An Analysis of Leadership Styles in Walmart Retail Operations

This project is a comprehensive dissertation proposal and partial research dissertation focused on leadership styles within Walmart, a major player in the big retail sector. The project begins with an introduction identifying the research topic, the importance of the problem, and the aim of the project, which is to determine appropriate leadership styles for managing teams and enhancing employee performance. The proposal outlines research objectives and questions, a literature review exploring various leadership styles (autocratic, democratic, laissez-faire, etc.), and the significance of leadership in business operations. The project justifies its contextualization, emphasizing the value of the study for both individuals and businesses in addressing leadership challenges. The research methodology section outlines the approach to be taken. The dissertation then presents data analysis, research discussions, outcomes, conclusions, and recommendations. The study also includes a reflection section and references, providing a detailed examination of leadership's impact on team management, employee satisfaction, and overall business productivity within the Walmart context. This document offers valuable insights into leadership strategies and their practical application in a large retail environment.

Business and Management
Dissertation

Table of Contents
Part 1 Dissertation Proposal.............................................................................................................1
Title of the Proposal.........................................................................................................................1
1.0 Introduction................................................................................................................................1
1.1 Identification of the Topic................................................................................................1
1.2 The importance of the Problem........................................................................................1
1.3 Aim of the Project............................................................................................................2
2.0 Research Objectives and Research Questions...........................................................................2
Research Objectives...............................................................................................................2
Research Questions................................................................................................................2
3.0 Literature Review.......................................................................................................................2
4.0 Justification and contextualisation.............................................................................................5
5.0 Research Methodology..............................................................................................................6
6.0 Bibliography..............................................................................................................................9
Part 2: Research Dissertation.........................................................................................................11
Introduction....................................................................................................................................11
Data Analysis.................................................................................................................................11
Research Discussion and Outcome................................................................................................27
Conclusion and Recommendation.................................................................................................29
Reflection.......................................................................................................................................32
References......................................................................................................................................34
Appendix........................................................................................................................................35

Part 1 Dissertation Proposal
Title of the Proposal
An appropriate Leadership styles and its importance in managing teams within Big retail and for
developing the professional efficiency. A study on Walmart Retail Company.
1.0 Introduction
1.1 Identification of the Topic
The present investigation initiates to determine the suitable leadership styles in managing teams
in big retail and their importance in the terms of enhancing business productivity, performance,
operations, operational handling, customers management, workforce handling and so on for customers
and employees, therefore, it is a wide academic research which states that leadership is a significant
aspect which plays an effective role in managing teams within organisations that are creating value
developing the operations of the business entirely (Arnold and et. al., 2015). In this the analysis is based
on Walmart, thus it is a large American multinational retail corporation which operates by a chain of
hypermarkets, discount department stores, and grocery stores. Therefore, the headquarter of the firm is
in Bentonville, Arkansas.
1.2 The importance of the Problem
The project into consideration is based on analysing the leadership styles in managing teams in
big retail and their importance for customers and employees. Therefore, developing team is an issue for
the business, thus it is an imperative aspect for the business to gain progression. Hence, businesses are
facing issue of managing the suitable strength in the workforce and also assessing the suitable team to
manage the operations business effective. The project is mainly executed to eliminate the issue and
developing effective leadership styles to enhance the performance and profitability of the business. In
addition to this, the study is also efficacious in providing detailed evaluation over the area of leadership
which will be suitable in enhancing an individual or researchers personal as well as professional skills.
Another major significant of this study is that it is suitable for resolving the issues of leadership via
developing detailed analysis which would be beneficial for the businesses to conduct suitable operations
(Herrmann and Felfe, 2014).
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1.3 Aim of the Project
The key aim of this project is to conduct an investigation into critically determine appropriate
leadership styles and its importance in managing teams within Big retail for enhancing the effective
employee’s performance. A study on Walmart Retail Company.
2.0 Research Objectives and Research Questions
Research Objectives
 To critically develop recognition about the conceptual framework of leadership in the context of
retail business.
 To identify the suitable leadership styles and its significance in managing teams for the intention
of encouraging higher growth within Walmart.
 To articulate the potential impact of leadership style in managing teams for creating
effectiveness for customers and employees within Walmart.
 To access the suitable measures that can effectively be implement by Walmart in managing
teams for developing the satisfaction of customers as well as employees.
Research Questions
 What is the conceptual framework of leadership in the context of retail business?
 What are the suitable leadership styles and its significance in managing teams for the intention
of encouraging higher growth within Walmart?
 What is the potential impact of leadership style in managing teams for creating effectiveness for
customers and employees within Walmart?
 What are the effective measures for Walmart to managing teams for developing the satisfaction
of customers as well as employees?
3.0 Literature Review
Literature Review is defined to be the most imperative area of an investigation; thus, it is effective
in developing detailed framework to explore recognition in relation to a specified study phenomenon.
This section of research is mainly encompassing over secondary sources like books, journals, published
and nonpublished articles and so on (Lam and O’Higgins, 2012). However, this part of investigation is
effective in providing comprehension in relation to a specified area so that objectives can be attained
effectively.
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According to the views analysis of Neil Kokemuller, 2020, leadership is mainly defined as the
aspect of guiding others in the direction of attaining common objectives, thus, leadership style is
effective in implementing the entire business operations in effective manner under the specific trait of
leaders to attain growth and success. Therefore, leadership style mainly results through the way in that
a manager and leader applied their personality and temperament to the individual and business decision
they manage. An appropriate leadership style helps the business in developing suitable teams, which are
effective in rending efficient facilities to the employees and customers. In the context of business
leadership plays imperative role in managing human resources at workplace for the intention of
developing entire business process with the effective collaboration of employees at workplace.
As per the views stated by Bruna Martinuzzi, 2019, leadership styles are defined as leaders’
methods of rendering direction, executing plans and encouraging individual at workplace. Thus,
leadership mainly defined as a fluid practice which needs to be charged and developed the way in which
individual are getting support to report the business growth. In the context of business, leadership plays
vital role in the growth and development of the business, thus leaders are imperative in providing
significant direction to the employees to direct the business and its operations in right manner to attain
growth and success (Lee and et. al., 2011). However, there are assorted styles of leadership like
autocratic, democratic, laissez faire, strategic, transformational, transactional, Bureaucratic Leadership
and so on. Therefore, these are imperative in nature and having values in developing business
operations, production, productivity, employee’s performance and so on. According to the views
analysis of Netra Shetty, 2011, In today’s modern business era the key motive of each small as well as
large business enterprises is to attaining higher growth and success with the effective coordination and
collaborations of employees at workplace. However, businesses are seeking for implementing effective
leadership styles to develop the operations and progression of the business. Walmart is a large chain of
hypermarket which has its operations at global level and the firm has incorporated its operations based
over democratic leadership style, therefore, this leadership values the input of the team members and
employees but the responsibility of developing the final decision rests through the participative leaders
(Popli and Rizvi, 2017). As a multinational corporate decisions taking is the heart of the business and the
management of the business has providing the opportunities to the businesses employees to get involve
in the decision making process that this create value for the business in attaining higher growth and
success.
According to the views analysis of Germano (2010), leadership is an important aspect which is
requires to be considered by the businesses to gain growth and success; therefore, leadership has a
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direct influence over the relationship upon business and their success. However, Leaders determine
values, culture, change tolerance and employee motivation. They shape institutional strategies involving
their implementation and appropriateness. Leaders can also appear at any stage of a business and are
not elite to assist the entire operations. Thus, businesses are focusing over managing operations with
the intention of attaining growth. Hence the successful leaders do all the efforts which helps the
business in attaining growth. They mainly influence those who are around them and having an
important part in business roles in respect to reap maximum advantages through the business
resources, involving its most vital and expensive: its people. In the context of Walmart, leadership has
direct impact over the operations and progression of the business, thus it business involve human
participants to get success as the leaders are guiding individual in the manner of attaining business
objectives. According to the views analysis of THOMPSON (2019), Leadership has created important
value for the business to manage their operations and values, however, business at international level
are in consist over implementing effective leadership styles for the intention of developing effective
decisions to explore the operations at wider level (Michie and Zumitzavan, 2012). Despite from this,
Walmart is operated at wider level and has effective operations for this leadership widely support the
enterprise in managing human resources and executing effective business practices which are effective
for the business to gain advancement. Effective implementation of leadership style has direct positive
impact over the operations and progression of the business, thus, Wal-Mart Inc. has its own effective
leadership assessment tests that are known to Wal-Mart Tactical Leadership Assessment tests that
mainly contains situational analysis and covers subjects that are ranging through decisive thoughts,
customer service, communication and efficacious leadership. As the Wal Mart hierarchy goes up and for
this leadership assessment is required for the business to attain growth. Therefore, the business chair is
also determined to appraisal through the panel members and basically, this assessment is completed via
dialogue which are encompassing over on how far the business went as far as attaining the business
goals and targets. The productive criticism provides to the Chairman an effective criticism which enables
the business to develop performance and attain higher profitability. Walmart is operated at a larger
level and has its operations at global level and for suitable assessment of operations business is seeking
for concerning over developing teams in which leaders plays vital role in assisting the members in the
effective direction to gain growth and success (Barrow and Mosley, 2011). Development of team is
effective in managing operations as teams are effective in managing operations and conducting the
functions via the collaborative efforts and guidance of leaders, this also create value for the business in
effective handling of customers to satisfy them effectively. Walmart is a big retail which are
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incorporated its operations among the teams as it is the most suitable way to render satisfaction to the
customers and employees as well, therefore, team working is effective because in this coordination and
collaborations are endure together to perform effectively.
4.0 Justification and contextualisation
This is another important area of an investigation as it creates value for the investigation in
determining the suitability of the project execution in the manner of an individual or a business (Wirtz
and Jerger, 2016). The investigation into actual assessment is based on determining leadership styles in
managing teams in Big retail and their effectiveness for customers and employees, however, this is wide
area of academic writing which has creating value for individual and business as well.
An investigation is basically executed to resolve an issue with the help of accumulating
information from assorted sources which are effective in addressing the issue effectively. The present
research based on the area of examining leadership styles in managing teams in Big retail and their
effectiveness for customers and employees, has its own value in the context of business, thus leadership
is termed to be the key challenge of business which has faces the issue of leadership and its
management (Fast, Burris, Bartel, 2014). Therefore, the implementation of study over such area creates
value in resolving the issue via accumulation of imperative data which are encompasses over the specific
investigation area. This study has created value for an individual in developing knowledge regarding the
area of leadership and how it creates value for the business in attaining growth. This research is also
important in the manner for the researcher as it provides academic value to the investigator via
enhancing their skills base with the area of leaders and its appropriateness for team working.
In the present investigation the analysis is based over the area of leadership and its
effectiveness for the business to develop teams and fulfilling the customers’ demand. Therefore, the
considered area of important to find because leadership is a most common issue which is widely being
faced by the businesses to attain growth and success, thus the execution of an analysis is imperative in
the manner to directing the businesses and individuals to manage leadership within big retailers and
their effectiveness for customers and employees. However, the present study is effective in the context
of developing personal as well as professional ability of individual which would be implementing by
them to addressing their future challenges effectively and developing projects with effective support
(Schuler and Jackson, 2014). The present study over the area of leadership is important because it
supports individual and the businesses to implementing effective leadership style for the manner of
attaining business development, however, this study has imperative value for Walmart and other
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businesses to conduct effective execution of leadership and how the leadership style helps the business
in attaining advancement. Despite from this, with the help of appropriate knowledge regarding
leadership businesses can move in the suitable direction to attain advancement.
In this present study analysis, the information is mainly gathered through the secondary sources
as the secondary tools like books, journals, articles and magazines are imperative in providing detailed
theoretical frame work which helps in making appropriate understating in relation to a specified area.
This study generate value for the business to know about the aspect of leadership and how it is effective
for the business in attaining growth and success. This analysis is particularly providing significant vale for
Walmart in arranging operations effectively via emerging suitable style of leadership which is effective in
promoting team working and fulfilling customer’s desires. This study has also creating value for the
learners and researcher to explore own idea in relation to the specific area which might help them to
gain growth and success in their future perspective.
Yes, the investigation will be completed timely, thus it mainly does respond to the requirement for
the business to gaining insight out about the area of leadership which might be effective for the
businesses and mainly to Walmart to gain growth and success. This investigation has effective in fulfilling
the basic requirement of the businesses to resolve the issues which are incorporated via leadership and
its effective styles (Lewis and Loker, 2014).
5.0 Research Methodology
Research Methodology is defined as an important area of investigation which is effective in
assisting the investigation in right manner to drawn valid and reliable outcome. This section mainly in-
corporate over assorted applications which are imperative to assist investigation based over the area of
examining leadership styles in managing teams in Big retail and their effectiveness for customers and
employees, are defined as below:
Research paradigm: An investigation paradigm is defined as a set of common beliefs and agreements
which are mainly shared among researcher about how the issues should be understood and addressed
effectively, therefore, this section is categorised among ontology, epistemology methodology, and
methods (Schaubroeck, Lam and Peng, 2016). Therefore, in this existing evaluation, epistemology is the
vital theory that assist the researcher to create objective outcomes which are encompasses over the
selected investigation region. In the deliberation of this philosophy, investigator will need to implement
positivism philosophy as it is efficacious in executing quantitative evaluation via providing precise and
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convincing evidence over a minimum period of time. However, positivism philosophy is effective for
quantitative analysis and helps in generating valuable results.
Research methodological approach: This section is based over making suitable selection of approaches
to guide the entire investigation in right manner, therefore, this section base on deductive and inductive
approach. In the context of this present investigation, deductive approach will have termed to be
effective methodology as it is imperative in developing suitable theories and hypothesis which are
incorporates over the specified area as well as thus tool is effective for quantitative analysis (Reed,
Goolsby and Johnston, 2016).
Research Methods: The choice of methodology incorporates over qualitative and quantitative aspects;
therefore, in this present investigation quantitative research will significantly be implementing to assist
the project in appropriate manner. As this approach is based on actual facts and figures and helps in
providing descriptive evaluation over a specified investigation region. However, this is an imperative
systematic investigation of phenomena through collecting quantifiable information and performing
statistical, mathematical, or computational techniques.
Data Collection techniques: This section is relay among two aspects i.e. primary and secondary source of
data collection, however, in this present investigation context, both primary and secondary tool will be
supportive in accumulation of valuable information, thus, primary research will be supportive in the
manner of developing survey because it is effective in gathering information from the wider population
and in this information is mainly accumulated via the vies analysis of people. In addition to this, survey is
also valuable in gathering effective data that are specific to the chosen stud area and in this first-hand
information will be generated via development of questionnaire. On the other hand, secondary tools
like books, journals and articles are imperative in the manner of exploring theoretical perspective about
the chosen study phenomenon.
Sample size and target populations: Sampling mainly based over probabilistic and non-probabilistic
data sampling tools, herewith, considering the present analysis, sampling will be the imperative area to
make suitable selection of participants to gather information. In this analysis individuals are randomly
picked through the probabilistic tools (Handa and Gulati, 2014). Therfore, participants are the people
who helps researcher in gathering valuable information in relation to the subject area. However, in this
sample size of around 60 will be suitable to gather information as in this managers and leaders of
Walmart will be select to gather information as leaders are very much close to the operations of the
business and also helps in rendering suitable information in relation to the aspect of the importance of
leadership in managing operations of the business.
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Research Ethics: An investigation execution is based on ethics as it is important for the researcher to
follow research ethics in respect to guide the entire project is right manner without influencing any
issue. Therefore, it is important for the researcher to provide consent at the beginning of the research to
receiving the approval of taking participation in the project and also ensure them to taking their consent
back in any situation. In addition to this, researcher also needs to ensure participants about the safety
and security of their private data as individual are very much concern over maintain security of their
personal information.
Limitations of the research: The key limitation of this analysis is the provided time to complete the
project, thus the given time for this specific project is less and it is hard for the researcher to complete
the project activities within the limited time span (Ahmad and Gelaidan, 2011). However, another issue
is related to the access of information as it is also important for the investigator to make suitable
selection of sources like books, journals, online sites and websites to gather appropriate information. In
addition to this, investigator is also having the issue of receiving suitable response from the participants
some time people are not that much of interested to provide suitable information.
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6.0 Bibliography
Books and Journals
Arnold, K. A. and et. al., 2015. Leadership styles, emotion regulation, and burnout. Journal of
Occupational Health Psychology, 20(4), p.481.
Herrmann, D. and Felfe, J., 2014. Effects of leadership style, creativity technique and personal initiative
on employee creativity. British Journal of Management, 25(2), pp.209-227.
Lam, C. S. and O'Higgins, E. R., 2012. Enhancing employee outcomes: The interrelated influences of
managers' emotional intelligence and leadership style. Leadership and Organization
Development Journal, 33(2), pp.149-174.
Lee, P. K. and et. al., 2011. An empirical study of transformational leadership, team performance and
service quality in retail banks. Omega, 39(6), pp.690-701.
Popli, S. and Rizvi, I. A., 2017. Leadership style and service orientation: the catalytic role of employee
engagement. Journal of Service Theory and Practice.
Michie, J. and Zumitzavan, V., 2012. The impact of ‘learning’and ‘leadership’management styles on
organizational outcomes: a study of tyre firms in Thailand. Asia Pacific Business
Review, 18(4), pp.607-630.
Barrow, S. and Mosley, R., 2011. The employer brand: Bringing the best of brand management to people
at work. John Wiley & Sons.
Wirtz, J. and Jerger, C., 2016. Managing service employees: literature review, expert opinions, and
research directions. The Service Industries Journal, 36(15-16), pp.757-788.
Fast, N. J., Burris, E. R. and Bartel, C. A., 2014. Managing to stay in the dark: Managerial self-efficacy, ego
defensiveness, and the aversion to employee voice. Academy of Management
Journal, 57(4), pp.1013-1034.
Schuler, R. and Jackson, S. E., 2014. Human resource management and organizational effectiveness:
yesterday and today. Journal of Organizational Effectiveness: People and Performance.
Lewis, T. L. and Loker, S., 2014. Technology usage intent among apparel retail employees. International
Journal of Retail & Distribution Management.
Schaubroeck, J. M., Lam, S. S. and Peng, A. C., 2016. Can peers’ ethical and transformational leadership
improve coworkers’ service quality? A latent growth analysis. Organizational Behavior and
Human Decision Processes, 133, pp.45-58.
Reed, K., Goolsby, J. R. and Johnston, M. K., 2016. Listening in and out: Listening to customers and
employees to strengthen an integrated market-oriented system. Journal of Business
Research, 69(9), pp.3591-3599.
Handa, M. and Gulati, A., 2014. Employee engagement. Journal of Management Research, 14(1), pp.57-
67.
Ahmad, H. and Gelaidan, H. M., 2011. Organisational culture, leadership styles and employee’s affective
commitment to change: A case of Yemen public sector. The Journal of Organizational
Management Studies, 2011, pp.1-10.
Online
Martinuzzi. B., 2019. The 7 Most Common Leadership Styles (and How to Find Your Own). [Online]
Available Through:< https://www.americanexpress.com/en-us/business/trends-and-insights/
articles/the-7-most-common-leadership-styles-and-how-to-find-your-own/>.
Shetty. N., 2011. Leadership Style at Walmart. [Online] Available Through:<
https://www.managementpedia.com/threads/leadership-style-at-walmart.221488/>.
Germano. M., 2010. Leadership Style and Organizational Impact. [Online] Available Through:<
https://ala-apa.org/newsletter/2010/06/08/spotlight/>.
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Thompson. A., 2019. Walmart’s Human Resource Management. [Online] Available Through:<
http://panmore.com/walmart-human-resource-management-hr-management>.
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