Research Proposal: Employee Relations at Starbucks: An Analysis

This research proposal investigates the influence of compensation systems, job satisfaction, and the working environment on employee relations, with a specific focus on Starbucks. The study aims to determine how these factors impact employee retention, a critical issue for businesses. The proposal outlines the research objectives, which include exploring the conceptualization of these factors, assessing their importance, identifying challenges related to a negative work environment, and suggesting strategies Starbucks can implement to improve employee retention. The literature review covers the conceptualization of compensation, job satisfaction, and work environment, highlighting their importance in attracting top talent, increasing employee motivation and loyalty, and ultimately, boosting productivity and revenue. The methodology section outlines the quantitative research approach and the use of positivism philosophy to gather and analyze data. The proposal also includes considerations for research ethics, a timeline, and a comprehensive list of references.

Research Proposal

Table of Contents
Title of the Research........................................................................................................................1
Researchable Topic Area.................................................................................................................1
Aim and Objectives of the Research...............................................................................................2
Literature Review............................................................................................................................3
Details of the Research Methodology..............................................................................................5
Research Ethics................................................................................................................................7
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................8
Time Scale for the Research............................................................................................................9
References......................................................................................................................................11

Title of the Research
The influence of compensation system, job satisfaction and working environment over the
employee’s relation within a business.
Researchable Topic Area
The preset study initiates to determine the impact of compensation system, job satisfaction
and working environment over increasing retention of employees within business. However,
employees are the heart of the business and the retention of employees are relay over the
satisfaction of their job role. Employee retention is defined as the ability of a business to retain
its employees; therefore, it is the primary obligation of human resource management to attract
and retain top talent to enhance the operational ability of the business (Raziq and Maulabakhsh,
2015). In the modern business era, organization are work for the motive of attaining higher
growth and success and for this, management of the business are concern over increasing
compensation system and also implementing the suitable job satisfaction programs at work place
to enhancing the stability of employees at workplace. For effective understanding over the
chosen subject area, Starbucks is select to conduct the study, thus it is an American multinational
chain of coffeehouses and roastery reserves. The organization is having its operations within all
around the globe and the headquarter of the firm is in 2401 Utah Avenue South, Seattle,
Washington. The company was founded in the year of 1971 by the potential efforts of
collaboration of Jerry Baldwin. Zev Siegl and Gordon Bowker. The company mainly deals in
Coffee beverages, smoothies, tea, baked goods and sandwiches. The company is having around
346000 employees who are putting their significant strength in the growth operations of the
business. Therefore, the business is widely concern over enhancing the retention of the
employees at workplace via providing them compensation benefits, job satisfaction and effective
working environment.
Although, the project is mainly executed to provide in-depth evaluation about the aspect of
employee retention, thus it is the most important issue which is widely faces by the businesses
and needs suitable recognition to address the issue effectively (Lumley and et. al., 2011). In
addition to this, the study is also imperative to provide suitable idea about the significance of
compensation system, job satisfaction and the business environment to increasing the retention
of employees. The another reason for executing the analysis is the personal interest of the
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researcher, as the participants wants to explore own recognition in relation to the specific area
and aid the knowledge within future perspective.
Aim and Objectives of the Research
This is the most imperative area of an investigation as it works as the predetermined
statement which aids the project in right manner to generate suitable outcome (Khan and et. al.,
2012). Therefore, research aim is the clear and concise statement which provides suitable idea
about the issue and the project. The suitable aim and objectives of the analysis are associated as
under:
Research Aim
To investigate the influence of compensation system, job satisfaction and working
environment over the employee’s relation within a business. A study on Starbucks.
Research Objectives
The suitable objectives which are interconnected with the aim of the research are associated
as below:
 To explore the understanding in relation to the conceptualization of compensation
system, job satisfaction and working environment of business.
 To determine the importance of providing compensation system and job satisfaction to
employees within an organization.
 To access the challenges that employees could face due to negative working
environment.
 To explore the possible ways that can implement by Starbucks to increasing the retention
of employees at work place.
Research Questions
The potential questions of the project that are significant to be considered are associated as
under:
 What is the conceptualization of compensation system, job satisfaction and working
environment of business?
 What are the importance of providing compensation system and job satisfaction to
employees within an organization?
 What are the challenges that employees could face due to negative working environment?
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 What ways can be implement by Starbucks to increasing the retention of employees at
work place?
Literature Review
Literature review is defined as the survey of scholarly sources which renders an overview of
a specified area. Therefore, literature is imperative in providing an insight out in relation to the
chosen study area and helps the researcher and learner in enhancing the understanding in relation
to the specified area (Tan and Waheed, 2011). This section of investigation is mainly relay over
secondary sources i.e. books, journals, articles and so on. For executing the present study in the
aspect of investigate the influence of compensation system, job satisfaction and working
environment over the employee’s relation within a business, literature review is effective in
enhancing suitable recognition about the aspect to generate suitable results and outcome.
The conceptualization of compensation system, job satisfaction and working environment of
business.
According to Permadi, Landra, Kusuma and Sudhja (2019), human resource is
recognized as the important asset of the business and plays an important role in the growth
operations of the business. Therefore, the human resources practices involve different aspects
like compensation progress, job satisfaction, business environment and so on. Thus these are
needs to be managed by the business to enhancing the retention of the employees at workplace.
Compensation is mainly defined as the revenue which is come within a form of money, direct
and indirect goods received through the employees in the form of rewards and the services that
has given to the company. Meanwhile, compensation in an effective aspect which needs to be
provided to the employees to sustain and retain employees for longer operations. Furthermore,
business environment is all about the aspects and the tools which faced, the surroundings
environment where individual is working (Pan, 2015). Hence, work environment is also
recognized as the place where employees are doing their job. An effective and good working
environment helps the business to gain growth and progression. In addition to this, job
satisfaction defined as the positive feeling in relation to someone’s job that came through the
outcome of an individual characteristics. In the context to business, these are the effective
aspects which are needs to be considered by the management to retain top talent at workplace.
The importance of providing compensation system and job satisfaction to employees within an
organization.
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According to Springer (2011) compensation and job satisfaction are determined to be the
imperative aspect of human resource therefore, the suitable assessment of compensation system
and job satisfaction programs aid the business in the right manner to generate higher growth and
success. However, there are assorted significance of providing compensation system and job
satisfaction to employees within a business, in which some are associated as under:
 Attracting Top talent: It helps in increasing the company’s most talented employees by
their work or by doing well in the field so that they can be rewarded or promoted in a
proper way. The company Starbucks can achieve its Top talent by having attractive and
unique work environment and the professionalism of Starbucks employees make the
company more unique.
 Increase employee motivation: Increasing motivation of the employees give them more
valuable resources for the company in a better way like Starbucks company provide
performance related payments to the employees so that they can work well in an
organisation.
 Loyalty: It is a factor by which employees want to stay and do the work for long run.
Starbucks make the employees loyal by providing them job benefits which gave them a
proper productivity.
 Higher productivity: It leads in providing the higher productivity and proper utilisation of
resources like in Starbucks employees are provided job satisfaction by which their
productivity is high and helps in achieving the goals.
 Helps to earn higher revenue: If the employees are satisfied with the work they do
productive things and happy with their work like in Starbucks they help each other and
fully satisfied with the work which help them to earn more.
The challenges that employees could face due to negative working environment.
According to the perspective of Andra Picinnu (2020), a negative work place can create a
low3 grade performance and reduced employee’s motivation creating low efficiency and threat
to the fame and name of the company. The employees who leave the organization due to
negativity in work culture gives review that their seniors and mentors don't value their work and
they are not even respected. When problems and queries are left unaddressed and unanswered
labor turnover increases and also it gives rise to absenteeism amongst the employees and it also
affects the new hiring as rumors are spread about the workplace already which can lead to loss in
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revenue and missing good opportunities. The negative work environment can also give rise to
legal intervention which will affect the bottom line of the organization. This critical situation
arises when the communication between employees and employer breaks or you are not briefed
about the work and just forced with the work pressure. There can be interpersonal conflict,
gossips prevailing, harassment and bullying, neglected health issues, non-training work given to
be performed. The negative environment is also caused by the non-recognition of the work
performance, gender discrimination, age biasness, no social security, office politics, underpaid or
late payment on regular basis.
The possible ways that can implement by Starbucks to increasing the retention of employees at
work place.
According to Sieger, Bernhard and Frey (2011), There are multiple ways that can
effectively be opt by Starbucks to increasing the retention of employees at workplace, in which
some are associated as under:
Employees expectation: It is necessary for every organization to know what are the expectation
of the employees what are their needs like in Starbucks the employees have expectation to
increase their wages or to have more labors to get the work done.
Management and supervision: It is important for the organization to have a proper management
and supervision so that there is no misuse and chaos in the organization like in Starbucks there is
a proper supervisions of the duties provided and have been regulating on daily basis.
Motivate employees: It helps in motivating the employees so that they can do well in the
pressure also and can achieved the task like in the Starbucks employees are motivated when
there is a high pressure of work so that they do not lose their confidence (Mudor, 2011).
Trainings and development: proper trainings to be provided to the employees regarding the
work so that they can do well and perform better like in Starbucks after joining of employee’s
proper trainings are given to them regarding their work.
Details of the Research Methodology
Research method: This is the fundamental aspect of the research and recognized to be the key
obligation of the researcher to select the most suitable source to assist the research. This section
is mainly relay over two aspects i.e. qualitative and quantitative research (Froese and Xiao,
2012). In the context to this present investigation work quantitative research will be considering
by the researcher, therefore, quantitative study is imperative in providing detailed analysis over
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the aspect of evaluating the influence of compensation system, job satisfaction and working
environment over the employee’s relation within a business. In addition to this, quantitative
analysis is also imperative in providing suitable statistical information that are relay over the
specified project.
Research Philosophy: Research Philosophy basically helps in gathering, analysing and using the
data on phenomena. Different types of measures are requiring for the effective research
activities. In the investigation process it is the first step which set the directions for conducting
the research in the suitable manner. It helps in reaching the research goals and helps in enhancing
the knowledge. There are two aspects of the research philosophy that is Interpretivism and
positivism. Positivism philosophy is used in this investigation so that the information is collected
in the proper manner (Sarwar and Abugre, 2013). As the conclusion can be derived by the
investigator by using this theory. This philosophy follows the independent approach and has the
positive aspects of the research and gets the desired results. This approach does not affect the
explicitly of the researcher’s interpretations of the human values and the convictions. In the
theory of positivism, the entire research related to the data collection is limited. The knowledge
regarding the matters are positive enough in this philosophy and have the pure logic.
Research Design: This is the important aspect of research methodology as it works are the blue
print of the investigation and aid the investigation in systematic way to generate suitable
outcome. The research design is mainly of three types like descriptive, exploratory and
experimental research design (Lee, Back and Chan, 2015). In the context to this existing
investigation work, descriptive research will be implementing by the researcher, thus it is
significant in providing detailed evaluation over the aspect of analysing the influence of
compensation system, job satisfaction and working environment over the employee’s relation
within a business. Hence in this information is being gathered within detailed statistical aspects
to support the quantitative study in suitable manner.
Research Approach: An investigation approach is defined as a plan and procedure which relay
over the steps of broad assumptions to detailed tools of information accumulation, analysis, and
interpretation (Osibanjo and et.al., 2014). This section of study is encompassing over deductive
and inductive research approach. For executing the study over the chosen study area, deductive
approach will be considering by the researcher, therefore this is supportive in conducting suitable
detailed evaluation via the help of creating theories and hypothesis.
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Data Collection Tools: The collection of information is mainly based on two aspects like
primary and secondary source of information accumulation. However, in the context to this
existing research project both primary and secondary research will be considering by the
researcher to aid the project in right manner to generate suitable outcome. Primary research will
be executing to gathering specific data which are never being accumulated before. Thus in this
primary research will be executing via the support of conducting survey with the support of
developing questionnaire which cover aim and objectives of the research. On the other side,
secondary research will be executing to develop understanding in relation to the specific subject
via the support of secondary sources books, journals, articles and so on.
Data Sampling: The sampling is defined to the aspect which helps in making suitable selection
of people to gather information. The selection of sampling is based on original population;
therefore, the selection is based on two aspects like probabilistic and non-probabilistic sampling.
In the context to this present investigation work, random sampling will be considering by the
researcher from probabilistic sampling. Therefore, the sample size will be 40 as in this
employees of Starbucks are select to gather relevant information.
Data analysis: This is explained as the process of transforming and the modelling the data to
search useful information to make the effective decision making. Its main purpose is to search
the meaningful in the data so that derived knowledge can mainly use to make the informed
decisions. It plays necessary role in making the decisions which helps researcher to conduct the
investigation in proper manner and getting positive outcomes (Bakotić, 2016). For analysis of
data, there has been thematic analysis tool used. This tool is effective because it provides the
detailed analysis about questions mentioned in questionnaire. In the analysis, graphs have been
developed on MS-Excel with the themes. After that, interpretation developed and provides the
in-depth analysis regarding the questions.
Research Ethics
Research ethics are one of the most necessary part of an investigation. A researcher followed
the research ethics for addressing issues or complexities in such a manner that helps in collecting
the valuable information in project execution. It is imperative for the researcher to follow all the
ethics in relation to the consent form, confidentiality and authenticity of data, avoid using
deceptive practices and so on. In the present research the investigation will be based over both
primary and secondary aspects and for gathering primary information the investigator primarily
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needs to consider consent form to receiving approval from the participants and avoiding
restrictions (Abdulla, Djebarni and Mellahi, 2011). In addition to this the researcher also needs
to ensure participants about maintaining safety and confidentiality of their private information as
the participants are willing to protect their private information and having the issue of leaking
their private data. The researcher also uses authentic sources to gathering valuable information to
execute literature for better understanding of the project. In addition to this, researcher also needs
to manage cost and time to aid the project in right manner.
Conclusion
After the analysis executed over the aspect of determining the influence of compensation
system, job satisfaction and working environment over the employee’s relation within a business,
it has been concluded that, compensation system and the job satisfaction programs are the
primary aspect of human resources department and plays an important role in the retention of
employees at workplace. Businesses in the modern era are work for attaining higher growth and
success. Therefore, employees are the major asset of the business and the success of the business
is widely encompassing over the retention of employees at workplace. Hence, the analysis of the
project has also states that, businesses are widely concern over implementing effective
compensation system and provide suitable monetary and non-monetary benefits to the employees
and increasing the stability of the employees at workplace. In addition to this, job satisfaction is
also an imperative aspect which helps the businesses to attracting and retaining employees for
longer run of the operations. Therefore, the management of the businesses are focuses over
improvising the satisfaction at workplace via providing them opportunity to attain higher growth
and progression. However, effective business environment also results in increasing this
suitability of the employees at workplace and enhancing the operations at wider level. As per the
analysis of the study it has also been analyzed that, compensation system, job satisfaction and
effective working environment has direct positive impact over the operations and progression of
the business. thus, the increasing retention of employees helps the business in decreasing the
turnover of the business and increasing the operations and progression within commercial centre.
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Time Scale for the Research
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