PhD Research Proposal: HRM Practices and Market Performance, UK Hotels

This PhD research proposal examines the impact of Human Resource Management (HRM) practices and innovations on the market performance of five-star hotels in the UK. The study aims to identify key HRM practices, evaluate factors affecting market performance, and assess the role of HR practices in enhancing it. The research will employ a positivism philosophy and a case study design, collecting primary data through questionnaires administered to HR managers in selected hotels like Hilton and Marriott. Data analysis will involve quantitative techniques, including SPSS, to analyze descriptive statistics, frequency analysis, and hypothesis testing. The proposal addresses ethical considerations, including informed consent and data privacy, while acknowledging potential limitations such as financial constraints. The research seeks to contribute to the existing knowledge by exploring the relationship between HRM practices, innovation, and market performance in the UK hospitality sector.

PhD RESEARCH PROPOSAL

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
STATEMENT OF RESEARCH FOCUS, PROBLEMS OR QUESTIONSR................................1
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY...........................................................................2
TIMESCALE...................................................................................................................................3
DATA ANALYTIC PROCEDURES..............................................................................................5
PRACTICAL ISSUES.....................................................................................................................5
Ethical issues...............................................................................................................................5
Research Limitations...................................................................................................................6
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................7
BIBLIOGRAPHY............................................................................................................................8

INTRODUCTION
Machado (2014) stated that human resource management can be defining as a policy and
practices in order to carry out HR aspects of management. It is regarded as a most important
asset for any organization as it helps them in achieving higher competitive advantage. UK is one
of the fastest developing countries due to which tourism of country is increasing day by day. It
has increased the competitive advantage of hospitality firms within UK. For the same, they
require incorporating most suitable and appropriate HRM practices and develop several
innovative HR practices with the same. However, managing human resource is highly
challenging as HRM system should be backed up by strong HRM practices (Alfes and et.al,
2013). It refers to an organizational activities directed at managing the group of human
resources. With the help of better HRM practices companies can effective fulfil their
organizational goals and easily manage their business operations. According to Nieves and
Quintana (2016) company follows various HRM practices which highly affect the overall
performance of their workers. On the basis of same, the productivity of company might get
hampered. In order to meet out the enhanced competitive advantage of various other
organizations it is becoming highly essential for hospitality firms to go through the several
innovations in their HR practices. They can make several innovative changes in their training
plan as well as selection and recruitment process. Further, they can also put innovative changes
in their performance appraisal process (Vanhala and Ritala, 2016). All these practices, highly
affects the overall market performance of business organization. However, there are several
factors which affect the company’s market performance such as culture, organizational response,
workers performance as well as its HR practices.
In this regards, the main purpose of this study is to explore the impact of HRM practices
such as selection, career planning, compensation, performance appraisal, training, job definition
and employee participation. This research describes the impact of all these HRM practices and
innovation on the market performance of five star hotels of the UK. The present topic is worth
investigating in order to address the gaps in existing knowledge and also of the importance of the
topic and its potential contribution to the subject area or discipline.
STATEMENT OF RESEARCH FOCUS, PROBLEMS OR QUESTIONSR
Research Aim
1

Impact of human resource management practices and innovations on market performance of the
hospitality firms: A study of five star hotels of the UK
Research Objectives
 To identify different human resource management practices and innovation within five
star hotels
 To evaluate the factors that affects the market performance of hospitality firms.
 To evaluate the role of HR practices and innovation on enhancing market performance of
hospitality firms
Research Questions
 How HR practices and innovations within these practices impact the market performance
of hospitality firms?
 What are the different factors which affects the overall market performance of hospitality
firms?
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY
In order to effectively carry out any study it is becoming highly essential for researcher to
go through the appropriate selection of research methods. On the basis of same, some of the most
common approaches which researcher needs to take as per the given subject matter and research
objectives are as follows:
Research Philosophy: This is the blueprint of any study as it helps researcher in selecting
the right track for his/her study. Interpretivism and positivism are two major research approaches
among which researcher can select most suitable one as per the given research topic. Here, as per
the given research topic, Positivism philosophy is the most effective (Collis and Hussey, 2014).
This technique will take into consideration as hypothesis will be framed by researcher. This
hypothesis shows the clearly relationship between HRM practices and innovation on the market
performance of hospitality firms of UK. Further, the major reason behind incorporating this
philosophy is to frame the most suitable conclusion by developing hypothesis with the same.
Research Design: With the help of selecting right research design researcher can
decrease the probability of misleading of any type of information. For the same, there are some
of the most common research designs i.e. ethnographic, descriptive, experimental, quasi-
experimental, naturalistic, and practice-based (Zainal, 2010). As per the given subject matter one
of the most suitable research designs is case study as it known as cause and effective design case
2

and effect relationship among two variables got determined. In the present study hypothesis will
be framed as per the framed objectives. On the basis of this, relationship between two variables
can be obtained. With the help of case study research design, researcher will able to identify the
relationship between HRM practices and innovation over the market performance of hospitality
firms.
Data Collection: Gathering right information from varied range of sources regarded as
most important tasks for researcher in which he is able to gather most suitable and appropriate
information. For the same, mainly there are two sources of data collection i.e. primary as well as
secondary source. Primary data will be gathered by using different techniques such as
questionnaire survey as well as interview, focus group etc. On the other hand, secondary data
will be gathered from online articles, books, journals and past studies of different authors
(Jackson, 2010). As far as this research concern, the data and information will be gathered by the
way of using primary sources. Under this, questionnaire survey will filled by the HR managers
of the different five star hotels of UK. For the same, some highly recognized hotels will be
selected such as Hilton, Marriot International and Dorchester hotel. Their entire HR manager can
provide right and appropriate response about their HRM practices and innovations. They can
give valid justification about how these practices impact their market performance. By the way
of gathering information from questionnaire survey researcher can easily find out appropriate
information and frame most suitable conclusion on the basis of same.
Sampling: On the basis of selecting appropriate sampling technique researcher can
narrow down the whole population and select the suitable HR manager for their survey process.
Probabilistic and non-probabilistic are two main sampling technique among which present study
entails non-probabilistic (Collis and Hussey, 2014). With regard to sampling, purposive
techniques of selecting sample will be utilized in order to attain the objectives in much effective
manner. For the same, 20 HR managers of different five star hotels such as Hilton, Marriot
International and Dorchester hotel of UK will be selected.
TIMESCALE
ACTIVITY/WEEK 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Writing the research proposal
Reading and understanding the
3

literature
Finalization of the objectives
Collection of primary and
secondary data
Analysis of the primary &
secondary data
Development of research
approach
Drafting of research
methodology
Formulating the questionnaire
Arranging interviews
Conducting interview
Gathering of the information
Findings of the Draft
Evaluation of the data
Finalizing other chapters
Draft findings chapter
Submission to tutor and awaiting
feedback
Revising the final draft
Printing and binding
Submit
4

DATA ANALYTIC PROCEDURES
This is one of the most important research techniques which should be selected by
researcher on an appropriate basis. The whole conclusion is based upon the selected analysis
techniques as it helps in developing valid findings. There are mainly two types of data analysis
techniques i.e. qualitative as well as quantitative technique (Merriam, 2009). Both these ways of
analysis depends on the use of different techniques such as:
Qualitative research can be defined as a method through which better inquiry can be
entailed just to make in depth understanding of the given objectives. This type of data is being
analysed by the way of using thematic analysis and all its results are transcribed in professional
manner. On the other hand, quantitative data will be analysed by the way of using various tools
such as SPSS, Ms-Excel etc. It relies on the mathematical interpretation of data and develops
effective results with the same (Baker and Wang, 2006). As far as this research concern, data
will be analysed by the way of using quantitative analysis technique. For the same, SPSS will
incorporate just to develop suitable findings. Under this, descriptive statistics, frequency analysis
as well as hypothesis will be formed. These tests will be applied by researcher in order to
formulate most suitable findings on the basis of same best conclusion can be drawn upon it.
PRACTICAL ISSUES
Ethical issues
At the time of conducting any research some of the most specific ethical considerations
which need to be followed by researcher. It helps them in maintaining overall authenticity of the
research. In this regards, a substantial amount of care need to be taken into consideration while
analysing the data and to conclude the valid findings as well (Guthrie and et.al, 2014).
Debriefing is one a significant ethical concern which keeps all research participants informed
about the nature and reason for the research and why their information is essential. All the HR
managers of hotels requires to be informed about the details of this study and why their
viewpoints are necessary for completion of the study in effective and authentic way. Further,
prior approval is another major concern and for this a consent form was attached with the
questionnaire of the research. It may form ethical issues regarding the privacy and confidentiality
of the respondent’s information (Jackson, 2010). Further, all data requires to be gathering from
authentic sources so that issues of plagiarism can be reduced.
5

Research Limitations
Some of the major researches limitations that might face by researcher are related to the
financial limitation and own time management due to the time restraint (Bell, 2015). At this time,
some initial searching for possible funding sources would be useful.
6

REFERENCES
Alfes, K. and et.al., 2013. The link between perceived human resource management practices,
engagement and employee behaviour: a moderated mediation model. The international
journal of human resource management, 24(2), pp.330-351.
Baker, T.A. and Wang, C.C., 2006. Photovoice: Use of a participatory action research method to
explore the chronic pain experience in older adults. Qualitative Health Research. 16(10).
pp.1405-1413.
Bell, J., 2015. Doing Your Research Project. 4th Edition. Maidenhead: Open University Press
Collis, J. and Hussey, R., 2014. Business Research: A practical guide for undergraduate and
postgraduate students. 4th ed. London: Palgrave Macmillan.
Guthrie, J. and et.al., 2014. Using content analysis as a research method to inquire into
intellectual capital reporting. Journal of intellectual capital. 5(2). pp.282-293.
Jackson, S. 2010. Research Methods: A Modular Approach. USA: Cengage Learning.
Machado, C., 2014. Work Organization and Human Resource Management. Springer.
Merriam, B.S., 2009. Qualitative Research: A Guide to Design and Implementation. 3rd ed. John
Wiley & Sons.
Nieves, J. and Quintana, A., 2016. Human resource practices and innovation in the hotel
industry: The mediating role of human capital. Tourism and Hospitality Research,
p.1467358415624137.
Vanhala, M. and Ritala, P., 2016. HRM practices, impersonal trust and organizational
innovativeness. Journal of Managerial Psychology. 31(1).
Zainal, Z., 2010. Case study as a research method. Jurnal Kemanusiaan. (9). pp.1-6.
7