To determine the role of line managers and leaders into staff growth within company. A
case study on Marks & Spencer”.
Student name:
Student ID number:
Programme: HNBS
School / College:
Intended research start date:
Intended research end date:
Section 2: Project Summary
Please select all research methods that you plan to use as part of your project (Please tick):
• Interviews:
• Questionnaires:
• Observations:

• Use of Personal Records:
• Data Analysis:
• Action Research:
• Focus Groups:
• Other (please specify):
Section 3: Participants
Please answer the following questions, giving full details where necessary.
Will your research involve human participants? Who are the participants? Tick all that apply:
Ages 12-16:
Young People aged 17–18:
Adults:
How will participants be recruited (identified and approached)?
Through probability sampling method respondents is chosen.
Describe the processes you will use to inform participants about what you are doing:
E-mail, oral and written presentation will be chosen.
How will you obtain consent from participants? Will this be written? How will it be made
clear to participants that they may withdraw consent to participate at any time?
In order to obtain consent from chosen participants, overall information related to research would be
provided effectually that is into written form.
Studies involving questionnaires: Will participants be given the option of omitting questions they

do not wish to answer? Please tick:
Yes:
No:
If No please explain why below and ensure that you cover any ethical issues arising from this.
Studies involving observation: Confirm whether participants will be asked for their informed
consent to be observed. Please tick:
Yes:
No:
Will you debrief participants at the end of their participation (i.e. give them a brief explanation of the
study)? Please tick:
Yes:
No:
Will participants be given information about the findings of your study? (This could be a brief
summary of your findings in general). Please tick:
Yes:
No:
Section 4: Data Storage and Security
Confirm that all personal data will be stored and processed in compliance with the Data
Protection Act (1998).
Yes:
No:
Who will have access to the data and personal information?
Researcher

During the research:
Where will the data be stored?
Laptop and Computer
Will mobile devices such as USB storage and laptops be used?
Yes:
No:
If yes, please provide further details:
After the research:
Where will the data be stored?

How long will the data and records be kept for and in what format?
Will data be kept for use by other researchers?
Yes:
No:
If yes, please provide further details:

Section 5: Ethical Issues
Are there any particular features of your proposed work which may raise ethical concerns? If so,
please outline how you will deal with these:
It is important that you demonstrate your awareness of potential risks that may arise as a result of
your research. Please consider/address all issues that may apply. Ethical concerns may include,
but are not limited to the following:
• Informed consent.
• Potentially vulnerable participants.
• Sensitive topics.
• Risks to participants and/or researchers.
• Confidentiality/anonymity.
• Disclosures/limits to confidentiality.
Data storage and security, both during and after the research (including transfer, sharing,
encryption, protection).
• Reporting.
• Dissemination and use of your findings.
Section 6: Declaration
I have read, understood and will abide by the institution’s Research and Ethics Policy: Yes: No:
I have discussed the ethical issues relating to my research with my Unit Tutor: Yes: No:
I confirm that to the best of my knowledge:
The above information is correct and that this is a full description of the ethics issues that may arise
in the course of my research.
Name:

Date:
Please submit your completed form to Moodle