Working on Employee Performance Level - Starbucks

To ascertain the relevance of flexible
working on employee performance
level: a case study of Starbucks

Table of Contents
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION.........................................................................................................4
Overview......................................................................................................................................4
Rationale of the research..............................................................................................................5
Aim of the research......................................................................................................................6
Objectives of the research............................................................................................................6
Research questions.......................................................................................................................6
Potential Significance of the study..............................................................................................6
Limitations of the research..........................................................................................................7
Dissertation structure...................................................................................................................8
CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW..............................................................................................9
2.1 Introduction............................................................................................................................9
2.2 Concept of flexible working..................................................................................................9
2.3 Importance of flexible working...........................................................................................10
2.4 Importance of employees’ performance level.....................................................................11
2.5 Ascertainment of relevance of flexible working on employee’s performance level...........12
2.6 Relationship between flexible working and employee’s performance level.......................14
CHAPTER 3: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY................................................................................15
3.1 Introduction..........................................................................................................................15
3.2 Research philosophy............................................................................................................15
3.3 Research approach...............................................................................................................15
3.4 Research technique..............................................................................................................16
3.5 Research design...................................................................................................................17
3.6 Data collection.....................................................................................................................17
3.7 Sampling..............................................................................................................................18
3.8 Data analysis........................................................................................................................18
3.9 Ethical consideration............................................................................................................19
3.10 Validity and reliability.......................................................................................................19
CHAPTER 4: DATA ANALYSIS.....................................................................................................20
4.1 Introduction..........................................................................................................................20
4.2 Thematic analysis................................................................................................................20
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CHAPTER 5: FINDINGS AND RESULTS......................................................................................29
CHAPTER 6: CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS........................................................31
5.1 Conclusion...........................................................................................................................31
5.2 Recommendations................................................................................................................32
REFERENCES...................................................................................................................................33
APPENDIX........................................................................................................................................37
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CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION
Overview
Flexible working for employees is the method of working that suits their requirements.
Common example of flexible working is flexible start and finish timing, facility to work from
home etc. This type of working may not be common in various companies, but a lot of
organizations are involved in this type of working set up. In UK, employees enjoy legal right to
opt for flexible working on certain conditions, such as, if they are parents or have the
responsibility to take care of child, etc (Shagvaliyeva and Yazdanifard, 2014). Flexible working
can also be enjoyed by the parents of a child who is school aged or belongs to the lower age
group as well.
It has been ascertained that flexible working helps in developing effective employer and
employee relationship where a compressing relationship is relieved by providing a free and
workable environment for people working in the organization. Apart from fulfilling the
requirements of the entity, employee can easily balance up their personal and professional life.
They can easily handle and meet the requirements of family, personal requirements, personal
obligations and responsibilities of life. It also plays a crucial role in reducing employee burnout
due to overload and hence, a strong impact has also been found on overall employee turnover
ratio as well (Hörning, Gerhardt and Michailow, 2015).
Starbucks is an American Coffee Company and is a successful coffee house chain. It was
founded is Seattle, Washington in 1971 and currently it is operating 27,339 location all over the
world. The company is commonly represented as “second wave coffee”. Coffee is quite popular
for taste, quality and customer experience. It has been working upon adoption of flexible
working hours. The present report deals in understanding the relevance of flexible working on
employee performance level at Starbucks.
Employers having positive attitude towards flexible working helps in improving the
overall loyalty aspects of the employees. It ultimately leads to positive impact on overall
performance of the employees. It helps in making people enjoy their tasks and also they work
hard in order to achieve their tasks. It is not only beneficial to the employees but adequate and
equal benefits are enjoyed by employers as well (Atkinson and Storey, 2016). The employer is
able to develop its image in front of the prospective employees and hence right kind of talent can
be attracted towards the organization.
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Hence, it can be stated that flexible working plays a crucial role in handling the
employees in a well defined manner. It helps in increasing the morale of the employees that
ultimately helps in enhancing their commitment. It also plays an important role in reducing
absenteeism and tardiness of the employees which enhances their overall performance that leads
to enhancement of the productivity as well. There personal control over the activities of the
organization and they can decide their own schedule as per their convenience in the duration in
which they are highly energetic and motivated towards performing the task. In the end, it can be
stated that it is important to introduce flexible working in the environment of the entity. It helps
in better achievement of the tasks. Since one set of employees can be early birds and on the other
hand, the other set can be of night owls. There is no evidence that may be present with them,
hence, the same can only be benefitted only if the organization is adopting simplified and
flexible culture at the workplace. The sense of belongingness of the individual is also increased
towards the organization which helps in enhancing employee retention. Moreover, the challenges
that come over the entity can be sort out easily due to appropriate and full support extended by
the staff of the organization.
Rationale of the research
It is important that any that has been conducted must hold certain relevance. It helps in
serving a specific purpose that can ultimately help in better functioning of the organization. The
present research has been conducted on flexible working and its direct impact on employee
performance. The researcher does not hold adequate amount of knowledge regarding flexible
working. Hence, the subject matter holds importance through the academical aspects. The topic
is also important for various companies who have been facing issues regarding high employee
turnover ratio where the satisfaction level of the employees is quite low.
The organizations are currently focussing upon high employee satisfaction so that
employee turnover ratio can be reduced to minimum. It helps in better serving the customers
(Demerouti and et.al., 2014). Flexible working is the concept which has direct relation to proving
better environment to the employee so that no negative impact can be drawn on their
performance level. In this case, the research plays an important role in understanding that how
the same can be adopted by various organizations.
Another important aspect of this present research is to address the issues being faced by the
organization in handling its employees who may not be able to handle its employees in effective
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manner (Dex and McCulloch, 2016). Hence, the present research holds adequate amount of
importance in understanding the concept of flexible working in a deep manner. The researcher
will also be able to understand the challenges that are faced by the organization in adoption of
flexible working.
Aim of the research
In order to analyse various aspect related to the subject matter and concrete the current
understanding regarding it. Hence, it becomes significant to prepare a specific aim that can be
attained at the end of the research. Following aim can be framed:
“To ascertain the relevance of flexible working on employee performance level: a case study of
Starbucks, UK”
Objectives of the research
Based on the above aim, following objectives can be framed:
To understand the concept of flexible working
To assess the relevance of flexible working on employee performance level on Starbucks
To recommend Starbucks regarding appropriate adoption of flexible working for employees.
Research questions
Based on the objectives framed for the research. Following research questions can be
framed:
What is the concept of flexible working?
What is the relevance of flexible working on employee performance level on Starbucks?
What are the recommendations that can be extended regarding appropriate adoption of flexible
working for employees?
Potential Significance of the study
The aims and objectives that has been prepared by the researcher must be significant
enough that can help in serving certain purposes. Understanding the main requirements of
employees that makes them and keep them happy helps in their retention for longer period of
time. Studies have been able to state that happy and satisfied employees tend to give their best
that can ultimately help in achieving objectives and goals being prepared (Puig-Barrachina and
et.al., 2014). However, there are certain organization who may not be aware of what are the
strategies that can be adopted by them that can implement and promote flexible working at the
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workplace. In that case, the research will be able to provide the methods that can be adopted by
them. Hence, it is important for the researcher to conduct research on the stated topic.
A significant impact on the working pattern of the employees have also been noticed due
to flexible working. People tend to become more enthusiastic that ultimately leads to present
more effective environment to the employees and longer duration than normal is spent by the
employees in the office. Hence, it is a strong indication of enhanced performance of the
enhanced performance of employees. Hence, an adequate amount of importance is possessed by
employee on overall performance. Its direct positive impact have also been noticed on overall
achievement of objectives (European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working
Conditions, 2014).
Limitations of the research
It has been noticed that no study can be perfect and hence there are certain loopholes that
can identified that can ultimately deviate the conclusion and recommendation aspects of the
overall research. Hence, there are certain constraint of the research that have been identified
which may or may not affect the ultimate results of the research. Some of the common constraint
which have high probability of impact have been discussed as under:
Time: A specific time is allotted to conduct all the task as there is specific duration in which the
whole research has to prepared ad conducted (Angrave and Charlwood, 2015). In this case, there
may not be adequate time to conduct certain tasks such as preparation of literature review due to
which a high deviation can be noticed on the overall research. Hence, a bit of deviation can be
noticed on the results on to availability of time constraints.
Budget: A specific budget is assigned to the overall dissertation due to limited finance available
with the researcher. In that case, it becomes important to assign finances to each task involved in
the investigation. Inadequacy of budget could deviate the results. Hence, to avoid this constraint,
it becomes important to prudently define the budget and work upon it (Dixon and et.al., 2014).
Lack of availability of reliable data: It becomes difficult to assess that which data is reliable.
Hence, prudently deciding the same is important. Unavailability of reliable data acts as an
obstacle in conducting the overall research. Moreover, another important aspect regarding the
same is related to using the same in reaching to the effective results.
Fluency in the language: There are various journals and research paper which may not be
available in English language. Hence, it becomes difficult in understanding different language
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due to English only being the native one. Hence, it becomes a barrier where the researcher may
not be able to understand the information in some other language (Berg, Bosch and Charest,
2014). It can act as a constraint where it becomes difficult in reaching to an effective and
meaningful results.
Dissertation structure
It is important that a specific format is followed by the researcher so that the researcher can
read the same and get the best out of it. Therefore, the present research will be formed and
presented in a specific format. The format is presented and discussed below in brief:
Chapter 1: Introduction: It is the first and foremost chapter of any dissertation which helps in
providing over view of the research. It helps in defining the aim and objectives of the research a
w7ell based on which the whole dissertation is prepared. Moreover, rationale and significance of
the research is also discussed in the report in detail to ascertain its importance and relevance.
Chapter 2: Literature review: It is another important chapter of the dissertation where the
opinions and research findings of various other researchers is critically analysed. In that case, the
process of conducting literature review is generally considered as conducting literature review.
Chapter 3: Research methodology: It is another important chapter of dissertation which helps in
defining the research process and methods that will be use by the researcher in conducting the
present research. It helps in ascertaining research approach, design, philosophy, data collection
methods and analysis methods.
Chapter 4: Data analysis: In this chapter of the dissertation, data collected by the researcher will
be analysed. The responses being given by the respondents will be presented in charts and bar
graphs format for concrete understanding. The responses will then be analysed and understand
the crux so that scholar can reach to specific and effective results.
Chapter 5: Findings and discussion: This chapter also plays a very crucial which helps in
understanding and analysing the results being found in chapter 4 of data analysis. Hence, the
chapter, findings and discussions will help in reaching to effective and concrete results ultimately
reaching to satisfy the framed aim and objectives.
Chapter 6: Conclusion and recommendations: It is the last and most important chapter of the
dissertation. It helps in concluding the overall research and objectives being formulated for the
research. Further, recommendation to Starbucks regarding flexible working will also be
extended.
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