Analyzing Employee Motivation's Impact on Waitrose Ltd's Performance

This literature review analyzes the significance of employee motivation in enhancing business and workforce performance, focusing on Waitrose Ltd as a case study. It investigates the conceptual framework of employee motivation within the retail industry, explores the motivational theories and methods employed by Waitrose, and assesses the benefits of motivated employees for both the workforce and the company. Furthermore, it identifies the challenges Waitrose might face in the absence of motivated employees. The review draws upon existing literature, highlighting the crucial role of motivation in achieving organizational goals, improving employee retention, enhancing customer service, and fostering a positive work environment. The research identifies a gap in previous studies regarding the effectiveness of employee motivation on business and workforce performance, aiming to address this gap through the research questions and objectives outlined in the study.

TO ANALYSE THE IMPORTANCE OF EMPLOYEE
MOTIVATION IN INCREASING BUSINESS AS WELL AS
WORKFORCE PERFORMANCE WITHIN A WORKPLACE: A
STUDY ON WAITROSE LTD
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Contents
CHAPTER ONE – INTRODUCTION............................................................................................3
1.1 Background to the Research .................................................................................................3
1.2 Organisational Background ..................................................................................................3
1.3 Significance of the Problem...................................................................................................4
1.4 Statement of Purpose.............................................................................................................4
1.5 Statement of the Problem.......................................................................................................5
1.6 Aim and Objectives ...............................................................................................................5
1.7 Research Questions................................................................................................................6
1.8 Dissertation structure ............................................................................................................6
CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW.........................................................................................8
What is the conceptual framework of employee motivation in context with retail industry?.....8
What are the effective ways and theories used by Waitrose for motivating their employees
within a workplace? ..................................................................................................................10
What are the benefits of employee motivation for workforce and Waitrose?...........................12
What are the major challenges that would be faced by Waitrose in the absence of motivated
employees at workplace?...........................................................................................................14
CHAPTER 3 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY ..........................................................................17
Introduction................................................................................................................................17
Conclusion.................................................................................................................................20
CHAPTER 4- DATA ANALYSIS AND FINDINGS...................................................................21
Introduction................................................................................................................................21
Conclusion.................................................................................................................................26
CHAPTER 5: CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION.....................................................27
Conclusion.................................................................................................................................27
Recommendation.......................................................................................................................28
REFERENCES .............................................................................................................................30
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CHAPTER ONE – INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Research
Motivation is the most important part of the work life of a worker. Motivation introduces
to the process of developing organisational conditions that will impel focus to strive to
accomplish organisational goals and objectives. Employee motivation within a workplace is
important because it helps an organisation in handling uncertainty better. There are different
advantages of employee motivation for an organisation such as lover level of absenteeism,
retention of workers, improved relations between management and employees, improved worker
performance, improved customer service and improved quality (Ali and Anwar, 2021). All these
are main benefits that helps an organisation in improvement of its business performance.
Therefore, employee motivation is highly important and significant within a workplace of
company.
Motivational Theories assist the businesses to find out what motivates people to work.
Businesses are interested in motivational theories as motivated individuals are more productive
and beneficial for the organisation. The employees should be highly motivated regarding their
work in the organisation, a dissatisfied employee can't give their best in the organisation. In order
to develop the same this is mandatory that to use various motivational aspects so that employees
may be involved in organisational activities and at the same time this is easier for the
organisation to attain succession opportunities as well. This is being analysed that there are
various methods which are used within the business for the purpose of developing employees
and these are helpful for the business and could assist in gaining long term sustainability as well.
Employee motivation is holding high degree of importance as for every organisation their
employees are treated as asset and in the presence of motivated employees this will be easier to
acquire efforts and skills of their employees in meeting business objectives.
1.2 Organisational Background
Within this research, Waitrose is a selected brand of British supermarkets that was founded
in 1904 by Waite, Rose & Taylor. Company was headquartered in Bracknell, Berkshire, and
Victoria, London, United Kingdom. Main motive of Waitrose is to increase motivation of their
employee because motivated employees at workplace played various roles. These are improved
business performance, increase sales, enhanced business performance and many others. There
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are various advantages of having motivated employees within a workplace such as improved
customer base, higher employee retention, increased productivity, ongoing employee
development, increased employee commitment and many others (Dixit, 2021). All these are
main benefits that turn to impact on business performance in positive manner.
1.3 Significance of the Problem
Employee motivation is an important topic because it helps companies and workforce in
improvement of their performance. These benefits are higher quality of service or products,
better employee retention rates, pleasant work environment, monetary savings, improved
performance and productivity, helps in attainment of business goals and many more. All these
are main benefits of employee motivation and helps an organisation in improvement of their
business performance. Employee motivation is the major force which leads the employees to
grow and develop into the market so that the company may get easy market access and separate
edge to deal with competitors. This is determined that with the help of motivational force this
would be helpful for employees to manage their skills and competence in such a manner that
organisation heights can be attained. So in terms of an organisation this is profitable for them to
manage their employees and their competencies in attaining organisational objectives.
1.4 Statement of Purpose
Main purpose of the current research is increase employee motivation within a workplace.
Employee motivation is an interesting topic because it helps in increasing knowledge about the
significance of motivated employees for company and workforce. Along with this, increasing
motivation among employees is important for Waitrose because it assist them in attaining
competitive advantages and making strong position in marketplace (Leonova and et. al., 2021).
There are various purposes behind conducting this research such as to identify the conceptual
framework of employee motivation in context with retail industry, to determine the ways and
theories used by Waitrose for motivating their employees within a workplace, to analysis the
benefits of employee motivation for workforce and Waitrose and to determine the challenges that
would be faced by Waitrose in the absence of motivated employees at workplace.
Current research is important for various stakeholders that are employees, Waitrose,
students and many others. For Waitrose, present investigation helps them in providing accurate
information about how to improve employee motivation at workplace. For researcher, this
research is important for them by improvising their research skills that are data collection, time
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management, decision making and many others. All these are main skills that helps researcher in
completing each activity of the research in successful manner (Matloob, Shah and Shah, 2021).
For employees, present study is important for them by improving their motivation level at
workplace that turn to impact in improvement of their working performance and productivity. By
gaining higher level of employee motivation this would be easier to acquire skills and
capabilities of employees which is helpful in attaining goals and business objectives. Similarly
motivated staff may work with greater involvement and this could lead the organisation into
acquiring success and market prominence.
1.5 Statement of the Problem
Today’s, increasing motivation among employees is one of the main problems that faced
by most of the organisation. There is a direct impact of this problem on business as well as
workforce performance. In order to overcome this problem, there are various ways and theories.
These are Maslow's hierarchy of needs, ERG theory, Herzberg's dual factor theory, and
McClelland's acquired needs theory as well as sharing positive feedback, offering rewards etc.
Thus, these are effective ways and theories that are used for increasing employee motivation at
workplace (Polgasdeniya and Gamage, 2021). Along with this, these ways help in reducing the
issue of how to motivate employees as well improving business performance. In the current time
organisation is facing issues of gaining efforts of employees for the purpose of attaining business
objectives along with getting an edge with competitors. When employees are not motivated then
this will hamper image of the organisation and this may resultantly impact goodwill within the
market. So in this manner it would be highly beneficial for the organisation to implement
motivational force so that to gain market prominence and include employees in decision making
as well.
1.6 Aim and Objectives
Research aim:
Main aim of the current research is “To evaluate the significance of employee motivation in
enhancing workforce as well as business performance at workplace: A study on Waitrose LTD
Research objectives:
 To identify the conceptual framework of employee motivation in context with retail
industry
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 To determine the ways and theories used by Waitrose for motivating their employees
within a workplace
 To analysis the benefits of employee motivation for workforce and Waitrose
 To determine the challenges that would be faced by Waitrose in the absence of motivated
employees at workplace
1.7 Research Questions
 What is the conceptual framework of employee motivation in context with retail
industry?
 What are the effective ways and theories used by Waitrose for motivating their
employees within a workplace?
 What are the benefits of employee motivation for workforce and Waitrose?
 What are the major challenges that would be faced by Waitrose in the absence of
motivated employees at workplace?
1.8 Dissertation structure
There are various chapters that are effective and useful in completing each activity of the
dissertation in systematic and effective manner. These chapters are explained as below;
Chapter 1: Introduction: This is a first chapter that includes various information such as
background to the research, research aim, objectives, research questions, problem statement and
many others. All these are main information that facilitate researcher in completing this chapter
and starting another chapter effectively (Sadewo, Surachman and Rofiaty, 2021).
Chapter 2: Literature review: This is another chapter that assist in collecting secondary data
from different sources that are already exist. These sources are books, journals, articles, journals
and many others. All these are effective sources and helps investigator in accomplishing aim and
objectives through research questions.
Chapter 3: Research methodology: This is another chapter that assist in gathering accurate
information from various methods. These methods are positivism philosophy, deductive
approach, quantitative research, questionnaire and many others. All these are main
methodologies that helps researcher in collecting reliable and valid information.
Chapter 4: Data analysis and findings: This is another chapter that helps in evaluating
gathered information through research analytical tool. Within this research, quantitative data will
be collected from questionnaire and for evaluating this, frequency distribution analysis will be
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applied (Sulaiman, 2021). There are different reasons behind the selection of frequency
distribution analysis such as providing numerical data, helps in attaining valid outcomes etc.
Chapter 5: Conclusion and recommendation: This is a last chapter that includes accurate
information regarding all chapters. In recommendation, some suggestions will be given to the
Waitrose about how to improve employee motivation at workplace.
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CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW
Literature review is the process of collecting information through various available sources.
These sources are books, magazines, publication research, journals and many others. All these
are main sources and helps investigator in achieving aim and objectives of the research through
research questions. Main purpose of the literature review is to find out research gap. Within this
research, main gap is there are lack of information about the significance of employee motivation
in enhancing workforce as well as business performance at workplace. In previous studies, there
was lots of data available about the roe of employees motivation at workplace but there was lack
of data regarding the effectiveness of employee motivation in improving business as well as
workforce performance. This is a main gap and for addressing this research questions are used
below;
What is the conceptual framework of employee motivation in context with retail industry?
Employee motivation is defined as the force which helps employees to perform better and
behave in enthusiastic manner. Motivation is such internal force which provide direction to
employees so that they can work more efficiently and acquire an edge over organisational
success. With the help of motivation an individual may be goal directed so that their efforts can
be valued and at the same time in productive manner business objectives can be attained. In the
context of retail industry employee motivation plays essential role as employees are directly
connected with customers and with the help of motivation needs and demands of customers can
be recognised in proper manner. Demotivated employees may affect the organisational image in
negative manner which minimises organisational productivity. This is regarded as the general
business problem in which leader lack behind developing motivational strategies for their
business and this is associated with minimised working capacities. At the time of managing
business transaction this is imperative that to have motivational force within the business and
these are helpful in reaching out to business objectives in most appropriate manner. There are
various factors which are associated with developing motivation and in this manner such forces
are required to be developed so that accurate assistance can be given in attaining business
objectives. Motivation is associated with biological, social and emotional force which activate
behaviour of individual and would be helpful for individual to manage actions of individual.
Motivation is something which direct goal-oriented behaviour in which individual may deal with
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their workings and efforts. Motivation is something which includes desire, want and need of an
individual and in order to meet all these aspects motivation helps an individual to develop their
way in which assistance can be given to them in attaining organisational objectives. This can be
concluded that in terms of gaining efforts of individual this is significant that to develop their
motivation so that they can perform better and deal with organisational activities. Employee
motivation is the leading force which is associated with developing such aspects within
employees in which they can work in appropriate manner so that organisational objectives can be
attained. This is being analysed that for an employee, motivation is regarded as the major force
which is leading employees to manage their efforts within business in such a way that
organisational objectives can be attained. For such aspects motivation plays as vital role in which
by providing motivation employees can be aligned in attaining to develop proper insight as well.
Motivation is one of the significant movement that is used within the business for the objective
of managing employees in such a way that this would develop employees in appropriate manner
so that various benefits can be attained.
Figure 1: conceptual framework of employee motivation
(Source: Shahzad N, 2018)
According to the Shahzad (2018), employee motivation is the process of motivating
employees at workplace. There are different ways that are helps in increasing employee
motivation at workplace. These are work environment, pay and benefits, management systems
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and organisational vision. Al these are effective and essential for the business in improving
employee motivation within a workplace. According to the above mentioned conceptual
framework, it has been interpreted that employee motivation is important in increasing customer
satisfaction that turn to impact in improvement of business performance.
As per the opinion of, employee motivation is defined as the energy level, commitment,
enthusiasm and the amount of creativity that a worker brings to the company on a daily basis.
There are two types of motivation such as intrinsic motivation and extrinsic motivation. Both
innovations are explained below;
 Intrinsic motivation: It is the act of doing something without any obvious external
rewards (Pardoe, Vincent and Conway, 2018). This is an effective type of motivation as it
helps business organisations in increasing motivation level of their employees within a
workplace.
 Extrinsic motivation: This is another type of motivation that is reward-driven behaviour.
In this type rewards and other incentives are provided to the employees with purpose of
increasing their motivation level at workplace.
What are the effective ways and theories used by Waitrose for motivating their employees within
a workplace?
According to the Mahmoud and et. al., (2020), motivation refers to the process that guides,
maintain and initative goal oriented behaviour. There are different theories and ways used by
Waitrose for motivating their employees at workplace. These are shown below in context with
Waitrose;
McClelland's Needs of Theory - McClelland's Needs Theory drives by psychologist David
McClelland's, who believed that the specific needs of the employees should moulded with one's
life experiences. McClelland's Needs of Theory also known as Three Need Theory. McClelland's
has identified three basic need of motivation i.e., need for Power, Need for Affiliation and Need
for achievement. Need for Power- Power is the ability to influence the behaviour of others. The people
with high power is at higher level positions whereas with low power the people are at
medium and lower level position (MacDonald, Kelly and Christen, 2019). Generally, the
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people with high power likes to communicate with other people. They have an authority
and responsibility towards the organisation. Need for Affiliation- The people who have an urge of affiliation wants a friendly and
supportive environment. These people want to be in good books of others. They like to
work in a friendly environment and to participate in activities organised by the
organisation. These people generally can't be a good leader they can be good performer.
 Need for Achievement- Need for achievement is the urge of the people to struggle and get
success in their life. They like to compete and accept challenging work. These people
give their best to the organisation and also have an urge to get feedback on their work so
that they can improve their performance. McClelland's calls these people gamblers as
they accept the challenges and also try to achieve their target.
Therefore, McClelland's Need Theory helps to guide the manager to identify and categorised
the individuals among the three needs. The Manager of Waitrose should know the needs of the
employees so that it helps to meet the expectations and also helps to run the team smoothly
(Tokarz and Malinowska, 2019). A friendly environment should be developing between
employees and the superior, it helps the employees to ask their doubts freely. Time to time
feedback is required for the employees it helps them to improve their performance. The
challenges should be allotted to the employees, to identify the skills and knowledge.
McGregor's Participation Theory- In 1960, Douglas McGregor's formulated this theory
suggesting two aspects of human behaviour at work, the two different views of individual are
negative and positive. McGregor's Participation theory also known as Theory X and Theory Y
(Steinbauer and et. al., 2018). The Theory X is a negative view of individual whereas Theory Y is
a positive view of individuals. Theory X assumptions-The employees didn't like the work and escape from the
responsibility given by the managers. they are lazy towards their work. These people are
negative towards their work and requires a close supervision by the manager. Sometimes
they also get punished by the managers for not completing their target on a given time.
The employees need a change in the working pattern of the organisation.
 Theory Y assumptions- The employees accept the responsibility and challenges given by
the manager. The employee’s like their job, they feel normal and comfortable.
Employees doesn't require any threat or punishment for completion of their target, they
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willingly perform their task and gives best output. The employees’ skills and capabilities
should be utilised by the manager and they also get rewarded for their hard work and
dedication towards the organisation.
Therefore, there are many few organisations which apply theory X. Theory X implies a tight
look out on employees’ performance. People are negative towards the organisation. Employees
needs a change in a working pattern of the organisation (Kim, 2019). Many organisation apply
Theory Y technique. Theory Y implies that a manager should create a friendly environment and
give opportunities to the employees to take initiatives and self-direction. Theory Y searches the
way in which the employees can make a contribution in the organisation.
What are the benefits of employee motivation for workforce and Waitrose?
According to the Reizer, Brender-Ilan and Sheaffer (2019), if the organisation has
motivated staff, then they could gain so much advantages. Some of the benefit that Waitrose gain
by motivating their employee are:
Lower level of absenteeism: One of the greatest advantage that they received is their
employees are taking less leaves and are willing working to increase the production. This also
help the Waitrose in increase the level of production and profit. When employees are motivated
then they will perform their workings with higher involvement and this way business objectives
can be attained. Employee presence would be helpful in gaining business insight as employees
will render efforts in developing business objectives. Similarly when employee absenteeism is
low then employees would be able to provide their efforts to the business without any barriers
and this is one of the greatest aspects in which overall benefits can be attained by the business
and employees as well.
Retention of talent: For every organisation retaining employee for longer time is the most
important. So by adopting various strategy to motivate their employee the staff of the Waitrose is
retaining for longer time period. This retention helps the company to cut the recruiting cost
which was earlier high because the retention rate of the staff is low at that time. The retention
also helps the organisation to hold the experienced employee for longer time and reduce the
expenses that was occurred while providing the training to the newer employee. Motivation is
helping the employees to retain in an organisation for longer period of time as employees are
satisfied and this will reflect in higher employee retention. Talent retention is major thing which
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