Case Study: Leadership Style and Employee Performance at Woolworths

This report investigates the impact of leadership styles on employee performance, using a case study approach focusing on Woolworths Limited. It details the research philosophy, adopting a positivist approach, and the chosen research strategy, which involves a survey through questionnaires to gather both qualitative and quantitative data. The report discusses the implementation of simple random sampling to select participants and addresses ethical considerations crucial to the research process, including informed consent, privacy, and data protection. Data analysis methods, including quantitative data analysis using statistical software like MS-Excel, are outlined. The research also acknowledges the limitations and potential biases associated with the chosen methods, ensuring a critical evaluation of their application. Desklib provides students access to this paper and many more solved assignments.

Running head: IBRM
Assessment 3: Research Methods
‘An analysis of the impact of leadership style on employee’s performance: A case study of
Woolworths limited'

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Table of Contents
Introduction.................................................................................................................................................3
Research philosophy and approach..........................................................................................................3
Research strategy.....................................................................................................................................3
Data collection methods..............................................................................................................................5
Choice of method........................................................................................................................................6
Sampling.................................................................................................................................................6
Critical evaluation of methods and their application....................................................................................7
Ethical requirements....................................................................................................................................8
Conclusion.................................................................................................................................................10
References.................................................................................................................................................11

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Introduction
The main aim of this investigation is to assess impact of leadership on performance of employees
with reference to Woolworths limited. This report presents the data collection methods and
research strategy. It also demonstrates the critical assessment of research methods.
Research philosophy and approach
Under this study, the positivist philosophy would be practiced due to meeting the research
objectives. The positivist research philosophy is vital because this study is not subjective in
nature. This method will be significant to obtain conceptual information with regards to
investigation problem i.e. impact of leadership style on employee’s performance: A case study of
Woolworths limited. This study would be vital to achieve objectives of the investigation matter.
This study will be imperative creating research hypothesis towards research matter. This strategy
will be selected due to the reliability and validity of study productivity (Quinlan, Babin, Carr, &
Griffin, 2019).
Research strategy
For this investigation, survey through questionnaire would be used to obtain data about the
research problem i.e. impact of leadership style on employee’s performance: A case study of
Woolworths limited. It will be beneficial for getting real information towards research matter.
It is also examined that this method would be vital for evaluating the study matter (Ponto, 2015).
The survey method is a tool of pooling information by asking questions with people who are
thought to have desired data. Moreover, survey through questionnaire will be implemented for
addressing the leadership style that will be significant to improve the employee performance in
limited time period. This method would also be imperative in deeply evaluating the concern i.e.
impact of leadership style on employee’s performance with reference to Woolworths limited and

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offer the best set of solution for meeting the research purpose. This method would lead to get
both qualitative as well as quantitative information towards study matter (Myers, 2019).
In this survey, researcher would practice scaling questions where, researcher presents an
alternative to participants to rank existing answer of questions and use scale related questions to
give values (Hughes & Sharrock, 2016). In addition, survey monkey is renowned online
platforms that would be used in this research in data gathering. The substantial advantageous of
using survey monkey is that it could be easy to implement and effectively demonstrate the
questions in several formats but, there is need of advanced data analysis competencies (Easterby-
Smith, Thorpe, & Jackson, 2015).
In this technique, researcher will ask to respond questionnaire that is provided through the mail
(Antwi & Hamza, 2015). Furthermore, benefit of using this kind of questionnaire is inexpensive
rate, time-efficiency as well as, participants does not feel stress. Furthermore, participants would
respond promptly and feasibly due to offering longer period (Nardi, 2018).
This technique is beneficial for researcher to evaluate different aspect of population
characteristics. It would also selected to test the hypothesis in oppose to the research question
and it would lead to make feasible decision. It would assist to get the information regarding
research matter i.e. impact of leadership style on employee’s performance with reference to
Woolworths limited (Brannen, 2017). The survey would be implemented as it is faster and
cheaper rather than other tools of primary data gathering such as experiments as well as,
observation. Primary data would be collected via the survey is relatively simple for this research
study (Walliman, 2017). But, some disadvantageous of using this survey techniques in this
research are incompetence participants to offer the data, individual biasness of participants such

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as participants offering infeasible data, and the difference in knowledge creates complexities for
developing the questions.
In this technique, researcher will ask to respond questionnaire that is provided through the mail
(Antwi & Hamza, 2015). Furthermore, benefit of using this kind of questionnaire is inexpensive
rate, time-efficiency as well as, participants does not feel stress. Furthermore, participants would
respond promptly and feasibly due to offering longer period. The main limitation of using mail
questionnaires is that in some cases, participants feel uncomfortable to respond them but they
cannot avoid those questionnaires (de Vaus, 2016).
In addition to this, literature review findings are used at earlier stage of investigation process
required in order to demonstrate the aspects of other authors about impact of leadership style on
performance of employees with respect to Woolworths limited. Furthermore, secondary
information needs to consider in data analysis in logical and unbiased way (Polonsky & Waller,
2018).
Data collection methods
Both primary and secondary data gathering technique would be implemented to gather the data
with respect to identified research concerns. Primary data will be advantageous to gather the
innovative and fresh data as well as, it will resultant in a valid result. This information is
gathered through a survey through a questionnaire. Researcher would contact with the
participants through online tool such as Survey monkey. Moreover, secondary data will be
beneficial for obtaining the secondary facts and figures through secondary sources like journal
articles, academic publications as well as, online websites. It will be advantageous to collect
reliable information (Bell, Bryman, & Harley, 2018).

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In this research, survey through questionnaire close-ended structure will be used as it facilitates
to get real information towards the research issue. Moreover, survey monkey will be practiced to
conduct the study and meet the research matter. Further, survey monkey would be practiced to
conduct the survey in favour of study matter (Fuller, Simmering, Atinc, Atinc, & Babin, 2016).
Quantitative research techniques would be used for describing and measuring the level of
occurrences according to gathered information. This technique will entail to gather numerical
information about research concern (Hair Jr, Wolfinbarger, Money, Samouel, & Page, 2015).
This investigation would be selected with the purpose of addressing natural science strategy and
implementing social reality. The quantitative investigation would be used for assessing the
associations between leadership and employees performance with the use of statistical tools
(Eriksson & Kovalainen, 2015).
The quantitative data gathering technique would facilitate to consider simple random sampling
and structured information gathering tool. Quantitative methods will be selected as it emphasizes
on objective measurements by numerical analysis. It will aid to get the factual data and
supportive to simply present, summarize and compare the information. This would lead to obtain
depth information towards study matter i.e. impact of leadership style on employee’s
performance with reference to Woolworths limited (Sekaran & Bougie, 2016).
Choice of method
Sampling
In this research, population of this study would be all employees of retail industry. This would be
selected as I have experienced in retail sector. In this investigation, a simple random probability
sampling tool will be implemented to select the respondents on a random basis. It will help for
reducing the biasness from research. Simple random sampling would be practiced to choose the

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sample among populations due to different purposes. In the context of simple random sampling,
each respondent of the population is equally expected to be selected as an element of sample.
Furthermore, logic behind using this sampling tool is to decline the bias from selection process
and can obtain feasible outcome from selected samples (Neelankavil, 2015). Moreover, this
method would be suitable in this research study due to a large number of the sample; ease to
create sample group such as selecting samples is one of advantageous of using simple random
sampling. Research findings are feasible and valid due to selection of participants with no
partiality (Polonsky & Waller, 2018).
In contrast to this, application of random sampling technique can create complexities for
researcher due to requirement of making list related to all potential participants to exist in
advance. This sampling technique is beneficial for studies because survey through questionnaire
is conducted on wider geographical areas. However, it could be time-consuming and costly for
larger investigations. The requirement to have a large sample size could be disadvantaged to
practical levels (McNabb, 2015). In the context of this investigation, 100 workforces will be
chosen as a sample size through Woolworths from the diverse geographical region of Australia.
Woolworths would be selected as a sample because it is leading organisation in retail sector.
Critical evaluation of methods and their application
Data analysis tool
Quantitative data analysis would be applied in this research as it is easy to analyse the issue. The
negative side of using this technique is that it becomes easier for creating the agreeably presented
the junk information. Furthermore, quantitative data analysis will be selected to include
calculation regarding frequencies related to variables with differences among variables.
Moreover, the quantitative data analysis technique would be related to finding facts regarding

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accepting or rejecting the hypotheses that would be developed at earlier phases of research
procedure (Prasad, 2017).
Quantitative data analysis would be used with the statistical software that contains the given
phases. These are checking and preparing data and input of information into the computer. This
technique would be applied to select feasible tables and diagrams to apply as per the research
objectives. This tool would be feasible for choosing feasible statistics to define the issue i.e. issue
i.e. impact of leadership style on employee’s performance with reference to Woolworths limited.
It would be advantageous for choosing appropriate statistics for assessing the associations and
trends in information (Veal, 2017).
It is significant for the researcher to seek advice from the supervisor about the statistical
assessment and the application of statistical software (Walliman, 2017).Statistical data analysis
technique will be implemented to assess the gathered information. Moreover, Ms-Excel software
will be executed to represent the data via different bar graphs and pie charts. It will be supportive
for comprehending the data in an inclusive manner. It would be significant to understand for
eliminating the drawing charts and undertaking the calculations manually. It would be easy to
apply for addressing the research issue i.e. impact of leadership style on employee’s performance
with reference to Woolworths limited (Bryman, 2016).
Ethical requirements
Ethical considerations would be considered as an essential part of investigation. There are
different principles associated with ethical consideration in research. Participants should not be
subjected for harming in any manner. Respect for dignity of participants should be prioritized by
an investigator in this research. Furthermore, full consent must be collected through respondents
prior to investigation. Moreover, protection related to privacy of participants should be making

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sure by researcher (Quinlan, Babin, Carr, & Griffin, 2019). The adequate extent of
confidentiality of investigation information should be ensured. Along with this, the anonymity
regarding persons and organizations involving in investigation should be making sure by
researcher. Any exaggeration and deception regarding aim and objectives related to investigation
should be eliminated. Any kinds of misleading data and demonstration of primary facts findings
in a biased way should be eliminated (Sekaran & Bougie, 2016).
Participants should respond as per informed consent. The principle related to informed consent
should be considered by an investigator in terms of obtaining adequate data regarding research.
Researcher should also assure that they have right to make freely decision regarding whether or
not to perform and will not pressurize to them (Eriksson & Kovalainen, 2015).
The researcher should use privacy and anonymity or a participant is a significant principle.
Along with this, acknowledgment of information of other authors would be implemented in the
part of research with the application of the feasible referencing system. Moreover, the researcher
should consider adherence to data protection act (Sekaran & Bougie, 2016).
It is effective for taking the permission regarding consideration of respondents before starting the
investigation. Therefore, a research will create a consensual agreement with HR and
management department to ensure no complication will be created. A researcher will distribute
the questionnaire only on the time of breaking because interrupting subject during working hour
is infeasible as well as, may impact the responses.
A researcher will ensure no violation regarding maintaining confidentiality. An investigator will
ensure no revelation about identity and other personal information will be enquired when
creating the questionnaire. There will be no concern regarding trust of respondents however
confidentiality will be assured for avoiding unnecessary issues.

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Conclusion
From the above interpretation, it can be concluded that both primary and secondary data
collection method would be implemented for gathering the information regarding impact of
leadership style on performance of employees with reference to Woolworths limited.
Furthermore, it can be summarised that survey through questionnaire would be implemented for
capturing the reliable data related to the research concern. Ethical consideration would be used
for ethically complete investigation.

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References
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Neelankavil, J. P. (2015). International business research. Routledge.

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Polonsky, M. J., & Waller, D. S. (2018). Designing and managing a research project: A business
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