CQUniversity Research Proposal: HRM and Shift Work Practices

This research proposal investigates the impact of shift work practices on Human Resource Management (HRM) within organizations, specifically focusing on the Australian context. The study aims to address the influence of shift work on HRM practices, the role of HR managers in managing shift work, the challenges faced, and potential mitigation strategies. The research will explore the research gap by examining shift work practices, considering Herzberg's Two-Factor Theory to analyze employee motivation through motivators and hygiene factors. The methodology includes a positivism research philosophy, an inductive approach, and a descriptive research design. Data will be collected through surveys and interviews with shift workers and HR managers from five Australian businesses. The study anticipates contributing to research outputs by identifying strategies for controlling shift work practices and expanding the scope of HRM research. The project will take 14 weeks to complete, involving literature review, data collection, analysis, and report writing. The research aligns with CQUniversity's research strengths and will contribute to research culture by investigating the influence of shift work practices on HR management. The project involves a sample size of 100 shift workers and 5 HR managers, using probability and non-probability sampling methods, respectively.

RESEARCH PROPOSAL
(this Research Proposal must not exceed five pages)
Name of Applicant
Title of Proposed Research Project (maximum 30 words)
HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT, INCLUDING THE IMPACTS AND MANAGEMENT OF SHIFT WORK
PRACTICES
Background to the proposed research and Research Question(s) to be investigated (maximum 500 words)
The practices of Human Resource Management (HRM) are considered as the planned approach of managing the
performance of the employees in the organizational context. An effective and strategic HRM aims to develop a
flexible management style that motivates the staff and encourage them to perform at their best (HASSAN, 2016).
The productivity and growth of an organization are determined by choice of its employment practices. HR
managers focus on meeting the needs of both the organisation and individual employees. Majority of the theories
associated with the organizational productivity often highlight several compensation policies for employees such as
proper wage payments, facilities of incentives, profit sharing and security in the workplace.
Shiftwork is becoming increasing quite prevalent in Australia as while 17% of employees work full-time and 36% of
the workforce work part-time in non-standard shifts. It is mandatory for the organisations, that offer 24 hours of
customers services, to adopt a shift working structure. Shift work affects the health and work-life balance of the
employees, and they also suffer from fatigue and safety problems (Denis, Ferlie & Van Gestel, 2015). On the other
hand, it is also argued that HR managers focus on shiftwork as it seems to be attractive because shift workers can
receive competitive income. The lucrative incentive for working long shifts and weekends is suitable, especially for
young employees. However, as the incentive is the only reason behind employees’ preference for shift work so
they can easily leave a company if they can earn more.
Motivation is considered as the key strategy by the HR managers to ensure higher product quality, low employee
turnover, greater profitability as well as make the employees flexible in shiftwork. One of the leading supermarket
chains in Australia, Woolworths is currently facing certain issues in terms of managing its human resource. The
company has witnessed a high rate of labour turnover in the last few years as they are moving to another higher
stratus jobs (Mitchell, 2016). Shiftwork is quite common in the retail sector, but the company has failed to give the
best salary and incentives compared to its rivals in the Australian retail industry. As a result, the employees are
suffering from a lack of motivation and leaving the company.
The main issue of this current study is that sometimes the HR managers fail to identify the problems, employees
are facing. Sometimes, HR managers fail to ensure the safety and flexibility of working for the shift workers, and it
affects their performance as they suffer from lack of motivation. Not only the monetary incentives like profit sharing,
allowances, retirement benefits, the bonus can motivate the employees. Job security, flexible work hours,
prospects, recognition, training for skill development also enhance the employees’ performance. The biggest
challenge for HR managers is implementing all these strategies in an appropriate way.
Research questions
•How shift working system influence the HRM practices in an organisation?
•What is the role of HR managers in managing shift work practices?
•What are the significant challenges HR managers face in managing the shift work practices?
•What can be recommended to the HR managers for mitigating the issues related to shifting work practices?
Research gap
Majority of the prior research studies on human resource management has focused on topics like employee
engagement, organizational productivity, competitive advantage and others. A few studies have focused on shift
work practices and identified its impacts. It can be considered as the research gap, and the current study will
discuss this particular topic.
What is the anticipated significance and/or impact of the proposed research? (maximum 200 words)

Justification of Literature review
In most of the cases, the employees face difficulties in shift working as it affects their health, family so after a
certain time, it influences their performance. On the other hand, some of the employees find shift work as the most
flexible working system, and they also consider it as a source of motivation. As a result, the HR managers face
difficulties to implement changes in the working system by considering the requirements and preferences of the
individual employee. Successful completion of this research project will help the HR managers to identify strategies
in controlling the shift working practices.
What research methods will you use to undertake the proposed research? (Maximum 300 words)
Herzberg’s Two Factor Theory:
The motivational theory of Herzberg’s two-factor theory considers two factors, including ‘motivators' and ‘hygiene
factors' for ensuring employee motivation and satisfaction in the workplace. Motivators help the employees to work
harder and perform at their best to achieve the organizational goals (Hur, 2017). On the other hand, hygiene factors
do not directly motivate employees, but they become demotivated due to the absence of these factors.
• Motivators: Achievement, responsibilities, opportunities of career growth, recognition, flexible work hours
• Hygienic factors: Remuneration, security, salary, relationships with co-workers
Motivators have a vital role to play for managing the shift work practices in an organisation. The most significant
reason behind considering shift work as more suitable and flexible is the scope of receiving attractive incentives.
Otherwise, they do not like to work in rotational shifts (Holmberg, Caro & Sobis, 2017). Application of Herzberg's
two-factor theory is quite relevant as the HR managers can follow this theory. It will help them to understand the
importance of offering both monetary and non-monetary facilities as the motivators and hygienic factors to
encourage the employees in shift work.
Methodology
Research philosophy:
Positivism philosophy will be selected to analyse the impacts of shift work practices on HR management of a
business firm because it helps to gain factual knowledge through observation, which is trustworthy (Hughes &
Sharrock, 2014).
Research approach:
In order to critically analyse the association between HRM strategies and shift work practices, the researcher will
apply the inductive approach. Hypotheses are not determined in the present study; an inductive approach helps to
conduct research through working on probabilities (Woiceshyn & Daellenbach, 2018).
Research design:
The descriptive design will be the most appropriate choice for this current study on HRM practices, including the
impacts and management of shift work practices because it assists in observing a phenomenon within a natural
environment (Whalon, Conroy, Martinez & Werch, 2015).
Data type:
Primary data will be collected by the researcher from shift workers and HR managers from 5 business firms in
Australia.
Data collection method:
In order to collect primary data, both the methods of survey and interview will be used. The shift workers will be
surveyed, and the researcher will interview the HR managers.
Data analysis technique:
A mixed-method of both qualitative and quantitative will be chosen by the researcher to conduct the present
research. Qualitative method will help to evaluate the data collected through interviewing the HR managers (Lewis,
2015). Interpretation of the statistical data of the survey will require using a quantitative method.
Ethical consideration:
a) Respect to confidentiality and anonymity
b) Respect for privacy
c) Respect for autonomy, the dignity of the person
d) Minimizing the potentialities of risks
What are the intended timelines to undertake the proposed research? (Maximum 100 words)

The expected time for successful completion of the research is 14 weeks. The researcher will need the 1st
week for understanding the topic in detail under the supervision of the professor. The next two weeks (2nd and 3rd)
will be used for developing a plan for the entire study. From the middle of the 3rd week, the researcher will start to
go through the previous piece of literature on HR management. Along with completing the literature review, the
student will start selecting the most suitable methods from the middle of 4th week, and it will take 5th and 6th
weeks. Data will be collected in 7th and 8th weeks. After completing data collection, the researcher will analyse the
data from 9th week to 11th week. Then it will be possible to gather the key findings from the middle of the 11th
week to the entire 12th week. Furthermore, 13th and 14th weeks will be used for concluding and submitting the
paper, respectively.
What resources, facilities, equipment, fieldwork will be required to undertake the proposed research?
(Maximum 200 words)
Sample size:
100 shift workers and 5 HR managers will be selected as the sample of this study. By the involvement of the 100
shift workers, the researcher is able to sustain the resources, facilities associated with the proposed field work such
as Human resourcesd managementy of the worker. On the other hand, by conducting the interview of HR
managers, the problems associated with the system can be analyed more specifically.
Sampling method:
Probability method will be used at the time of selecting a sample for the survey and a non-probability, or convenient
method will be followed for an interview (Etikan, 2016). By the use of the probability method, it will become cost
effective for the researcher. Apart from that, ot involves a lesser degree of the judgment along with lesser time of
consuming the proces as well. A non-technical person can also perform the probability method of sampling with the
sample representative of the population. In that factor, the probability method of sampling is the best suitable
process
Resources:
The researcher will complete a face to face interview using interview sheet and survey using online questionnaire.
Bhy the implications of the face to face interviews, the researchder is able to ustain the factuakl knwoledge with the
circulations of authentic data and the system process for conducting the research as well.
Which CQUniversity Research Strength area(s) will the proposed research be aligned with? (Information
about CQUniversity Research Strengths can be found at www.cqu.edu.au/research
How will the proposed research contribute to the research outputs and research culture in the nominated
CQUniversity Research Strengths? (up to 300 words)
The present research study has selected a topic, on which a limited number of empirical studies have been
performed. Shift work is not a new concept, but its application is consistently increasing worldwide along with the
growing population, demands and changing lifestyles. The study is expected to investigate the impact of these
shiftwork practices on HR management as it is becoming familiar in most of the industries. The current project can
be considered as a significant piece of studies on HR management and relevant to the present context.
At the same time, the study will also expand the scope of further research on HRM practices at a greater extent.
Further studies will focus on how the HR managers can identify better strategies of employee motivation if they fail
to engage staffs in shift work. By the detailed analysis of the empirical study, the researcher is able to sustain the
process more effectively. In that factor, thre output of the research, which is aligned with the management of the
shift work practices can be sustained from that factor.
On th other hand, the relevancy of the shift working process,along with the profitability, low employee turnover and
the flexibility of the shoft work have been aligned. In that factor, by the use of the Herzberg's Two factor theory, the
motivators and the hygenic factors can eb explained by whih, the relationship with the co-workers, along with the
achievement, responsibilities, the opportunities of the career growth.
This Proposal should be uploaded with your Scholarship Application