Strategic Management Project: Staff Absence at Red Carnation Hotel

This report presents a strategic management project focused on investigating staff absence within the operations department of Red Carnation Hotel. The project aims to identify the causes of high employee absenteeism and recommend strategies to reduce it, ultimately improving service quality and profitability. The report includes an introduction outlining the problem's significance and the objectives of the study. It details the research methodology, including positivism as a research philosophy, a descriptive research design, and an inductive approach to data collection. Both primary and secondary data were collected and analyzed using a thematic method. The findings reveal key factors contributing to absenteeism, such as workload, working environment, long working hours, and employee dissatisfaction with superiors and coworkers. The report utilizes a decision-making model to evaluate alternatives and recommend actions, such as addressing work stress, improving working conditions, and enhancing employee motivation. The project concludes with an evaluation of the results and recommendations for implementing the proposed strategies.

CONDUCTING A STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT
PROJECT
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
1.1 Determining topic for investigation which has strategic implication...................................3
1.2 Discussing aim, objectives and scope...................................................................................3
1.3 Justifying the topic investigation and its aim, scope and objectives.....................................4
1.4 Evaluating research methodology, including the project structure and research base..........4
Timescale....................................................................................................................................5
2.1 Identifying sources of data and information that will support the aim of the project...........6
2.2 Synthesising the data and information for alternatives that will support the project aim.....8
2.3 Determining options or alternative which supports the project aim...................................10
3.1 Evaluating research analysis to enable conclusions to be made.........................................11
3.2 Recommendation for the course of action that achieves the project aim............................15
3.3 Analyzing impact of recommendations..............................................................................16
4.1 Evaluating the medium to be used to present the result of the project...............................17
4.2 Producing results of investigative project...........................................................................17
4.3 Evaluating impact of investigative project..........................................................................18
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................18
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................20
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INTRODUCTION
Main aim of any organisation is to gain maximum profit and this is only possible when
they understand their customers and provide them services accordingly (Conducting strategic
management, 2014). Further, it is also essential for the company to have skilful and
knowledgeable workers so that they can provide full effort in achieving their goals and
objectives. Present report is on Red Carnation Hotel which is one of the fastest growing firms. In
this organisation I am working as a senior manager and it is my responsibility to make sure that
all employees perform effectively and efficiently. Cited firm aims at providing their customers
with high quality services. This report will focus on the issues which are faced by the company
because of staff absence.
1.1 Determining topic for investigation which has strategic implication
The topic which has been selected is one of the main issues because of which business
operations are negatively affected. The topic which is selected by me as a senior manager is on
employee's absence in the operation's department. In a hotel, there are many employees who are
provided with different set of roles and responsibilities. It is important for them to perform their
responsibilities in an effective way so that business operations can be carried out efficiently
(Abdullah and Lee, 2012). However, when any of the employee gets absent, then his/her part of
job has to be performed by other employees. As a result, the burden increases and people fail to
perform even their part of job efficiently. Further, issues which are faced by organisation include
lack in quality of services that affects profitability and goodwill of the firm.
1.2 Discussing aim, objectives and scope
Aim and objectives are set to develop path through which the desired goals can be
achieved. In this context, following are the aim and objectives:
Aim: “To investigate the high number of staff absences in the operation's department: A study
on Red Carnation Hotel”.
Objectives:
 To analyse the issue of staff absence in hotel industry
 To determine the factors which lead towards the staff absence in operations department at
Red Carnation Hotel
 To recommend ways for reducing the staff absence at Red Carnation Hotel
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Scope: In order to achieve the aim and objectives, total time scale that will be required is 10
weeks time. Different set of strategies will be adopted that will enable to overcome the issue. The
performance level will be improved and employees will be able to provide their customers with
high quality services.
1.3 Justifying the topic investigation and its aim, scope and objectives
The main issues which are faced within organisation are regarding employee’s absence.
In this context, some of few reasons for this issue are lack of interest, de-motivation, lack of
training, etc. When workers face these types of issues then they fail to have the willingness to
work. As per the aim and objectives which are set by me as a manager, will enable to identify the
key factors because of which this issue has raised (Kehoe and Wright, 2013). The business
operations are highly affected when staffs are absent frequently. When this set of issue is solved,
then this will enable the organisation to improve their performance and in this context, new set of
strategies will be selected with the help of which issue can be solved. During the season time, the
number of customers who visit hotel is high as compared during the off-season. There are cases
in which management fails to provide proper services due to lack of employees. In such
situation, workers are hired more but issues arise when existing employees get absent. When new
employees are hired then they do not perform the same level as existing workers. This creates
problems in maintaining quality of work.
1.4 Evaluating research methodology, including the project structure and research base:
Research methodology can be determined as a process through which analysis and data is
collected. With the research methodology, the report is presented in an effective and in a
systematic manner. Following are the research methodology which will be used in this research
project:
Research philosophy: This is a type of research structure which enables to conduct the
research in a specific direction. As per the research aim which is evaluating factors due to which
high number of staff takes leave in operations department (Neuman and Robson, 2012). The
research philosophy which will be used is positivism as it has direct impact over the objectives.
This will enable to identify the factors because of which staffs are absent within Red Carnation
Hotel. On the other hand, it takes time in order to make sure that proper structure is being
developed.
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Research design: This can be determined as structured and organised plan which enables
to investigate the research objectives. As per the project, descriptive design is selected and it
enables to conduct the study without making any changes in the data. Moreover, it also helps to
properly interact with employees and it will assist in identifying the factors because of which
employee’s absence is high. Exploratory research is defined as the initial research into a
hypothetical or theoretical idea and in this researcher has an idea about something which needs
to be undertaken as per the groundwork but it consumes lot of time in order to gather relevant
information for the research. Descriptive research is defined as attempts that explore and explain
while providing additional information about a topic. Another category is explanatory research
which is defined as an attempt to connect ideas to comprehend cause and effect analysis.
Research approach: In order to conduct a study, it is important to select right approach
so as to carry out the final outcome of the study (Denzin, 2012). In this context, inductive
approach will be used. The reason for selecting this research is that there no use of hypothesis to
carry out the investigation. Deductive approach works from more general to specific; however
sometimes called as a systematic approach. It usually begins with hypothesis and generally
emphasized on causality. However, inductive approach is usually on exploring new phenomenon
or looking at previously researched phenomenon from diverse perspective. Hence, both are
associated with different techniques of data analysis.
Data collection: There are mainly two ways through which data can be collected and it
includes primary and secondary. As per the research, both secondary and primary research will
be conducted (Reynolds, Creemers and Teddlie, 2014). This will be helpful in achieving the aim
and objectives. All the information which is collected for the first time is primary data and this
will be collected from employees. This is effective but it is important to determine the righ tool
to be used so that primary data can be collected. Data which is already been collected by some
other person and it is being use as a reference, and then it is called as the secondary data. It can
be collected through books, scholars, website, etc. However, it is difficult to identify the right
sources through which secondary data can be extracted.
Data analysis: There are different ways through which data can be analysed. Data
analysis can be determined as a process through which the collected information is changed into
an understandable way (Short, Black and Wells, 2012). In the present study, thematic method
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will be used. This will enable to properly evaluate the data collected through primary source.
However, it is not suitable when there is not many sample size taken.
With the help of this research methodology, it can be evaluated that the aim and
objectives on which this research is conducted with be achieved effectively and efficiently. All
the elements that are included in this will help to achieve the objectives.
Below given are the project structure and research base that will enable to conduct
research in an effective manner.
Project structure: Overall research will include the introduction in which brief
description will be given that will enable the present cover the detail related to issue faced by
organisation. Further, aim and objectives will be set, then research methodology will be covered
that will enable to undertake the research in systematic manner. Moreover, timescale will be set
and then data will be collected. Lastly, topic will be made with the help of which reasons of issue
will be determined.
Research base: There are different types of issues which are faced by organisation.
However, one of the main issues is high employee absence. This is negatively affecting the
overall business operations and performance.
Timescale
Activity 1th
Week
2nd
Wee
k
3rd
Wee
k
4th
We
ek
5th
Wee
k
6th
Wee
k
7th
Week
8th
Week
9th
Week
10th
Week
Find
research
Topic
Literature
Review
Drafting of
methodolog
y
Finish
Proposal
Design
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question
and pilot
research
Carry out &
Record
Research
Data
Analysis
and
Making
Graphs
Discussion
and
Conclusion
Final
Report
Editing &
Completion
2.1 Identifying sources of data and information that will support the aim of the project
As stated above, there are different types of source through which data can be collected.
Among which following are few ways through which information will be collected for the
current aim and objectives:
Primary data: This is a type of research in which questionnaire, interviews, observation,
etc. will be used in order to collect primary data. As per the research aim, questionnaire will be
developed and will include the questions that have to be filled up by employees and this way the
factors because of which employees get absent can be determined. This is an effective way and it
will enable to achieve the aim and objectives effectively. In accordance with the case, research
will develop questionnaire and that will be filled up by employees. This will fall under the
internal source.
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Secondary data: There are different ways through which secondary data can be
collected. In this context, it includes articles, journals, books, websites, etc. There are different
types of researches conducted and the data collected by will be helpful enough to come with an
appropriate outcome for the research aim and objectives. However, there are cases in which the
data collected from the secondary sources can be relied on fully so it is important to identify the
reliable source from which information can be collected. As per the case, research will make use
of sources like books, journals, online, etc. As stated above, there are different people who have
conducted research on various topics related to issues faced by the workers, reasons for
employees de-motivation, etc. By taking information from such journals or articles, research will
be conduct in an effective manner.
2.2 Synthesising the data and information for options or alternatives that will support the project
aim
There are mainly two different types of alternatives which enable to collect the data in a
systematic manner. In this context, it includes qualitative and quantitative data which helps to
conduct the research effectively. Qualitative data can be determined as a category of measuring
information not in terms of numbers. When data is not analysed in terms of numeric form then it
is termed to be qualitative data. On the other hand, quantitative data can be determined as a
group of data which is in numeric form. The data which is qualitative is very difficult to
understand. However, through this analysis, it assists to present the information in a presentable
manner. There are cases in which viewers do not understand the data in a numerical form. In
accordance with the case, as per the aim and objectives, qualitative data will be used. With this
respect, questionnaire will be used so that proper analysis can be made. This will enable to
evaluate and present the data properly. Following are the thematic which is analysed according
to the respondents which are provided by employees:
Question 1: Opinion of employee towards work
1. What is the opinion of employees about work? Frequency
High work load 9
Ineffective working environment 6
Long working hours 11
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Restrictions 4
Question 2: Leaves taken by employees in a month
Total leaves taken by worker in a month Frequency
No leaves 3
1 day 11
2-3 days 9
4-5 days 5
More than 5 days 2
Question 3: Reasons for employee’s absenteeism
What are the reasons for employee’s
absenteeism?
Frequency
Less turn over 3
De-motivation 3
Work stress 7
Poor working conditions 4
Overtime 5
Lack of interest 6
All the above 2
Question 4: Satisfaction level of worker with their superiors
What is the satisfaction level of worker with their superiors? Frequency
Highly dis-satisfied 6
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Dis-satisfied 8
Neutral 7
Satisfaction 5
Highly satisfied 4
Question 5: Co-workers support
Do you think that co-workers are not
supportive
Frequency
Yes 18
No 12
2.3 Determining options or alternative which supports the project aim
In order to make the decision, decision making model will be used through which the
research aim is being identified. As per the model used for decision making there are about 8
steps involved with the help of which the decision is made in selecting aim for the research study
for Red Carnation hotel. Following are the steps involved in decision making:
Identifying the problem: Red Carnation hotel is facing serious issue of employees’
absence and because of this the firm is facing losses and business operations are negatively
affected.
Establishing decision criteria: This will enable to identify the factors because of which
cited firm is facing this issue. Further, it will help to identify the main cause due to which this
problem or issue arises.
Weight decision criteria: Each factor has its own importance and all the aspects should
be analysed. Further, they should be rated and most rated factors should be analysed.
Generating alternative: As per the findings, there are different ways through which the
research can develop alternatives which will be helpful in conducting the research within Red
Carnation hotel.
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Evaluating alternative: All the alternative factors that are listed out should be evaluated.
Selecting best alternative: Among the entire alternative, issues which are faced by the
workers within Red Carnation hotel will be determined.
Implement the decision: The decision which is been taken should be implemented. This
will be helpful in overcoming the problem witnessed by the firm.
Evaluating decision: As per the case, the decision is required to be taken in order to
identify the main issue which was faced by Red Carnation hotel. With the help of decision
making model, problem related to staff absence can be identified.
In the present case, it has been identified that the problems related to employee
absenteeism within Red Carnation hotel have been increasing; therefore this is regarded as the
actual problem statement for the present study. In order to reach towards the aims and objectives,
it is essential for the researcher to conduct the entire study in systematic manner so that all the
tools can be utilized in suitable way. Thematic analysis has been done in the area of data analysis
wherein themes have been prepared as per the research objectives.
3.1 Evaluating research analysis to enable conclusions to be made
In order to evaluate the findings, themes have been prepared and this has also helped in
reaching towards suitable conclusion. Thus, from the entire discussion, it can be said that as per
the timetable, the whole process is conducted. Qualitative method of data analysis has been used
in the present study; hence suitable responses are acquired through the same.
As per the findings, it can be stated that there are different set of issues which has been
identified because of which employees absenteeism is high. With this respect, following are the
interpretation made through questionnaire given to 30 workers within Red Carnation Hotel:
Question 1: Opinion of employee towards work
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From the above given analysis, it can be stated that among 30 workers, 11 of them feel
that according to them the working hours are very long. However, 9 of them believe that the
work pressure is high. Further, 6 workers think that the working environment is not proper.
Lastly, about 4 of employees feel that there are many restrictions because of which they believe
that they are not able to work freely. It is the responsibility of management to work over the
issue faced by workers and should provide them with flexible working condition. As per the
findings, it can be concluded that workers Red Carnation hotel are not satisfied with the long
working hours.
Question 2: Leaves taken by employees in a month
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9
6
11
4
High work load
Ineffective working
environment
Long working hours
Restrictions