Analyzing Training & Development in M&S

This research project investigates the significance of training and development in enhancing employee performance at Marks & Spencer. It employs a mixed-methods approach, utilizing both primary data (a questionnaire distributed to 25 employees) and secondary data (literature review). The study explores various factors influencing employee performance, including work culture, employee engagement, and training methods (on-the-job vs. off-the-job). Thematic analysis of the collected data reveals that training and development are key factors attracting employees and improving job performance. The project concludes that Marks & Spencer should prioritize effective training programs to boost employee motivation and achieve organizational objectives. The report includes a detailed methodology, literature review, data analysis, and recommendations for improvement.

Research Project
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Background Information........................................................................................................4
Aims and Objectives...............................................................................................................4
Literature Review...................................................................................................................5
Research Methodology...........................................................................................................6
Research strategy....................................................................................................................7
Research instrument...............................................................................................................7
Funding...................................................................................................................................7
Research ethics.......................................................................................................................7
Research limitation.................................................................................................................7
Time line.................................................................................................................................8
Carrying out research project.................................................................................................8
Data Requirement Table.........................................................................................................9
Conducting the survey..........................................................................................................10
Questionnaire........................................................................................................................11
Thematic analysis.................................................................................................................12
Conclusion and recommendations........................................................................................14
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................16
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ILLUSTRATION INDEX
Illustration 1: Theme 1..................................................................................................................12
Illustration 2: Theme 2..................................................................................................................13
Illustration 3: Theme 3..................................................................................................................14
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Title- “Analyzing the importance of training and development in enhancing the performance of
employees: A case study of Marks and Spencer”.
Background Information
Training and development can be stated as the best method adopted by business
enterprise in order to enhance the performance of both business as well as employees. Through
providing the best training session to employees, it helps management to enhance their skills and
capabilities so that they can achieve desired results. However, in current time period, there is
tough competition in retail industry therefore; it is essential for businesses to develop their
performance within enterprise. Due to economic crisis of 2008, there has been enhanced belief
that a significant number of retail organizations such as Marks & Spencer, John Lewis etc. are
encouraging their employees to improve their capabilities and efficiency so that set goals of
customer satisfaction can be attained (Johansson and Anselmsson, 2013).
Marks & Spencer (M&S) is a famous multinational retailer specializes in selling clothes,
home appliances and wide range of luxury food items. Company also faces tough competition
from different multinational retailers such as Sainsbury, Asda, Wal-Mart and Tesco etc. It is
essential for business to engage their employees within firm in order to develop effectual
strategies so that customer satisfaction can be attained. By providing different benefits to
workforce, it motivates them to satisfy the needs of customers and attaining satisfaction.
Training and development is a crucial part of business that helps them to aim towards
progressing. It is the process of acquiring the crucial skills needed to carry out certain job.
Through gaining proper training and development, it assists individual to enhance his/her career
and overcome different situations in business (Billig and Waterman, 2014).
Aims and Objectives
Aim- “Analyzing the importance of training and development in enhancing the performance of
employees: A case study of Marks and Spencer”.
Objectives
1. To identify the importance of training and development of staff.
2. To determine the factors that influence employee performance at Marks and Spencer.
3. To recommend ways to enhance employee performance in order to attain business
objectives.
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Literature Review
Meaning of training and development
According to the view point of Ahier and Esland (2013) training and development
consists of series of activities which is used with an aim to enhance the specific skills among the
employees. However, Ford (2014) has stated that training and development is the ongoing
educational activities which firm organizes with an aim to enhance the overall performance of its
employees. Kauffeld and Willenbrock (2010) have depicted that it is the planned procedure
which improves that skill among employees in which they are facing problem. All the authors
have given varied views regarding the training and development methods.
Methods used to deliver the training
With an aim to deliver training to the employees, manager of firm will have to make the
selection of specific type of method. In this regard, Aziz and Ahmad (2011) have depicted that
the training and development methods are of two type such as on the job and off the job. As per
the view point of Aziz and Ahmad (2011) on the job methods such as job rotation, coaching and
mentoring are effective as it gives practical exposure to the employees regarding the work which
they are going to do in the future. In this context, it has been seen that employees are able to
learn the things more effectively if they are being putted in some practical situation. However, it
has been critically evaluated by the Schraeder (2010) that although on the job method is effective
but the given methods create problem for other employees who does not want any kind of
disturbance in their daily work schedule. Besides this, as per the view point of Wang (2013) off
the job training methods such as vestibule training and simulation exercise are more effective
technique than the on the job. This is because, with the help of given method significant
improvement in the skills of workers can be carried without affecting the smooth going operation
of firm. Overall, it can be said that both the given methods have their own effectiveness and
ineffectiveness.
Importance of training and development of staffs
The training and development (T&D) programs has the importance. In accordance with
the given context, as per the view point of Yong-fei (2013) training and development programs
helps in enhancing the motivation and satisfaction level of employees. It has been seen that the
firm which does not comply with the training and development programs faces the condition like
high turnover of the employees. This is because, the workers who give its several years to the
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enterprises expect something in return of that. Thus, if they will not get that at that time they feel
highly dissatisfied and demotivated. The impact of the same will be seem upon their
performance. However, it has also being stated by the Slesar (2012) that T&D activities helps in
performing significant improvement in the sales and profits of organization. The profits of firm
directly depends upon the employee's performance. Here, worker will be able to perform well if
he has trained towards the same. Thus, it can be said that the training and development activities
plays very important role within enterprises.
Factor which influences the performance of employees
Number of factors are assessed which lead to cause necessary impact upon the
performance which is being given by the employees. Dong-hua (2012) has depicted that the type
of culture followed by the firm also causes necessary influence upon the worker's performance.
The workers always prefer to work in an open culture. It is the type of culture wherein workers
are given opportunity with regard to freely express their views and opinions in front of the top
level management of organisation. In this culture, employees can resolves all the doubts by
asking them from the employers. Hence, they will be able to carry out their efforts with respect
to give their best performance to the corporation in an effectual way. In addition to this, Kim,
Kim and Bilir (2014) have depicted that the performance given by employees is also impacted
through firm's lack of compliance with the training and development type of programs. These
program has very important role in enhancing the performance of employees. Thus, absence of
such program will lead to hamper the quality of performance being given by the workers.
Overall impact of the same will be seen upon the sales and profitability related condition of
enterprises.
Research Methodology
With an aim to conduct the study upon the topic which is on analyzing the importance of
training and development programs in enhancing the performance of Marks and Spencer
employees, mixed methods could be used. Mixed method is the type of method in which data for
the proposed study will be collected by using both primary and secondary technique. By using
the given methods the objective set for the present study will be meet by the researcher in an
effectual manner.
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Research strategy
Research strategy depict about the tactic which is being used by the scholar of the present
study in order to conduct its study in an effectual manner. Here, with an aim to gather the
primary data for the given study, structured questionnaire will be prepared which posses the
combination of both open and close ended type of questions (Carson, 2014). With the help of
given questionnaire, the framed research questions for the present study will be answered in an
effectual way. In the similar way, assistance will also been taken from the secondary sources
wherein data will be collected with the help of approaches such as published article, books and
online article etc.
Research instrument4. Qualitative data: In order to collect the qualitative data, the tool such as questionnaire
will be used. Here, with the help of given tool different questions regarding the
importance of training and development programs will be asked from the Marks and
Spencer employees. Thus, it is through this way only an appropriate conclusion will be
drawn for the present study.
5. Quantitative data: The given data will also be assembled by forming yes and no type of
questions. Through this way, exact view point of the selected sample will be collected.
Funding
I will fund for the respective research report. Thus, with an aim to obtain loan I will use
the student loan which is being provided by different banks.
Research ethics
It is important for the scholar that it should comply with all type of ethical practices while
conducting its study. Here, while conducting the given study efforts has been made by the
scholar with regard to not to share the information regarding the opinions which is being given
by the sample of present study (Fink, 2010).
Research limitation
Time for collecting the data is being regarded as the major limitation which is associated
with the respective study. This is because, if sufficient time will be allotted to the researcher at
that time more accurate result for the conducted study would be obtained by it.
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Time line
The present study will be conducted within eight week period. Thus, on the basis of this
following time line is prepared.
Tasks Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week4 Week 5 Week6 Week7 Week8
To frame the
research
questions
To conduct the
interview
To collect the
secondary data
for the study
To convert data
into information
To review the
collected
information
To draw the
Conclusion
To make the
Recommendatio
n
Carrying out research project
To carry out the project, it involves designing different instruments so that data can be
collected both quantitative and qualitative. It uses open ended questions that have been asked to
employees of business.
Data collection- It is the method of collecting data through identifying the research objectives
therefore; it helps in carrying out the best results within firm. Through preparing questionnaire,
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data can be collected in order to identify the motivation of workforce at M&S. However, it helps
in understanding the employees of M&S. By using both theory and practical approaches, it
involves business publications, company website and visiting the store in order to interact with
the employees (Flick, 2011).
Through developing open ended questions, it helps business to attain desired objectives-
 It helps respondents to give their answers as per the asked question.
 It assists in evaluating different views of people working within M&S. Employees are influenced to fill the answers in the space provided.
Closed questions- It helps in providing a wide range of alternative responses through which
respondent can select as per their choice.
Likert scale questions- It provides respondents with range of options to choose from and also
make sure that minimum writing is required in order to cover relevant areas within minimum
time. It is designed in such a way which is a very simple and versatile method that offers
scholars to reduce the chance of error. It also proves that accurate data has been obtained from
the research in order to identify the importance of training and development and improve the
performance of employees at Marks and Spencer (Green, Camilli and Elmore, 2012).
Yes and No questions- It offers the respondents to easily answer the questions and save time so
that research objectives can be attained.
Data Requirement Table
Such table is designed in order to make sure that at the time of completion, it assists the
research question to be answered effectively and efficiently. Through summarizing the data, the
researcher intends to collect information. The below presented table predicts that the workforce
of M&S answered the questions asked to them. It helps in achieving the objectively of the study.
Investigative questions Variables required Details in which data
measured / check included in
questionnaire
What are the factors that
attract you to work for M&S?
Most crucial reason for
employees to carry out their
job within M&S (Miller and
et. al., 2012).
Encouraging factor i.e. why
individual works for M&S
instead of any other retail
organization (Pickard, 2013).
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Are you satisfied from your
current job position?
State of satisfaction. To determine the satisfaction
level of workers with their
current job role
At initial stage, what was the
reason that forces you to join
the company?
Main motive to work for
M&S.
Provide strong motivating
factor that influence you to
join the retail firm
What are the factors that
encourage you to work within
the firm?
Determine most crucial factor
for working with the company.
To assess the motive for
working such as wage, bonus,
incentive, job satisfaction etc.
Conducting the survey
Survey was carried out at the store of M&S. However, the designed questionnaire was
distributed to the 25 employees within different departments of the store.
Piloting- It is stated as a small scale preliminary study conducted in order to help in evaluating
feasibility, time, cost etc. in order to predict an appropriate sample size and enhance upon the
study so that proper research can be carried out (Hafiza, 2011).
Random sampling- It is defined as the technique in which a group of subjects are selected to
carry out the study for a larger group of population. Here, each and every individual is chosen
entirely by chance and also each and every member of the population has a known but possibly
non equal chance of getting selected in the sample. Here, considering the size of the store and
people employed at M&S simple random sampling method has been selected (Fink, 2010).
Through, selecting such technique it allows individual within firm to be selected by chance and
possess equal opportunity to be picked at any time. Main advantage of random sampling is that it
minimizes the likelihood of biasness and thus enhances the accuracy of the study.
Field editing- It is another method used in order to ensure that the research done is accurately
done. However, it helps in ensuring that an accurate and timely results were achieved.
Primary and secondary data collection- Primary data is the information that is collected by the
scholar directly through different methods such as surveys, interviews, focus groups or
observation methods. While, secondary data collection was the method that helps in collecting
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material through published sources such as newspapers, magazines and annual report of firm
(Dong-hua, 2012).
Questionnaire
Name
Age
Gender
Job position
Are you satisfied from your current job position at M&S?
 Yes
 No
What are the factors that attract you to work within M&S?
 Work culture
 Employee engagement
 Training and development
 Job satisfaction
Do you found enhancement in your skills after attending the training and development sessions
at M&S?
 Yes
 No
 Not sure
Which of the method has been adopted by organization in order to provide training?
 On the job training method
 Off the job training method
Do you think that by gaining better training and development programs it helps in improving
your job performance?
 Yes
 No
How well do you solve the problems of customers?
 Extremely well
 Very well
 Somewhat well
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 Not so well
 Not at all well
Please suggest some other methods that can be applied within business in order to improve
workers performance?
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Thematic analysis
Theme 1: Training and development is the factor that attracts individual to work within
M&S.
Work culture
Employee engagement
Training and
development
Job satisfaction
Illustration 1: Theme 1
It can be stated that there are different factors that attracts individual to work within
M&S such as work culture, employee engagement, training and development and job satisfaction
etc. Among all this methods 11 employees out of 25 states that training and development is the
best factor that encourages individual to work within organization. It helps them to empower
them and enhance their job performance so that best results can be attained. While, 7 employees
states that work culture is the best method through which individual can enhance their work
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