HR's Impact on Employee Satisfaction and Motivation at Waitrose

This report investigates the significant contributions of Human Resources (HR) in enhancing employee satisfaction and motivation within the workplace, with a specific focus on the supermarket chain Waitrose. The study explores the fundamental roles of HR, including recruitment and selection, training and development, and talent management, and their impact on employee well-being. The research delves into the contributions of HR in improving employee satisfaction and motivation through performance appraisals, promotions, and other initiatives. Furthermore, the report examines the benefits of motivated and satisfied employees, such as improved productivity and higher customer satisfaction. The methodology employed includes a literature review, the use of a positivism research philosophy, a deductive approach, and a survey strategy for data collection, with a sample of 35 Waitrose employees. Data analysis will be performed using frequency distribution analysis, considering ethical considerations, and utilizing a Gantt chart for project management. The report aims to provide valuable insights into the crucial role of HR in fostering a positive and productive work environment.

Research methods
(Role of human resource in enhancing satisfaction and
motivation level of employees within a workplace)
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Contents
Contents...........................................................................................................................................2
Introduction......................................................................................................................................3
Literature review..............................................................................................................................4
Intended Methodology.....................................................................................................................6
Resources Required and Action Plan..............................................................................................7
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................9
Appendix........................................................................................................................................11
Questionnaire.............................................................................................................................11
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Introduction
Background to the project
Human resource is a part of business that is charged with screening, findings, recruiting,
selecting, training and administrating employee benefit program. There are number of roles
played by HR within a workplace such as recruitment and selection, training and development,
compensation, performance management, talent management and many others. All these are
major roles that help business organisation in improvement of satisfaction and motivation among
workforce. Along with this, satisfied and motivated employees are more beneficial for an
organisation (Alam and Asim, 2019). These benefits are; improved business performance,
increased sales, reduced high employee turnover, helps in achievement of competitive
advantages etc. For this report, Waitrose is a chosen supermarket that was founded in 1904 by
the Wallace Waite, Arthur Rose and David Taylor. Within an organisation, various numbers of
employees are worked and it is important for Waitrose to increase their satisfaction and
motivation. This turn to impact on their profitability and sales in positive manner.
Rationale of the research
Main rationale for selecting of this topic is to find out the roles played by HR in
enhancement of motivation and satisfaction of employees within a workplace. This research is
important at personal and professional ground (Alcover and Topa, 2018). Depending on personal
level, current study assist researcher by increasing their research skills i.e. time management,
data collection etc. Depending on professional level, present study facilitates students by
improving their understanding regarding the staff motivation and satisfaction and its importance
within a workplace.
Project aim and objectives
Aim:
Main aim of this research is “To identify the major contributions of human resource in
improvement of employee satisfaction and motivation towards job”: A study on Waitrose
Objectives
 To identify the basic roles of human resource within a workplace of Waitrose
 To determine the roles of Human resource in enhancement of employee motivation and
satisfaction within a workplace
 To examine the benefits of motivated and satisfied employees at workplace of Waitrose
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Literature review
Literature review introduces to the process that is used for gathering of secondary
information from number of secondary sources. These sources are journals, books, articles etc.
Main purpose of literature review within a research is to find out research gap within previous
studies (Castellacci and Viñas-Bardolet, 2019). According to the current research, main gap is
contributions of human resource in improvement of employee satisfaction and motivation
towards job. In previous studies, there were lots of data available regarding the basic roles of
human resources at workplace, but there were lack of information regarding the importance of
human resource in employee motivation and satisfaction. This is a main gap and for overcoming
this, there are some research questions that are explained as below:
What are the basic roles of human resource within a workplace of Waitrose
According to the Cheema, Afsar and Javed (2020), human resource is an important part of
an organisation and has to play various roles. These roles are described as below:
Recruitment and selection: This is a main and primary role played by HR at workplace of
Waitrose. For this role, human resource recruit and select a candidate who have an experienced
about the job. This is a responsibility of human resource to test how right candidates are for a job
(Crane and Hartwell, 2019). This role will help Waitrose in attracting of highly experienced
people at workplace that result in improved business performance.
Training and development: This is another role played by HR of Waitrose. There is
responsibility and role of HR to provide training to their employees who does not have accurate
knowledge about the business and work (Dilig-Ruiz and et. al., 2018). This role of HR will helps
in increment of employees knowledge and understanding about the business that result in
improved productivity.
Talent management: This is one of the effective role of human resource that facilitate an
organisation in achievement of valid outcomes. In order to manage talent at workplace, HR takes
various initiatives i.e. job rotation, role design, succession planning etc.
What are the contributions of Human resource in enhancement of employee motivation and
satisfaction within a workplace
As per the opinion of Gutierrez-Gutierrez, Barrales-Molina and Kaynak, 2018), human
resource is important at workplace because they contribute in increasing of employee satisfaction
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and motivation towards job. There are different contributions of human resource in improvement
of employee satisfaction and motivation. These are explained as below:
Performance appraisal: This is a biggest and essential role played by HR. There is a
responsibility of HR to provide performance appraisal to employees in accordance to their
performance within a workplace. These appraisals enable communication between company and
employees, enhance the focus of workers, help in setting professional as well as personal goals,
enhance performance, and support in determining training requirements (Haque, Fernando and
Caputi, 2019). Therefore, it is important in improvement of satisfaction and motivation level
among workforce.
Promotion: This is another contribution of HR that is important in enhancement of
satisfaction as well as motivation in employees. For this, Human resource is responsible in
promoting of their employees from existing post as it increase satisfaction in employees that
result in higher employee retention.
What are the benefits of motivated and satisfied employees at workplace of Waitrose
According to the Karimi and et. al., (2020), satisfaction and motivation are significant parts
of increasing business performance. Satisfied and motivated employees within a working
environment are more beneficial for an organisation. Therefore, there are some benefits of
having motivated and satisfied employees at workplace. These are:
Improved productivity: Motivated and satisfied employees are become able in completing
of business activities within minimum time and in successful manner. They work effectively and
freely that result in increased business performance and sales.
Higher customer satisfaction: Motivated employees become able in treating all customers
effectively that result in increased customer satisfaction (Kim and Wang, 2018). This will help
Waitrose in increment of customer base and sales within minimum time period.
Therefore, motivation and satisfaction among employees are important for Waitrose in
accomplishment of competitive advantages within minimum time and successful manner.
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Intended Methodology
Research methodology is the procedure and method of collecting appropriate information
about the specific field of study. There are some useful types of methodologies for current
research that are defined as under:
Research philosophy: Philosophy refers to the process of collecting and evaluating accurate
data about the topic. This process has two types i.e. positivism and interpretivisim. In order to
gather and evaluate data regarding the contributions of human resource in improvement of
employee satisfaction and motivation, positivism philosophy is more important and valuable
because it provides information in quantitative manner and in minimum time (Salin and et. al.,
2020). On the other hand, interpretivisim is another research philosophy that is not applicable
about the existing topic because it is time and cost consuming philosophy.
Research approach: Approach of the research is introduced as an effective process of data
analysis that will be done by using inductive and deductive approach. In this research project,
deductive will be a selected approach as it is effective in analysing of quantitative data. Main aim
regarding the choice of deductive approach is it provides valid and reliable information that turn
to positively impact in accomplishment of research aim and objectives successfully. Inductive
approach is not used within a study because it not essential in quantitative data analysis.
Research strategy: There are number of strategies that are useful in a research project.
These strategies are case study, survey, action research, experiment etc. In this research, survey
will be a selected research strategy because it helps in gathering of numerical and quantitative
information effectively and within minimum period of time (Steel and Warner, 2018).
Research choice: There are two significant choices of the research i.e. qualitative and
quantitative. These choices of the research are useful but for gathering information regarding the
roles of human resource, quantitative choice will be a selected method. There are various
benefits of using quantitative research such as clear dependent and independent variable provides
reliable and valid data etc. Qualitative research choice is another method that is not valuable
within a research because it requires maximum time and only provides theoretical data that not
meet research aim and objectives.
Data collection: This section of methodology has two main sections that are primary and
secondary. Within a research, both primary and secondary methods of data collection are useful
in accomplishment of each objective. For secondary research, books, journals, magazines etc.
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sources will be applied for literature review. In case of primary information, questionnaire will
be used for gathering first-hand information from the research participants (Tariq and Ding,
2018). Therefore, within a research, both types of data collection are useful and valuable for
investigator.
Sampling: There are two techniques of sample selection i.e. probability and non-
probability. For selecting sample within a research, probability is an effective and suitable
technique. Through probability sampling 35 employees of Waitrose will be selected randomly.
There are various reasons behind the selection of probability sampling such as helps in collection
of quantitative data from larger sample, cost and time effective technique etc. Non-probability
technique of sampling is not effective in this study because it involves smaller number of
participants.
Data analysis: According to the current research, quantitative type of data is gathered from
questionnaire and for valuating this; there will be need of using research analytical technique.
Frequency distribution analysis as an analytical technique will be followed by researcher for
analysing quantitative data successfully and systematically (Wen, Huang and Hou, 2019).
Ethical considerations: There are number of research ethics that are useful for researcher to
take this into consideration. These are; informed consent, does no harm, anonymity, only assess
relevant components etc. All these ethics must be taken into considerations because it helps in
achievement of valid outcomes.
Resources Required and Action Plan
Resources required: There are various resources that are useful in completing of current
research in successful manner. These resources are time, communication, cost etc. All these are
useful sources in completion of current project in successful manner (Zhai, Wang and Weadon,
2020).
Action plan: For this, Gantt chart is used by researcher because it helps in completion of
full project within given time period. Gantt chart is a time management tool that includes starting
and ending dates of the each activity. Therefore, this is a useful tool for investigator in
completion of full project successfully and timely. Gantt chart of the current research is shown as
under:
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Alam, A. and Asim, M., 2019. Relationship between job satisfaction and turnover
intention. International Journal of Human Resources Studies. ISSN, pp.2162-3058.
Alcover, C. M. and Topa, G., 2018. Work characteristics, motivational orientations,
psychological work ability and job mobility intentions of older workers. PLoS
One. 13(4). p.e0195973.
Castellacci, F. and Viñas-Bardolet, C., 2019. Internet use and job satisfaction. Computers in
Human Behavior. 90. pp.141-152.
Cheema, S., Afsar, B. and Javed, F., 2020. Employees' corporate social responsibility
perceptions and organizational citizenship behaviors for the environment: The
mediating roles of organizational identification and environmental orientation
fit. Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management. 27(1). pp.9-21.
Crane, B. and Hartwell, C. J., 2019. Global talent management: A life cycle view of the
interaction between human and social capital. Journal of World Business. 54(2).
pp.82-92.
Dilig-Ruiz, A. and et. al., 2018. Job satisfaction among critical care nurses: A systematic
review. International journal of nursing studies. 88. pp.123-134.
Gutierrez-Gutierrez, L. J., Barrales-Molina, V. and Kaynak, H., 2018. The role of human
resource-related quality management practices in new product
development. International Journal of Operations & Production Management.
Haque, A., Fernando, M. and Caputi, P., 2019. The relationship between responsible leadership
and organisational commitment and the mediating effect of employee turnover
intentions: An empirical study with Australian employees. Journal of Business
Ethics. 156(3). pp.759-774.
Karimi, L. and et. al., 2020. The effects of emotional intelligence training on the job performance
of Australian aged care workers. Health care management review, 45(1), pp.41-51.
Kim, S. and Wang, J., 2018. The role of job demands–resources (JDR) between service workers’
emotional labor and burnout: New directions for labor policy at local
government. International journal of environmental research and public
health. 15(12). p.2894.
Salin, D. and et. al., 2020. Prevention of and interventions in workplace bullying: A global study
of human resource professionals’ reflections on preferred action. The International
Journal of Human Resource Management. 31(20). pp.2622-2644.
Steel, B.S. and Warner, R.L., 2018. Job satisfaction among early labor force participants:
Unexpected outcomes in public and private sector comparisons. In Public
Service (pp. 183-202). Routledge.
Tariq, H. and Ding, D., 2018. Why am I still doing this job? The examination of family
motivation on employees’ work behaviors under abusive supervision. Personnel
Review.
Wen, J., Huang, S. S. and Hou, P., 2019. Emotional intelligence, emotional labor, perceived
organizational support, and job satisfaction: A moderated mediation
model. International Journal of Hospitality Management. 81. pp.120-130.
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Zhai, Q., Wang, S. and Weadon, H., 2020. Thriving at work as a mediator of the relationship
between workplace support and life satisfaction. Journal of Management &
Organization. 26(2). pp.168-184.
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Appendix
Questionnaire
Q1 D you aware about the roles played by HR at workplace of Waitrose?
a) Yes
b) No
Q2 What are the basic roles of human resource within a working environment of Waitrose?
a) Recruitment and selection
b) Training and development
c) Talent management
Q3 What are the contributions of HR in improvement of employee motivation and satisfaction
towards the job?
a) Compensation and benefits
b) Performance appraisal
c) Promotions
Q4 Does human resource is important part of company in improvement of satisfaction and
motivation level among employees?
a) Yes
b) No
Q5 What are the benefits of motivated and satisfied employees at workplace of Waitrose?
a) Improved business performance
b) Higher employee retention
c) Increased sales and profitability
Q6 According to you, motivated and satisfied employees at workplace helps Waitrose in
achievement of competitive advantages?
a) Yes
b) No
c) Cant’s say
Q7 What are the main theories that would be used by Waitrose for motivating their employees
towards job?
a) Maslow's Need Hierarchy Theory
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b) Herzberg's Motivation Hygiene Theory
c) Vroom's Expectancy Theory
Q8 What are the theories used by Waitrose for increasing job satisfaction among employees?
a) Fulfilment theory
b) Discrepancy Theory
c) Equity Theory
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