Research Proposal: Leadership Impact on Productivity in UK Retail

This document presents a dissertation research proposal focused on studying the impact of leadership on organizational productivity and performance within a business in the UK retail industry, specifically IKEA. The research aims to identify this impact through several objectives: developing a basic understanding of leadership in a business context, determining the types of leadership styles used by IKEA, examining the impact of leadership on organizational productivity and performance at IKEA, and evaluating the benefits of effective leadership for IKEA. The proposal includes research questions addressing the concept of leadership, leadership styles at IKEA, the impact of leadership on productivity, and the benefits of effective leadership. It also outlines the research methodology, including an exploratory research design, a quantitative research approach using a case study strategy, and thematic data analysis techniques. The proposal concludes with a plan of work, required resources, and a bibliography of relevant sources. This resource is available on Desklib, a platform offering study tools and assignments for students.

Dissertation Research Proposal
Student Number
Name
Programme
Title of Dissertation
Studying the impact of leadership on organisational productivity
and performance of a business within UK retail industry
Aims of Dissertation
Research Aim:
To identify the impact of leadership on productivity and performance of an organisation:
A study on IKEA
Research Objectives:
 To develop basic understanding regarding the leadership in business context
 To determine the types of leadership styles used by IKEA
 To examine the impact of leadership on organisational productivity and
performance of IKEA
 To evaluate the benefits of leadership for IKEA
Research Questions:
 What is the concept of leadership in business context?
 What are the types of leadership styles used by IKEA?
 How leadership has impacted on organisational productivity and performance of
IKEA?
 What are the benefits of having effective leadership within IKEA?
Research Hypothesis(es)
Null hypothesis (H1) : There is no significant impact of leadership on organization
productivity and performance.
Alternative hypothesis ( H0) : There is a significant impact of leadership on organization
productivity and performance.
Literature Review
What is the concept of leadership in business context?
According to Obodo (2020), leadership in an organisation is the capacity of an
organisation's management for setting and achieving challenging objectives, taking fast
and decisive action when required, outperforming competition and inspiring other for
performing at the greatest level they could. Leadership gives direction an organisation
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and its employees. Workers require to know the direction in which an organisation is
headed and who to follow for reaching the destination.
What are the types of leadership styles used by IKEA?
According to Vahlne and Jonsson (2017), IKEA is a private household supplies retail
business. IKEA is efficiently business for making money and this company has great
effective leadership styles for managing its employees. The first leadership style is
autocracy, in this managers set goals, manages staff with activities and encourages
obedience. The other leadership style followed by IKEA is democracy, encourages
workers for taking part in the decisions of the organisation.
How leadership has impacted on organisational productivity and performance of
IKEA?
According to Jia, Gong and Brown (2019), it is being determined that leadership is very
important and significant in an organisation because it positively impacts the
performance and productivity of the organisation. Employees become more motivated
and encouraged towards their work and this ultimately assists in attaining objectives of
the organisation. The communication level of the organisation is quite effective and this
assists in maintaining cordial relations with employees.
What are the benefits of having effective leadership within IKEA?
According to Meyer and Meijers (2017), leadership in an organisation is quite important
because it assists in improving the success rate of whole organisation. Some of the
benefits of effective leadership are: This increases the morale level of employees so that
they can be aligned with the objectives of an organisation. The other greatest benefit is
effective communication. Communication is created with the help of leadership and this
helps in building stronger relationship between employee and employers.
Research Methodology
(A) Research Design (Exploratory, Descriptive or Causal)
Research design is the research methodology that helps in the systematic collection and
analysis of information (Cosmo and Yang, 2017). The research design consists of three
forms which are: exploratory, descriptive and casual research design. Investigator will
choose exploratory research design so that theoretical information could be evaluated and
analysed in a proper duration of time. With the help of exploratory research design,
investigator could more focus on non- statistical and non-numerical facts and figures.
(B) Research Approach (Qualitative / Observational / Survey / Experimental)
Research approach is the significant data collection method which is classified into two
forms which are: quantitative and qualitative research. Researcher will depend upon
quantitative research approach so that theoretical data can be accumulated easily about
the chosen topic. Under qualitative research approach, investigator will select case study
strategy because it is quite effective method for the collection of theoretical data and text
data in the decided period of time (Ørngreen and Levinsen, 2017).
(C) Research Instrument (Questionnaire / Mechanical Instruments)
Research instrument is the research methodology that helps in the collection of data so
that appropriate type of information can be accumulated. The instrument that will be
considered by investigator is case study instrument. The instrument of case study is very
helpful for the researcher because it assists in saving costs, reaching more number of

people instantly and quickly, accuracy of information, participant anonymity and many
more. Investigator will also use secondary sources for the collection of one kind of
information which are: second-hand data. With the help of secondary data, researcher
will take out published insights about the topic. Therefore, with the assistance of
secondary data, researcher will use already taken out insights as base for addressing
defined research questions (Snyder, 2019).
(D) Sampling Design (Sampling frame, Sample size, Sampling Method)
The present research is based upon secondary data so in this sampling method is not used
in the present investigation.
(E) Data Analysis Techniques
Data analysis is the method that facilitates in the procedure of analysing information.
There are many kinds of data analysis which are: thematic analysis, content analysis,
frequency distribution analysis and many more. Researcher will use thematic analysis so
that qualitative data can be evaluated and examined (Pandey and Pandey, 2021).
Plan of Work
Gantt chart is the time scheduling chart which helps in organising and managing time
with several activities of the investigation. This chart provides every activity with
appropriate time interval so that aim could be accomplished (Nayak and Singh, 2021).
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Resources Required
In the current investigation, there are many resources which are used for conducting it.
Some of the resources are: time framework, cost, secondary sources like books, journals,
newspapers, publications and many more. Hence, these sources have played major
importance in conducting the investigation systematically, appropriately and reliably
(Mishra and Alok, 2017).
Bibliography
REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Obodo, C., 2020. Retail Organizational Change and Leadership in ICA Maxi and IKEA.
Vahlne, J.E. and Jonsson, A., 2017. Ambidexterity as a dynamic capability in the
globalization of the multinational business enterprise (MBE): Case studies of AB Volvo
and IKEA. International Business Review, 26(1), pp.57-70.
Jia, F., Gong, Y. and Brown, S., 2019. Multi-tier sustainable supply chain management:
The role of supply chain leadership. International Journal of Production Economics, 217,
pp.44-63.
Meyer, R. and Meijers, R., 2017. Leadership agility: Developing your repertoire of
leadership styles. Routledge.
Cosmo, D.E. and Yang, K., 2017. A Further Strategic Move to Sustainability-A Case
Study on IKEA. Journal of Strategic Innovation and Sustainability, 12(2), pp.39-47.
Ørngreen, R. and Levinsen, K., 2017. Workshops as a Research Methodology. Electronic
Journal of E-learning, 15(1), pp.70-81.
Snyder, H., 2019. Literature review as a research methodology: An overview and
guidelines. Journal of business research, 104, pp.333-339.
Kumar, R., 2018. Research methodology: A step-by-step guide for beginners. Sage.
Pandey, P. and Pandey, M.M., 2021. Research Methodology Tools and Techniques.
Nayak, J.K. and Singh, P., 2021. Fundamentals of Research Methodology Problems and
Prospects. SSDN Publishers & Distributors.
Mishra, S.B. and Alok, S., 2017. Handbook of research methodology. Educreation,.

Form of Presentation
Signature of student: ………………………………….. Date: …………………………………..
Moderator’s Comments
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