Talent Strategies for Attracting and Retaining Employees: A Study on Morrisons

This research report analyses the different kinds of talent strategies adopted by companies for attaining and retaining best talents in the workplace. A study on Morrisons. Findings include primary and secondary research, talent management initiatives of Morrisons and Tesco, and recommendations for improving talent management strategies.

MANAGING A SUCCESSFUL
BUSINESS PROJECT
(What talent strategies do the best companies
use to attract and retain people)

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
STEP 1: PROJECT PLANNING.....................................................................................................3
..........................................................................................................................................................6
STEP 2: CONDUCT PRIMARY AND SECONDARY RESEARCH...........................................7
1. PRIMARY RESEARCH.........................................................................................................7
SECONDARY RESEARCH......................................................................................................7
2. Research two organisations to see what kind of talent management initiatives they have.....8
STEP 3: PRESENT FINDINGS......................................................................................................9
1. Analysing findings..................................................................................................................9
2. Evaluation of tools used to gather information.....................................................................11
STEP 4: REFLECTIVE PRACTICE.............................................................................................13
RECOMMENDATIONS...............................................................................................................15
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................16
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................17

INTRODUCTION
Talent management is referred as one of the important components to arrange, organise
and workforce in the workplace. Companies give priority to talent management strategies so that
best talent can be acquired, recruited and attracted. The present research is dependent upon best
and effective talent strategies to attract and retain employees in the workplace for longer time
duration (Gallardo-Gallardo, Thunnissen and Scullion, 2020). The selected company for the
present research report is Morrisons, it is knowns as fourth largest chain in the supermarket in
United Kingdom.
STEP 1: PROJECT PLANNING
Project management plan refers to the plan that is focussed towards planning the
activities of project in effective and efficient way. The plan is created so that all the needed
resources could be identified as well as aligned with the defined aim and objectives. Scope: As per the objectives and aim of the current research, there are various tasks and
activities that required to be accomplished. The scope of the present research is collecting
primary as well as secondary piece of information, conducting survey, selecting
respondents and so on. Resources: In the present investigation, there are various types of resources that are
included: books, articles, newspapers, journals, respondents etc. These resources play
major role in achieving aim and objectives (Bairagi and Munot, 2019). Risk: Risk is known as an element that can not be predicted because it can come at any
point of time. So, researcher always have back-up plan to conduct research because it is
necessary to have different alternatives. Researcher has taken preventive measures and
made back up plan to conduct investigation. Time: Time is known as one of the significant elements in conducting activities and tasks
in systematic way. Investigator has planned to complete each task and activity with the
assistance of systematic time schedule (Ragab and Arisha, 2018). Milestones and major events: In the present research project, there are many milestones
and events that are covered by investigator. Some of the phases and events of the current
project are: introduction, project management plan, primary and secondary research,
findings. The major events in the project are: project management plan and primary and

secondary research because these events hold the maximum information of the whole
project.
 Initiation, planning and execution: In the current project the first phase is to know
whether the project is required or not and the how beneficial it would be for the readers.
In an initiation phase the project is proposed and identify the expectations from the
project. In the planning stage, researcher has planned certain aim, objectives and
questions that are given below. In the execution process, researcher has aimed at
conducting primary as well as secondary research to gather appropriate so that objectives
could be easily attained (Ahammad and et. al., 2018).
Research Aim:
“To analyse the different kinds of talent strategies adopted by companies for attaining
and retaining best talents in the workplace. A study on Morrisons”
Research Objectives:
 To understand the concept and importance of talent management within an organisation
 To determine the different types of talent strategies adopted by Morrisons to retain and
attract best talents in the workplace
 To ascertain the benefits of talent strategies in improving the performance of employees
as well as business within Morrisons
Research Questions:
 Define the concept and importance of talent management within an organisation?
 What are the different types of talent strategies adopted by Morrisons to retain and attract
best talents in the workplace? What are the benefits of talent strategies in improving the performance of employees as
well as business within Morrisons?
Work breakdown structure: Work breakdown structure is defined as the procedure through
which larger activities are broken down into smaller tasks. It makes the process of conducting
research project very simple and convenient.

Gantt chart: Gantt chart is defined as the project schedule that helps in scheduling different
activities of the project in effective and efficient manner. The chart is divided into two main bars
in which one side has all the activities and in another time needed for completing the project.

STEP 2: CONDUCT PRIMARY AND SECONDARY RESEARCH
1. PRIMARY RESEARCH
Q1) According to your knowledge, how do you define talent
management?
Frequency
a) Process of attracting best candidate 5
b) Process to retain best talents 10
c) Process of encouraging and motivating employees 10
Q2) What are the talent strategies used by Morrisons to retain employees
in the organisation?
Frequency
a) Training and development 5
b) Rewards and recognition 5
c) Promotion 5
d) Job rotation 10
Q3) If you get chance, what would you suggest to Morrisons for
improving their talent management strategies?
Frequency
a) More financial benefits 9
b) Learning sessions 5
c) Flexible timings 7
d) Positive environment 4
SECONDARY RESEARCH
Define the concept and importance of talent management within an organisation?
According to Anlesinya and Amponsah-Tawiah (2020), talent management is referred as
the procedure of by which organisations retain, organise and attract workforce in the workplace.
It is defined as one the essential processes to keep workforce in the organisation for longer time

duration. In simpler words, it is the method through which employees are retained in the
company for longer time period.
What are the different types of talent strategies adopted by Morrisons to retain and attract best
talents in the workplace?
According to Sparrow (2019), there are many kinds of talent strategies in the workplace.
Morrisons has adopted different strategies that are explained below in brief manner:
Training and development is known as one of the effective strategies considered by
Morrisons. It is adopted because with this strategy employees are trained so that they can learn
new skill as well as new knowledge. With the assistance of training and development, employees
develop confidence and retain in the same organisation because they get the opportunity to learn
new things.
Rewards and benefits is another strategy that is used by Morrisons. In this strategy
employees are provided with different types of benefits such as health plan, insurance plan etc.
When employees get rewards for their great work they feel motivated to do their work with more
efforts.
What are the benefits of talent strategies in improving the performance of employees as well as
business within Morrisons?
According to Painter‐Morland and et. al., (2019), there are various benefits of talent
management strategies in Morrisons. The talent management strategies create positive impact on
improving the employee's performance as well as business performance. With the assistance of
talent strategies, employees develop confidence and motivation and do their work with more
efforts and confidence. When workforce do their work with greater efficiency they achieve their
targets as well as contribute in attaining company's targets.
2. Research two organisations to see what kind of talent management initiatives they have
Talent management initiatives
Morrisons Tesco
Morrisons is known as the best supermarkets in
UK. Morrisons believe in arranging sessions of
training and development for employees so
that they could have learn new skills as well as
Tesco is the company that also believes in
managing and organising employees
effectively. Tesco provides flexible working
environment to their employees so that they

knowledge (Ansar and Baloch, 2018 ). This
strategy provides chance to employees to
develop in the same organisation and grow by
attaining targets of the company.
could easily balance between their personal as
well as professional life.

STEP 3: PRESENT FINDINGS
1. Analysing findings
Question 1: Definition talent management
Q1) According to your knowledge, how do you define talent
management?
Frequency
a) Process of attracting best candidate 5
b) Process to retain best talents 10
c) Process of encouraging and motivating employees 10
0
2
4
6
8
10
5
10 10
Interpretation: As per the above mentioned piece of information, it is interpreted that 5
respondents have answered that it is the process to attract best candidates. Another 10
participants have answered process of retaining best talents because it is significant to retain
qualified and talented employees. The rest 10 respondents have answered that it is the procedure
to motivate and encourage employees.
Question 2: Talent strategies used by Morrisons to retain employees in the organisation

Q2) What are the talent strategies used by Morrisons to retain employees
in the organisation?
Frequency
a) Training and development 5
b) Rewards and recognition 5
c) Promotion 5
d) Job rotation 10
a) Training and development
b) Rewards and recognition
c) Promotion
d) Job rotation
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
5 5 5
10
Interpretation: With the above recorded data, it is analysed that 5 respondents have said
that training and development is one of the talent strategies of Morrisons because in this
employees are able to learn new knowledge and skill. The other 5 representatives have answered
that recognition and rewards is another strategy as every employee wants reward as this the
motivation factor. The other 5 have answered that promotion is another strategy as employees
are promoted to high position. The remaining 10 respondents have said job rotation is another
strategy.
Question 3: Suggestion for Morrisons for improving their talent management strategies
Q3) If you get chance, what would you suggest to Morrisons for Frequency

improving their talent management strategies?
a) More financial benefits 9
b) Learning sessions 5
c) Flexible timings 7
d) Positive environment 4
a) More financial benefits
b) Learning sessions
c) Flexible timings
d) Positive environment
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
9
5
7
4
Interpretation: As per the collected data, it is analysed that 9 respondents have answered that
more financial benefits is one of the suggestions for Morrisons, the other 5 respondents have
answered learning session is another suggestion and the other 7 respondents have answered
flexible timings. The remaining 4 respondents answered positive environment is the other
suggestion.
2. Evaluation of tools used to gather information
In the present investigation, there are many tools and methods are used to collect and
analyse information in systematic manner. Some of the tools that are used in the present project
are explained and examined below:
Primary and secondary data collection: Primary data collection refers to the method that
helps in collecting first-hand piece of information directly from the participants. This is the

method that is very effective to gather raw data directly from the source. In the current project
primary method is used and researcher has formed questionnaire to gather information. In the
current project 20 respondents are chosen randomly from Morrisons (Nayak and Singh, 2021).
Secondary method is also used in the present investigation because it helps in using
already published data. This is the information that is used in the section of literature review. The
sources used for gathering second-hand piece of information is books, articles, journals,
newspapers etc.
Qualitative and quantitative method: There are mainly two types of research: qualitative
and quantitative research. For the present research project, investigator has selected quantitative
method because it assists in gathering numerical information in shorter period of time. On the
other hand, qualitative method is not selected because it assists in gathering information that is
not present in numerical form (Jayaraman, Talib and Khan, 2018).

STEP 4: REFLECTIVE PRACTICE
Performance Review
What was the project supposed to accomplish?
Research project has been completed on analysing the different kinds of talent strategies
adopted by companies for attaining and retaining best talents in the workplace. A study on
Morrisons
Did the project succeed in its aims? How do you know? Specifically, please outline any
evaluation and assessment undertaken.
The project has achieved the main aim.
It is well understood because proper primary as well secondary information has been collected.
The current research has made systematic project management plan with proper evaluation of
methods.
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.
Proper planning and execution have worked well in the present research project.
What problems emerged during the project and how were they tackled? Was there timely
identification of issues and resolution during the project process?
The issues found in the present research project was managing time systematically and dealing
with human respondents.
What did you learn from undertaking the project?
I have learnt that every company should invest proper time to undertake the project.
How would you rate your performance as project manager?
I rate my performance 8 out of 10.
What strengths and weaknesses of your performance did you identify?
My strength includes solving problems easily and the weakness includes strictly following time
table.

How will this inform and support your continuous professional development?
This would help in my professional development as I would be able to attain my professional
targets and objectives.
Project Logbook
Name:
Project title:
Update on weekly research/tasks achieved.
I have completed research on analysing the different kinds of talent strategies adopted by
companies for attaining and retaining best talents in the workplace. A study on Morrisons
Yes, I was on track and I was able to complete project on time.
I did not need to make any changes in project management plan.
Any risks and/or issues identified?
Yes I have issue in managing time.
Problems encountered
Time management problem.
New ideas and change of project direction
What have I learnt about myself this week?
I have learnt to complete project on time.
Tasks planned for next week
I was able to complete my activities in effective and signifiant manner.
Project plan status to date (on, ahead, behind)
My research project was on time.
Supervisor comments to address

RECOMMENDATIONS
From the above accumulated data it is recommended to Morrisons that they should focus
on organising learning sessions frequently because in this competitive market competitors are
providing productive sessions to their employees.
Morrisons should also make forming policies that provide great amount of compensation
to employees because this attracts employees to retain in the same organisation.

CONCLUSION
From the above collected data it is concluded that talent management strategies are very
effective step for companies because it assists in retaining best talent for the longer period of
time. Hence, in the current research project primary and secondary methods are used to collect
information about talent management.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Ahammad and et. al., 2018. Strategic talent management in emerging markets. Thunderbird
International Business Review. 60(1). pp.5-8.
Anlesinya, A. and Amponsah-Tawiah, K., 2020. Towards a responsible talent management
model. European Journal of Training and Development.
Ansar, N. and Baloch, A., 2018. Talent and talent management: definition and issues. IBT
Journal of Business Studies (IBTJBS). 14(2).
Bairagi, V. and Munot, M.V. eds., 2019. Research methodology: A practical and scientific
approach. CRC Press.
Gallardo-Gallardo, E., Thunnissen, M. and Scullion, H., 2020. Talent management: context
matters.
Jayaraman, S., Talib, P. and Khan, A.F., 2018. Integrated talent management scale: Construction
and initial validation. Sage Open. 8(3). p.2158244018780965.
Nayak, J.K. and Singh, P., 2021. Fundamentals of Research Methodology Problems and
Prospects. SSDN Publishers & Distributors.
Painter‐Morland and et. al., 2019. Talent management: The good, the bad, and the
possible. European Management Review. 16(1). pp.135-146.
Ragab, M.A. and Arisha, A., 2018. Research methodology in business: A starter’s
guide. Management and Organizational Studies. 5(1). pp.1-14.
Sparrow, P., 2019. A historical analysis of critiques in the talent management debate. BRQ
Business Research Quarterly. 22(3). pp.160-170.