UK Retail: HRM and Talent Development Strategies at Marks & Spencer

This project proposal explores the role of Human Resource Management (HRM) in talent resource and development within the UK retail industry, focusing on Marks & Spencer. It aims to understand the basic concepts of HRM, analyze its role in talent management within Marks & Spencer, and determine the specific strategies adopted by the company. The research questions address the core concepts of HRM, its application in talent development at Marks & Spencer, and the strategies employed by the company. The literature review covers the concepts of HRM, its role in talent resource and development, and the specific strategies used by Marks & Spencer, drawing from various academic sources. The research methodology employs an interpretivism research philosophy, an inductive research approach, and a qualitative research strategy, utilizing secondary data and thematic analysis. Ethical considerations include maintaining privacy and authenticity of data. The expected outcomes include a deeper understanding of HRM's role in talent development and the strategies used by Marks & Spencer, which can inform other companies in the retail sector.

Project1 Individual business
dissertation proposal
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Introduction......................................................................................................................................3
Literature review..............................................................................................................................3
Research Methodology....................................................................................................................5
Potential outcomes...........................................................................................................................5
References........................................................................................................................................7
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Introduction
Human resource management is a practice of recruitment, hiring, deployment and managing of
organization employees (Ehnert, 2014). It is an important concept and acts as an strategic
approach through which organization can enhance employees productivity along with
organization performance level in the industry. The present research analyse the role of human
resource management in terms of Marks and Spencer which is operating as a leading
organization in retail industry and offers wide range of services to customers.
Research aim
To examine the role of human resource management and its need within talent resource
and development within UK retail industry: A study on Marks & Spencer
Research objectives
 To understand the basic concepts of human resource management and its role within an
organisation
 To analyse the role of human resource management in talent resource and development
within Marks & Spencer
 To determine the strategies adopted by Marks & Spencer in terms of talent resource and
development
Research Questions
 What is the basic concepts of human resource management and its role within an
organisation?
 What is the role of human resource management in talent resource and development
within Marks & Spencer?
 What are the strategies adopted by Marks & Spencer in terms of talent resource and
development?
Rationale
The present research is rationale as it is conducted on the role of human resource management
and its need within talent resource and development within UK retail industry. This will help
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companies in the same sector to determine strategies with the help of which they can operate its
role with HRM can assure high growth and profitability. Along with this, the research is
rationale as it will help in increasing the knowledge and skill level of researcher. Through which
investigator can conduct future research effectively.
Literature review
Concepts of human resource management and its role within an organisation
According to the viewpoint of Tyson, (2014) human resource management is basically as act as a
comprehensive approach to manage companies most valuable asset, its employees. Human
resources inclusive of different roles such as compensation and employee benefits, talent
management, compliance training and development in workplace safety (Papa, Mueller and
Miglietta, 2018). It is essential for an organization to fulfill employees means and demands as
with the help of this they can provide maximum satisfaction to customers (Bailey, Kelliher and
Garavan, 2018). In addition to this human resource management is playing crucial role within an
organization as it allows complete projects and task in appropriate time frame with maximum
efficiency which helps in enhancing its overall productivity (Yu, Larsen and Stephenson, 2018).
Role of human resource management in talent resource and development within Marks &
Spencer
According to the viewpoint of Boxall and Purcell, (2022) human resource management is an
essential component of an organization irrespective of its size and scope. HRM plays important
role in talent resource and development in many organizations such as Marks and Spencer. In
this human resource management is playing crucial role in terms of conducting effective
recruitment, performance management, career management, leadership development of the
company (Wilton, 2022). With the help of efficient human resource management system Marks
and Spencer is managing talent resource and encourages development by analysing employees
performance and further providing them proper training (Mathis, Valentine and Meglich, 2016).
It effectively helps organization to enhance efficiency skilled and knowledge of workers with the
help company to assure greater growth in the industry.
Strategies adopted by Marks & Spencer in terms of talent resource and development
According to the viewpoint of Glaister, Demirbag and Tatoglu, (2018) human resource
management is an important and crucial aspect for organisations as it allow them to manage
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workforce in efficient manner. In context of Marks and Spencer company is taking advantage of
different strategies to manage talent resource and development (Bratton, Bratton and Steele,
2021). In this organization is taking advantage of high performance culture which is being
motivated by strong leadership structure (Schuler and Jackson, 2014). Along with this company
is taking advantage of talent management strategies in which they are providing trainees to
employee the help of different tools and activities (Boselie, 2014. ). Organization is also taking
advantage of feedback system which help organization to manage talent resource and encourage
development efficiently.
Research Methodology
In order to fulfill present research aims and objectives investigator is undertaking use of
appropriate research methodology (Panneerselvam, 2014). Research methodology is termed as a
manner of explaining in which investigator in order to conduct research in appropriate manner in
context with present research investigator is under taking advantage of interpretivism research
philosophy. The primary reason to take this method is to include coherent logic and structure by
focusing on all disciplinary basis as well as commitments (Snyder, 2019). In addition to this in
context with research approach which is a plan and procedure inclusive of steps of broad
assumption. In this investigator is taking advantage of inductive research approach. Primary
reason to take use of this methods to accumulate data associated with the topic of interest and
have flexibility (Gupta and Gupta, 2022). Furthermore, in context with resource strategy which is
a step by step plan of action and provide directions to investigator. In this researcher is taking
advantage of qualitative strategy with the help of this investigator can evaluate descriptive data
efficiently. With the help of taking advantage of qualitative method investigator will collect and
analyse non numerical data to effectively understand opinions and concept (Ørngreen and
Levinsen, 2017). With the help of taking advantage of qualitative method investigator aim
towards having in depth insight into research problem to collect data investigator is taking
advantage of secondary research methods in which with the help of descriptive analysis
researcher will require information from different scholarly article, books and journals (Al Kilani
and Kobziev, 2016). By taking advantage of this method investigator aim towards saving time as
well as money and collect data which is valid and authentic.
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In this research, investigator will take use of secondary data method to collect data, in which
use of articles, books and other secondary sources will be considered. The analysis will going to
be in with the help of thematic analysis method.
Ethics important element for research which help investigator to conduct research under
ethical practices and standards (Pandey and Pandey, 2021). To fulfill present research ethical
standards investigator will maintain privacy authenticity of collected facts and figures and will
acquire information from secondary sources by adhering to the standards (Mohajan, 2018).
Potential outcomes
From this research researcher is expected to find the role of human resource management and its
Need within talent resource and development with in UK retail industry. From this research
investigator is looking forward to analyse the role of human resource management in Marks and
Spencer, along with the strategies adopted by the company (Vance and Paik, 2015). This will
help in determining the strategies that other companies in the same sector can implement to
assure higher growth and productivity (DeCenzo, Robbins and Verhulst, 2016). Along with this
with the help of this research investigator can enhance the personal knowledge of the concept of
human resource management and its importance to manage talent and workforce.
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References
Books and Journals
Al Kilani, M. and Kobziev, V., 2016. An overview of research methodology in information
system (IS). Open Access Library Journal, 3(11), pp.1-9.
Bailey, C., Mankin, D., Kelliher, C. and Garavan, T., 2018. Strategic human resource
management. Oxford University Press.
Boselie, P., 2014. EBOOK: Strategic Human Resource Management: A Balanced Approach.
McGraw Hill.
Boxall, P. and Purcell, J., 2022. Strategy and human resource management. Bloomsbury
Publishing.
Bratton, J., Gold, J., Bratton, A. and Steele, L., 2021. Human resource management. Bloomsbury
Publishing.
DeCenzo, D.A., Robbins, S.P. and Verhulst, S.L., 2016. Fundamentals of human resource
management. John Wiley & Sons.
Ehnert, I., 2014. Sustainability and Human Resource Management Developing Sustainable
Business Organizations. Springer.
Flick, U., 2015. Introducing research methodology: A beginner's guide to doing a research
project. Sage.
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Glaister, A.J., Karacay, G., Demirbag, M. and Tatoglu, E., 2018. HRM and performance—The
role of talent management as a transmission mechanism in an emerging market
context. Human Resource Management Journal, 28(1), pp.148-166.
Gupta, B.N. and Gupta, N., 2022. Research methodology. SBPD Publications.
Kumar, R., 2018. Research methodology: A step-by-step guide for beginners. Sage.
Mathis, R.L., Jackson, J.H., Valentine, S.R. and Meglich, P., 2016. Human resource
management. Cengage Learning.
Mohajan, H.K., 2018. Qualitative research methodology in social sciences and related
subjects. Journal of Economic Development, Environment and People, 7(1), pp.23-48.
Ørngreen, R. and Levinsen, K., 2017. Workshops as a Research Methodology. Electronic
Journal of E-learning, 15(1), pp.70-81.
Pandey, P. and Pandey, M.M., 2021. Research methodology tools and techniques. Bridge Center.
Panneerselvam, R., 2014. Research methodology. PHI Learning Pvt. Ltd..
Papa, A., Dezi, L., Gregori, G.L., Mueller, J. and Miglietta, N., 2018. Improving innovation
performance through knowledge acquisition: the moderating role of employee retention
and human resource management practices. Journal of Knowledge Management.
Schuler, R. and Jackson, S.E., 2014. Human resource management and organizational
effectiveness: yesterday and today. Journal of Organizational Effectiveness: People and
Performance, 1(1), pp.35-55.
Snyder, H., 2019. Literature review as a research methodology: An overview and
guidelines. Journal of business research, 104, pp.333-339.
Stahl, G.K., Brewster, C.J., Collings, D.G. and Hajro, A., 2020. Enhancing the role of human
resource management in corporate sustainability and social responsibility: A multi-
stakeholder, multidimensional approach to HRM. Human Resource Management
Review, 30(3), p.100708.
Tyson, S., 2014. Essentials of human resource management. Routledge.
Vance, C.M. and Paik, Y., 2015. Managing a global workforce: Challenges and opportunities in
international human resource management. Routledge.
Wilton, N., 2022. An introduction to human resource management. An Introduction to Human
Resource Management, pp.1-100.
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Yu, H., Sedlezky, S., Wong, K., Hernandez, T., Larsen, P. and Stephenson, G., 2018. Human
resources management. Pop-up Retail Strategies in an Omnichannel Context.
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