Analyzing Employee Participation's Impact on UK Retail Success

This report delves into the impact of employee participation on business success within the UK retail sector, focusing on companies like John Lewis and Debenhams. The research aims to analyze this impact, determine the significance of employee engagement, ascertain the effectiveness of emp...Read More

Impact of employee
participation into success of
business: Retail Sector of UK

TABLE OF CONTENTS
TERMS OF REFERENCES............................................................................................................3
Overview of the Company..........................................................................................................3
Background of the Research.......................................................................................................3
Research Aim..............................................................................................................................3
Research Question.......................................................................................................................4
Significance of the Research.......................................................................................................4
RELATION TO PREVIOUS RESEARCH.....................................................................................4
Introduction.................................................................................................................................5
METHODOLOGY.........................................................................................................................7
Type of Research.........................................................................................................................7
Research Design..........................................................................................................................7
Research Approach.....................................................................................................................7
Data collection............................................................................................................................8
Data Sampling.............................................................................................................................8
RESOURCES..................................................................................................................................8
Time Scale.................................................................................................................................10
ETHICAL REVIEW FORM..........................................................................................................12
Part 1..............................................................................................................................................12
Part 2..............................................................................................................................................12

TERMS OF REFERENCES
Overview
The retail and wholesale industry of UK is very much growing which is meant to sell
many kinds of different products and service offering under same one roof. Number of products
is traded each day within whole world which is marking very tough competition between all
such companies. There are number of companies which are working under this sector like that
of Sainsbury, Tesco, Waitrose, ALDI, Debenhams etc., All of them are giving products like that
of food, entertainment, fashion, medics, beauty and health products and so on. John Lewis is
one of the largest chain of departmental stores across UK which was founded in the year 1864.
John Lewis is known as role model in market of UK with having all its employees as partners of
all 35 stores and 272 supermarkets of company. It is also known as the largest employee owned
company of UK which is making it commercial and democratic as well. Whereas, Debenhams
is also a British retailing company which is having its existing stores across UK, Ireland and
Denmark as well. There are about 27000+ employees who are working in organisation research
proposal would be on how both these companies and retail sector would be involving their
employees in firm.
Background of the Research
Employee contribution and their engagement within working and decision making of
company is very much important which is also leading to better growth and success of business.
As it is very much clear that employees of any business whether retail or wholesale are the best
form of resources which could prove that they are been able to grab larger share of market if
they are been involved by higher authority. As success of business is generally known in form
of profits, revenue, market share, brand value and growth within market. These all things could
be combined to see and enjoy success of organisation with the involvement of employee. They
are essence of any part of business and help in making loyal customers and attracting more and
more client within organisation from market. Employees should be given equal and fair chance
so that they could tell about their ideas and giving suggestions for better and improved working.
The present research is based on impact of employee engagement within success of
organisation like that of John Lewis and Debenhams. Employee participation would be meaning
the way in which company is enabling or involving its workers and employee within decision

making procedures.
Research Aim
Aim: To analyse the impact of employee participation on success of business: Retail sector.
Research Objectives
 To determine significance of employee engagement within workplace.
 To ascertain effectiveness of employee partnership in retail sector.
 To evaluate relationship between employee partnership and success of business in retail
sector.
 To elaborate various ways to resolve employee engagement issues that are faced by
retail sector.
Research Question
1. What is the meaning of employee partnership within organisation?
2. Does improvement in employee participation affects the success of business?
3. Elaborating ways in which employee participation could be ensured.
Significance of the Research
As this research proposal and whole research would be based on impact of employee
partnership into success of retail sector. So this research will be very much helpful for many
people who are or could be associated with business like that of John Lewis and Debenhams. It
would be based on factors which would be useful for company so that they are involving
employees in the decision making procedures this will be most suitable if they are using
employee partnership as one of major method. This research could be helpful and significance
for those who are doing further research in this field or topic so that they could easily find out
impact of employee partnership within success of business. For company of John Lewis and
Debenhams this study will be useful as they could understand meaning of employee
partnership.

RELATION TO PREVIOUS RESEARCH
Introduction
This would be defining the ways in which company could ensure what is employee
participation and how would this be helpful for them. This will be divide into themes which will
be making us understand how success of organisation dependent is on employee and their
participation.
Meaning of employee partnership in context of John Lewis and Debenhams
Employee partnership is defined to as involvement and engagement of employee into
organisation with equal state together management of company. As many a times management
of company is known to be involved in exploiting employees with abusing or misusing their
power on them (Cohen, 2017). So in order to remove this barrier in company and brining better
transparency, employee empowerment, increased in creativity and experience their partnership
or mere participation would be very much requiring by part of company. Ashnai, Henneberg
and Francescucci, (2016) included that employees are regarded to as gems of any organisation
hey are the one who are supposed to lead and guide company by their vision and ability to
success and growth of company.
John Lewis is that company of UK which is been the role model for others in market as
to how employee would be helpful and impacting for successful running of business (The John
Lewis model and what others could learn from it, 2012). The company is having about 76500
permanent employees to be the partners and this is the reason as to why they are good amount
of profits. Management of company has put all its employees in foremost front which means all
profits will be shared with employees of company with having formal mission of maximisation
of happiness of staff. Foroudi, Sivarajah and Broderick, (2018) also mentioned in their part that
just giving partnership in share of profits to employees is not just enough they should also be
having a say in management of company as they know better how business is been run.
Impact of employee partnership in success of company
Murphy and Hutchinson, (2018) included that company must not be treating employees
are their workers and just make them work for gaining profits but rather they should be included
in business which means giving them partnership of company. This will be helping them in
forming a part of organisation and could also involve in better decision making, innovation in

business, development of participation level of employee and ultimately increased in profits of
firm. Employees will also be having greater sense of leadership and ownership in working of
company. There are many positive and negative impact of partnership of employee in the
success and growth of organisation. Valentine and Fleischman, (2018) said that it is not
necessary that if company is involving workers in decision making or giving them partnership
would be having positive impact rather they could also be having negatively effect. Company
which are involving all employees are seen to be very much successful in their operations of
gaining higher profits as well. Management will be having better knowledge about problems
which are faced by employees within organisation as there would be greater sense of
transparency and communication will also be very effective. Andriof and McIntosh, (2017) also
said that this partnership would be lowering or cutting down the cost of company as there will
be no need of giving training to employees if they are having better knowledge about company.
Worker should be given equal and fair chance within organisation which is highly
recommended as per part of management so that they could be useful for company in all
operational working. There must be a culture within organisation which is placing both
management and worker in same length of line which would be enabling company in their
betterment and growth as well. If they are been there in form of partners of business then it will
help in shaping, managing and delivering goals which is regarded to as sustainability of
business. McMurrian and Matulich, (2016) said that company should be including employee
like that of partner who will be able to raise their voice as co-owners at business. This would be
helping in creating better business visions at the present time and then developing better future
as well.
However, only getting positive and healthy response in return of what company called to
as partnership is not necessary for all business. As if the employees are been regarded to as
partners of business then they would surely be having powers to direct and decide about
company which certainly would not be good at all time. This will lead to slowly takeover of
whole company by their employees then employees would be having total control on business
and its profits of firm. With these employees or workers will be believing that they are the real
owners of business and management would not be having any tough role to play in function of
firm. One more disadvantage of employee partnership into company could be that if there is any

kind of misshapen within working of firm then there would be no one person who should be
taking liability of that event. Everyone in firm will be giving their responsibility to one another
and no one would be ready to take stand of wrongdoing as said by Wellin, (2016).
Ways to improve employee engagement
In UK there is one separate sector which is called to as employee owned sector and
according to research about 4% of GDP of country will b driven by this sector only. So Goffee
and Scase, (2015) mentioned that there are some more important way which will be improving
employee participation and their productivity within organisation. Engagement of employee for
productive purpose was very much clearly seen but this should not be there in any kind of non-
productive manner. Kane, Palmer and Buckley, (2015) said that employee must be given
priority at the time of strategic decision making so that they are been able to meet up objectives
of company. Happiness and motivation of employee are the two basic things which higher level
management should be keeping in mind. This will be most efficient element which could be
worked out as per need of employee partnership. This means that employee are having share in
profits of firm, they are getting chance to be included in working of company and their
performance is been evaluated as per need of company.

METHODOLOGY
Research Types
This research will be both of qualitative and quantitative type so that it becomes easy for
scholar to understand meaning of impact of employee partnership within success of business
(Taylor, Bogdan and DeVault, 2015). In addition to this, it can be said that selection of
philosophy is also being considered as critical at the initial level so that key outcome can be
accomplished. Application of diverse aspects like interpretivism allows to have effective
collection of data.
Research Design
This is the basic framework or outline of research that how will research look like and
what would it be containing into its consideration. So the present research will be based on
descriptive type which would be telling and having brief description about topic which will be
having correct execution of all activities in proper manner.
Research Approach
This will be dealing into nature and characteristic of report writing as to how would
research look like and this include whether to include some part or exclude it. As approach is of
two types namely inductive and deductive. The current report which is dealing with impact of
employee partnership on success of business will be including inductive type of approach.
Inductive will be including gathering of more appropriate measure of data on qualitative type so
that data which is collected should be correct and authentic at all the times of different research
type.
Data collection
In this present research type data which will be collected would be from both primary
and secondary sources. Thus, this will be enabling researcher to have deeper knowledge about
employee partnership and its connection with success of organisation (Mackey and Gass, 2015).
Primary data like that of 10 employees of retail sector would be asked certain questions and
then analysis would be made from answers given form them. Secondary information from all
kinds of books, journals, articles and old research paper or questionnaire of other researchers
would also be included that are based on the topic of employee participations.

Data Sampling
For the sampling purpose random method would be used so that 100 employees will be
include in this research type.
RESOURCES
For conducting successful research on impact of employees partnership on success of
retail sector many books, journals, article, questionnaire, pen, paper, internet and 10 employees
would be needed.
7

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Andriof, J. and McIntosh, M. eds., 2017. Perspectives on corporate citizenship. Routledge.
Ashnai, B., Henneberg, S.C. and Francescucci, A., 2016. Inter-personal and inter-
organizational trust in business relationships: An attitude–behavior–outcome model.
Industrial Marketing Management. 52. pp.128-139.
Cohen, E., 2017. CSR for HR: A necessary partnership for advancing responsible business
practices. Routledge.
Foroudi, P., Sivarajah, U. and Broderick, A., 2018. Investigating the effects of smart
technology on customer dynamics and customer experience. Computers in Human
Behavior. 80. pp.271-282.
Goffee, R. and Scase, R., 2015. The Real World of the Small Business Owner (Routledge
Revivals). Routledge.
Kane, G.C., Palmer, D. and Buckley, N., 2015. Strategy, not technology, drives digital
transformation. MIT Sloan Management Review and Deloitte University Press. 14.
Mackey, A. and Gass, S.M., 2015. Second language research: Methodology and design.
Routledge.
McMurrian, R.C. and Matulich, E., 2016. Building customer value and profitability with
business ethics. Journal of Business & Economics Research (Online). 14(3). p.83.
Murphy, K., and Hutchinson, J., 2018. Review of high performance work practices (HPWPs)
literature and recommendations for future research in the hospitality
industry. International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management. (just-
accepted). pp.00-00.
Taylor, S.J., Bogdan, R. and DeVault, M., 2015. Introduction to qualitative research
methods: A guidebook and resource. John Wiley & Sons.
Valentine, S. and Fleischman, G., 2018. From schoolyard to workplace: The impact of
bullying on sales and business employees' machiavellianism, job satisfaction, and
perceived importance of an ethical issue. Human Resource Management. 57(1). pp.293-

305.
Wellin, M., 2016. Managing the psychological contract: Using the personal deal to increase
business performance. CRC Press.
Online:
The John Lewis model and what others could learn from it. 2012. [Online]. Accessed through:
<https://www.theguardian.com/business/2012/jan/16/john-lewis-model-lessons>.

Time Scale
Activity Duration (in days)
Initiation of the
plan for the project
30
Establishing
conceptual
framework based
on the studies in
journals and
literatures
10
Prepare the
questionnaire for
the selected
respondents
10
Raise the
questionnaire to
the participants
selected and collect
adequate
secondary
qualitative data
10
Review and
analyse the data
gathered from the
primary &
secondary source
of data
15
Come up with the 15

findings and
analysis and
terminate the entire
research

ETHICAL REVIEW FORM
Part 1
Student Statement Insert X Student Action
Statement 1
I have read the above information.
I confirm that my research does
not include study on human
participants.
You do not need to complete Part
2 of this form. Ethics approval is
not required.
Statement 2
I have read the above information.
I confirm that my research does
involve the study on human
participants.
Please proceed to complete Part 2
of this form.
Part 2
Yes No
I have prepared a participant information sheet (including information on secure
data storage), and submitted it in Appendix 1.  
I have prepared a participant consent form (including information on right to
withdraw from the study), and submitted it in Appendix 2.  
If you have put a cross No for either of the above, please note that your final Research Project will have
to include a participant information sheet and a participant consent form.
Please answer all of these questions by ticking yes or no in the box provided.
Yes No
1.
Does the study involve participants who are particularly vulnerable or
unable to give informed consent? (e.g. people under the age of 18, people
with learning disabilities, students you teach or assess)
 

2.
Will it be necessary for participants to take part in the study without their
knowledge and consent at the time?  
3.
Does the study involve audio or visual recording of people in public
places?  
4.
Will the study involve the discussion of sensitive topics? (e.g. sexual
activity, drug use, illegal activities, death, whistleblowing)  
5.
Are drugs, placebos or other substances to be given to the study
participants or will the study involve invasive, intrusive or potentially
harmful procedures of any kind?
 
6.
Does your study involve a topic that would be considered ‘sensitive’
(age, culture, race, gender, sexuality, socio-economic standing, or
religion)?
 
7.
Is physical pain or psychological stress from the proposed project likely
to cause harm or negative consequences beyond the risks in normal life?  
8.
Does the study involve groups or materials that may be construed as
terrorist or extremist?  
9.
Will financial inducements (other than expenses) be offered to
participants?  
10.
Does the study involve the collection of data that is not anonymised
(contains identifying information such as name and address)?  