Talent Management

This research project focuses on talent management strategies used by Sainsbury plc to attract and retain people. It explores the impact of these strategies, current issues faced by Sainsbury, and provides recommendations for dealing with these issues. The research methodology includes primary and secondary data collection and analysis.

Unit 6 - Managing a
Successful Business Project

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title: Talent Management................................................................................................................3
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
LO1..................................................................................................................................................3
P1 Aims and Objectives...............................................................................................................3
P2 Project Management Plan.......................................................................................................4
P3 Gantt Chart and WBS.............................................................................................................5
Literature Review........................................................................................................................6
LO2..................................................................................................................................................7
P4 Research Methodology...........................................................................................................7
LO3..................................................................................................................................................8
P5 Data Collection and Data Analysis.........................................................................................8
P6 Findings................................................................................................................................12
P7 Performance Review............................................................................................................13
RECOMMENDATIONS...........................................................................................................14
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................14
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................16
Appendix........................................................................................................................................17
PROJECT LOGBOOK FOR MSBP.............................................................................................18

Title: Talent Management
INTRODUCTION
Talent management is the systematic process of attracting and retaining highly talented
workforce in the company who supports to bring commercial benefits in the business. This
approach has become one of the most essential part of human resource management because HR
professionals enables to recruit suitable talents for the company (McDonnelland et.al., 2017).
Talent management strategy is not only supported company to establish sustainable business
performance in the business market but also influence the responsibilities of managers and
leaders at all level to manage the talents in the business with the support talent management
strategies. Talent management has become one of the most discussed topics across the world. To
understand what strategies of the talent management, do the best companies use to attract and
retain talents has a great example of Sainsbury plc. In this research project will use different
research methods and tools which helps to collect appropriate information over the proposed
research topic.
Background:It is a trading company which is famous as the second largest chain of supermarket
in the UK. This research report will include aims and objectives of the company over the
proposed research topic.
LO1
P1 Aims and Objectives
Aims
“To evaluate what TM strategies does the companies best uses to attract and retain people. The
case study of Sainsbury plc in UK”.
Objectives
 To understand the phenomena of talent management.

 To analyze the impact of TM strategies does the Sainsbury plc uses to attract and retain
the people.
 To determine the issues that Sainsbury is facing currently, after adoption of TM
strategies.
 To suggest some creative solutions to the Sainsbury that can be used to deal with
identified issues successfully.
Research Questions
 What do you mean by the phenomena of Talent Management?
 What is the impact of TM strategies on Sainsbury in order to attract and retain people?
 What current issues are facing by Sainsbury, after adoption TM strategies?
 What creative solutions can be suggested to the Sainsbury plc to deal with the identified
issues?
P2 Project Management Plan
 Scope: This research project is completely based on the concept of talent management
and impacts of strategies on the companies which uses to attract and retain people. This
topic has become hottest topic currently after Covid-19 so, it has wide scope in UK’s
market. There is a reason such as currently most of the companies is looking for talented
employee productivity in the workplace so they adapt different strategies of TM in the
business.
 Resources: For this research assignment, I will use different resources i.e. online
published research papers (from 2010 to 2020), articles and books, internet and social
media which will support to collect adequate information related to talent management
and it’s strategies (Mohajan, 2018).
 Communication: Open communication method will use by Sainsbury in the company so
that workers and employees can communicate with each other in effective manner over
the issues and raises creative solutions to resolve them.
 Quality: To maintain quality of the project, qualitative method will use that supports in
maintaining quality in collected data.
 Cost: Overall cost of the complete research is about €5000 sum.

 Risk: Limited availability of the resources is one of the major risk of the proposed
research but it can be minimized by using available tools in effective manner.
 Time: This research project will take around 10 weeks to complete overall research in
effective manner.
P3 Gantt Chart and WBS
Gantt Chart
Task 1
Weeks
2
Weeks
3
Weeks
4
Weeks
5
Weeks
6
Weeks
7
Weeks
8
Weeks
9
Weeks 10
Weeks
Aims and
Objectives
Literature
Review
Research
Methodology
Data
Collection
Data Analysis
Conclusion
Work Break Down (WBS)

LO2
P4 Research Methodology
 Research Types: Research is the process of searching new ideas, thoughts and interprets
and critically analyze them in effective manner. There are two types of research such as
qualitative and quantitative. Qualitative research method is used to maintain quality in the
collected information. In other word, this method provides information in theoretical
aspects which cannot see but can observe (Glaister and et.al., 2018). On the other hand,
quantitative method provides information in numerical figure. For this, qualitative
research method will use because it helps in maintaining quality in collected information.
 Research Approaches: There are two approaches of research i.e. inductive and deductive.
Deductive research approachis done on quantitative method while inductive research
approach is done on qualitative research. This proposed research is a quality research
type so inductive research philosophy will use for this research assignment.
 Research Philosophy: There are two philosophies of research such as positivism and
interpretivism. Positivism research philosophy is used to give realistic data which already
exist in the business market. On the hand, interpretivism philosophy supports in
understanding the actuality of the external business environment by collecting authentic

data. Positivism philosophy will implement because it supports in creating realistic and
authentic theories (Ørngreen and Levinsen, 2017).
 Data Collection: It is one of the most effective method that is used to gather authentic
information. Primary and secondary are the two methods of data collection whereas
primary data collection method is used to collect realistic information through the
interview session. While secondary data collection method is used to gather information
from available resources such as internet, social media and published research papers,
articles and books. For this research, primary and secondary both data collection methods
will use because both are required to collect authentic information over the proposed
research topic.
 Sampling: Random sampling method will use for this research because it will allow
company to select specified population randomly without creating any type of
discrimination consequence. 30 employee of the Sainsbury plc are selected as sample
population from available workforce who will support scholar to share their viewpoints
through the proposed questionnaires.
 Data Analysis: Thematic data analysis method is one of the most effective analytical tool
of data analysis that will use for this research. The reason behind is that it supports to
distributes appropriate data into different themes which can easily interpret by the scholar
in effective manner.
 Ethical Consideration: Ethical considerations are the laws and legislation that formulated
and imposed by UK’s government for such research project. For this research, scholar
have taken all steps of ethical consideration so that dignity and respects of sample
population can be maintained during interview session.
LO3
P5 Data Collection and Data Analysis
SECONDARY ANALYSIS
According to Pandita and Ray, (2018), talent management is the approach that adapts by
human resource management to develop effective strategies and implements them to achieve
profitable outcomes on it’s business. TM strategies are job detailed, reward and recognition,

continues training and development program etc. supports companies to retain right talents in the
company while training and morals supports to stay motivated employees. Such motivation can
help to differentiate company from others and influences it’s success in the business market.
Other Whysall, Owtram and Brittain, (2019) have criticized over talent management strategies in
their published research papers with the support of Sainsbury example. Company adapts TM
strategies to recruit and retain best talents in the company but due to this management unable to
manage internal environment of the business. For example, talent workforce is demanding for
higher compensation and employees is feeling too much pressurizing themselves in the job place
due to high employee engagement which leads frustration in them for the job. These are the big
issues that are currently facing by Sainsbury company.
Primary analysis through questionnaire
Name
Age
Gender
Q 1: Do you think Talent management approach contributes in company’s success?
 Yes
 No
Q 2: What positive impacts have gained by Sainsburyafter adoption TM strategiesin the business?
 Increase productivity of talent workforce
 High level of customer’s satisfaction
 Hold market share up to 41.8% at end month of October 2020
 All of them
Q 3: What issues are facing by Sainsbury currently, after adoption of TM strategies?
 Higher demand of compensation
 High employee turnover
 A, B
 Only A
Q4: Do you agree with the fact that talent management strategies implemented at Sainsbury helps in
the recruitment of the employees?
 Strongly agree

 Agree
 Neutral
 Disagree
 Strongly disagree
Q5. Does the Sainsbury provide trainings to the employees to manage their talent which helps in the
overall development?
 Yes
 No
Q6. Which talent management strategies are used by Sainsbury for retaining the high performing staff?
 Pairing the employees with effective mentors
 Measuring the employees’ progress quarterly
 Investing in the learning and development
 All the above.
Q 7: What solutions can be recommended to the Sainsbury to deal with the identified issues?
 Effective leadership style
 Effective HRM practices
 360-degree feedback strategy
 Develop productive organization culture
 A, B, and D
 None of them

Theme 1: Talent management approach contributes in company’s success.
Q 1: Do you think Talent management approach contributes in company’s
success? Frequency
A. Yes 26
B. No 4
Total 30
Interpretation: The above-mentioned diagram denotes that out of 30 employees 26 candidates
replied that talent management approaches gives huge contribution to lead success in the
business. They believe that talent management supports human resource management to manage
talent at all level and retains them for long time through which company enables to gain it’s
framed goals and objectives within timeframe. On the other hand, 4 communications argued
above sated fact. They said that talent management is not easy approach to adapt because
company requires to have good organization culture and effective HRM practices then company
can successfully implement different strategies of TM which will support to gain financial
benefits. However, they did not have any logical fact to prove their statement. Based on the

majority of answering, it can be interpreted that TM approach contributes in organization’s
success.
Theme 2: Positive impacts have gained by Sainsbury in attract and retain people in the
business.
Q 2: What positive impacts have gained by Sainsburywith the support of TM
strategies? Frequency
A. Increase productivity of talent workforce 2
B. High level of customer’s satisfaction 2
C. Hold market share up to 41.8% at end month of October 2020 3
D. All of them 23
Total 30
Interpretation: It has concluded that out of 30 participants only 3 employees answered that
Sainsbury’s have augmentit’s market share up to 41.8% at the end month of October, 2020. It
denotes that TM strategies has supported company to gain it’s framed objective in the retain
sector. While 23 employees answered that Sainsbury have gained number of positive aspects on
it’s business such as it enables to improve skilled workforce productivity, improves level of
customer’s satisfaction rate and augment market share up to 41.8%. These positive aspects
supportSainsbury to establish strong brand image in the business market. Based on the majority
answering it can be interpreted that TM strategies has led various positive aspects in the

company due to this, currently Sainsbury is considered effective competent like Tesco in the
retail sector.
Theme 3: Issues are facing by Sainsbury currently, after adoption of TM strategies.
Q 3: What issues are facing by Sainsbury currently, after adoption of TM
strategies? Frequency
A. Higher demand of compensation 1
B. High employee turnover 0
C. A, B 27
D. Only A 2
Total 30
Interpretation: It can be interpreted from the above-mentioned pie chart that out of 30
participants only 2 respondents quoted that Sainsbury is facing challenge from the talented
workforce who are demanding higher compensationwhich can directly impact on company’s
economical scale. They said that, company already has faced difficulty to adapt TM strategies
but when HR management starts to recruit highly talented and skilled candidates for the
designated posts so that they do not have to give more time in training session. But in return,
employees start to demand high compensation which negatively affect on company’s economical
scale. While 27 communicators commented that Sainsbury is facing above sated both issues i.e.

high employee turnover issue and high demand of compensation after adoption TM strategies. It
has concluded majority answering that Sainsbury is facing all mentioned issues on it’s business.
Theme 4: Training management strategies helps in the recruitment of employees in Sainsbury.
Q 4: Do you agree with the fact that talent management strategies implemented at
Sainsbury helps in the recruitment of the employees? Frequency
A. Strongly agree 8
B. Agree 14
C. Neutral 6
D. Disagree 2
E. Strongly disagree 0
Total 30
27%
47%
20% 7%
A. Strongly agree
B. Agree
C. Neutral
D. Disagree
E. Strongly disagree
Interpretation: This can be illustrated from the above pictorial representation that most of the
respondents i.e., 46% of the total respondents and agree with the fact and even 27% of the
respondents strongly agreed with the fact that the talent management strategies in Sainsbury help
in the recruitment of the employees. This was also observed in the literature review that by
managing the talent of the employees, this becomes very easy for the recruiters to select the
skilled and qualified candidates who can contribute in the progress of the company as well as
themselves.

Theme 5: In order to manage the talent of the employees, Sainsbury provides trainings to the
employees.
Q 5: Does the Sainsbury provide trainings to the employees to manage their talent
which helps in the overall development? Frequency
A. Yes 25
B. No 5
Total 30
83%
17%
A. Yes
B. No
Interpretation: The above figure clearly interprets that the majority of the respondents i.e., 83%
of the total respondents realize that the Sainsbury provide sufficient trainings to the employees in
order to enhance their skills and talents so that it can help in managing the talent of the
employees. Only 5 out of 30 respondents disagreed with the fact which may be possible as they
would not be a part of the training programmes. This was also observed in the literature review
that the trainings must be provided to the employees so that they can gain the opportunity to
enhance their skills and develop in their weaker areas.
Theme 6: Talent management strategies in Sainsbury for staff retention.
Q 6: Which talent management strategies are used by Sainsbury for retaining the Frequency

high performing staff?
A. Pairing the employees with effective mentors 4
B. Measuring the employees’ progress quarterly 6
C. Investing in the learning and development 5
D. All the above. 15
Total 30
13%
20%
17%
50% A.
B.
C.
D.
Interpretation: This can be examined from the above pictorial representation that half of the
respondents i.e., 15 out of 30 respondents realized that Sainsbury used various talent
management strategies instead of a single one which are pairing the employees with the mentors
who are effective, measuring the progress of the employees quarterly and also investing in their
learning and development. Some of the employees think that the company developed and
implemented a single strategy. This was also identified in the literature review that the
companies must not stick to one strategy but must implement various strategies so that the talent
can be managed and the company becomes able to retain the high performing employees.
Theme 7: Solutions can be recommended to the Sainsbury to deal with the identified issues

Q 7: What solutions can be recommended to the Sainsbury to deal with the
identified issues? Frequency
A. Effective leadership style 3
B. Effective HRM practices 1
C. 360-degree feedback strategy 1
D. Develop productive organization culture 0
E. A, B, and D 25
F. None of them 0
Total 30
Interpretation: At the end, it has summarized that out of 30 candidates only 3 employees replied
that Sainsbury must implement effective leadership style to deal with high employee turnover
issues. The reason behind is that when managers adapts good leadership style then they will
enable to understand actual needs of employee in the job place which ultimately improves
customer’s satisfaction rate. While 25 communicators commented that Sainsbury needs to
implement all above mentioned solutions on it’s business through which company will easily
deal with issues like higher demand of compensation and high employee turnover issues. Based
on the majority answering, it can be interpreted that Sainsbury must follow all suggested
strategies on it’s business then it will enable to have better functioning in the retail sector.

P6 Findings
On the basis of these collected data and information, the talent management is very important
and useful function to the management of a business, because when the management of a
company takes steps towards managing talent of its employees, then it will be able to gain an
excellent workforce in the workplace. Currently upper management at Sainsbury is very
aggressive in order to following the concept of talent management in its workplace, and this is
why the company has lots of skilled and talented employees in the workplace. On the basis of
findings from Whysall, Owtram and Brittain, (2019) it has been also found that, there are most
employees of Sainsbury are very satisfied with the management’s steps towards talent
management. In the recent interview with employees, there was most employees said that,
existing management of company uses different strategies for managing their talent in
workplace. Of course, management faces many challenges also while managing talent of people,
but by using own skills of conflict management and problem-solving, it is able to simply
overcome various problems and challenges of talent management. From the findings from
secondary analysis it can be recommended that for improving talent management organisations
must emphasis on aligning professional development with the organisational growth.
Organisation must provide growth and development opportunities to its employees so that
employees can empower themselves with the company and can show their loyalty towards firm
for long term. It is also recommended that leaders must show their regular interaction; feedback
and performance evaluation so that employees feel motivated and they can value themselves.
LO4
P7 Performance Review
Recently I have created an effective research project work on the topic of “Talent Management”,
and this research work has given me opportunity to learn many new things about the talent
management. I have learnt that, currently upper management within most ventures takes different
steps towards systematically managing talent of own people or employees. I believe that project
management process used was very systematic. For instance, I first defined clear aim and
objectives so that I can develop suitable research methodology. It helped me to proceed with
better clarity of research goals and process. However, I believed that since I used only qualitative
data my research lacks statistical validation. Along with the theoretical approaches I could have

also used some statistical models for making research outcomes more validate. One of the key
strength of doing this project was that topic was very broad which not only emphasis on single
aspect of HRM but also covered multiple aspects such as related challenges; risks and benefits.
However, limitation of the project that it analysed only retail sector can be one of the weakness
of the project because talent management strategies can vary in various sectors.
I have researched that, Sainsbury is a very reputed retain brand of the United Kingdom,
and it has large number of employees who works in company’s daily business operations in very
effective way, because their upper management always takes different productive steps towards
managing the talent of own employees (Robertson, 2019). I have learnt that, upper management
within most companies has given the task of talent management to their existing HR functional
department. It means, HR department within many of companies is mainly responsible to
manage talent of different people in workplace. I have learnt from this research project that,
managing talent of employees is not a small task to a business in the market place, because there
are upper management and HR department of a venture has always required to put their great
efforts to do this. In this dynamic and highly competitive market place, the task of talent
management become very mandatory to different companies and businesses in the market place,
because there is no business can stand against high competition of market within having a
workforce of many talented employees.
After completing this project work, I become able to know that we have to required use
different techniques and methods for systematically collecting data from various sources. For
example; I have used qualitative method of research for collecting different information and data
relating to talent management in this work. Now I have proper knowledge about the research
methods that, currently there are two types of research methods has been used by different
researcher to complete research work, named; qualitative and quantitative, in which the first
research method plays an excellent role in collecting data through observation, meetings,
interviews and books & journals. On the other side, the second qualitative method plays an
excellent role in collecting data through numerical and mathematical practices. In this situation, I
can choose this qualitative method for the future research project, because this also gives very
positive outcomes in the market place.

I have learnt that the topic of talent management is very broad, and when we study about
the talent management, then we able to know about its impact on overall growth of a business
(Hammer and Palmgren, 2019). As I have learnt, currently Sainsbury has gained very higher
profit margins in the market place with the support of talent management. This research project
has enables me to know my capabilities of research capabilities and skills. Basically, while
completing this work, I was enabled to improve own research skill. Now I properly know about
one fact that, there is no person can complete a research project in effective manner without
having well-developed skill of research. This work has helped me in knowing that the time
management ability also highly matters in a research work to complete it on time.
RECOMMENDATIONS
According to collected data and findings of the report, it can be recommended that there
is venture can survive in current highly competitive market place without considering the task of
talent management. In this dynamic world, talent management task highly matters in overall
success of a business, so upper management of Sainsbury should continue to conduct different
practices of talent management (Tench, 2020). On the other side, the management of should have
knowledge about the current high market competition of the UK’s retail industry, and this
competition is increasing regularly. In this situation, Sainsbury have to improve talent and skills
of its employees with the support of talent management practice to gain better competitive
advantage.
CONCLUSION
It can be concluded that currently talent management gives opportunities to different
companies and businesses for gaining many talented and skilled employees or workers in the
workplace. Day by day competition is raising in each industry, and this is why top-level
management of Sainsbury should always use the concept of talent management, because it will
enable to company for gaining many talent people in workplace, and these talented employees
will make enable to Sainsbury for gaining maximum customers than other retail ventures.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
McDonnell, Aand et.al., 2017. Talent management: a systematic review and future
prospects. European Journal of International Management, 11(1), pp.86-128.
Pandita, D. and Ray, S., 2018. Talent management and employee engagement–a meta-analysis of
their impact on talent retention. Industrial and Commercial Training.
Whysall, Z., Owtram, M. and Brittain, S., 2019. The new talent management challenges of
Industry 4.0. Journal of Management Development.
Glaister, A.J and et.al., 2018. HRM and performance—The role of talent management as a
transmission mechanism in an emerging market context. Human Resource Management
Journal, 28(1), pp.148-166.
Ørngreen, R. and Levinsen, K., 2017. Workshops as a Research Methodology. Electronic
Journal of E-learning, 15(1), pp.70-81.
Mohajan, H.K., 2018. Qualitative research methodology in social sciences and related
subjects. Journal of Economic Development, Environment and People, 7(1), pp.23-48.
Tench, R., 2020. Women in Public Relations: A Thematic Analysis of ECM Data (2009-2019).
Robertson, J., 2019. Leadership Strategies to Sustain Small Fitness Businesses. (Doctoral
dissertation, Walden University).
Hammer, P. and Palmgren, R., 2019. How parental leave policies influence employee
engagement.

PROJECT LOGBOOK FOR MSBP
Project Week No: (Project Week no.)
Date:
No. Planned Activities Action Plan
1 Update your last week’s work Conclusion and recommendations
2 Problem encountered and how did you
handle the problem?
Problem was the time exceed, and have
solved by improving own time
management skill.
3 Task for this week Submission of the project.
4 Risk issues identified. Infection of Covid 19.
5 Plan your tasks for next week Deeply analyse fully research project.
6 Project plan status till date (on/ahead /
behind)
If behind, why?
Project is fully completed now.
7 Remarks by the lecturer if any -
Student Full Name, Registration No.
Student Signature and Date
Lecturer’s Name, Signature, and Date