An Investigation into the Impact of Performance Management on H&M

This report investigates the impact of performance management on the business productivity of an organization, using H&M as a case study. It explores the concept of performance management, effective ways to improve business performance, and the relationship between performance management and business productivity. The research includes a literature review, research questions, aims, and objectives. The methodology section details the research philosophy (positivism), approach (deductive), design (descriptive), choice (quantitative), strategy (survey), and time frame (cross-sectional). The report outlines ethical considerations, sample selection (probability sampling), and data collection methods (primary and secondary data). A Gantt chart is included to visualize the project timeline, and resources such as books, journals, and the internet are acknowledged. The report concludes by highlighting the significance of performance management in enhancing H&M's productivity and employee engagement, offering insights into the company's strategic goals.

An investigation into the impact of performance
management on business productivity of an
organisation. A study on H&M
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Background to Research Topic
Performance management refers to the ongoing process of communication between an
employee and a supervisor that happens throughout the year, in support of attaining the strategic
goals and objectives of an enterprise. Process of communication includes clarifying expectations,
identifying goals, setting objectives, giving feedbacks and reviewing outputs (Cherian and et. al.,
2021). There are different importance and benefits of performance management such as enhance
the performance of workers, develop people for promotional chances, meet need of employee for
feedback, ensure the employees are working towards achievement of organisational goals and
objectives etc.
There are different ways for improving business performance and productivity. These are
identifying current problems, ask for customer feedback, encourage report working, increase
marketing, research on competitors, improve the office environment etc. All these are effective
and useful ways for improving business performance and productivity in successful manner
(Ezenwakwelu and Etukokwu, 2021).
There is a relationship between performance management and business productivity. There
is various significance of performance management that are essential in improvement of business
productivity successfully. These are highlights training requirements, boosts morals, supports
with identifying the right worker for promotion, helps workforce planning, increase employee
retention, diverse greater employee autonomy etc. These helps in identifying the positive
relationship that has performance management with organisational productivity and performance
(Hall, Shin and Bartels, 2021).
Background to Research Organisation
H&M is a multinational clothing retailer that is famous and well-known for its fast-fashion
clothing that are available for teenagers, men, children and women. Company was founded in
1999 by Erlling Persson and headquartered at Stockholm, Sweden. It is important for H&M to
enhance their productivity and performance in marketplace. For this, performance management
is essential and important for the growth and success of company in successful manner.
Performance management helps H&M to boost productivity and engagement of employees.
Engaged worker stay longer and produce better outcomes. Performance management facilitate
them in achievement of competitive advantages within less time and in successful manner. There
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are some benefits that wold be get by H&M because of performance management (Leo-Paul,
Rounaghi and Enayati, 2021). These are providing look into the future, facilitates to develop
training and development strategies, provides clarity within the organisation, gives the chance for
exchanging feedback, enhance retention of employees, boosts employee engagement and many
more.
Research Rationale
Main rationale behind doing of this research or selection of topic is to determine the issues
faced by company because of lack of performance and productivity. For this, performance
management is essential for company in improvement of their productivity and performance in
successful manner. This study is important at personal as well as professional ground. At
personal level, this research facilitate researcher by improving their different types of skills that
are time management, decision making, data collection and many more. These are main skills
that helps researcher in improvement of their growth and success. At professional level, this
research helps an individual by searching of job within retail industry (Lima, McMahon and
Costa, 2021).
Research Question
 What is the concept of performance management in context of an organisation?
 What are the effective ways for improving business performance and productivity?
 What is the relationship between performance management on business productivity?
Research Aims and Objectives
Research aim:
“To identify the impact of performance management on business productivity of an
organisation”. A study on H&M
Research objectives:
 To increase basic knowledge about the performance management in context of an
organisation.
 To determine the ways for improving business performance and productivity.
 To evaluate the relationship between performance management on business productivity.
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Research Methodology
Research methodology is the systematic process of gathering and evaluating information
regarding the topic. Main purpose of research methodology is to help researcher by providing
accurate data regarding the topic. There are various types of methodologies that are described as
below:
Research philosophy: There are two important types of research philosophies that are
positivism and interpretivisim. These are main types but in accordance to the existing topic,
positivism is a chosen philosophy because it facilitates in collection and evaluation of
quantitative data. interpretivisim is another type of research philosophy that is not valuable
according to the existing topic because it not facilitates in collecting and also evaluating of
numerical data regarding the topic (Mello and Thabayapelo, 2021).
Research approach: There are two effective approaches of data analysing that are inductive
and deductive. These are effective approaches but in accordance to the existing topic, deductive
approach is more valuable and useful for investigator. As this assist investigator in evaluating of
quantitative information in lesser time. Inductive approach is not a valuable approach for present
investigation because it only facilitates in evaluating of theoretical information.
Research design: There are three essential types of research designs, which are descriptive,
experimental and exploratory. According to the current study, descriptive is a chosen research
design because it facilitates in collecting, analysing and using of quantitative or numerical
information in systematic manner (Owais, 2021).
Research choice: This section of methodology has two significant types that are Qualitative
and quantitative. In accordance to the existing topic or study, quantitative choice is more
essential because it helps in collection of numerical type of information. Apart from this,
qualitative is another choice that is not essential for current investigation because it requires
maximum time and not assist in collecting of numerical information.
Research strategy: There are various strategies of the research are known as experimental,
case study. survey and many others. All these are main strategies but according to the current
project or title, survey is a chosen research strategy. As it will help investigator in gathering as
well as evaluating of first hand and numerical data about the performance management.
Time frame: There are two essential approaches of time horizon that are cross-sectional and
longitudinal. In accordance to the existing topic, cross-sectional approach is a chosen time frame
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because it is based on actual situation and facilitate investigator in completion of full project in
minimum time period.
Access and ethical issues:
 Access: For conducting both primary and secondary research, there is a requirement of
getting proper access. For primary research, it is essential for researcher to get permission
from the employees of H&M. For secondary research, there is a need for getting access to
open company websites and many other sources (Sahay and Kaur, 2021).
 Ethical issues: There are number of ethical issues such as informed consent,
confidentiality of research participants, minimise the risk of harm and many more. These
are main principles and helps investigator in completion of full project in ethical and
systematic manner.
Sample selection: This section has two methods of sample that are called probability and
non-probability. These are main techniques, but according to the existing topic, probability is a
chosen technique of sample selection. By using probability sampling 40 employees of H&M will
be selected randomly. Non-probability is another type of sampling that is not useful within a
project because it not assists in selection of larger sample and also takes more time and cost.
Data collection: Primary and secondary are two important methods of data collection that
will be used for conducting research project in systematic manner (Sassi, Pihlak and Birnkraut,
2021). Questionnaire will be used for collecting primary information from 40 employees of
H&M. There are various sources of gathering secondary information such as books, magazines,
articles etc.
Data analysis: This is the process of analysing information about the topic. According to the
existing topic, quantitative data will be gathered from questionnaire and for evaluating this,
frequency distribution analysis as an analytical technique will be applied by investigator.
Therefore, above mentioned all these are main types of methodologies and help investigator
in attaining of research aim and each objective in successful manner.
Timescale
Gantt chart is a tool of time management that will be used within a project. This chart
includes different activities that re shown as below in graphical way. This tool helps investigator
in presenting of data in graphical manner. These are:
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From the above mentioned Gantt chart, it has been interpreted that there are different
activities such development of aim and objectives, collection of secondary information for
literature review, using of appropriate research methodology, analysing of gathered information,
completing of conclusion and recommendations and many others. These are main activities that
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are essential in conducting research project successfully. For completing these activity, 97
(approx.) days will be required by investigator.
Resources
There are various sources that are essential within a research project. These are books,
journals, internet, stationary, cost, time and many others (Sassi, Pihlak and Birnkraut, 2021). All
these are main sources and helps investigator in completion of each activity of the research in
systematic and accurate manner.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Cherian, J. and et. al., 2021. Corporate Culture and Its Impact on Employees’ Attitude,
Performance, Productivity, and Behavior: An Investigative Analysis from Selected
Organizations of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Journal of Open Innovation:
Technology, Market, and Complexity, 7(1), p.45.
Ezenwakwelu, C. and Etukokwu, C., 2021. The role of performance management system in
improving employee performance: a case study of federal public sector employees in
Enugu State, Nigeria. International Journal of Public Sector Performance
Management, 7(1), pp.116-138.
Hall, J.L., Shin, G. and Bartels, C.E., 2021. Measuring the effect of performance management in
local economic development policy: the case of tax increment finance districts in the
Dallas-Ft. Worth metroplex. Local Government Studies, pp.1-28.
Leo-Paul, D.A.N.A., Rounaghi, M.M. and Enayati, G., 2021. Increasing productivity and
sustainability of corporate performance by using management control systems and
intellectual capital accounting approach [J]. Green Finance, 3(1), pp.1-14.
Lima, E.S., McMahon, P. and Costa, A.P.C.S., 2021. Establishing the relationship between asset
management and business performance. International Journal of Production
Economics, 232, p.107937.
Mello, D.M. and Thabayapelo, K., 2021. Impact of performance management and development
system on employee motivation at Mahikeng local municipality. International Journal
of Public Sector Performance Management, 7(1), pp.59-73.
Owais, L.Q., 2021. A Brief Overview Of Performance Management Systems. SEA-Practical
Application of Science, (25), pp.23-30.
Sahay, U. and Kaur, G., 2021. A Systematic Review Of The Impact Of Performance Appraisal
Systems And Competency Management Framework On The Performance of Employees
In The Telecom Sector. Psychology and Education Journal, 58(1), pp.2515-2531.
Sassi, M., Pihlak, Ü. and Birnkraut, G., 2021. Organizational performance evaluation and
performance paradox in CCI organizations. International Journal of Productivity and
Performance Management.
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