Intrinsic Motivation and Work Engagement in the UK Hospitality Sector

This project investigates the significance of intrinsic motivation on employee work engagement within the UK hospitality industry, using Hilton Hotel as a case study. The research aims to understand the concept of intrinsic motivation, identify the strategies employed by Hilton Hotel to enhance employee engagement, and analyze the impact of intrinsic motivation on work engagement. Employing a descriptive research design with a positivism philosophy and a deductive approach, the study utilizes secondary data collection methods, including a systematic literature review, alongside primary data gathered through survey questionnaires. The project seeks to highlight the importance of intrinsic motivation in fostering a more engaged and productive workforce within the hospitality sector, ultimately contributing to improved employee retention and enhanced customer experiences.

Ethics ETH2223-0015
(Class 1) Researcher
College School
Ethics application
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Proposal Project title: Importance of Intrinsic motivation on work
engagement of the employees in context of UK hospitality industry.
Supervisor
1.1 Please provide a description of the background with references to relevant literature
The concept of intrinsic motivation refers to the motivation which is fuelled by internal
drive of individuals instead of external factors such as financial gain. Internal motivation plays
an important role in improving employee motivation because it increases the intrinsic drive of an
employee to work with an organization. It is necessary for enhancing employee retention and
helps the company get dedicated employees who work for getting the best results as their work is
inherently motivating form them rather than needing financial or reputational advantages from
their work for motivation.
The Hilton Hotel has huge legacy in hospitality industry because it was founded more
than 100 years ago in 1919. It is important for businesses in the hospitality industry to invest in
increasing employee motivation because it helps them retain talented workforce needed for
delivering high quality services to its employees. Businesses need to improve strategies and
practices for employee motivation so that they get better perfuming employees. This is needed in
the hospitality industry as employees are in direct contact with the consumers and higher
motivation helps improve consumer experience directly affecting the profitability of the
hospitality organization.
Developing a better understanding of employee motivation in the hospitality industry can
help establishments in the hospitality industry improve employee retention and get better efforts
in providing each guest satisfactory experience. In this way investigating internal motivation is
essential for growth of workforce in the hospitality industry because it is an important part of
employee motivation.
1.2 Please provide a brief description and the aims of your study
Research Aim: To analyse the importance of Intrinsic motivation on work engagement of
the employees in context of UK hospitality industry. “A study on Hilton Hotel”.
Research Objectives;
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 To understand the concept of intrinsic motivation in context of UK hospitality
industry.
 To identify the ways used by the Hilton Hotel for making work engagement of their
employees.
 To analyse the importance of Intrinsic motivation on work engagement of the
employees within Hilton Hotel.
Completion of this research will help identify the essential aspects of internal motivation
in context of the hospitality industry specifically on employee engagement. The purpose of this
research is to determine the notion of internal motivation in the hospitality industry of United
Kingdom. For attainment of this purpose the Hilton Hotel is selected whose practices for
employee engagement will be reviewed in the research. The rational behind studying the ways in
which Hilton Hotel improves employee engagement is that it can help understand the
relationship between intrinsic motivation and employee engagement. Finally the importance of
intrinsic motivation for work engagement at Hilton Hotel, United Kingdom is also examined
with the help of this investigation. This is an important aim because it provides direct
information about the effects of intrinsic employee motivation on work engagement in case off
the Hospitality sector. In this way the study will be able to highlight intrinsic motivational and
employee engagement in the hospitality industry specifically in case of the Hilton Hotel so that
the firm is able to improve employee motivation and gain benefits.
1.3 Please outline the design and methodology of your study and details of any invasive or
intrusive procedures
The research design selected for this investigation is descriptive research design as it
provides accuracy in terms of numerical data collection and helps gain relevant research data.
The research philosophy selected for this investigation is positivism. The reasoning for selecting
positivism research philosophy is that it provides possibility for collection of quantitative data
for completing the research. After this the research approach selected for this investigation is
deductive research. The rationale behind selection of this specific research approach out of the
option of inductive research approach is that it will provide the advantage of effective time
management and quick completion of the investigation. This investigation will be completed
after using the systematic literature review as the research approach. This is an advantageous
research approach for this investigation because it will help collect detailed information about
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the investigation. In addition to this the research approach will also benefit the investigation as
the data will be collected from variety of second hand resources such as books, articles, journals,
newspapers, publications, websites and magazines. Survey Questionnaire research approach will
also be used for completing the research. The data collection method for this investigation is
secondary data collection. The rationale for using the secondary data collection method for this
investigation is that it less expensive and provides accurate data about existing knowledge. After
this questionnaire will also be used for collecting primary data for this investigation. Finally
probability sampling method, questionnaire research instrument and cross-sectional time horizon
will be used for this investigation.
1.4 Start date
1.5 End date of work
External factors
2.1 Does your research include links with external organisation(s)?
Yes.
2.2 Are you seeking ethical approval from the Health Research Authority (HRA)?
No.
2.2.1 Are you seeking University sponsorship (as defined by Health Research Authority)?
No
2.3 Are you seeking ethical approval from any other external organisation (which is not the
Health Research Authority)?
No
2.4 Have you been asked by an external organisation to produce evidence of ethical approval for
your research?
No
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Participants
4 Does this research proposal (as proposed to Research Ethics Committee in its current status)
include Research Participants (humans and/or animals, either deceased or alive)?
40 managers from Hilton Hotel are participating in the research.
5 If your research fieldwork (virtual or in person) will not be carried out on University premises,
please state the location of your research.
Fieldwork will not be done in this investigation.
Location: London
Region: London
Country: United Kingdom
Sample of Interview questions
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1. How would you like to explain the concept and importance of work engagement?
2. What is meant by the term motivation within hotel sector?
3. As per your view point what are the key forms and types of motivation?
4. What do you understand by the concept of intrinsic motivation in context of UK hospitality industry?
5. As per your view point, does motivation plays a vital role in leading higher work engagement?
6. What is the importance of intrinsic motivation in leading better work engagement of the employees within
Hilton Hotel?
7. What are different challenges faced by Hilton Hotel while implementation of intrinsic motivation
strategies?
8. What are the various intrinsic motivation factors which would be helpful in developing staff?
9. Do intrinsic motivation factors have positive impacts on staff productivity on UK hospitality industry?
10. What are the positive impact and benefits of the intrinsic motivation within Hilton hotel?
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