Employee Retention and Development Strategies at ASDA, UK: A Study

This report analyzes employee retention and development strategies within ASDA, a British supermarket chain. It investigates the importance of employee retention and development, examines the strategies used by line managers and leaders, and identifies the challenges they face. The research employs a deductive approach and survey strategy to gather and analyze data. Key findings and discussions revolve around improving employee satisfaction, fostering teamwork, and preserving institutional knowledge. The study concludes with recommendations for ASDA to enhance its employee retention and development programs, addressing issues such as high costs and employee turnover, and suggests areas for further research.

Research Project

Contents
Chapter One: Introduction ..............................................................................................................4
1.1 Research Aim .......................................................................................................................4
Rationale for the research............................................................................................................4
1.2 Research Questions..............................................................................................................5
1.3 Research Objectives.............................................................................................................5
1.4 Significance of the Research................................................................................................5
Chapter Two: Literature Review.....................................................................................................6
2.1 Introduction of Literature Review.........................................................................................6
2.2 Main Body ...........................................................................................................................6
To gain knowledge about importance of employee retention and development in context to
organization.................................................................................................................................6
To examine the strategies used by line managers and leaders of Asda for retention and
development of employees at workplace....................................................................................7
To determine the challenges faced by line managers and leaders of Asda while executing
strategies for employee retention and development at workplace. ............................................7
2.3 Conclusion of Literature Review .........................................................................................8
Chapter Three: Methodology...........................................................................................................8
3.1 Research Approach...............................................................................................................8
3.2 Research Strategy..................................................................................................................9
3.3 Research Methodology..........................................................................................................9
3.4 Research Tools.....................................................................................................................9
3.5 Sampling.............................................................................................................................10
3.5.1 Identifying Population and Research Site........................................................................10
3.5.2 Sampling Strategy............................................................................................................10
Chapter Four: Findings (Data Analysis and Presentation)............................................................11
Chapter Five: Discussion (Data Interpretation) ............................................................................13
Chapter Six: Conclusion, Recommendations and Implications for Further Research ..................16
References......................................................................................................................................19
APPENDIX....................................................................................................................................21

Chapter One: Introduction
Employee retention is referred as an organisation’s ability to retain staff members and
prevent employee turnover. In addition to this, increasing employee development and retention
has a direct influence on business performance as well as success. It is significant for an
organisation to focus on employee development and retention as it helps in attaining various
aspect that help in enhancing performance along with brand image, achievement of competitive
advantage and so on (Stewart, 2018). Both these factors that is employee development and
retention plays vital role in order to providing growth as well as success within the market.
In the following study, Asda is chosen as a base company. The organization is a British
Chain of supermarkets which is headquartered in England, UK and established in the year of
1949. The organization has more than 630 stores relative to their global operations which
demonstrates its high market share and presence as well. The company offer products such as
general merchandise, grocery and its services are Asda living, Asda Mobile, Asda Money and
many more. The higher authorities of company is facing issues as it is not able to retain its staff
members that impact on its performance also. In order to deal with this, the present study is
conducted as it will help to analyse the ways leaders and managers used for employee
development within the organisation.
1.1 Research Aim
“To analyse the ways used by line managers and leaders for employee retention and
development within an organisation” A study on Asda
Rationale for the research
One of the important reason to conduct this study is to analyze the ways that is used by
managers and leaders for employee development and retention. Along with this, the present
study will assist in gaining insight regarding strategies used by respective company for
development and retention of staff members. Further, it will help company to develop strategies
in dealing with the issues faced by managers while executive strategies of employee
development and retention. It will also help investigator to learnt and develop skills such as data
collection, time management, data analysis, data interpretation etc. Moreover, it will help to
conduct future studies in more effective and appropriate manner.

1.2 Research Questions
 What is the importance of employee retention and development in context to
organization?
 What are the strategies used by line managers and leaders of Asda for retention and
development of employees at workplace?
 What are the challenges faced by line managers and leaders of Asda while executing
strategies for employee retention and development at workplace?
1.3 Research Objectives
 To gain knowledge about importance of employee retention and development in context
to organization.
 To examine the strategies used by line managers and leaders of Asda for retention and
development of employees at workplace.
 To determine the challenges faced by line managers and leaders of Asda while executing
strategies for employee retention and development at workplace.
1.4 Significance of the Research
Employees are the important part of an organization and is one of the main reasons for its
growth and success at marketplace. Employee development and retention is significant for a
company in order to enhance its performance level, increase productivity, improve brand image,
to achieve competitive advantage and so on (Yam, Raybould and Gordon, 2018). The present
study will allow researcher to analyze the ways used by leaders and managers for employee
development and retention. This will further help research worker to learnt about organization,
its strategies and its challenges due to which some suggestions can be given to respective
company for improvement.
Chapter Two: Literature Review
2.1 Introduction of Literature Review
Literature review is referred as an overview of the previous published works on the
particular topic. In addition to this, it is an academic piece of writing that demonstrate

understanding and knowledge on the specific topic. It include secondary data due to which
researcher is able to gain in-depth knowledge regarding the topic. The main motive here is to
identify and analyze research gaps. In the previous studies, there is a discussion about
significance of employee development but it lacks data regarding ways leaders and managers
adopt for development and retention of employees. In order to fulfill this gap, some research
questions are given below:
2.2 Main Body
To gain knowledge about importance of employee retention and development in context to
organization
According to BambooHR, (2019), employee retention involves the ability of a company to
keep its employee engaged in the organisation. There are various reasons of people joining and
leaving an organisation and turnover up to a certain amount is considered to be normal. In
context to employee retention, the turnover rates vary within the occupations and different
industries. In some cases the companies pay high prices for poor retention. High turnover
involves various consequences and costs(Why Employee Retention is Important & How to
Improve It, 2019). It involves various steps such as reviewing resumes, on boarding new hire,
checking references, interviewing and screening, updating and posting a job description and
completing legal paperwork.
The increase in employee retention helps in eliminating and reducing various issues that
includes associated costs, foster greater teamwork, preserving institutional knowledge and
keeping valued employees from moving to a rival. In terms of potential benefits it involves better
customer service, improved employee satisfaction, greater productivity, increased revenue and
better customer services. The employee satisfaction helps in boosting the ability to attract and
retain top talent. In today’s scenario, every employee wants more and more money. In addition to
that employees also prefer to gain the opportunity to enhance their skills along with attaining a
healthy work life and advancing their careers. In order to improve employee retention there
should be a focus on areas that involves employee recognition, culture, work environment,
benefits and development opportunities.

To examine the strategies used by line managers and leaders of Asda for retention and
development of employees at workplace
As per the viewpoint of Marc, (2021), employee retention involves keeping the talent in an
organisation for a longer time period and in context to ASDA, the leaders and line managers
focuses on implementing various strategies that can help in development and retention of the
employees at the organisation. Retention not only include the inverse of the turnover rate bur
there are various other important differences. In order to keep the employee longer in the
organisation, there are various strategies implemented by the leaders and line managers that
involves hiring the right person for the job. In order to get things done from the employees it is
very important to hire the right person who have the required capabilities and skills to perform a
task (Employee Retention Strategies , 2021 ). In addition to that communication plays a very
important role in understanding the employee and their perception regarding their job. It is very
important to ensure effective communication among employee and top managers in order to have
better understanding. In context to ASDA, the managers and leaders focus on creating a healthy
relationship with employee through effective communication.
To determine the challenges faced by line managers and leaders of Asda while executing
strategies for employee retention and development at workplace.
According to Dimoff, (2021), due to pandemic employees are constantly looking for better
and new opportunities all the time and also there are various challenges faced by the leaders and
line managers to implement effective strategies in order to develop the workplace and employee
retention. In content to ASDA, constant employee turnover seems to be a costly affair and also
involves a lot of time and effort. In order to control such situations it is very important to
understand the employees and keeping in control the outcomes which could lead to increase in
employee turnover and also involves a lot of time.
In context to organisation, every employee knows when they have to be supportive and
when to be not. In order to increase employee retention it is very important to have talk to
employee regarding their career goals and objectives and also enhancing communication at all
levels of the organisation. Moreover, it is important to remove the barriers and finding new ideas
that can help an employee and also contribute towards company’s goals and objectives
(Employee Retention Challenges and Solutions, 2021). The line managers and leaders should

invest in employee training that will help in increasing the skill set of employee and will also
contribute in improving the overall performance of the organisation as well as the employees. In
addition to that it is important to make the employees feel comfortable and keep them connected
with every decision taken. Furthermore, it is very important to create a culture that makes the
employees comfortable.
2.3 Conclusion of Literature Review
From the above discussion it can effectively be concluded that employee development
plays an important role in order improve the productivity and performance relative to the
organization. Moreover, there are various optimal strategies that can be implemented by leaders
and managers for employee development and retention and need to consist various aspects such
as providing essential training and development programs that help the employee to participate
in the overall process of decision making along with recognition and rewards.(Burnett and Lisk,
2019). Moreover, it is conclude that there are different issues associated to employee retention
and development that is high cost, decline in performance, increase in employee turnover etc.
Gantt chart

Chapter Three: Methodology
One of the important of a study is research methodology as it explains the tools as well as
techniques used by investigator to conduct the study along with the justification. The methods
used in the present study is given below:
3.1 Research Approach
It refers to the overall plans as well as procedures that include the aspects that help in
widening the overall assumptions that are based on the methods of collecting data along with its
interpretations and many more. Along with this, it is primarily based on the overall natural
approach of research problem and how they are being address. In addition to this, there are two
types of approaches relative to research and consists of inductive as well as deductive approach.
In the present study, deductive approach is effectively taken into consideration and the primary
reason to select it as it provide essential support in evaluation of primary and quantitative data

which is important to gathered for conducting the present study. Along with this, it also help
investigator to collect and analyze information in less time and cost as well.
3.2 Research Strategy
It is defined as the techniques and strategies that to conduct study. There are various
essential to be utilized by the research in order to gain valuable knowlege of strategies such as
case study, survey, action research and so on (Bonau, 2018). Relative to the following study the
research strategy of survey and understanding about topic that further leads to development of
reliable and valid conclusion. Apart from this, it also assist investigator to collect primary
information in least cost as well as time.
3.3 Research Methodology
It is a vital part of an investigation that help researcher to collect data as per the type of
research. Along with this, it is vital to identify a suitable research methods as the overall results
of study is depends on it. There are primarily two approaches to research that is qualitative and
quantitative. Through the research topic the utilization of quantative methods of research is an
efficient and appropriate as it help research worker to collect data that is numerical in nature and
be based on facts along with figures. It also provides essential assistance to assist researcher to
gather appropriate and valid information which shows the credibility of study is high. Moreover,
it will also help research worker to collect data within least cost as well as time consuming.
3.4 Research Tools
It is defined as the methods which is used by researcher for collecting and gathering the
information about the topic. Along with this, the type of information collected is depends on the
nature of study. There are primary two methods of collecting that and consists of primary and
secondary method. Primary information is referred as the data which is collected for the very
first time whereas secondary information is basically the existing data collected by other authors
and research workers on particular topic (Rao Hermon, Biehl and Chahla, 2018). Relative to the
study, both the methods of primary and secondary method are utilized in order to gain effective
data and develop questionnaire as it assist to collect data from the different respondents that
further leads to better understanding of topic. On the other hand, various books, articles and

Journals has also been taken into consider relative to secondary method data which is presented
in the structured formation of literature review.
3.5 Sampling
It is referred to the methods that allows research worker in order to effectively select
sample size out of the total population. Along with this, it is crucial for research worker to select
an appropriate size of sample for the study so that appropriate and accurate information can be
gathered.
3.5.1 Identifying Population and Research Site
The following study, the 20 Asda employees are for participation. The primary reason to
choose employees as respondents as they have knowledge relative to the ground work as well as
policies of company due to which they can provide appropriate and accurate data to researcher.
This further help research worker to draw valid and reliable conclusion.
3.5.2 Sampling Strategy
There are two types of sampling is probability and non-probability sampling method. In
relation to the present research work, probability along with sampling has been taken into
account in order to choose is it help in selecting large sample size because of which in-depth and
detailed knowledge is gained on the topic (Allen, Williams and Allen, 2018). Random sampling,
which is a form of probability sampling is used as it assist to provide equal chance to the people.
Apart from this, it take less time and cost of researcher.
Questionnaire:
Q1. Do you have knowledge about importance of employee
retention at workplace?
Frequency
a) Yes 14
b) No 6
Q2. What is the significance of employee development and
retention within an organisation?
Frequency
a) Enhancement of brand image 5
b) Maintenance of performance 5

c) Increase in productivity and profitability 5
d) Systematic execution of activities 5
Q3. What are the strategies adopted by managers and leaders of
Asda for retention and development of employees within
organisation?
Frequency
a) Provide training and development session 4
b) Performance management 6
c) Allow participation in decision making 5
d) Provide continuous feedback to employees 5
Q4. As per your view point, what is the impact of above strategies
on the productivity and performance of employees?
Frequency
a) Positive impact 12
b) Negative impact 5
c) Neutral 3
Q5. According to you, is employee development and retention
strategy help company to attain competitive advantage at
marketplace?
Frequency
a) Yes 13
b) No 7
Q6. Does employee retention and talent management help in
maintaining of positive working culture at workplace?
Frequency
a) Yes 15
b) No 5
Q7. What are the major challenges faced by managers and leaders
of Asda while executing employee development and retention
strategies at workplace?
Frequency
a) High cost 4
b) Decline in performance 5
c) Increase in conflicts 6
d) Increase in employee turnover 5
Q8. On the basis of your viewpoint, is above challenges impact Frequency