Analyzing Motivational Strategies for Business Expansion at John Lewis

This research project, titled "To analyze the role of motivational strategies in enhancement of employee performance for business expansion: A study on John Lewis Partnership," investigates the crucial link between employee motivation and business growth. The report begins with an introduction outlining the importance of employee performance in driving business expansion and sets the research objectives and questions. Task 1 focuses on formulating the research outline, identifying key factors, reviewing literature, and establishing a research plan. Task 2 delves into matching resources with the hypothesis, proposing a research investigation, and data collection methods. Task 3 explores appropriate evaluation techniques, data interpretation, and the formulation of recommendations. The research utilizes both primary and secondary sources, employing a descriptive research design and an interpretivism approach. Data collection includes a questionnaire administered to employees of John Lewis. The findings highlight the positive impact of motivation on employee performance and suggest the implementation of reward schemes to further enhance employee engagement and business success. The report concludes with a presentation of the obtained outcomes and recommendations.

UNIT 8
RESEARCH PROJECT

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
1.1 Formulating and recording the research-project outline specifications...........................1
1.2 Identification of the involved factors in selection-procedure for research.......................2
1.3 Critically reviewing the key-references............................................................................2
1.4 Research project specifications........................................................................................3
1.5 An appropriate plan & procedure for the research-specifications agreed........................4
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................5
2.1 Effective matching of the resources with hypothesis.......................................................5
2.2 Proposed research-investigation in context with agreed procedures & specifications.....6
2.3 recording and collating appropriate and relevant data.....................................................6
TASK 3..........................................................................................................................................10
3.1 Appropriate evaluation-techniques for research work...................................................10
3.2 Interpretation and analysation of the obtained outcomes...............................................11
3.3 Justification & Recommendation...................................................................................12
TASK 4..........................................................................................................................................13
4.1 Presentation of obtained outcomes.................................................................................13
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................13
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................14
APPENDIX ...................................................................................................................................15

RESEARCH TITLE : “To analyse the role of motivational strategies in enhancement of
employee performance for business expansion : A study on John Lewis Partnership”
INTRODUCTION
Every organization aims to expand their business for enhancement of sales thereby
earning more profits. And with context to this the role of employees is of utter importance. Their
performance is the base of carrying out of business practices. So motivational strategies play an
effective role in enhancing their performance which further leads to the expansion of the
business (Barrick and et.al., 2015). The motive behind the research proposal is to provide
necessary guidelines for the conduction of research-work. Furthermore, the viewpoints of
diversified authors regarding a research topic are critically reviewed in literature-review. Also, a
research-methodology aids in fulfilment of all the professional as well as academic requirement
of research-work. Then, in the end of study, al the formulated outcomes along with associated
benefits are delivered in statement form. So with these benefits in mind, present study has been
carried out on role of motivational strategies in enhancement of employee-performance for
business expansion. Regarding this, various primary and secondary sources will be utilised for
gathering of information. For analysing the obtained outcomes of study quantitative method will
be used. Literature review will be aided by the use of secondary sources. Furthermore, the
methodology will guide the way in which research will be conducted. Besides these, researcher
will be utilising various other tools & techniques for meeting the aims and objectives of the
research. In addition, diversified activities have been planned for obtaining the desired outcomes.
TASK 1
1.1 Formulating and recording the research-project outline specifications
Aim :-
To analyse the role of motivational strategies in enhancement of employee performance
for business expansion : A study on John Lewis Partnership. The present research has been
carried upon John Lewis because it has been successfully expanding its business in UK.
Objectives :-
 To determine the importance of motivation for employees.
 To analyse the link between motivational strategies and performance of employees.
 To analyse the impact of enhanced employee performance in business expansion. To recommend ways in enhancing the performance of employees.
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Research Questions :-
 What is importance of motivation for employees ?
 What is the link between the motivational strategies and performance of employees ?
 What is impact of enhanced employee performance in business expansion ?
 What are possible recommendations in enhancing the employee performance ?
1.2 Identification of the involved factors in selection-procedure for research
Many topics were undergone by the researcher at the time of selection of topic for the
research. So, after a detailed analysis, researcher finalised this topic because of its feasibility.
The ample availability of associated facts and figures with study played an important factor in
the choosing of the topic. The researcher's interest the role of motivational strategies for
enhancement of employee performance also was the main motive behind choosing of this topic.
In addition to this the data available regarding the chosen topic was valid and authenticated
enough for conducting the study. Also, researcher wanted to do study for finding out the factors
in which employee performance is responsible for expansion of business. Henceforth, various
primary and secondary sources were utilised by the researcher to gather the associated facts and
figures regarding the research topic. In addition, the study that has been carried out is quite
interesting enough since utilisation of various tools 7 techniques has been done in context with
business expansion by aid of enhanced employee performance.
1.3 Critically reviewing the key-references
Motivation is defined as a method which indulges individuals for performing up-to their
best abilities for accomplishment of goals. This accounts to be helpful in changing the negative-
attitude possessed within employees into a positive-attitude. According to Cerasoli and et.al.,
(2014), this overall leads to the enhancement of performance-level regarding employees thereby
increasing their efficiency. Once the employees are motivated, they always thrive for the
achievement of the organizational goals. In addition, a supportive work-environment is created
by the enhancement of relationship in-between subordinates & superiors. Moreover, the
employee-turnover rate is greatly reduced as well.
The needs of the employees have to be known in order for providing them the necessary
motivation. This could be effectively aided by the Maslow's Need Hierarchy Theory. This theory
effectively assists in determining the physiological, safety-&-security, social, esteem as well as
self actualisation needs as stated by Shields and et.al., (2015). According to the assumptions
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formulated by the theory the behaviour of employees could be further motivated by the
fulfilment of their needs. Basically there are three main motivation-strategies that would
effectively assist in motivating the employees. The strategy of employee-input motivates the
employees by allowing them to give their ideas and openly utilising them. Also, if the company
provides consistent rewards to the employees for their performance then this adds up towards
motivating them for increasing their efficiency. Rewards motivate the employees to deliver their
duties at their best levels. This is in fact a plus point for the employees as well. While adding
more towards enhancement of employee-performance, empowering the employees along with
proper-training proves out to be an efficient contributor in motivating them.
As contextualised by Pinder, (2014), every organization or firm aims for expansion of
their business in order to gain more profits and efficiently increase the sales. Furthermore, a
business is determined as either successful or unsuccessful by the level of expansion. To manage
the expansion of business a crucial role is played by the employees. The performance of the
employees decides the effectiveness of the business carried out by a particular organization. So
in the expansion of business, performance of employees plays an effective part. The way
employees perform their duties is hugely impacted by the level of motivation provided to them.
If they perform their assigned duties in proper manner then, each task would be effectively
carried out and the organizational performance will be enhanced as well. Furthermore, effective
training regarding the duty assigned to employees aids them to perform in systematic manner as
argued by Abeysekera and Dawson, (2015).
Enhancement of the employee-performance is the main motive of implementing
motivational strategies. These motivational strategies effectively assist the organization to
motivate their employees for increasing their efficiency. This further causes the expansion of the
business since organization consistently achieves success by the contribution of employees. So, it
is of utter importance that the organization consistently implies the motivational strategies so that
the employees are motivated to perform their duties in the bes possible way.
1.4 Research project specifications
For effective carrying of the research-work, researcher will be utilising several tools &
techniques for fulfilling the aim & objectives of the research. So, to carry forward the present
research-work, researcher will be utilising various methods which have been mentioned as
follows :
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 Data-collection : For collecting the relevant and authenticated information, researcher
will be utilising primary as well as secondary sources. Research-approach : For assisting the research-work with proper observations &
theories, researcher will be utilising the inductive approach. Henceforth, a more detailed
and clear explanation will be provided. Research-philosophy : For deeply studying certain facts and figures associated to the
study, researcher will be utilising the interpretivism approach. Research-design : For studying the main concept of role by motivational-strategies in
enhancement of employee-performance to expand business, research will be utilising the
descriptive method of research-design. Its basis will be the aim & objectives of current
research. Sampling : For the purpose of meeting the aim and objectives of the research, researcher
will be gathering information from 10 employees of John Lewis. This will further be
reducing the error-rates.
 Data-analysis : Researcher will be utilising both qualitative and quantitative methods for
collection of theoretical & numerical data. Both statistical & thematics will be applied
towards the gathered data.
1.5 An appropriate plan & procedure for the research-specifications agreed
Activity July, 2017 August, 2017 September,
2017
October, 2017
4 14 23 30 5 11 19 26 6 13 21 30 3 15 19 26
Title selection for
research
Proposal writing for
the research-work
Literature-sources
reading
Final aim & objectives
formulation
4

For the literature-
review formulating a
draft
Secondary-data
collection
Analysation of the
secondary-data
collected
Research-approach
development
Questionnaire
development
Interview conduction
Data accumulation
Collecting and
analysing data
Completing the
remaining chapters
Waiting for feedback
after submission done
towards tutor
Implementing the
necessary modification
Printing and binding of
draft finally obtained
Accomplished
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TASK 2
2.1 Effective matching of the resources with hypothesis
Both primary & secondary methods will be used by the researcher to conduct the research
effectively. With context to primary-sources, information will be gathered questionnaire.
Referring to the secondary-sources, articles, published-materials, newspaper, web-portals, etc.,
will be utilised further. Once the full utilisation of resources has been done, financial resources
will be emphasised. This will help in carrying the research-work forward. The course of the
study will be determined by research-questions that will be based upon t he aim & objectives of
research.
As per the aim & objectives, researcher will be analysing the role of motivational-
strategies in enhancing the employee-performance thereby leading towards business-expansion.
Employees are the key factors in the success of organizational business. So, higher authorities
need to motivate their employees to perform at their best by the id of effective motivation-
strategies. This will further lead towards expansion of business.
2.2 Proposed research-investigation in context with agreed procedures & specifications
Researchers will be making use of the primary & secondary sources to carry the research-
work in appropriate way. The research-work done by previous researchers, will also be used as
medium for obtaining necessary information. This will be included in secondary source. On
coming towards primary-sources, questionnaire will be further utilised and it would be subjected
to the 10 employees of Jon Lewis. Both open & close end questions will be included. The role of
motivational strategies in enhancing employee-performance to expand business will be
effectively studied. In addition, utilisation of thematics will be done for obtaining the desired
outcomes. So, to achieve this, graphs as well as statistics will be used.
2.3 recording and collating appropriate and relevant data
The information mentioned below has been collected from 10 employees of John Lewis.
This will assist in determining the role of motivational strategies in enhancing employee-
performance to expand business.
Theme 1 : Motivation important for enhancement of employee-performance
Criteria Responses
Yes 9
6

No 1
9
1
Yes
No
Theme 2 : Effect of motivation on employee-performance within organization
Criteria Responses
Positively 8
Negatively 0
Not sure 2
7

8
2
Positively
Negatively
Not sure
Theme 3 : Efforts made by authorities to motivate employees for enhancement of their
performance
Criteria Responses
Agree 2
Strongly agree 2
Disagree 4
Strongly disagree 2
2
2
4
2
Agree
Strongly agree
Disagree
Strongly disagree
8

Theme 4 : Methods/strategies that should be used for enhancing employee performance in
expanding business
Criteria Responses
Rewards schemes 4
Proper training 2
Appraisals 4
4
2
4
Rewards schemes
Proper training
Appraisals
Theme 5 : Effect of performance at John Lewis business
Criteria Responses
Yes 9
No 0
Not sure 1
9

9
1
Yes
No
Not sure
From the above conducted questionnaire, it could be formulated that motivation plays a
key role in the performance of employees. It affects them positively to increase their efficiency.
Also, from the findings of the questionnaire, it could also be said that authorities of John Lewis
need to implement certain motivation strategies such as reward schemes, to motivate their
employee. Also, the entire business of John Lewis is hugely impacted by the way of performing
duties by employees. So, it becomes of utter importance for them to motivate their employees for
expansion of their business as observed by the findings of questionnaire.
TASK 3
3.1 Appropriate evaluation-techniques for research work
Research-methodology is the guideline towards approach according to which research-
work will be carried. So, to meet the aims & objectives of current study, researcher will be
making use of following categories : Research philosophy : It is responsible for determining the perceptions & beliefs of
research-work towards a particular topic regarding research topic. There are namely two
categories of research philosophy, interpretivism & positivism (McNiff, 2016). Among
them, the most suitable philosophy for current study is interpretivism. It is very helpful in
gathering information from environment that is socially constructed. This philosophy will
be effectively analysing the role of motivational strategies towards enhancement of
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