Employee Engagement Project: Improving Business Performance at M&S

This project examines the significance of employee engagement in improving business performance, focusing on Marks and Spencer (M&S). The research employs a qualitative approach, utilizing primary data through questionnaires and secondary data from literature review. The project investigates the impact of employee engagement on business performance, identifies challenges in employee management, and suggests strategies for improvement. Key findings reveal high employee satisfaction and a positive impact of engagement strategies on business outcomes. The research also analyzes the transparency of the management team and the challenges faced by the company in managing employees, such as communication errors and conflicts. The project concludes with recommendations for enhancing employee engagement and improving overall business performance at M&S. Data analysis is conducted using thematic analysis, presenting findings through tables and graphs. The research also includes a reflection on the methodologies used and potential alternative approaches. The project is a comprehensive analysis of employee engagement within the context of a leading international firm, providing valuable insights into the factors that drive employee satisfaction and business success.

Project Research

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION......................................................................................................................2
P1 Proposal.............................................................................................................................2
P2 Research Methods.............................................................................................................2
P3 Primary and secondary research.......................................................................................3
P4 Data Analysis....................................................................................................................4
P5 Communicate the research outcomes..............................................................................10
P6 Reflection........................................................................................................................10
P7 Alternative research methodologies................................................................................11
CONCLUSION........................................................................................................................11
Recommendations................................................................................................................11
REFERENCES.........................................................................................................................13
Appendix..................................................................................................................................14

INTRODUCTION
To stay competitive within a business environment, it is necessary for the company to
keep engaging employees so that they feel motivated and satisfied. In the same way, the
current study will also help to shed a light upon employee engagement and its importance for
the business. The chosen firm for this report is Marks and Spencer (M&S) which is top
international firm who have a range of employees. Thus, with the help of primary and
secondary data collection methods, study will determine the significance of employee
engagement within business.
Aim: “To examine the importance of employee engagement with regards to improving the
business performance: A study on Marks and Spencer”
Objectives:
 To examine the key idea of employee engagement
 To ascertain the impact of employee engagement for enhancing business
performance
 To determine the challenges face by company while managing employees.
 To recommend the best strategy for managing employee within a firm.
P1 Proposal
Attached in research proposal
P2 Research Methods
Research type: There are three main types of research type such that mixed,
Qualitative and quantitative. Among all, qualitative study has been adopted by investigator
because it helps to conduct in-depth analysis and it also help to understand the views of
respondents (Silverman, 2016). Thus, using this type, scholar may determine the importance
of employee engagement in order to improve business performance.
Research approach: Inductive approach has been chosen by the scholar in order gain
knowledge regarding topic and with this, it is easy to determine the challenges which a
company face while engaging employees (Merriam and Grenier, 2019). Also, this approach
starts with an observation and provide best outcome which in turn help to reach the aim.
Research philosophy: scholar adopted Interpretivism philosophy because it integrate
the human behavior and also assist to interpret the results in better manner. Thus, through this

philosophy, it would be easy for scholar to conduct the study in precise manner by answer all
research questions.
Data Collection: Both primary and secondary data collection methods has been
adopted by the scholar (Tracy, 2019). Under primary, questionnaire is designed for the
selected respondents in order to determine their views and it is consider as a fresh hand
research, while for secondary research, suitable books, articles, magazine, newspaper are
chosen that helps to analyze the importance of employee engagement within Marks and
Spencer.
Data Analysis: Thematic data analysis has been adopted by the investigator because it
helps to present the entire research in well manner by using tables, graphs and also interpret
the results better manner. Thus, this help scholar to present the entire study in well define
manner and also reach to final conclusion as well (Paradis and et.al., 2016).
Sampling: Among all, simple random sampling method under probability sampling
has been adopted by the scholar in which 20 employees of M&S chosen which in turn leads
to determine their views with regards to topic.
P3 Primary and secondary research
Ethical consideration: Researcher should make sure that prior consent must be taken
before conducting research and sign ethical approval form as well (Greenwood, 2016).
Further, scholar should make sure that there should be no miscommunication between
respondents, otherwise it would affect the results. Data Privacy act must be complied in order
to make confidentiality.
Accessibility: Scholar faces issue regarding accessibility such that there are some sites
which access denied and this increase the time which affect the results in opposite manner.
Cost: In order to perform the entire research approx. £425 is required which include
technological resources, financial resources, human resources
Literature review:
Employee engagement
According to Garza (2019) employee engagement is all about to retaining important
employees for the company and feel them passionate about their jobs. This in turn helps to
improve productivity and efficiency among employees in order to make profit.

Impact of employee engagement upon business performance
Bailey (2016) reflected that with the help of employee engagement, company reduce
staff turnover rate and improve productivity and retain customers which help to enhance the
company’s financial performance. On the other hand, Basheer and et.al., (2019) argued that
employee engagement is the only strategy that helps to keep workers happy and motivated in
order to meet the define aim. Also, provide better employee health which encourage them to
make better decision for the welfare of firm. Not only this, employee engagement also leads
to satisfy employee so that it decrease absenteeism and higher retention as well.
Challenges face by company while managing employees
Chandni and Rahman (2020) share their opinion and stated that employees needs are
continuously changes and this affect the results in opposite manner. Such that it increase
conflict between management and employees that affect the performance of a business.
Barmore (2019) argued that communication error is another challenge which affect the results
because if managers of a company delegate the roles to their employees and due to error in
communication, it affect the result in negative manner.
Primary research
Questionnaire attached in appendix
P4 Data Analysis
Theme 1: Employees are working so longs
Respondents
More than two years 11
More than one years 5
More than three years 2
Recently joined 2

More than two
years More than one
years More than three
years Recently joined
0
2
4
6
8
10
12 11
5
2 2
Respondents
Interpretation: By conducting primary research, it has been stated that 11 out of 20 are
working more than 2 years, while 5 of them are within company from last 1 years and 2 of
them are more than 3 years. So, it is clearly analyzed that company’s employees are working
many years and there is a strong relationship with them.
Theme 2: Employees are satisfied with the working environment
Respondents
Yes 15
No 5
15
5
Respondents
Yes No
Interpretation: In order to above, it is realized that employees are satisfied with the
company. Like, out of 20, 15 are said yes, while 5 of them are stated no. thus, it is reflected

by Mohanty (2018) that if company have strong working environment then, the chances of
employee engagement is higher and in the same way, M&S also provide good working
environment to their employees which reflect employees are happy.
Theme 3: Company develop employee engagement strategies
Respondents
Yes 14
No 6
14
6
Respondents
Yes No
Interpretation: Majority of the selected sample size are agree that company have employee
engagement strategies such that out of 20, more than half people are agreed while some of
them are not agreed. This, it also supported by Green (2019) in which author stated that by
taking feedback from employee, focus on diversity and inclusion for better engagement and
provide leaves and flexible working hours are consider some of the strategies which in turn
leads to manage the work accordingly.
Theme 4: Employee engagement have direct impact upon business performance
Respondents
Yes 16
No 4

16
4
Respondents
Yes No
Interpretation: In accordance with the above table, it is interpreted that employee
engagement have direct impact upon business performance like out of 20 employees, 16 are
said yes, while 4 of the said no. Also, it is supported under literature review section in which
Jena, Bhattacharyya and Pradhan (2017) stated that t improve financial performance of
company by reducing employee turnover rate and satisfying employees. This in turn leads a
company to increase profit and build a strong image within market.
Theme 5: Management team of M&S is transparent
Respondents
Strongly agreed 11
Agreed 4
Disagreed 3
Strongly
disagreed 2

Strongly agreed Agreed Disagreed Strongly disagreed
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
11
4 3 2
Respondents
Interpretation: Through the table and graph, it is interpreted that Management team of M&S
is transparent because most of the employees are highly satisfied while only 3 of them are
strongly dissatisfied. Hence, it is clearly reflected by Osborne and Hammoud (2017) with the
management and employers do care for employees and this in turn leads to improve the brand
image of the company and employees are think they are important element of a firm.
Theme 6: Strategies for employee motivation
Respondents
Yes 12
No 8
12
8
Respondents
Yes No

Interpretation: Through the first hand research, most of the employees are agreed that
company develop policies and strategies in order to keep employees motivated. Such that out
of 20, 12 are stated yes while 8 of them are said no. Thus, it is clearly reflected that by
Adekoya and et.al., (2019) that company should applied models in order to determine the
need and wants of employees and then develop policies which helps to keep employees
happy and productive.
Theme 7: Company involve employees for decision making process.
Respondents
Yes 12
No 7
Don't know 1
12
7
1
Respondents
Yes No Don't know
Interpretation: As per the diagram, it is stated that majority of the employees are agree that
company involve employees within their decision making process such that out of 20, 12 are
stated yes, while 7 of them stated no and 1 do not know about anything. Thus, it is reflected
that employees of M&S are happy with the company’s policies and managers are also
involving them in decision making process in order to meet the feel them they are important
for the company.
Theme 8: Challenges which company face to managing employees
Respondents

Communication
error 5
Conflicts 4
Managing
performance 3
All of these 8
Communication
error Conflicts Managing
performance All of these
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
5 4 3
8
Respondents
Interpretation: Through the above graph, it is interpreted that there are many challenges
which a company face in order to managing the employees such that out of 20 employees, 5
stated that communication error, 4 of them stated leads to conflict and 3 stated that managing
performance, but 8 of them are stated all of these. Thus, this is reflected that company faces
many issues and that is why, there is a need to manage the challenges in order to meet the
define aim.
P5 Communicate the research outcomes
Enclosed in PPT
P6 Reflection
The entire journey of conducting the research is good and knowledgeable. Among all,
I think that research methodologies plays an important role in the success of a project. That is
why, I use the same in order to make sure that all the research methods are helpful in order to
generate the best outcomes. Such that I chooses qualitative study over quantitative and mixed
research because it provide me in- depth research which help me to conduct the entre

research in proper manner, even the method is cost effective and that is why, I chooses the
same.
Moreover, with the help of primary and secondary data collection methods, I think
that I am able to collect the best information which help to conduct the research in more
precise manner. It is so because secondary resources are easily available from books, articles
while with the help of primary research, I am able to collect fresh information for my study
which makes its more reliable and valid. On the other hand, I think that through
interpretivism philosophy, I am able to integrate the human interest towards a study and that
is why, it help me to interpret the results from selected sample size. Thus, it is clearly
reflected that without research methodology, I am unable to conduct the entire study in
proper manner and this in turn leads to generate proper outcomes as well.
P7 Alternative research methodologies
During the research, I learn use of research methodologies for the study and also
enhance my knowledge regarding this. But in future when the same study is conducted, I will
uses quantitative over qualitative because it depend upon raw numbers only and also provide
accurate results which qualitative study do not. It is so because it uses SPSS as a tool which
in turn provide exact views of selected respondents and provide outcome as well. Also, I use
deductive approach over inductive because it leads the results towards specification rather
than generalization. Therefore, this alternative research methodologies will help to provide
the best outcomes by consider primary research.
On the other side, as per the outcomes, I learn that with the help of employee
engagement strategies, company is able to satisfied the employees which in turn leads to
build a strong brand image. Further, I also enhance my interpersonal skills which in turn
leads to perform the research in better manner. I also realize that with the help of diverse
workforce, company is able to provide range of new product to their customers and this leads
to increases employee loyalty as well. That is why, company should focus upon employee
engagement strategies which in turn leads to make employees happy and fulfill the needs of
their customers as well.
CONCLUSION
By summing up above report it has been concluded that employee engagement plays
an important role such that from data findings, it has been concluded that employee are
highly satisfied with the business environment. Also, study concluded that manager of M&S