Effective talent management strategies in travel and tourism organisation

This research project aims to evaluate effective talent management strategies in travel and tourism organisation, specifically focusing on Thomas Cook. The project will explore the conceptual framework of talent management, investigate the challenges faced by tourism organisations in managing talent, and determine the relationship between talent management strategies and the performance of Thomas Cook. The research will utilize primary and secondary data sources, including a questionnaire survey of 30 employees of Thomas Cook. The findings will provide insights into the effectiveness of talent management strategies in the tourism industry.

RESEARCH PROJECT

Contents
ACTIVITY 1..............................................................................................................................3
1.1 Project Title......................................................................................................................3
1.2 Aim and Objectives..........................................................................................................3
1.3 Project management plan.................................................................................................3
1.4 Work break down structure and Gantt chart....................................................................4
1.5 Research methods.............................................................................................................6
ACTIVITY 2..............................................................................................................................6
2.1 Secondary research...........................................................................................................6
2.2 Primary research...............................................................................................................6
2.3 Reliability and validity of research methods....................................................................7
ACTIVITY 3: PROJECTS FINDINGS.....................................................................................7
3.1 Analyzing gathered data set.............................................................................................7
3.2 Drawing conclusion.........................................................................................................9
3.3 Recommending solutions.................................................................................................9
3.4 Evaluation of the accuracy of research tools and techniques.........................................10
ACTIVITY 4............................................................................................................................10
4.1 Value of undertaking this research.................................................................................10
4.2 Performance and learning..............................................................................................10
REFERENCES.........................................................................................................................11
APPENDIX..............................................................................................................................12
Questionnaire.......................................................................................................................12

ACTIVITY 1
1.1 Project Title
“Effective talent management strategies in travel and tourism organisation”
1.2 Aim and Objectives
Aim
“To evaluate Effective talent management strategies in travel and tourism organisation: A
study on Thomas Cook”
Objectives
 To understand the conceptual framework of talent management
 To investigate issues faced by tourism organisation in managing talent at workplace
 To determine the relationship between talent management strategies and performance
of Thomas Cook
Research Questions
 What is the meaning of talent management?
 What are the main issues faced by tourism organisation in managing talent at
workplace?
 How talent management strategies and performance of Thomas Cook are interrelated?
1.3 Project management plan
To start and finish any project it is essential for researcher to have proper planning so
that best resource utilisation can be done and project can be finished on time (Beamond,
Farndale and Härtel, 2016).
Scope: it is very essential for tour operators that to have great talent that can serve the visitors
well. This study has huge scope as this effective workforce help business in satisfying
consumers and attracting more travellers as well. This project has wide scope as it will
support tourism firms in growing their business and retaining talent in business for longer
duration (Al-Lozi, Almomani and Al-Hawary, 2018).

Risk: This research project may face risk as well. Human resource may be there as there are
possibilities that participants do not answer properly hence researcher may get failed to get
appropriate answers of research questions. Apart from this, financial risk may take place as to
conduct entire investigation scholar needs funds and in the absence of these financial
resource scholar may face trouble in gathering data and carrying out this investigation
properly (Al-Lozi, Almomani and Al-Hawary, 2018). In order to reduce that risk researcher
will gain trust of participants and will tell them the importance of this research so that they
give appropriate answers. Apart from this investigator will utilise each fund properly and will
ensure no wastage is done. In this manner these risks will be reduced (Scullion and et.al.,
2016).
Duration, cost and quality: This research on effectiveness of talent management strategies
will be finish in 8 weeks as there will be proper scheduling of each task so that it can get
finished on time. This project will require 1000 Pounds. In order to ensure quality scholar
will gather all data from authentic sites. Each material will be read properly and better
understanding will be developed and after that data will be evaluated so that accurate results
can be generated.
Resources: Researcher will need human resource, technical resource, financial resource to
finish this entire investigation on time.
1.4 Work break down structure and Gantt chart
WBS

Gantt chart
Activities/
week
W1 W2 W3 W4 W5 W6 W7 W8
Topic
selection
Framing of
aim and
objectives
Conducting
literature
review
Selection
of research
methods
Analyses
of data
Drawing
conclusion
Submissio
n

Edition as
per
feedback
received
and final
submission
1.5 Research methods
Researcher will use primary and secondary both data sources. As questionnaire will
be used to gain insight primary details related to talent management strategies and books and
journals will be used to know more about these strategies and the extent to which these tactics
impact on tourism business (Kumar, 2019). Entire investigation will be qualitative in nature,
scholar will involve human being to get the details and theories will be used to find out
answers of research question. Both these information gathering sources will help researcher
in analysing effectiveness of talent management strategies to tourism business.
ACTIVITY 2
2.1 Secondary research
For making the primary data collection and analysis process more accurate it is also
necessary to consider theoretical concepts into account. The secondary data can be collected
by secondary sources such as books, journals and research work of other scholars. These
secondary sources state that organisation uses various strategies to ensure that talent is
retained within organisation for long term. These sources also provide theoretical significance
for describing the impact of talent management on performance (Ledford and Gast, 2018).
However it is necessary that secondary sources chosen for the study must be reliable,
authentic and valid. For this purpose appropriate search strategies are used and different
secondary sources are also chosen with care. One of the benefits of using secondary research
is that it is less time consuming and provide more validated results in the process.
2.2 Primary research
For collecting the primary data in this study a questionnaire will be used which will
collect data from 30mployees of Thomas Cook. For collecting the data random sampling is
used and employees are selected on random basis so that unbiased and accurate results are

obtained. The sample size has been kept small so that study and participants are manageable
easily and in budget parameters are also met. While collecting the primary data the ethical
considerations are also taken into account. Thus prior to the data collection all participants
are informed about research objectives and purpose. During the interview session the dignity,
privacy and confidentiality of participants is also maintained. Further the participants are also
allowed to have rights to withdraw from the study at any instant.
2.3 Reliability and validity of research methods
The research methodology used in this study is considered to be greatly reliable. Since
study uses both primary and secondary data to evaluate the role and issues related to talent
management within hospitality organisations it is easy to analyse the concept with greater
accuracy. On one hand secondary research gives talent management strategies and their
implications within organisation while on the other hand primary research gives actual
analysis that how employees working in hospitality organisations are actually managed by
these talent management strategies (Kumar, 2019). The ethical primary data collection also
enhances the reliability of the research and at all stages of research, ethical principles such as
privacy, confidentiality and respect are taken into consideration.
ACTIVITY 3
3.1 Analyzing gathered data set
Theme 1: Talent management practices are essential within Thomas Cook
Particulars Responses % of responses
Yes 28 93%
No 2 7%
Total 30 100%

Theme 2: Training & develop session helps in managing talent within an organization
Particulars Responses % of responses
Agree 10 33%
Strongly agree 8 27%
Neutral 7 23%
Disagree 3 10%
Strongly disagree 2 7%
Total 30 100%

Theme 3: By providing personnel with professional development opportunities Thomas Cook
can retain talented personnel
Particulars Responses % of responses
Yes 25 83%
No 5 17%
Total 30 100%
Theme 4: Performance tracking is essential for managing efficient workforce
Particulars Responses % of responses
Agree 12 40%
Strongly agree 8 27%
Neutral 5 17%
Disagree 3 10%
Strongly disagree 2 7%
Total 30 100%

Theme 5: Employees are neutrally satisfied with the current talent management practices of
firm
Particulars Responses % of responses
Satisfied 12 40%
Highly satisfied 8 27%
Neutral 5 17%
Dissatisfied 3 10%
Highly dissatisfied 2 7%
Total 30 100%

Theme 6: Unappealing company’s culture and lack of leadership creates issue in managing
talented employees
Particulars Responses % of responses
Unappealing company’s culture 10 33%
Lack of leadership 10 33%
Lack of communication 4 13%
Ineffective performance
appraisal or management
practices
6 20%
Total 30 100%
Interpretations: By doing primary investigation it has found that majority of the
employees of Thomas Cook stated that training & development sessions helps in enhancing
the proficiency level. In the current times, employees prefer to stay in the organization which
offers training & development opportunities to them. Along with this, survey results shows
that by empowering personnel with regards to the allocation of roles and responsibilities
Thomas Cook can develop satisfaction among employees and retain them. It has assessed that
due to the ineffectual culture and leadership practices employees are neutrally satisfied with
the current talent management practices of firm.

3.2 Drawing conclusion
By summing this investigation, it has been articulated that for getting desired level of
outcome or success Thomas required to manage and retain talented workforce. Besides this, it
can be inferred from the evaluation that Thomas Cook can manage talented workforce by
conducting training & development sessions. It can be concluded from the evaluation that by
empowering personnel Thomas Cook can retain talented workforce to a great extent. Along
with this, it can be summarized from the evaluation that due to lack of having effectual
leadership practices and unappealing culture business unit faces issue in managing workforce.
3.3 Recommending solutions
In order to attract, manage and retain talented personnel within an organization
Thomas Cook is advised to employ following practices:
 Management team of Thomas Cook should lay emphasis on taking feedback from
personnel continuously. This in turn helps in getting information about the areas
where employees are facing difficulties. Thus, by addressing issues timely manager
can evolve satisfaction among personnel and thereby retain proficient employees.
 Along with this, manager of Thomas Cook is advised to undertake effectual
leadership style or practices namely participative. Through this, firm would become
able to develop satisfied and motivated workforce. In addition to this, for attaining
organizational objectives manager also needs to make focus on creating supportive
work culture so that employees work with high level of motivation and encouraged to
work with Thomas Cook fort longer duration.
3.4 Evaluation of the accuracy of research tools and techniques
In order to address concerned research aim and objectives effectual tools and
techniques are adopted by the researcher. Referring research issue qualitative investigation
and thematic analysis has been applied which helps in analyzing data set prominently.
However, in the near future researcher can present better view of investigation by taking into
account SPSS tool for data analysis or evaluation.

ACTIVITY 4
4.1 Value of undertaking this research
The project outcomes have made it significant to conduct the research on talent
management. The project successfully meets the project outcomes. Initially I thought that
talent management is quite simpler process, however after completion of this project I have
understood that hospitality industries face variety of challenges in retaining the talented
individuals for achieving performance objectives. I also believe that these project outcomes
can be used by organisation in sustainable way be keeping a balance between operational cost
and performance standards.
4.2 Performance and learning
In addition to the valuable outcomes this project has also proved to be valuable in
enhancing my learning. I learned project management process and role of cost and time
scheduling in making the project successful. I also learned that primary data collection,
analysis techniques are greatly helpful in understanding the organisational concepts and
issues related to talent management. The project management tools like work breakdown
structure and Gantt chart helped me to accomplish project objectives on time.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Al-Lozi, M. S., Almomani, R. Z. Q. and Al-Hawary, S. I. S., 2018. Talent Management
Strategies as a Critical Success Factor for Effectiveness of Human Resources
Information Systems in Commercial Banks Working in Jordan. Global Journal of
Management And Business Research.
Beamond, M. T., Farndale, E. and Härtel, C. E., 2016. MNE translation of corporate talent
management strategies to subsidiaries in emerging economies. Journal of World
Business. 51(4). pp.499-510.
Kumar, R., 2019. Research methodology: A step-by-step guide for beginners. Sage
Publications Limited.
Scullion, H. And et.al., 2016. Talent management. Employee Relations.
Kumar, R., 2019. Research methodology: A step-by-step guide for beginners. Sage
Publications Limited.
Ledford, J.R. and Gast, D.L., 2018. Single case research methodology: Applications in
special education and behavioral sciences. Routledge.

APPENDIX
Questionnaire
Demographic information
Name:
Age:
Gender:
Q.1 Do you that talent management practices are essential within Thomas Cook?
 Yes ()
 No ()
Q.2 Do you agree that training & develop session helps in managing talent within an
organization?
 Agree ()
 Strongly agree ()
 Neutral ()
 Disagree ()
 Strongly disagree ()
Q.3 Do you think by providing personnel with professional development opportunities
Thomas Cook can retain talented personnel?
 Yes ()
 No ()
Q.4 Do you agree that performance tracking is essential for managing efficient workforce?
 Agree ()
 Strongly agree ()

 Neutral ()
 Disagree ()
 Strongly disagree ()
Q.5 Are you satisfied with the current talent management practices of firm?
 Satisfied ()
 Highly satisfied ()
 Neutral
 Dissatisfied ()
 Highly dissatisfied ()
Q.6 According to you which factor creates issue in managing talented employees?
 Unappealing company’s culture
 Lack of leadership
 Lack of communication ()
 Ineffective performance appraisal or management practices ()
Q.7 Please recommend strategies for talent management if you have any………..