Analyzing Talent Management Strategies at Marks and Spencer

This research proposal aims to analyze the talent management strategies used by Marks and Spencer to retain and manage competent employees. It will examine the concept and importance of talent management, determine the strategies used by Marks and Spencer, and explore the challenges faced in implementing these strategies. The study will provide valuable insights for organizations looking to improve their talent management practices.

Research Proposal Form
Student Name
Student ID
Centre Name
Tutor
Unit No
Proposed Title
Section One: Title, objective, responsibilities
Title or working title of the research project (in the form of a question, objective or hypothesis)
TITLE: “To analyse how talent management helps the business to manage and retain
competent workforce. A study on Marks and Spencer
Research aim:
“To identify the effective talent management strategies used by organisation to retain
and manage competent employees”. A study on Marks and Spencer.
Research objectives (e.g what is the question you want to answer? What do you want to learn how to
do? What do you want to find out?):
Research Objectives
 To understand the concept and importance of talent management.
 To determine various talent management strategies used by Marks and Spencer to
retain and manage its employees within an organisation.
 To examine challenges faced by Marks and Spencer while implementing talent
management strategies at workplace.
Research Questions
 What is the concept and various talent management strategies used by Marks and
Spencer to retain and manage its employees within an organisation?
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 main reason behind conducting this study is to analyse how talent management

help businesses to retain and manage competent workforce within an organization. In addition
to this, it help researcher in both personal and professional context. If it is talking about
professional context, it help in gaining knowledge about talent management strategies which
help investigator to perform the job in future where it works. Other hand, it help in improving
and learning skills such as data analysis, data collection, data interpretation, time management
and many more. Moreover, it also help researcher to systematically conduct future studies and
grab opportunities effectively.
Section Three: Literature sources searched
Use of key literature sources to support your research question, objective or hypothesis:
Concept and importance of talent management
According to Susan, (2019), Talent management is defined as a systematic method of
analyzing and determining the different vacant positions, recruiting suitable candidates as well
as developing major skills and expertise of the candidates. In addition to this, it is the
procedure of acquiring, retaining, improving and enhancing the skills and attributes of
employees in order to achieve organizational objectives (Talent management, 2019). It is
important for an organization to retain its employees as it help in increasing productivity,
develop brand image, systematic implementation of activities, increasing profitability and
many more.
Various talent management strategies used by Marks and Spencer to retain and manage its
employees within an organisation
As per the view point of Hannah, (2021), It is determined that there are various approaches
used by companies for talent management. One of the strategy is providing effective training
and development session to stop members as it help them to gain both personal and
professional growth (Talent Management Strategies, 2020). In addition to this, higher
compensation as well as rewards and recognition is also considered as a strategy of managing
talent as it motivate staff members to work with full potential and retain at work place for
longer time frame. Apart from this, there are also other strategies such as allow participation of
employees in decision-making, provide flexibility and many more.
Challenges faced by Marks and Spencer while implementing talent management strategies at
workplace
According to Andre, (2020), It is analyze that there are various challenges faced by companies

while implementing talent management strategies and to deal with this is important in order to
maintain performance and productivity within the marketplace. One of the major issue is
ineffective leadership due to which companies not able to provide right direction to staff
members (Talent management challenges, 2020). Along with this, the demand of high
compensation is also the issue as it impact negatively on the overall profitability of company.
Apart from this, there are also other challenges such as identification of high potential talent,
encouraging passion, offering impressive salaries and so on.
REFERENCES
Books & Journal
Pantouvakis, A. and Karakasnaki, M., 2017. Role of the human talent in total quality
management–performance relationship: an investigation in the transport sector. Total
Quality Management & Business Excellence, 28(9-10), pp.959-973.
Narayanan, A., 2016. Talent Management and Employee Retention: Implications of Job
Embeddedness-A Research Agenda. Journal of Strategic Human Resource
Management, 5(2).
Online
Talent management, 2019 [Online] Available through;
https://www.allassignmenthelp.com/blog/talent-management-explanation-and-
concepts/#:~:text=Talent%20management%20can%20be%20defined%20as%20a
%20systematic,same%20time%20the%20business%20objectives%20are
%20achieved%20satisfactorily.
Talent Management Strategies, 2020 [Online] Available through;
https://www.edapp.com/blog/10-talent-management-strategies/
Talent management challenges, 2020 [Online] Available through;<
https://peopletreegroup.com/en/the-5-biggest-talent-management-challenges-facing-
companies-today/#:~:text=%20The%205%20Biggest%20Talent%20Management
%20Challenges%20Facing,Needs.%20Training%20in%20organisations%20tends
%20to...%20More%20>

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):
Introduction
Aim and objectives
Literature review
Research methodology
Submission of research proposal
Data collection
Data analysis
Conclusion and recommendations
Reflection
Submission of final report
How long this will
take:
1 wk
1 wk
4 wks
2 wks
1 wk
5 wks
3 wks
2 wks
1 wk
1 wk
Milestone one: _________________
Target date (set by tutor): _________________
Milestone two: _________________
Target date (set by tutor): __________________
Gantt Chart

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 the process and significant aspect of an investigation as it help in
conducting the study by using appropriate tools and strong evidences. Research onion
framework is used by researcher that involves various stages and methods which are given
below:
Research philosophy: It is considered as first layer of whole process and herein investigator
choose an appropriate philosophy to collect as well as evaluate data associated to research
topic. The two types of research philosophy is positivism and interpretivism but according to
the topic positivism research philosophy is valuable and effective. The main reason of
selecting positivism research philosophy is it help in evaluating data within less time and cost.
Research approach: This method is followed in the research for examining proper data in
context to the topic. Deductive and inductive are two research approaches. In the present
study, deductive approach will be applied by researcher as it help in examining quantitative
information in less cost and time. In addition to this, it help researcher in conducting based
testing of numerical information and data.
Research strategy: There are different forms of research strategies such as survey, case study,
experiment but as per the research topic survey research strategy is advantageous and
beneficial. The main reason of selecting survey strategy is it enable researcher to gather both
primary as well as secondary information from the valid and authentic sources.
Research choice: It is another vital aspect of research methodology that mainly emphasize on
the type of information required to be gathered as well as examined by investigator.
Quantitative and qualitative are two types of research choices. In context to the present work,

quantitative research choice is used as it help in collecting appropriate numerical information
within cost effective and reliable manner.
Data collection: It is important for researcher to collect data from authentic and reliable
sources as the overall conclusion is based on it. There are mainly two types of data collection
methods that is primary and secondary. In the present study, both the methods were used by
researcher.
Sampling: It is defined as a process of selecting the respective sample out of the total
population through probability and non probability sampling method. In regards to the present
study, probability sampling method will be used by researcher and there are 30 respondents
will be selected from the population.
Research instrument: It is defined as a tool that is used to collect information about the
research topic. There are different types of research instrument that is questionnaire, interview,
focus group and many more. For the present study, questionnaire will be used by researcher as
it help in gaining in-depth knowledge about research topic due to which valid and reliable
conclusion can be drawn.
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 form project proposal checker( IV sampling)

Comments (Optional):
I confirm that the project is appropriate.
Agreed /Disagree: (Name of the IV) Date

ANNEXURE “B”:
Research Ethics approval form
All students conducting research activity that involves human participants or the use of data
collected form 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 analyse how talent management helps the business to manage and retain
competent workforce. A study on Marks and Spencer
Student name:
Student ID number:
Programme:
College Name:
Intended research start date:

Intended research end date:
Section 2 Project summary
Please select all research methods that you plan to use as a part of your project:
 Interviews Yes No
 Questionnaires Yes No
 Observations Yes No
 Use of personal records Yes No
 Data Analysis Yes No
 Action Research Yes No
 Focus Groups Yes No
 Others (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 an approached)?
According to the report, probability sampling will be applied for recruiting 30 employees
of Marks and Spencer.
Describe the processes you will use to inform participants about what you are doing:
E-mail, oral and Written presentation
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?
For obtaining consent from recruited respondents, all data about the investigation will be

given effectively which is in written form.
Studies involving questionnaires: will participants be given the option of omitting questions
that do not wish to answer?
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.
Yes No
Will you debrief participants at the end of their participation (i.e give them a brief
explanation of the study)?
Yes No
Will participants be given information about the findings of your study?(This could be a brief
summary of your findings in general)
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?
Computer and Laptop
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
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
because 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

 Risk 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 this is a full description of the ethical issues that may
arise in the course of my research
Name: Date:
Please submit your completed form to your supervisor and also attach to the Research
Proposal when submitting to Turnitin.