Employee Empowerment Assignment - Sainsbury

An investigation of the impact of employee
empowerment on enhancing employee job satisfaction
of the UK retail industry, A case study of Sainsbury,
UK

ABSTRACT
In the present dissertation, rationale behind conducting this investigation is although many
researchers have studied the role and significance of employee empowering, but still, none of the
research study investigated the importance of employee empowering in the success of retail firm,
Sainsbury. Thus, this research study has bridged such gap by investigating the role of human
empowerment in the growth and progress of Sainsbury. Employee empowerment as a wider concept
as it takes into accounts both employee engagement or involvement and participative management
as well. In such respect, workers involvement refers to the process of involving workers in business
decisions, similarly, participative also called democratic managerial style encourage personnel to
give their ideas, suggestions and advices for the better functioning and hazard-less operations.
Empowered employee deliver exceptional and outstanding services to their customers as
they are free to take decisions without the involvement of respective superiors. As a result, they feel
more freedom and flexibility in their work and also put their self-control on regular functions. With
the help of this, retailers will be able to gain repetitive purchasing and improved consumer loyalty.
There are various approaches to empower workforce covers mostly social-structural empowerment
such as participative decision-making, skill/knowledge based pay, open communication, flat
structure, staff training and many others. In such respect, participative managerial concept is a
process of involving subordinates into business decisions so that workers can express their ideas,
advices, views and suggestions in the front of higher authority. Further, open communication also
assists lower level of workers to directly communicate with their upper authority. All the
approaches provide a sense of feelings to the employees as they consider themselves as an
important and integral part of business
Relationship between workers empowerment and job satisfaction as he presented that self-
determination through empowering give rises to their satisfaction level to a great extent. The reason
behind this is more controlling rights, flexibility, worker’s involvement, liberal communication
policy, rewards, training etc. inspire self-efficacy among personnel, which in turn, they feel highly
motivated and satisfied.

Table of Contents
ABSTRACT.........................................................................................................................................2
INTRODUCTION ...............................................................................................................................4
1.1 Background of the research...................................................................................................4
1.2 Research problem/rationale...................................................................................................6
1.3 Significance of the research..................................................................................................7
1.4 Research aim.........................................................................................................................8
1.5 Research objectives...............................................................................................................8
1.6 Research questions................................................................................................................8
1.7 Research framework..............................................................................................................8
1.8 Structure of dissertation........................................................................................................9
LITERATURE REVIEW ..................................................................................................................10
2.1 Concept of employee empowerment...................................................................................10
2.2 Significance and necessity of empowering employees.......................................................10
2.3 Methods, concepts and strategies to empower workers......................................................11
2.4 Contribution of employee empowerment in enhancing their satisfaction level..................12
2.5 Impact of employee empowerment on Job satisfaction......................................................12
2.6 Ways to analyse employee satisfaction...............................................................................14
2.7 Methods to advance job satisfaction...................................................................................15
2.8 Motivation impact on employee satisfaction......................................................................16
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY.......................................................................................................18
Introduction...............................................................................................................................18
Research philosophy.................................................................................................................18
DATA ANALYSIS..............................................................................................................................23
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION..................................................................................39
APPENDIX........................................................................................................................................47

INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the research
Retail industry is one of the fastest growing sectors in United Kingdom which aims at
delivering the best quality of products and services to meet targets. Employee plays a crucial role in
meeting such objectives as they render goods and services to the audiences to serve them in the best
possible manner. Employee empowerment refers to the process of giving freedom or autonomy to
the workers so that they can take business decisions to accomplish their job responsibility. Strong
bonding and relationship between higher management authority and personnel through regular
interaction highly impact internal business environment of the firm (Appelbaum and et.al., 2015).
Employee empowerment is of great importance which enable retailers to develop a positive
perception in the workers as they are allowed to make business decisions to fulfil their specific tasks
and responsibilities. It is a process-oriented method which assists firms to motivate their employees,
which in turn, results in high level of job satisfaction. This research study has investigated the role
of empowering employees in maximization of workers satisfaction, so that, they have put the best
efforts to serve customers expectations and desires in an efficient manner. The concept of
empowering workers includes number of facets i.e. feelings, behaviour and emotions.
In addition to this, it can be said that employee empowerment can be accomplished through
focusing on diverse aspects. Reward mechanism is considered as one of critical section that helps in
employee empowerment so that job satisfaction can be advanced in desired manner. It has been
noticed that application of reward mechanism in business helps to ensure a team of highly
motivated staff in the organization (Babbie, 2015). Their work explains that to retain efficient
employees and to motivate the employees for accomplishment of goals, an effective reward system
is essential. As same the retail sector businesses can also have better opportunities through
application of reward system. Along with this, employee empowerment and job satisfaction is
highly associated with the motivation. It means by having improved focus on motivation the
businesses can easily focus on factors that enhances the morale of individual to have efforts within
organization. Current study is based on the work culture of Sainsbury which is considered as one of
critical part of UK retail sector.
Employee empowerment within organization can be advanced by having focus on
systematic process that allows to influence the employee morale. It means by having appropriate
allocation of rewards, self recognition, decision making power, compensation and diversified
intrinsic and extrinsic rewards the businesses can have appropriate promotion of employee
empowerment. If these aspects are properly maintained then overall outcome might get positive in
respect to job satisfaction (Bryman, 2015). Employee empowerment and job satisfaction among
employees can also be promoted effectively by having appropriate formation of mechanism that

focuses on the work performance. Along with this, application of policies according to employee
needs is also a great opportunity that may explore job satisfaction aspects in desired way. With an
assistance of this, employees can attain fair and equal opportunities within retail sector which is
beneficial for effective accomplishment of goals. Motivation is the factors which stimulates or
influence the employees towards work or motivate them to meet their needs and desires (Caillaud,
Rose and Goepp, 2016). In addition to this, it can be said that motivation can be advanced among
employees by having target on internal and external motivation. It has great influence on the
behavioural aspects of employees that make them feel valuable. It indicates that employee
empowerment within retail sector organization can also be advanced by considering internal and
external factors as critical aspect. It will also enhance the motivation among employees and force
them to make better efforts in respect to attainment of the designed goals.
Employee empowerment makes an impact on the employee behaviour as well as their
performance. It means is also associated with the job satisfaction which need to be analysed in
desired way for better understanding about the subject. In addition to this, the preliminary main aim
behind the use of motivation techniques is to have advancement in the morale values so that
employee empowerment can be promoted effectively within organization (Eriksson and
Kovalainen, 2015). By having improved focus on employee empowerment the businesses can also
ensure in regard to the employee retention rate. With an assistance of this, the financial and other
specific needs of workforce can also be accomplished in desired way. Moreover, the motivation is
considered as key option that allows to influence the employee satisfaction because it is directly
linked with employee perception (Flick, 2015). Appropriate consideration of relationship between
motivation and employee empowerment is also beneficial for sustainable development. Along with
this, it has been noticed that employee empowerment leads to high level of satisfaction among the
employees. It motivates them to work hard and also enhances the retention in organization.
Background of organization
Sainsbury is one of the largest UK-established retail organizations, headquartered in
Holborn, London, UK. The aim of the company is to meet client’s expectations by delivering
quality grocery products through convenience stores, forecourt store, supercenter, superstore and
hypermarkets. The dissertation has examined that how Sainsbury motivate and encourage their
personnel through adopting employee empowerment at the workplace. In such respect, participative
leadership and managerial style, rewards, freedom in decision-making, delegation of power and
authority and many other factors provides a better sense of feeling to the personnel, which in turn,
they put their increased efforts to meet customers desires, needs and wants (Cicolini, Comparcini
and Simonetti, 2014). It assists Sainsbury to develop a positive and strong culture at the internal
working environment that makes it easier for the company to reach targets. Thus, this study pay has

focused on various techniques and methods that Sainsbury employ to empower workers and thereby
meet business goals.
Current dissertation report is based on the analysing the impact of employee empowerment
on advancing the employee job satisfaction of the UK retail sector. In order to have better
understanding about the subject, the Sainsbury UK has considered as organization and it assists in
meeting objectives. With an assistance of this, study the businesses firms can easily have
application of diverse tools and techniques that are beneficial to enhance the employee
empowerment so that goals and objectives can be accomplished effectively. In addition to this, it
can be said that current study objectives are also framed on the basis of selected topic that how
employee empowerment impacts the customer satisfaction (Mackey and Gass, 2015). Key
objectives of the study is to develop better understanding about concept of employee empowerment.
Along with this, evaluation of various strategies to advance the employee empowerment are also
being analysed in the present study. These kinds of aspects are beneficial to ensure about the scale
of employee empowerment within retail firms. Another key objectives of the present research
investigation is that investigating the impact of employee empowerment in strengthening job
satisfaction level of Sainsbury business professionals (Cicolini, Comparcini and Simonetti, 2014).
Concerning the key areas of the research objectives the researcher has decided to attain in-depth
findings and conclusion. In addition to this, selection of Sainsbury is appropriate because company
is well focused towards employee empowerment. It allows to have effective development of key
terms and objectives so that better understanding can be attained. In this respect, diverse literature
review documents written from different authors has been analysed so that goals and objectives can
be accomplished in desired way. In present study the research tools and techniques are also being
selected effectively so that results can be examined in appropriate manner. It assists in exploring the
selected more effectively for sustainable development.
1.2 Research problem/rationale
The rationale behind conducting this investigation is although many researchers have
studied the role and significance of employee empowering, but still, none of the research study
investigated the importance of employee empowering in the success of retail firm, Sainsbury. Thus,
this research study has bridged such gap by investigating the role of human empowerment in the
growth and progress of Sainsbury. How empowerment of employee influenced workers job
satisfaction level is the problem statement behind conducting this investigation (Grimsley, 2012).
The relationship between both the components has enabled investigator to identify the impact of
workers empowerment on motivation and satisfaction level of workers. Along with that, the
research also identifies that what kind of strategies and methods retailers can use to empower users
and thereby maximize workers satisfaction. Through this, retail firms has become capable to meet

their clients’ expectations by putting improved efforts of their personnel.
In addition to this, it can be said that diverse investigator has focused on reward system as a
subject. However, they have faced few limitations due to lack of resources which has impacted the
outcome of study. It has rationalised experts to select the concern topic so that previous studies
limitations can be overcome through outcome of present investigation.
Every organization needs motivated workers to advance the working. To retain the motivation
level high reward management is essential. If such aspects are not properly maintained then
employees look for job at rival companies for better motivation and satisfaction. Sainsbury has been
experiencing employee dissatisfaction issues which has created motivational issues as well. It has
impacted the performance and forced company to have changes in policies for continuous
improvement. This has resulted into reduced performance of the employees. The staff at the
concerned organization needs to be talented for handling domestic and international workers. By
having improved focus on reward system the issues can be resolved.
Another rationale behind the concern study is that it provides an information about diverse
methods that a retail firm can use in order to improve employee motivation. It means with an
assistance of this, Sainsbury can have sustainable development which is beneficial to accomplish
key goals and objectives. In addition to this, study also recommend the best strategy for
empowering workers and thereby maximize their satisfaction level. It indicates that for long term
development in respect to employee empowerment and job satisfaction the retail firm like
Sainsbury can use methods that are stated in the report. It is also a rationale that it provides support
to the academic learning so that better understanding in respect to impact of employee
empowerment can be developed effectively (Caillaud, Rose and Goepp, 2016). Along with this, the
present study is also presenting the information about various strategies that businesses employs for
empowerment of workers. It means by having appropriate consideration of such aspects the
business entity can have sustainable development. Sainsbury are also becoming more focused on
employee satisfaction in regard to accomplish goals and objectives. This factor has also enhanced
the morale to select the topic so that goals and objectives can be accomplished in desired way.
1.3 Significance of the research
This investigation has great significance for the scholar who are holding desire to conduct
similar kind of study in the upcoming years. Moreover, all the organizations that operate in retail
industry can take benefits through this investigation by using numerous strategies and models for
their employee empowerment. With the help of different concepts and theories, not only the
retailers but also workers has also benefited as they receive more rights and responsibility in
making business decisions (Caillaud, Rose and Goepp, 2016). Through implementing these
strategies and concepts in real business practice, retail firms like Sainsbury is capable to encourage

their workforce to get their best efforts in task completion. By effective execution of the different
strategies, retailers can motivate their human force and maximize their satisfaction level to a great
extent.
In addition to this, it can be said that research is based on the analysing the impact of
employee empowerment on job satisfaction within retail firm. It means with an assistance of this,
role of employee empowerment can be taken into account so that businesses can have sustainable
development. Findings and conclusion of the report has great significance in context to the work
culture of any retail firm. By having acknowledgement about the employee empowerment and job
satisfaction the management of Sainsbury can have better opportunities in the market. It also assist
in advancing the morale among members so that overall performance can also be advanced in
critical manner. Employee job satisfaction will also assist business firm in advancing the retention
rate. Along with this, it can be said that empowerment and job satisfaction are two critical aspects of
human resource management. It assists in meeting objectives and ensure the employee performance
is also being advanced.
1.4 Research aim
“To examine the role of employee empowerment in enhancing employees job satisfaction level in
retail sector, Case study of Sainsbury”
1.5 Research objectives
The objective of proposed investigation is illustrated underneath:
 To understand the concept of employee empowerment and its significance in retail industry
 To evaluate various strategies that Sainsbury employs for empowerment of workers
 To assess the employee satisfaction level in retail sector.
 To investigate the impact of employee empowerment in strengthening job satisfaction level
of Sainsbury’s business personnel
 To recommend the best strategy for empowering workers and thereby maximize their
satisfaction level.
1.6 Research questions
Q.1 How employee empowerment makes an effective contribution in the success of UK retail
industry?
Q.2 Which kind of theories and strategies can be adopted by retailers to empower business
personnel?
Q.3 How workers job satisfaction level can be improved by empowering workers?