An Investigation of HR Practices and Employee Engagement in the UK

This business research project, titled "An Investigation of HR Practices and Their Mediating Impact on Employee Engagement and Retention," examines the crucial role of Human Resource (HR) management in the context of change management, employee engagement, and retention within the UK retail sector, specifically focusing on Sainsbury's. The project begins with an executive summary outlining the importance of HR in adapting to external environmental changes and ensuring business success. It includes a detailed literature review of contemporary HR practices related to change management, theoretical frameworks, and challenges faced by HR managers, alongside the impact of HR practices on employee engagement and retention. The methodology section outlines the research approach, while the findings section presents the results of the research. The conclusion and recommendations provide actionable insights for HR managers to enhance employee engagement and retention, addressing limitations and suggesting future research directions. The research utilizes secondary data from various sources like books, journals and articles.

Business Research Project
[Research Title- AN INVESTIGATION OF HR PRACTICES AN THEIR MEDIATING
IMPACT ON EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT AND RETENTION”
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Human resource manager is responsible for selecting and recruiting the right individuals
in the right place so that various operations can be easily completed, and the company can retain
its market share. External environment is dynamic in nature, so it forces Human resource
manager to change its strategies accordingly for a better outcome. The business research project
aims to understand the role of HR manager in change management process and retention and
engagement of employees. It has included crucial information related to role played HR manager
in change management process and training and development of employees for their engagement
towards the achievement of end goals. Furthermore it has covered key information related to
method or theories used by HR to enhance employee’s engagement and their retention within
firm.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER -1 INTRODUCTION........................................................................................................4
Background..................................................................................................................................4
Aim..............................................................................................................................................4
Objective......................................................................................................................................4
Research question........................................................................................................................5
Rationale......................................................................................................................................5
Scope............................................................................................................................................5
Research Structure:............................................................................................................5
CHAPTER-2 LITERATURE REVIEW..............................................................................................7
Contemporary HR practices related to change management process.........................................7
Theoretical framework underpinning contemporary HR practices.............................................7
Issue faced by Human resource management in managing change and retaining employee’s...9
Theme 4: HR practices and the way they impact on employee’s engagement and retention......9
CHAPTER-3 RESEARCH METHODOLOGIES.............................................................................10
CHAPTER -4 RESEARCH AND FINDING.....................................................................................13
CHAPTER 5- CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION..........................................................16
RM limitation.............................................................................................................................17
 REFERENCES..........................................................................................................................18
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CHAPTER -1 INTRODUCTION
Background
Human resource management is responsible for hiring, selecting, recruiting and retaining
highly talented, skilled and knowledgeable employees within organisation for a longer time
frame so that qualitative services can be delivered to end customers. There are numerous changes
within the external environment so companies, in order to grow and sustain its business
operation, need to adapt with external changes (Azeez, 2017). Therefore, Human resources
management of Sainsbury’s is facing challenges related to the change of management that has
created a barrier in the effective operation of business. Sainsbury’s is second largest chain of
supermarket in United Kingdom that delivered varieties of products and services like clothing,
food, electronics and financial services to customers. This research is related to key issues that
are faced by Human resource management in influencing employees to adapt external changes so
that the firm can gain competitive advantages.
Aim
To understand role of human resources in change management process of Sainsbury’s and their
impact on employee’s retention and engagement in the retail sector of the United Kingdom.
Objective
 To critically analyse and discuss existing literature on contemporary HR practices
 To identify different methods or theories and framework that are used by HR to motivate
employees to adapt external changes so that company can attain its objective.
 To Undertake a systematic analysis of quantitative and/or qualitative information and
present how HR practices mediaterelationship between employee engagement and
retention
 To analyse the issues or challenges that are faced by Human resource management while
motivating employees to accept external changes for their engagement and retention
within firm.
 To suggest various steps that can be taken by enterprise to make employees motivated to
change their procedure of work as per situation or circumstances.

Research question
 What are the contemporary practices of HR related to change management process?
 What are the different methods or theories and framework that are used by HR in
influencing employees to accept external changes of environment and work for
organisation?
 How does HR practices mediate the relationship between employee engagement and
retention
 What are several challenges that are bear by HRM while completing their respective task
or in engagement and retention of employees?
 What are the crucial steps that could be taken by human resource manager to inspired
employees to change their method or behaviour to complete a task?
Rationale
The change of management issues faced by HRM is an important topic for study because
external business environment is dynamic or ever changing in nature therefore HR management
needs to motivate employees to adapt them so that firm can grow and succeed in its operation. In
context of recent scenario, many human resource managements of organisations in the retail
sector industry are facing challenges in effective management of change that has created a hurdle
in growth and success of business (Koster and Benda, 2020). So, this study is crucial because it
helps in identifying key issues and the way that they can be resolved so that the end objectives of
the firm can be achieved. This research is valuable for the employer, human resource
management and top executive that are working in the retail industry within the United
Kingdom.
Scope
The scope of research is limited to some extent as it is related to a particular organisation
named Sainsbury’s that is performing its operation across United Kingdom to deliver its best
services to a range of customers. Therefore, the research has covered information, facts and
figures relating to the issue of Human resource management in a particular firm of UK.
Research Structure:
Chapter 1, Introduction chapter has given brief introduction about the topic that is change
management process and the way Human resources manager motivated employees to adapt the
same for benefits of organisation. So, it has included information related to aim, objective
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research question. Chapter 2, literature review, it involves finding appropriate, relevant
publication from various sources like books, journals and articles so secondary data are used to
justify thefinding. Chapter 3, research methodologies, specifies different method or techniques
that have been used to pursue the research or gathered data, analysis and interpreted them for
getting useful insight. Chapter 4, research and finding, chapter summaries all the research and
finding that have understand through conducting research. Chapter 5, conclusion, this chapter
includes all crucial points covered in the above research. Chapter 6 recommendation, It is last
chapter that include key suggestion that could be used by HR manager of company to enhance
employee’s retention and engagement for benefits of firm.

CHAPTER-2 LITERATURE REVIEW
Literature review is a survey of scholarly source on specific topics that helps in gathering
information related to current knowledge, identifying relevant theories, gaps and method
involved in existing research. Critically analysing them and identifying information which is
related to the topic which can be fruitful in making research in context of key issues faced by
Human resource management in brining changes within firm.
Contemporary HR practices related to change management process
As noted by Figueiredo and et.al., (2016), change management is a concept or process
that specific methods that are used by human resource managers to manage diverse individuals to
accept changes so that desired outcomes or goals can be achieved in a limited time frame. It
includes information related to manners in which a company have brought change or
implemented changes like providing guidance, support to employees, preparation of new
strategies or procedure regarding the way employees needs to complete several tasks so that end
goals can be attained. The main reason for change is when to failure within an organisation is
high resistance from employees so it is the responsibility of Human resources management to
influence them so that they are motivated to give their best for growth and success of the firm.
While as per view of Cooke, Dickmann and Parry, (2020), Ineffective management or
high resistance from employees can adversely impact on growth and sustainability of enterprise
in the retail sector. So, HR management needs to find different techniques that could be useful in
inspiring them to make use of new methods or procedures to complete several task in best
possible manner.
Theoretical framework underpinning contemporary HR practices
As illustrated by Browne and et.al. (2016) there are several methods or techniques used
by human resources management to inspire individuals like employees to bring changes within a
firm so that customer’s requirements can be fulfilled in a better manner. Resistance from
employees is a natural reaction so it is duty and responsibility of the human resource manager to
find an appropriate method that could be useful to motivate employees to accept change.
Managing by clearly communicating to employees about long term vision and mission of the
firm is a way to influence employees to give their best for the success of the firm. Engaging
employees is another method that could be used by the HR manager to motivate individuals in
the organisation as it encourages employees to share their view, idea and opinion or actively take
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part in several operations. Proper organisation structure, open communication and better social
relationships among employees contribute to the HR manager to easily bring changes or remove
various resistances. As it is able to motivate diverse individuals to work in team for common
goals so that the company can ear huge profitability and market share. Another method that is
used by the human resource manager is implementing changes in phases like at the first stage it
prepares employees about particular change that a company is planning to bring in the near
future. Thus, it is at a stage which the HR manager should clearly define roles, responsibilities
that need to be performed by specific individuals then it make use of different strategies to
manage changes. Another method used by HR management is feedback from employees to
understand key challenges that they are facing in adapting changes so that corrective action can
be taken, and end goals can be achieved. Therefore, all different methods or strategies that are
being used by HRM to inspire individuals to adopt changes so that company can gain and
retained its market positioning.
According to Szabla and et.al., (2017), there are more methods which are used by
managers of companies in order to motivate employees to accept external changes such as
deciding appropriate strategies that could be helpful in overcoming resistance. Managing by
clearly communicating to employees about various changes, roles and responsibilities that needs
to be completed by each individual has motivated them to get ready so that it can retain its
market positioning in long run. It has also focused on more engagement of employees or active
participation in changes by encouraging them to share their feedback, view and innovative ideas.
All these have contributed in generating a feeling of belonging and effective adaptation of
change for growth and success of the organisation. Moreover, efforts have been made by
managers to implement change in phase so that individuals can easily adapt changes and
contribute in the development of a firm. Likewise, at first it has prepared people by informing
them about change that the company will bring in the near future so that it can retain its
competitive advantages. Through clear communication and effective management strategies,
companies effectively manage changes, thereby helps companies in achieving its end goals in the
best possible manner. In recent trends, most of the managers are also making use of methods of
emotional intelligence in order to effectively understand the emotion of people and find
alternative methods the way that they can be motivated to give their best which can help the
company in enjoying maximum benefits.

Human resource management in managing change and retaining employee’s
From the point of view of Baltaci and Balc? (2017), human resource management face
several issues related to the change management that acts as a barrier in effective implementation
of new changes for growth of an organisation. Like one of the biggest issues faced by HRM of a
company is managing multiple teams or individuals, as there are various individuals with
different perspectives and views. So, it become difficult for managers to coordinate them all to
work as a team to adapt changes so that the company can retain its market position for the long
run. High resistance from individuals or employees that are working in an organisation is also
one of the key challenges or issues faced by Human resources of an organisation. As there are
many individuals that are not interested in adapting to changes happening in an external
environment because of habit which results in a barrier in gaining a maximum outcome.
Moreover, lack of communication and coordination between team members is also challenged
which is suffered by the human resource manager while influencing employees to adapt to
changes so that company can gain competitive advantages. Limited amount of resource and
incapability from the manger to motivate employees to adapt external changes also acts as a
challenge for human resource. Lack of confidence or fear among employees that they will able to
adapt to change or not, results in issues for the HR manager to inspire them to accept change.
Therefore, from the perspective of the author, all of these challenges needs to be removed so that
best outcome can be gained and the company can earn huge profitability and market share.
HR practices and the way they impact on employee’s engagement and retention
As illustrated by PetrouDemerouti and Schaufeli, (2018), human resource make use of
different practices in order to engage employee’s and retained them within organization for
longer time frame. Likewise, it trained and developed employees about the way particular task
can be completed thus it helps in gaining maximum outcome. Training and development
process contribute in developing confidence level among employees to easily adapt to
change so that company can retained its market share to maximum extend. Moreover,
another practices that has been used by HR is higher compensation and pay to employee’s
that has motivated them to adapt to external changes for growth and expansion of business.
So as per view of author, financial increment is one of the motivating factors has inspired
individuals to make themselves ready to accept the change so that company can earn
maximum sales volume and profitability. Performance management is also one of the
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practices that has been used by company for employees engagement as manager continous
review actual performance of individuals and find alternative method to improve.
Information technology help in retaining information related to actual performance of
employees thereby planning strategies that could be used to enhance their overall
performance for growth and development of firm.

CHAPTER-3 RESEARCH METHODOLOGIES
Research methodology
It is described as a systematic method to settle a research issue via gathering data utilising
several techniques, delivering an interpretation of gathered data and drawing conclusions about
the data which is researched. Essentially, research methodology is a sketch of study or research.
Research type
These are the specific processes for gathering and analysing data. Research types are the
plans or techniques used in the gathering evidence or research analysis to uncover the latest
developments. Growing methods of research is an integral division of research design. There are
two methods of research, methods that are qualitative and quantitative.
Qualitative types of research aim to describe and define which things are observed within
the research. This research type is geared towards building detail and complete description of the
researcher's observation, analysed in the study instead of delivering casual explanations or
predictions (Mohajan, 2018).
Quantitative is a type of research which is used when a researcher follows paradigm of
science. This type seeks to quantify collected data and generalise outcomes from target
population sample. This quantitative type of research follows structured processes of collecting
data output in numbers and observation of analysis to objectify utilising statistical means.
Quantitative research type acquired a big portion in the market research globally.
This research utilise qualitative research because it offers interpretation and conceptualisation of
the gathered data. Qualitative research is subjective and needs a small amount of respondents
that are chosen carefully.
Research approach
This is a strategy and process which consists steps of wide assumptions to brief methods
of collecting data, interpretation and analysis. This strategy involves various decisions and are
required not to be applied in the order in that those approaches make some sense in personal and
presentation. Inductive and deductive are the two research approaches (Worthington and Bodie,
2017).
Inductive approaches begin with the theories and observations that are towards the ending of the
procedures and the final results of the search outcomes. It involves a search for pattern from the
growth and observations of explanations for designs of research via hypothesis series. This
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approach supports in developing in empirical generalisations and recognise relationships and
links that are preliminary (Aithal, 2017).
Deductive approaches in research is solely responsible in which persons typically
associated with the investigation are scientific. These studies involve theories of whatever
phenomenon is researched and examines hypothesis which is emerged from the obtained theory.
The scholar uses inductive approaches of research to acquire full knowledge (Shahar and et.al,
2019).
Research philosophy
It is a belief related the ways in which the specific data and phenomenon should be
gathered, analysed and used. Although the scheme of knowledge building come forward and
appear as profound and engage in creating knowledge as a division of finishing the dissertation
of a researcher. Interpretivism and positivism are the philosophies of a research (Kumar, 2018).
Interpretivism integrates interests of humans into the research and these philosophies are
assumed by researchers and scholars which access reality like consciousness of language and
shared meanings. Growth of interpretivist is based on the positivism critique in social sciences. It
is associated with idealism's philosophical position and is used to put together the approaches
which are diverse.
Positivism approaches adheres to view which is only factual, and the knowledge is earned
via observation involving measurement that are trustworthy. In this research, the researcher’s
role is limited to data gathering and interpretation done in a way of objective.
Researchers use positivism to research philosophy in their studies as it claim that
social world can be easily understand in objective way. Moreover, this philosophy state that
all information, facts and figure gathered from observation experience are positive in
manner that contribute in making research more fruitful and reliable.
Data collection
This is the process of collecting and making measurements of information and knowledge
on interest variables in systematic ways which enables an individual or researcher to answer the
stated and asked questions and examine hypothesis and calculate results. Data can be collected in
two ways that are primary and secondary.