Research Methodology for Workforce Planning and Development

This chapter provides accumulation and analysis of data for workforce planning and development. It includes different types of research methods that include research approach, philosophy, strategy, data collection, choice etc.

METHODOLOGY

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................7

3.0 INTRODUCTION
This is the chapter in the investigation that holds great importance in the whole research
because it provides accumulation and analysis of data. It includes certain stages called research
process which is followed and guided in the design of the investigation. The main objective of
selecting various research methods is assembling relevant and reliable piece of information
(Bairagi and Munot, 2019). It includes different types of research methods that include: research
approach, philosophy, strategy, data collection, choice etc. It also includes different sources so
that apt information could be assembled and defined objectives could be met. The methodologies
facilitate investigator to evaluate overall reliability and validity.
Types of research
3.1 Research Philosophy
The philosophy is relied upon three parts that are: epistemology, ontology and realism.
Investigator has relied upon epistemology because it gives three more important sub parts that
are: positivism, critical realism and interpretivism. The present study relies upon positivism
because it gives advantage to investigation by measurement and observation. Numerical data is
analysed effectively and efficiently so that aim could be achieved (Willmott, 2020).
3.2 Research Approach
Research approach is divided in three significant types. The kinds are: inductive,
abductive and deductive (Ragab and Arisha, 2018). Deductive approach is considered in the
current research as it majorly assists in testing the findings of present study in particular context
of workforce planning and development for the enhancement and also profitability of the
organisation. The biggest benefit of deductive approach is it evaluates and measures information
that is present in numbers and figures.
3.3 Research Choice
This is categorised in three significant types that include: mono method, multi-mixed
method and mixed method. Mono method is used by investigator because in this researcher has
to make selection between qualitative and quantitative. Quantitative is used in the investigation
so that information about workforce planning and development for the enhancement and also
profitability of the organisation could be assembled in numerical format (Clarke and Visser,
2019). Survey is used for assembling numerical data and primary data in the short time duration.

It is the apt strategy for the collection of first-hand data and numeric piece of information in the
shorter period of time.
3.4 Research Design
The design can be descriptive, exploratory and experimental research design. Descriptive
research design is selected by researcher because it aids in using, assembling and evaluating
statistical piece of information in minimum period of time. The descriptive research design
mainly aims at describing population, phenomenon and situation in numerical form. It considers
a broad variety of research methods for investigating the whole investigation (Säfsten and
Gustavsson, 2020).
3.5 Sampling and target research population
The sampling has classified in two main types that are: probability and non-probability
sampling. It is identified that there is larger population available and in practical manner it is not
possible to choose whole population. It is very tough activity to gather piece of information from
the whole population so the types of sampling help investigator in the current study (Newman
and Gough, 2020).
Researcher has selected probability sampling because it assists in choosing
representatives who can represent the whole popular in the particular context of workforce
planning and development for the enhancement and also profitability of the organisation. The
sampling of probability follows random sampling in which there is no need of selecting the
respondents with particular criteria or specifications. Random sampling and probability sampling
provides equal chance to each and every selected respondent so that they can provide opinions
and views regarding the topic of present study. Respondents are selected from the chosen
organisation i.e. Pret A Manager in Hong Kong because they are directly connected to the
organisation and they possess great piece of information related to workforce planning.
15 managers are selected from Pret A Manager in Hong Kong as representatives because
they are the people in the company who are continuously putting efforts to build great team of
workforce. In an organisation managers are the people who form strategies to develop their
employees so that profitability of the organisation could be enhanced. So, they can give apt
opinions and views about the workforce planning and this also includes challenges they face
while developing their employees in terms of increasing and improving their profitability level
(Lai, 2018).

3.5 Data Collection
This is divided into two parts that are: primary data collection and secondary data
collection. Researcher has taken aid of both the data collection types so that relevant data could
be accumulated and carried out. Primary data collection is considered in the present investigation
because it carries out first-hand piece of information directly from the source of data. Basically,
the primary method helps in taking out information for the first time related to the topic i.e.
workforce planning and development for increasing the profitability of organisation.
Questionnaire is used in the current study about raw piece of information in shorter time period
(Davidavičienė, 2018).
On the other hand, researcher has also taken assistance of secondary data collection
method. This method is very useful in the current research because it helps in using information
that is already carried out in the given time duration. Researcher has considered published and
used data about the topic related to workforce planning and development. The sources that are
useful for the accumulation of secondary information are: journals, articles, newspapers, books,
publications, magazines, website of the company etc. Therefore, for the completion of the whole
research study primary and secondary data collection plays major role in the achievement of pre-
determined aim and objectives.
Pilot test is referred as a small preliminary study considered for testing a propose
investigation study before a full scale performance. This study follows the same procedures and
processes as its full-scale counterpart. The main purpose of pilot study is examining the
feasibility of a investigation endeavor. The pilot study includes different types of components
that include: size of the sample and their selection, identifying the specifications for a successful
pilot study dependent upon the defined objectives of the study, assembling samples to ensure that
the procedure is manageable and practical, always testing the instrument of measurement, data
analysis and entry (Melnikovas, 2018).
3.6 Analysis method
There are different techniques and methods for performing analysis depending on the aim
of the analysis. The different methods for the analysis of information based upon two important
areas: qualitative and quantitative methods in investigation. There are different kinds of
analysing method correlation, regression, SPSS, descriptive analysis, thematic analysis,
frequency distribution analysis etc. Researcher has chosen frequency distribution analysis

because it assists in the evaluation of assembled numerical piece of information in shorter time
duration. A frequency distribution is defined as a representation in a tabular or graphical format
that clearly displays the number of opinions and views in a provided time interval. The interval
size depends on the information being evaluated and the objectives of the analyst. The intervals
are mutually exhaustive and exclusive. Basically, analysis with frequency distribution assists in
showing how often each various value in a set of information occurs. Various types of graphs are
used so that for showcasing the distribution of information. It shows and looks quite similar like
a bar chart but there are significant differences between them. This is quite helpful in the
collection and analysis of the gathered numerical piece of information (Ryder and et. al., 2020).
3.7 Validity and reliability of the research
A valid and reliable investigation is precise and significant. The extent to which a
concept is appropriately measured in a numerical study is referred as validity. Besides this,
accuracy or reliability of the instrument is second of evaluation of quality in a numerical study.
The apt understanding of the questionnaire has been used for allowing participants to understand
to what they are responding with the motive of meeting valid outcomes in the current
investigation. Also, the investigation answered the defined questions it motive, because
responses and answers highlighted that research questions has been understood (Budianto,
2020).
The representatives of the current investigation defined as the significant aspect which
clearly affects the validity of the whole investigation. The target participants focused only on
workforce planning and development and it has limited the response of variety of attitudes,
because everyone who have participated knew at least how to plan whole workforce in the
organisation. Nevertheless, a much larger number of participants will be required if this
investigation were to be absolutely relevant and reliable. The number of those answers in this
particular research thus does not highlight the whole finish population reliably and accurately.
Therefore, investigation depends upon the primary and secondary sources for the
accumulation and analysis of data for meeting the defined aim and objectives. Through these
sources, researcher aims at valid and reliable information so that defined objectives and
questions of the research can be attempted (Greening, 2019).
3.8 Ethical compliance of the research

The main aspect of investigation work and the base of research design is ethics of the
investigation. For this investigation period, it follows certain ethical guidelines that are
implemented in the current investigation. Research ethics needs the methods considered for
specifically addressing the issues of the research. Hence, the chosen research design for the
particular research questions and they are directly correlated with the outcome and question of
this study (Zawacki-Richter and et. al., 2020). The investigator had been granted permission by
the major respondents in the investigation during the information accumulation time. In the
process of data collection, no such workforce was harmed and hurt. The anonymity and
confidentiality of the representatives of the data given by investigators must be respected. The
information assembled for quantitative methods are greatly organisationally sensitive. The
investigator shall comply with the information safety law and shall not disclose or leak all
private information and credentials through any media. Hence, from the above mentioned ethics
researcher has tried to conduct the whole investigation in ethical way (Al-Ababneh, 2020).
3.9 CONCLUSION
With the above assembled piece of information, it is summarised that research methods
are quite significant for completing the whole investigation in systematic and ethical manner. In
the present investigation, researcher has taken help of research methods that basically work
around accumulated numerical data. It is understood from the current study that numerical data is
more helpful in comparison to other methods of research which work in qualitative manner.
Quantitative research is the best procedure to assemble and analyse numerical data. It could be
utilised for finding averages and patterns, forming predictions, testing casual relationships and
generalising outcomes to wider and broader populations. In this primary and secondary sources
have been used in the current research so that objectives could be met efficiently and effectively.
Primary information has assisted in collection of first-hand data through questionnaire. On the
other hand, secondary data collection sources have been considered for published and used
information.

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