Talent Management Strategies of Waitrose: A Study on Retaining and Attracting Talented Workforce

This report focuses on the talent management strategies used by Waitrose to attract and retain talented workforce. The report includes a project plan, research methodology, and findings from primary and secondary research. The report highlights the benefits of talent management in Waitrose and provides recommendations for local businesses to implement similar strategies.

MANAGING A
SUCCESSFUL
BUSINESS PROJECT

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
PART A: Project planning..........................................................................................................1
PART B: Conduct research.........................................................................................................6
TASK 2..........................................................................................................................................10
Present Findings........................................................................................................................10
TASK 3..........................................................................................................................................15
Reflective practice.....................................................................................................................15
CONCLUSION .............................................................................................................................16
Recommendations.....................................................................................................................16
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................17
APPENDIX....................................................................................................................................18
Questionnaire............................................................................................................................18
Performance Review.................................................................................................................19
Project Logbook........................................................................................................................20

INTRODUCTION
Talent management defines as an anticipation of required human capital for organisation
and the planning to fulfil the needs of workforce. It represent as a process of organise the
management of human resource so that company attain profitable results within marketplace.
Talent management is define as an important asset to company because they are responsible for
carry out activities and duties in prominent manner (Anlesinya and Amponsah-Tawiah, 2020).
Talent management within an organisation offer benefits in relation to maintain employees who
are working within firm or also emphasis on attracting new one. This report is developed by
freelance market researcher that is hired by local goods transport provider to implement talent
management strategies within organisation. For this researcher emphasis on finding talent
strategies that giant organisation use so that they implement in local business properly. To
complete this project Waitrose is to be undertaken that is a British supermarket since 1904. To
conduct this research several task are framed such as project planning, conduct research, present
findings that helps in draw the conclusion and recommendation in appropriate manner.
TASK 1
PART A: Project planning
Aims
“To determine various talent management strategies used by prominent organisations for
the purpose of retaining and attracting talented workforce.” A study on Waitrose.
Objectives
 To understand the concept of talent management in giant organisation
 To explore strategies used by Waitrose to attract or retain talented workforce
 To determine benefits of talent management in Waitrose
Research Questions
 Explain the concept of talent management in giant organisation?
 Explain various strategies used by Waitrose to attract or retain talented workforce?
 What are the benefits of talent management in Waitrose?
Project management plan
Project management plan is a formal approved document that express how project is to be
completed by carry out activities (Crane and Hartwell, 2019). It reflects various aspects such as
1

cost, time scale, risk, resources, budget, ethical consideration etc. This project management plan
is essential to complete the project on set time frame. Several aspects of project management
plan are presented below:
 Scope is an effective element that express the concept of talent management in
appropriate manner. The scope of this specific research is to recognise the benefits of
talent management in giant organisation and strategies that they used to attract or retain
talent. The format of this particular research is mainly emphasis on variety of strategies
related to talent management so that SMEs could understand the same and implement
prominently on the local good transport provider. This also represent several aspect of
methodology that is used to develop appropriate information so that objectives are meet
successfully.
 Cost- It refers to a amount that is essential to conduct the business and activities in
appropriate manner. The amount for conducting this project is £300 in which researcher
implement the project plan effectively and complete the aims and objectives prominently.
In this volume this particular research is completed in appropriate manner. The proper
explanation of budget are presented below:
Estimated amount (£)
Activities Total amount (£)
Travelling cost 100
Primary information 50
Project management plan 80
Miscellaneous 70
Total 300
 Time scale- To complete this particular project in successful manner it is very crucial to
develops the time scale by prioritise the activities as per deadline (Shet, 2020). To
complete ths project researcher need 12 weeks in which whole analysis about topic is
done in systematic manner so that overall objectives are attained proficiently.
 Communication- It represent as a crucial determinant within project management plan.
Communication is very important to collect, gather appropriate information about
2

particular topic. In this several channels are to be used by researcher so that appropriate
information is delivered to correct person in right time. For communicate an information
e-mails is to be used so that person get data properly and easy to understand.
 Quality management- Practices of quality management is very beneficial because it is
concerned about gather data that are of great quality. To maintain quality different
practices are included so that proper outcome is to be gathered (Sivathanu and Pillai,
2019). The quality of project is to be maintain with the assistance of primary and
secondary sources. As these present data effectively about the talent management in giant
organisation. This help in collect prominent data of great quality so that appropriate
information is gathered that is effective for local good transport provider.
 Resources- It is a significant element to attain objectives. The resources that are needed
in particular research is financial resource, human resources. Therefore, the involvement
of these resources helps in attaining objectives in appropriate manner because these
resources help in attaining every task prominently (Harsch and Festing, 2020). Therefore
using the resources in appropriate manner helps in gaining the outcome in shorter time
period. In this researcher also adopts the use of MS-EXCEL to develop spreadsheets,
graphs, table so that particular project aims and objectives are attained successfully.
 Risk- There are several types of risk that are determined at the time of gather information
from the participants. To complete this particular research, risk of copying is one of the
major risk due to which ineffectiveness within the research is generated. Therefore to
remove the issues researcher emphasis on proper time to frame strategy so that complete
and effective information could be collected in appropriate manner.
Gantt chart- It represent as an understanding in which proper planning is to be done so that
overall objectives is to be attained successfully. Gantt chart is a type of project planner tool that
bifurcates variety of activities and task in appropriate manner so that it could be completed on set
time frame. This chart is mainly divided into two parts where in first part activities are represents
and in second part time for completing the activities are scheduled (Meyers, 2020). There are
several benefits of using Gantt chart such as it is used to track all the activities in effective
manner so that overall objectives are to be attained in proficient manner.
3

Work break down structure- This is an effective structure that helps in managing projects in
prominent manner. This framework helps in dividing the large activities into small segments so
that overall objectives is to be attained effectively. Hence, work breakdown structure consider
that smaller task are easily to attain and helps in attaining the activities in an effective manner
within set time frame.
4

5

PART B: Conduct research
Research methodology refers to a specific procedures that is used to collect and analyse the
information in an effective manner. Various determinants of research methodology are presented
below:
 Research philosophy- It refer to an aspect of methodology that is useful to measure the
gathered data. It represent two types of philosophies that are interpretivism and
positivism (Anlesinya, Dartey-Baah and Amponsah-Tawiah, 2019). To complete this
particular research researcher adopts positivism philosophy because it express
information in numeric manner. On the other hand, researcher does not chose
interpretivism research because it express data in non-numeric manner.
 Research approach- This research methodology reflect an action that are effective to
examine objectives in proper way. This mainly divided into two major approach i.e.
inductive and deductive approach. To conduct this research deductive approach is used
because it measure or analyse information in numeric manner. Due to this statistics of
data are easily understand in short time period. Whereas inductive approach is not
adopted by researcher because it offer information in non-numerical manner and take
huge time in analysing and collecting data.
 Research choice- It refers to an accumulation of proper information. It is mainly divided
into two types such as quantitative and qualitative research choice. To conduct this
particular research, market researcher emphasis on selecting quantitative research
because it offers data in numerical manner and helps in attaining aims and objectives in
effective manner (Anlesinya, Dartey-Baah and Amponsah-Tawiah, 2019). This choice
helps in present the more reliable information related to talent management. On the other
hand, qualitative research choice is not to be chosen because in this only text are gathered
and it only present the data in theoretical manner. In this researcher believed that
quantitative choice is best because it does not consume more time and also present in
authentic manner on talent management.
 Research strategy- This is a type of strategy that represent the process of collecting
information. Research strategy are of several types such as action research, case study,
experimental research, grounded theory and many more (Pantouvaki, 2019). To complete
this project on talent management, researcher adopt survey strategy because in this
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primary information is collected. Survey is great strategy as it helps in collection of data
directly from the respondents directly. In which close ended questions are included.
 Data collection- Data collection define as a procedure of integrated information by using
two methods of data collection i.e. primary and secondary collection of data (Novikov
and Novikov, 2019). To conduct this research, researcher adopts both the methods of data
collection i.e. primary method and secondary method. Therefore using primary research,
researcher tried to take out raw data from selected respondents and for this they
emphasis on using questionnaire. Further secondary data collection helps in gather data
using already existed books, articles, journals, blogs etc.
 Sampling- Sampling defines as a selection of certain number of respondents from the
large number of population. It is requisite because it helps in selecting representative that
present the whole population. Sampling has two methods i.e. probability method and
non-probability method. Therefore in the current research market researcher adopts
probability sampling where samples are collect on random basis. It does not create
biasedness in respondents so that authentic information is to be selected (Mistry, 2020).
On the other hand non-probability method is not selected because in this samples are not
selected on random basis that creates biassed in information collection. The sample size
for conducting this research is 30.
 Ethical consideration- In aspect of conducting research, researcher focus on carry out
varieties of research activities in ethical manner. To represent ethical consideration
investigator take the consent form from the Waitrose before collecting any data related to
talent management so that it does not harm the image and position of respondents in
mental or physical basis.
Secondary research
Explain the concept of talent management in giant organisation?
According to “White. S., 2019” Talent management defined as an organised method of
recognising the several vacant position within an organisation, hiring suitable candidates for
vacant position, within organisation, developing skills and expertise of candidate to match
desired position of job within organisation. Talent management within organisation does not
restricted to just recruiting the right candidate for job role but in this they perform the role of
improving the ability of employees that are useful to attain objectives.
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Explain various strategies used by Waitrose to attract or retain talented workforce?
As per the viewpoint of “Molis. J., 2021”, The market is full of talent and a wrong move
of company lose the suitable candidate. In the Waitrose, company adopts the use several
strategies that is helpful to attract or retain talent effectively. Some of them are presented below:
 Be flexible- This strategy is adopted by Waitrose to attract or retain talent at workplace.
As currently, organisation offer so much to their employees by offer balanced work
condition and flexible working hours so that workers work freely and this represent
productive work and helps in satisfied them for longer time period so that they would
retain with company to more time period.
 Offer high visibility assignments- It is another strategy that Waitrose adopts in attract or
retain talent. As company offer high visibility opportunity to their employees so that they
keep engaged at working and also they come out with their comfort zone. It motivates
workers talented workforce to retain within company for longer time period.
What are the benefits of talent management in Waitrose?
According to “ Holiday. M., 2021” Organisation are emphasis on recognising the value of
talent management by spending more on HR related technology. In context of Waitrose, several
benefits are framed on talent management that are presented below:
 Increased, diversity, inclusion and equity- Talent management is very beneficial for
the organisation because due to this Waitrose enhance their diversity of employees so that
targets are attained on global level. Due to effective activities of talent management
employees are highly engaged in their working due to which organisation overall aims
are attained. Diversify workforce within Waitrose enhance employee learning, sense of
belonging that present positivity in business results.
 Deeper employee engagement- In an organisation good processes like on-boarding,
development, learning maximise the employee engagement. By using these practices of
talent management company engaged their employees effectively and retain them for
longer time period. In this they use the KPI tool to examine employees efforts on work
around employee engagement.
Primary research
Frequency distribution table
Questionnaire
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Q1) Do you have any idea related to concept of talent management? Frequency
a) Yes 20
b) No 10
Q2) According to your viewpoint, Waitrose followed proper talent
management strategies in relation to attract or retain talent?
Frequency
a) Yes 10
b) No 15
c) Neutral 5
Q3) What local good transport provider employees thinks related to
concept of talent management?
Frequency
a) Develop employee performance 9
b) Motivate employees 7
c) Attract new talent 6
d) Retain employees 8
Q4) What talent management strategies are mainly used by SMEs in
attract or retain employees?
Frequency
a) Offer flexibility in working hours 7
b) Offer perks and incentives 7
c) Organise training and development session 8
d) Develop participative culture 7
Q5) In your perspective what are the benefits of applying talent
management in SMEs?
Frequency
a) To accomplish goals on time 9
b) To retain employees for longer time period 12
c) Improve performance of employees 9
9

Q6) What suggestions are giving to Waitrose in terms of developing talent
management strategies?
Frequency
a) Timely organise training sessions 10
b) Evaluate weekly performance of employees 11
c) Develops career path 9
TASK 2
Present Findings
Q1) Do you have any idea related to concept of talent management? Frequency
a) Yes 20
b) No 10
a) Yes b) No
0
5
10
15
20
25
20
10 Frequency
Interpretation- From above data it is interpreted that 20 out of 30 respondents said that they
have an idea about talent management concept. Whereas 10 said that they does not have any idea
regarding talent management.
10

Q2) According to your viewpoint, Waitrose followed proper talent
management strategies in relation to attract or retain talent?
Frequency
a) Yes 10
b) No 15
c) Neutral 5
a) Yes b) No c) Neutral
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
10
15
5
Frequency
Interpretation- As per the above graph it is interpreted that 10 believes that Waitrose adopts
proper talent management strategies where 15 thinks that they does not follow proper strategies
to attract or retain talent at workplace. In this 5 are neutral within this situation.
Q3) What local good transport provider, employees thinks related to
concept of talent management?
Frequency
a) Develop employee performance 9
b) Motivate employees 7
c) Attract new talent 6
d) Retain employees 8
11

Interpretation- From above data it is interpreted that 9 respondent believe that talent
management is a concept of developing employee performance whereas 7 thinks that it motivate
employees to work effectively. As 6 out of 30 thinks that it attracts new talent and 8 express their
thought that talent manage retain workers for longer time period.
Q4) What talent management strategies of Waitrose are used by SMEs to
attract or retain employees?
Frequency
a) Offer flexibility in working hours 7
b) Offer perks and incentives 7
c) Organise training and development session 8
d) Develop participative culture 7
12
a) Develop employee performance
b) Motivate employees
c) Attract new talent
d) Retain employees
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10 9
7
6
8
Frequency

a) Offer flexibility in working hours
b) Offer perks and incentives
c) Organise training and development session
d) Develop participative culture
6.4
6.8
7.2
7.6
8
7 7
8
7
Frequency
Interpretation- According to above graph, it is interpreted that 7 belives that SMEs adopts the
flexibility strategy of Waitrose in managing talent, 7 believes that offer incentives and perks is
best strategies that SMEs adopts to retain employees. In this 8 thinks that organise training and
development sessions is prominent strategy of Waitrose that are useful for SMEs. 7 thinks that
Waitrose particular culture strategy is best one that SMEs firms adopts at workplace.
Q5) In your perspective what are the benefits of applying talent
management in SMEs?
Frequency
a) To accomplish goals on time 9
b) To retain employees for longer time period 12
c) Improve performance of employees 9
13

a) To accomplish goals on time
b) To retain employees for longer time period
c) Improve performance of employees
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
9
12
9
Frequency
Interpretation- As per above graph it is interpreted that 9 respondent said that talent
management is beneficial for accomplish the goals on time. In this 12 respondent thinks that
talent management is significant because it retain employees for more time period. Further 9
respondent out of 30 said that talent management improve performance of employees within
organisation.
Q6) What suggestions are giving to Waitrose in terms of developing talent
management strategies?
Frequency
a) Timely organise training sessions 10
b) Evaluate weekly performance of employees 11
c) Develops career path 9
14

a) Timely organise training sessions
b) Evaluate weekly performance of employees
c) Develops career path
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
10
11
9
Frequency
Interpretation- According to this graph it is interpreted that 10 respondent out of 30 suggest that
Waitrose organise training sessions on regular basis whereas 11 respondent suggest that evaluate
weekly performance of employees is used by Waitrose. In this 9 suggest that Waitrose emphasis
on developing career path of employees as a talent management strategies so that workers are
retain and attracts towards company.
TASK 3
Reflective practice
I am thankful to indulge within this business project that is based on the strategies used to
retain or attract talent within organisation. Therefore, having an effective knowledge regarding
the field of research helps me to select best option and methods to collect and gather information
regarding the talent management on which the whole research is to be done. This assist in frame
the valid conclusion and recommendations for local good transport provider. Within this research
I experienced how to communicate with people and gathered information for completing the
target using questionnaire method. In this I have to communicate with managers, employees etc.
that helps in developing my professional career in business industry. By involving in this
research I have analysed that my problem solving skill and team management skill is good due to
which situation are easily handled while conducing the research. In this I also analysed that I am
lacking in communication with large audience that create hindrances in connecting people. But
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my strengthen skills helps me in improving the weak skills so that overall professional career is
to be developed.
CONCLUSION
By preceding research on managing a small business project it is concluded that talent
management is very crucial concept in every kind of business entity. It is so because talent
management assist company to retain and attract employees in organisation so that productive
work is enjoyed by organisation. To generate information on talent management strategies this
report involves research methodology that helps in collecting information prominently. In this
questionnaire is used that helps in completing the objectives appropriately.
Recommendations
According to above information market researcher offer variety of recommendation to
local good transport provider company so that they effectively implement the talent management
as per giant organisation use. Some of them are presented below:
 To effectively implement talent management, training and development session is best
strategy for local good transport firm to be emphasised because it helps in developing
skills of workers. It gives prominent results in success of company in business industry.
 Further, researcher recommend revise benefits and perks by evaluating performance of
employees so that workers overall performance would be developed (Coombes and
Ryder, 2019). These benefits and perks are offered in monetary and non-monetary
manner according to employees needs and wants so that they would retain and attract
towards company for more time period.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Anlesinya, A. and Amponsah-Tawiah, K., 2020. Towards a responsible talent management
model. European Journal of Training and Development.
Anlesinya, A., Dartey-Baah, K. and Amponsah-Tawiah, K., 2019. A review of empirical research
on global talent management. FIIB Business Review. 8(2). pp.147-160.
Anlesinya, A., Dartey-Baah, K. and Amponsah-Tawiah, K., 2019. Strategic talent management
scholarship: a review of current foci and future directions. Industrial and Commercial
Training.
Coombes, J. and Ryder, C., 2019. Walking together to create harmony in research: A Murri
woman’s approach to Indigenous research methodology. Qualitative Research in
Organizations and Management: An International Journal.
Crane, B. and Hartwell, C.J., 2019. Global talent management: A life cycle view of the
interaction between human and social capital. Journal of World Business. 54(2). pp.82-
92.
Harsch, K. and Festing, M., 2020. Dynamic talent management capabilities and organizational
agility—A qualitative exploration. Human Resource Management. 59(1). pp.43-61.
Meyers, M.C., 2020. The neglected role of talent proactivity: Integrating proactive behavior into
talent-management theorizing. Human Resource Management Review. 30(2). p.100703.
Mistry, H., 2020. Additional opinions and judicial diversity at the International Court of Justice:
a research methodology. Oxford University Press (OUP).
Novikov, A.M. and Novikov, D.A., 2019. Research methodology: From philosophy of science to
research design. CRC Press.
Pantouvaki, S., 2019. ‘A Touch of Green with an Emerald Hue’: A Multimodal Research
Methodology for the Study of Costume. In Dance, Body, Costume (pp. 41-76).
Leipziger Universitätsverlag GmbH.
Shet, S.V., 2020. Strategic talent management–contemporary issues in international context.
Human Resource Development International. 23(1). pp.98-102.
Sivathanu, B. and Pillai, R., 2019. Technology and talent analytics for talent management–a
game changer for organizational performance. International Journal of Organizational
Analysis.
ONLINE
Holliday. M., 2021. 10 Benefits of a Talent Management System. [Online]. Available
through:<https://www.netsuite.com/portal/resource/articles/human-resources/talent-
management-benefits.shtml>
Molis. J., 2021. Attracting and retaining top talent: 5 ways to make them come to you. [Online].
Available through:<https://www.bizjournals.com/triangle/news/2019/08/29/attracting-
and-retaining-top-talent-5-ways-to-make.html>
White. S., 2019. Talent Management: Explanation and Concepts. [Online]. Available through:
<https://www.allassignmenthelp.com/blog/talent-management-explanation-and-
concepts/>
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APPENDIX
Questionnaire
Q1) Do you have any idea related to concept of talent management?
a) Yes
b) No
Q2) According to your viewpoint, Waitrose followed proper talent management strategies in
relation to attract or retain talent?
a) Yes
b) No
c) Neutral
Q3) What local good transport provider employees thinks related to concept of talent
management?
a) Develop employee performance
b) Motivate employees
c) Attract new talent
d) Retain employees
Q4) What talent management strategies are mainly used by SMEs in attract or retain
employees?
a) Offer flexibility in working hours
b) Offer perks and incentives
c) Organise training and development session
d) Develop participative culture
Q5) In your perspective what are the benefits of applying talent management in SMEs?
a) To accomplish goals on time
b) To retain employees for longer time period
18

c) Improve performance of employees
Q6) What suggestions are giving to Waitrose in terms of developing talent management
strategies?
a) Timely organise training sessions
b) Evaluate weekly performance of employees
c) Develops career path
Performance Review
Student Name:
Project Title: “To determine various talent management strategies used by prominent
organisations for the purpose of retaining and attracting talented workforce.” A study on
Waitrose.
What was the project supposed to accomplish?
This project is fulfill by collect and gather information in talent management strategies.
Did the project succeed in its aims? How do you know? Specifically, please outline any
evaluation and assessment undertaken.
Yes.
By collecting proper information using primary and secondary sources.
Data is to be recognized using frequency distribution analysis
What things do you think worked well and why? Evaluate all aspects of the project (e.g.
initial inception, project activities and project outcomes) from a range of perspectives.
Follow primary source.
Assess data collection
Develop project management plan
What problems emerged during the project and how were they tackled? Was there timely
identification of issues and resolution during the project process?
Face issue in interacting with respondents and management time.
By recognize problems on time
Using Gantt chart and WBS structure time management and communication skill is
improved.
What did you learn from undertaking the project?
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I have learned from this project that talent management strategies are very crucial for
organization.
How would you rate your performance as Project Manager?
As a project manager I rate myself 8 out of 10
What strengths and weaknesses of your performance did you identify?
Strengths:
Problem solving skill
Team managing skill
Weaknesses:
Time management
Communication
Project Logbook
Student Name:
Project Title: “To determine various talent management strategies used by prominent
organisations for the purpose of retaining and attracting talented workforce.” A study on
Waitrose.
Weeks:
Update on weekly research/tasks achieved Points to consider:
What have you completed?
I have completed the project on talent management
Did you fulfil task requirements?
Yes.
Are you on track and within deadlines set?
Yes
Did you need to make any changes to your project management plan?
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No
Any risks and/or issues identified? Points to consider:
No
Did you identify risks/issues with a lack of skills required for undertaking research/tasks?
Technical risk
Did you identify any additional risks/issues that have an impact on the project management
plan?
While conducting this research no additional risk is identified.
Problems encountered
Interact with respondents
Points to consider: What barriers did you face? How did you overcome them?
Communicating with respondents and participants.
For this communication classes have been joined by me.
New ideas and change of project direction
No.
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