Role and Importance of Line Managers and Leaders in Employee Development: A Study on Marks and Spencer

Research Project

Contents
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION..............................................................................................4
1.1 Research Aim and Rationale.................................................................................................4
1.2 Research Questions................................................................................................................5
1.3 Research Objectives...............................................................................................................5
1.4 Significance of the Research.................................................................................................5
CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW..................................................................................6
2.1 Introduction of Literature Review.........................................................................................6
2.2 Main Body.............................................................................................................................6
2.3 Conclusion of Literature Review...........................................................................................9
CHAPTER THREE: METHODOLOGY......................................................................................10
3.1 Research Approach..............................................................................................................10
3.2 Research Strategy................................................................................................................10
3.3 Research Methodology........................................................................................................10
3.4 Research Tools.....................................................................................................................11
3.5 Sampling..............................................................................................................................11
3.5.1 Identifying Population and Research Site.....................................................................11
3.5.2 Sampling Strategy.........................................................................................................12
CHAPTER FOUR: FINDINGS (DATA ANALYSIS AND PRESENTATION).........................12
Data analysis..............................................................................................................................12
Data presentation.......................................................................................................................14
CHAPTER FIVE: DISCUSSION (DATA INTERPRETATION)................................................21
Research outcomes........................................................................................................................24
Covered in PPT..........................................................................................................................24
CHAPTER SIX: CONCLUSION, RECOMMENDATIONS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR
FURTHER RESEARCH...............................................................................................................32

Conclusion.................................................................................................................................32
Recommendation.......................................................................................................................32
Implications for Further Research.............................................................................................32
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................33
APPENDIX....................................................................................................................................34
Questionnaire.............................................................................................................................34

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
Employee development is defined as the procedure of enhancing existing skills and
competencies of employees with the objective to attain organizational objectives on time period.
In addition to this, it is an initiative taken by the employers and manage in order to improve the
performance of both employee and organization as well (Liu and et. al., 2021). It is significant
for a company to focus on employee development so that various benefits can be gained such as
improve in productivity and performance, increase in brand image, attainment of competitive
edge, systematic execution of activities and so on. Employee development is also vital for
company to deal with the changing business situation and to cope with the uncertainties. For the
present research, Marks and Spencer is chosen as a base company. It is a British multinational
retail organization which was founded in year 1884 and headquartered in England, United
Kingdom. The company has around 1500 shops globally which represents that it has high market
growth and share. It has around 80,000 talented and skillful employees which is the major reason
of company’s higher growth and success. The main objective to conduct the study is to analyze
the role and importance of line mangers and leaders in employee development.
1.1 Research Aim and Rationale
Research aim:
“To identify the role and importance of line mangers and leaders in employee
development” A study on Marks and Spencer
Rationale for the research
One of the main reason to conduct this study is to gain knowledge about the role and
importance of line mangers and leaders in employee development. In addition to this, it helps
researcher to know about the strategies adopted by leaders and managers for development and
the challenges they faced during the procedure of employee development (Paine, 2021). The
present study assist various stakeholders such as researcher, organization and so on. In context to
organization, it help company to develop effective strategies in dealing with the challenges
which further ensure employee development and company’s growth. Moreover, it will assist
researcher to learn and improve skills such as data analysis, data collection, time management,
communication and many more. It will also assist investigator to conduct future studies in more
effective as well as systematic manner.

1.2 Research Questions
 What is the role and importance of line mangers and leaders in employee development?
1.3 Research Objectives
 To know about the concept and importance of employee development.
 To analyse the strategies used by line managers and leaders of Marks and Spencer for
employee development.
 To examine the challenges faced by line managers and leaders of Marks and Spencer in
the process of employee development.
1.4 Significance of the Research
Employee development is defined as the cooperative effort among the employer and
employee to assist the worker enhance their knowledge and skills. Employee development is
vital for companies in order to gain various advantages such as performance improvement,
improvement in brand image, maintain positive working culture and so on (Jangbahadur and
Sharma, 2018). Moreover, it also help employees to deal with the changing business
environment and unexpected situation which is important in the present time for attaining
competitive advantage at marketplace. It is important for leaders and managers to focus on
employee development so that objectives and targets are met on the time period that has a
positive impact on the growth and success of a company.
Outline of research methodology
For the present research, Positivism as a research philosophy is chosen as it allows
researcher to collect quantitative data and is also assist to collect scientific information. In
addition to this, deductive research approach and quantitative research choice is applied by
investigator as it assists to gather numerical data that is based on facts and figures. Further,
primary sources of data collection is applied and the reason is it help to gain in-depth knowledge
about topic. Moreover, questionnaire will be develop by researcher in order to collect primary
research and the main reason to select is it assists to gather information directly from the source
which is more authentic and valid.

CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 Introduction of Literature Review
Literature review is defined as the overview of previously researched and published work
on a particular topic. In addition to this, it is the process to discuss as well as analyzed published
data on a specific area. It is a secondary data that includes review of books, Journals, articles,
online polls and so on (Hezlett and McCauley, 2018). The main objective of literature review is
to identify the research gap. In the previous studies, there is an information about importance of
employee development and how an organization carry it. Along with this, it also includes data
about strategies used by leaders and mangers for the employee development but it lacks data
about role and importance of line mangers and leaders in employee development. In order to
fulfil this gap, some of the research questions and objectives were developed, which are as
follows:
2.2 Main Body
Concept and importance of employee development
As per the viewpoint of Laura (2021), it is analysed that staff members are more focused on
their professional growth and development and if the company does not fulfil this requirement,
then they surely leave the organisation. In addition to this, an effective salary package, positive
working environment, providing opportunities help employees to gain growth and development
professionally and personally as well. Employee development is defined as the procedure to
improve staff member’s existing skills and competencies so that they can attain objectives within
the set time period. It is important for an organisation to focus on employee development as it
results into higher growth and success of a company. It is determined that if an employee gain
growth at workplace then they work with full potential to meet with the targets. Employee
development is significant as it increases employee engagement, improve employee
performance, and help to deal with the unexpected situations, decrease employee turnover rate
and so on. Furthermore, if an organisation ensures employee development than it is bale to
attract talent and skilful employees which is one of the major asset for a company to gain growth
and success.
Strategies used by line managers and leaders of Marks and Spencer for employee development

According to Valamis, (2021), it is analysed that there are many strategies adopted by
leaders and managers for employee development, which are as follows:
Encourage Recognition: Employees always wanted to feel appreciated for the work they
have done for the company. The leaders and line managers used recognition strategy to
encourage their employees in an organisation. This helps to improve the performance and
motivate as well as inspires them. Encourage by giving rewards, appraisals and recognition
among the other staff members of the company. By this it motivates the other members also to
do the work efficiently.
On the Job Training: It is important for the company to provide on the job training to their
employees which is very essential part. So that they can learn how to apply or use the methods to
complete the assigned tasks (Employee development methods, 2021). The leaders of the company
conducts training and development programmes where they give training about operating the
machines, learn new financial analysis methods etc. Where they can enhance their learning and
skills at an optimum level and utilised well.
Job or Task Rotation: In order to develop the additional skills among employees it is the
effective method to rotate the job and task given them. Which is important for the organisation to
motivate them, get practical experience and enhance their skills in an effective and efficient
manner. The objective of the company behind job rotation is to learn something new get a
chance practice. It improves the communication skills of the employees which creates the good
and positive environment.
Apart from this, there are also other strategies which are used by an organisation and line
managers for employee development such as providing appreciation to staff members of their
good performance, provide rewards and recognition, allow them to participate in the decision
making and many more. All this help company to satisfy employees for longer run which further
leads towards personal as well as professional growth. It is vital for companies to ensure that all
these strategies are implemented in a proper manner so that they can gain higher growth and
success at marketplace.
Challenges faced by line managers and leaders of Marks and Spencer in the process of
employee development
As per the view point of kheh (2021), It is analysed that there are many issues faced by
company while they execute the strategies of employee development. One of the major issue is

increasing cost due to which the overall level of revenue is declined. In addition to this, another
issue is conflict among the employees because of which employees did not put their full potential
at workplace and also did not agree to work in a team. This impact negatively on the
performance of organisation and also effect on working environment of company. It is
determined that if the employees did not find the working culture positive and effective, then
they did not prefer to stay with the company for longer time period. Another issue is non-
acceptance of change by employees, it is analysed that there are some of the staff members who
did not accept changes easily as they did not want to work without their comfortable zone
(Challenges of employee developmemnt, 2020). This decline the overall growth of the employees
and the organisation as well. Moreover, another issue is ineffective communication which arise
issue or problems among the employer and employees. It is analysed that due to ineffective
communication, employees did not get clarity about the roles and responsibilities in an
appropriate and this further leads towards ineffective implementation of activities. This also
impact negatively on the performance of the staff members and company as well. Apart from
this, there are many issues faced by leaders that is engage learners, conflict management,
developing leaders, improving learning effectiveness and many more. It is vital for company to
deal with all this challenges in an appropriate ways so that employees can gain growth and
success.
Role and importance of line mangers and leaders in employee development
According to the view of Andrew Wallbridge, 2020, leaders and line managers plays a very
significant role in the development of employees as they provide guidance and instructions for
the purpose of accomplishing targets. A Line manager is the very primary layer of management
which directly supervise the performance of front line workers. They are responsible for
managing performances of the employees and contribute in ensuring their productive and
efficient performance at the workplace. Leaders are responsible for devising strategies and
directing those to employees for constructive growth and development of an organisation.
Leaders plays a crucial role in determining behaviour of their team members and thus they are
the one who guides and motivates their fellow team members to perform better towards the
accomplishment of goals. While line managers oversees the performance of whole department of
front line workers, leaders manage the job roles and responsibilities of particular teams they are
leading.