Business Research Project: HRM and Employee Engagement at Aston Martin

This business research project investigates the influence of human resource management (HRM) practices on employee engagement and retention, focusing on the case of Aston Martin. The report begins with an introduction outlining the problem of high employee turnover due to insufficient motivation and job satisfaction, followed by the research aims, objectives, and rationale for selecting the topic. A comprehensive literature review examines key HRM practices, including effective hiring, regular training, and fair compensation, and their impact on employee engagement and retention. The methodology section describes the adoption of a positivist research philosophy, a deductive approach, and a survey strategy with a quantitative method using a questionnaire distributed to 100 employees. The findings are presented, followed by conclusions and recommendations. The report emphasizes the importance of organizational culture, flexible work arrangements, and performance-linked rewards in enhancing employee engagement and retention within Aston Martin. Ethical considerations are also addressed, and the research concludes by suggesting improvements in HRM practices to boost employee satisfaction and reduce turnover.

Business Research
Project
Table of Contents
Research Topic: Human resource management and its impact on employee engagement and
retention...........................................................................................................................................1
Introduction......................................................................................................................................1
Problem statement..................................................................................................................1
Research aim and objective....................................................................................................1
Rationale for selection of Topic.............................................................................................1
Research questions.................................................................................................................2
Literature review..............................................................................................................................2

To review about the main practices of human resource management along with its need and
importance for a firm..............................................................................................................2
To analyse about the impact of human resources management practises on the employee
engagement and retention level in Aston Martin...................................................................3
To determine some more effective practises of human resources management within Aston
martin to have a higher employee engagement and retention................................................5
Methodology....................................................................................................................................5
Ethical consideration............................................................................................................10
Research and Findings...................................................................................................................10
Conclusions....................................................................................................................................25
Recommendations..........................................................................................................................26
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................26
Appendix I:....................................................................................................................................28
Raw data collected for current business report.....................................................................28

Research Topic: Human resource management and its impact on employee
engagement and retention
Introduction
Human resources practises are assisted with leading effective management of people to
ensure there better performance and higher competency level which are highly needed and
important for a firm to drives and facilitate more efficient and effective achievement of set goals
and targets (Ahmad, 2015). Therefore, current research project is undertaken to analyse about the
main prcatises of HRM along with reviewing its impact on employee engagement and retention.
Problem statement
The problem statement on which current project is based comprises of issue of high
employees turnover that is mainly due to inefficient motivation and job satisfaction. Therefore
current study is lead put on analyse of HRM practise along with its impact on employee
engagement and retention level.
Research aim and objective
Aim of the research
“To analyse about the practises of human resource management along with evaluating its
impact on employee engagement and retention”. A research project on Aston Martin.
Research objectives
 To review about the main practices of human resource management along with its need
and importance for a firm.
 To analyse about the impact of human resources management practises on the employee
engagement and retention level in Aston Martin.
 To determine some more effective practises of human resources management within
Aston martin to have a higher employee engagement and retention.
Rationale for selection of Topic
The selection of current research topic is rationale as high employees turnover and lack of
sufficient job satisfaction are evaluated as current issues in firm therefore current research
project is viable and rationale as it facilities better understanding about the concept of HRM.
Beside this, an analysis about effective practises of human resources management is also
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provided that is helpful for a company to have a higher employee engagement and retention.
Further, current topic also meets personal interest and academic background of researcher along
with ensuring better managerial development and enhanced skills.
Research questions
 What are the main practices of human resource management along with its need and
importance for a firm?
 What overall impact of human resources management practises is seen on the employee
engagement and retention level in Aston Martin?
 What could be the some more effective practises of human resources management within
Aston martin to have a higher employee engagement and retention?
Literature review
To review about the main practices of human resource management along with its need and
importance for a firm.
As per the view point of Erik van Vulpen, 2020, human resources practises are mainly
linked with the managing people to ensure there better performance and higher competency level
that best fit the company cultures and makes them more productive for accomplishment of
organisational goals. Thus, effective HRM practises are highly needed and important for a firm
to lead better management of its human resource that drives and facilitates more efficient and
effective achievement of set goals and targets (Albrecht and et. al., 2015). The review and
analysis of main HRM practices of a firm that are essentially needed and important are provided
below:
Effective Hiring process- One of the main practises of HRM comprises of selecting and
hiring a suitable candidate and employees as per the required job role to ensure recruitment of
employees who add value to company profile. Thus, brining a right people and employee is a
vital practises of HRM that is important and essential for a firm to maintain a balance between
supply of workforce to ensures free flow of business operation without any delays and an
efficient manner through selection of suitable candidate for performing a job role (Arnaboldi,
Lapsley and Steccolini, 2015).
Regular training- To maintain the skill and competency level of employees, providing
regular training to employees is also available HRM practise that is important to maintain the
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overall skills and competency level of workforces to achieve desired goals of a firm in an
effective manner (Bailey and et. al., 2018).
Fair Compensation- Another vital practise of HRM comprises of providing fair
compensation and remuneration to employees as it forms a vital part in enhancing the
satisfaction level of employees along with also motivates workforces for better accomplishment
of set goals. Thus, providing regular remuneration is also an important practices of HRM to
motivate and satisfy employees to ensure and leads out better attraction and retention of
employees (Bratton and Gold, 2017).
To analyse about the impact of human resources management practises on the employee
engagement and retention level in Aston Martin.
According to the information provided by Ahmad, S., 2015, an analysis can be drawn that
effective implementation of HRM practises within an organisation leads out to a positive impact
on employees engagement and retention as it is taken as the symbol for higher employee
motivation and satisfaction while working in a firm. It has been observed that leading out
effective training and development for employees along with enhanced career development
opportunities have great significance and set out a positive employees relation to have optimistic
impact on employee engagement and retention level (Brewster and et. al., 2016). The below
stated HRM model is representing the positive and significant impact of HRM practises on the
better retention and engagement of employees within a firm.
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Figure 1: Conceptual HRM Model, 2020
The above HRM model comprises that HRM practise leads out for a positive impact on
employees retention level by the way of leading out higher job satisfaction and motivation
through providing better training and regular compensation and rewards for the employees
(Deepak and Jeyakumar, 2019). Further, implication and adoption of effective Organisational
citizen behaviour which comprises of helping behaviour of employers and employees which
usually goes beyond the job description or task performance is also plays a vital role in creating
and leading out a positive relationship and effective employee engagement that have optimistic
impact on the longer retention of employees along with reducing and mitigating the issues of
High employee turnover (Shojaei, Bagheri and Ghiri, 2020). Apart from this, an analysis can be
made out that effective HR practises leads out to resolution of employees issues by the way of
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effective communication along with fostering diversity initiatives and helping employees with
disputes by the way of anti-discrimination and harassment laws that leads and ensures a positive
impact on employee satisfaction and motivation which leads to better the employee engagement
and retention level (Deery and Jago, 2015).
To determine some more effective practises of human resources management within Aston
martin to have a higher employee engagement and retention
The some more effective practises of human resources management that can be adopted
Aston martin are provided by Boella, M.J. and Goss-Turner, S., 2019, to have a higher employee
engagement and retention which are evaluated as follows:
Effective organisational culture – Creating and leading out a proper and right
organisational culture which emphasis on the better Safe, healthy and happy workplace for
employees is a viable HRM practises that can be adopted by Aston martin to enhance the
motivation and job satisfaction of its employees in order to have a higher employee engagement
and retention (Jabbour and de Sousa Jabbour, 2016).
Flexible work arrangements- This HRM practises is mainly associated with the work
environment that are better than the normal constraints of a old traditional form of job which
allows and facilitates better flexibility and satisfaction level to employees (Wayne and et. al.,
2020). Flexible work arrangements comprises of leading better sync and balance of their work
hours with their personal life and responsibilities which boost morale and job satisfaction level
which leads to a higher employee engagement and retention level for Aston Martin (Jacoby,
2018).
Performance linked rewards and compensation- The another effective way to motivate and
satisfy employees is to provide regular performance linked rewards and compensation which
keeps them directed towards better accomplishment of goals along with retaining them for higher
salary and growth. Thus, leads to a higher employee engagement and retention level by better
employee engagement and higher motivation level by the way of performance linked rewards
and compensation (Mangan and Lalwani, 2016).
Methodology
This section provides and facilitates an understanding and information about the research
method and approaches that are used by a researcher for conducting an investigation which
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comprises of efficient data collection and its analysis. From four main types of Research
Philosophies i.e. positivism, interpretivism, realism and pragmatism, adoption of positivism kind
of research philosophy is made as it supports an objective form of investigation that tends to be
more systematic and practical (Noe and et. al., 2018). Further, out of deductive and inductive
approach use of deductive approach is most suitable for current investigation as it facilitated and
ensures better testing and analysis of numeric facts that is collected as raw data for current study.
Beside this, implication and use of survey is made as research strategy and design that is
providing appropriate design and framework for data collection and analysis with the help of a
questionnaire from a larger set of participants in a cost and time effective manner (Prasad, 2017).
Quantitative and qualitative forms out to be the most common set of research method
from which the quantitative method of systemic analysis is made for current investigation as it
supports collection of raw data in numeric form that is easy to collect and analysis and also
facilitates and leads out to measurable and specific set of results for better accomplishment of set
objectives (Tung, 2016). Beside this, collection of data has been made from both primary and
secondary sources of data to have more systematic review of data where primary data has been
collected with the help of questionnaire where as secondary data has been collected from online
articles and journals presented in literature review (Waring, 2016).
Sampling method
It represent a statistical method to select and choose a certain number of participants for
conducting an investigation in an efficient manner from a large and complex population
(Ponisciakova, 2020). The current questionnaire is based on the two vital HR practises of Aston
Martin which comprises of effective Training and Development along with providing regular and
appropriate Compensation & Rewards for which a sample size of 100 employees is selected from
the employees of Aston Martin with the help of random sampling method which reduces the risk
and chances of biasness for current business research project.
Questionnaire
Q1) What are the main practices of human resource management within in Aston martin?
a) Smart recruitment and selection
b) Regular training and development
c) Adequate rewards and compensation
Q2) Is Good training opportunities are available for your career progression in Aston
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Martin?
a) Strongly Agreed
b) Agree
c) Uncertain
d) Disagree
e) Strongly disagree
Q3) Is your job schedule provides flexibility for you to engage in career progression
activities like part time studies are appropriate?
a) Strongly Agreed
b) Agree
c) Uncertain
d) Disagree
e) Strongly disagree
Q4) Is permission is allowed to you to use your skills and training to do different tasks in
your organisation?
a) Strongly Agreed
b) Agree
c) Uncertain
d) Disagree
e) Strongly disagree
Q5) Do you understand the vision and goals of your organisation?
a) Strongly Agreed
b) Agree
c) Uncertain
d) Disagree
e) Strongly disagree
Q6) Is your Manager provides clear guidance on how he wants assignments to be done?
a) Strongly Agreed
b) Agree
c) Uncertain
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d) Disagree
e) Strongly disagree
Q7) Is a planned career progression is achievable in your organisation?
a) Strongly Agreed
b) Agree
c) Uncertain
d) Disagree
e) Strongly disagree
Q8) Is the salary is package is adequate as per your skill and performance level?
a) Strongly Agreed
b) Agree
c) Uncertain
d) Disagree
e) Strongly disagree
Q9) Does the salary and other variable payments compare well with the rest of the market?
a) Strongly Agreed
b) Agree
c) Uncertain
d) Disagree
e) Strongly disagree
Q10) Is the remuneration package provided to you is attractive?
a) Strongly Agreed
b) Agree
c) Uncertain
d) Disagree
e) Strongly disagree
Q11) Do you agreed that the remuneration package contributes greatly for my retention
with the organisation?
a) Strongly Agreed
b) Agree
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c) Uncertain
d) Disagree
e) Strongly disagree
Q12) Is your remuneration matches your effort in the job?
a) Strongly Agreed
b) Agree
c) Uncertain
d) Disagree
e) Strongly disagree
Q13) Is the Promotion in your organisation is not based on seniority but on the
performance level?
a) Strongly Agreed
b) Agree
c) Uncertain
d) Disagree
e) Strongly disagree
Q14) Is There are regular incentives provided for the good performance?
a) Strongly Agreed
b) Agree
c) Uncertain
d) Disagree
e) Strongly disagree
Q15) What implication do you having regarding the Rewards given for good performance?
a) Strongly Agreed
b) Agree
c) Uncertain
d) Disagree
e) Strongly disagree
Q16) What overall impact of human resources management practises is seen on the
employee engagement and retention level in Aston Martin?
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a) Positive
b) Negative
c) No impact
Ethical consideration
To meet the ethical consideration all the provisions of BERA code of ethics are applied
along with taking prior consent from participants to ensure that none of their sentiments or
feelings gets hurt during the course of investigation. Further, adoption of data protection act is
also made to maintain the authentic and privacy level of collected personal data from the selected
participants.
Research and Findings
Use of frequency table along with the implication of pie charts had been for current project
to ensures systematic analysis of raw data for effective interpretation and presentation of current
research findings.
1:
Q1) What are the main practices of human resource management
within in Aston martin?
Frequency
a) Smart recruitment and selection 25
b) Regular training and development 40
c) Adequate rewards and compensation 35
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