Motivating Employees at Marks & Spencer

This assignment investigates the impact of motivation strategies on employee performance at Marks & Spencer (M&S). It aims to explore existing motivational practices used by M&S, evaluate their effectiveness, and recommend improvements to enhance employee motivation and performance. The research will utilize both primary and secondary data collection methods, including surveys, interviews with managers, and a review of existing literature on employee motivation. The study seeks to contribute to the understanding of how motivation strategies can be effectively implemented in large organizations like M&S.

Evaluation of the impact of motivation
strategies on employee performance: A
study on Marks & Spencer

BACKGROUND/ AREA OF RESEARCH
Major area of the proposed investigation is “motivation” as it is important to make use of
appropriate motivational theories so as to have tremendous and efficient workforce. According to
the study carried out by Griffin and Moorhead (2012), it has been evident that there is a positive
relationship between employee motivation and efforts put in by them. The application of
employee motivation is witnessed in every industry as it is crucial to get amplified performance
from employees(McGurk and Baron, 2012).The increased competition has forced organizations
to understand the role of motivation to remain competitive. Thus, success of large organizations
depends on motivated employees (MacKay, 2007). Proposed research herewith seeks the answer
of question of employee motivation in leading UK’s brand, Marks & Spencer.
AIM AND OBJECTIVES
Aim: To investigate the impact of motivation strategies on employee performance: A study on
Marks & Spencer
Objectives
 To study the concept of employee’s motivation
 To investigate existing motivational strategies used by M&S
 To evaluate the impact of motivation strategies used by M&S on employee’s
performance
 To recommend M&S for improving their motivational strategies to improve employee’s
performance
RATIONALE OF STUDY
The major threat of today’s workplace is of employee turnover and the rate of employee
turnover is increased in UK. Workers in the UK have the lowest motivation in the world, and the
study carried out by Lumesse revealed that, UK employees have the second least job satisfaction
(The MotivActionTeam, 2016).It can be analyzed that due to lack of motivation, employees
become dissatisfied which is reflected in their work. This is the major rationale behind
conducting present investigation so that the link between motivation and employee performance
can be determined. It is important to determine the impact that motivation strategies have on
employee performance so that the performance can be improved by adopting suitable strategies.

Hence, this research is being carried out with the rationale that motivation practices used in large
organizations like Marks and Spencer can be investigated and improved so as to enhance the
performance of employees. Previously, lots of studies on motivation are conducted; therefore,
huge literature is available regarding the subject area. Furthermore, M&S is facing issues to
understand employee’s needs and motivate them perfectly; hence, the study is going to
investigate existing practices in relation to motivating employees and their impact (Gardner,
2012).
LITERATURE REVIEW
The present section will carry out an in-depth study into existing literature which is done
by previous authors in relation to employee’s motivation. It will create a theoretical background
of the major areas of research. The concept of motivation, importance of motivational strategies
and the theories and models of motivation will be discussed in the literature review section.
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
The proposed investigation is going to make use of inductive approach which will help in
analysing the present situation of M&S motivational practices employee motivation. The data for
present investigation will be collated using both primary as well as secondary data collection
methods to carry out the information of how M&S motivates its employees and the practices can
be improved. A survey methodology will be applied in present context along with instruments
like and interviews (managers of M&S) and questionnaire (employees of M&S in London
branch). Access to M & S will be gained as a close friend of researcher works as a manager in
the chosen organization. In addition, thematic analysis method will be used.

REFERENCES
Gardner, H. K., 2012. Performance Pressure as a Double-edged Sword: EnhancingTeam
Motivation but Undermining the Use of Team Knowledge. Administrative Science
Quarterly.57 (1). pp.1-46
Griffin, R. W. and Moorhead, G., 2012. Organizational Behavior: Managing People
and Organizations.10th ed. Cengage Learning.
MacKay, A., 2007. Motivation Ability and Confidence Building in People. Butterworth-
Heinemann.
McGurk, J. and Baron, A., 2012 Knowledge management–time to focus on purpose and
motivation. Strategic HR Review. 11(6). pp.316-321
The MotivAction Team. 2016. [Online]. Available through: <http://www.motivaction.co.uk/>.
[Accessed on 20th May 2016].