M&S Employee Retention: Impact of Staff Motivation Schemes & Talent

This project investigates the impact of staff motivation schemes on employee retention, focusing on the British multinational retailer M&S. The research aims to identify how these schemes contribute to talent management practices and enhance employee retention. It explores various motivation schemes used by M&S, the challenges faced during their implementation, and their overall impact on talent management. The study employs a deductive approach, utilizing both literature review and survey strategies, with a quantitative research choice to analyze statistical data. Data collection involves both primary data through questionnaires distributed to 30 managers at M&S and secondary data from books, journals, and articles. The research acknowledges a gap in readily available information specific to M&S, relying more broadly on industry-related resources. Ethical considerations are addressed through informed consent and data protection measures. Desklib provides a platform to access similar projects and study resources.

Research Proposal Form
Student Name: ______________________ Student ID: ____________
Centre Name: _____________________
Tutor: ________________ Date: ___________________
Unit: ____________________
Proposed Title: Impact of staff motivation schemes to employee retention:
______________________________________________
Section One: Title, objective, responsibilities
Title or working title of the research project (in the form of a question, objective or
hypothesis)
Introduction
Staff motivation schemes are regarded as one of the significant aspect which are used within
the organisation which are helpful in managing the business. Using staff motivation schemes
appropriate motivation can be provided to employees so that their skills and capabilities can be
used within the business for the purpose to attain business objectives. This is analysed that
motivation plays effective role for the organisation in which employees feel involved within
the working so that they may give their dominant contribution to the organisation for managing
business functions and objectives as well. Using motivation level of the employees significant
edge can be given to the organisation in which all the efforts of employees can be inhaled in
the organisation. For conducting the current research, M&S is taken which is a British
multinational retailer which is having headquarter in London. The organisation is specialised in
selling of clothing, home products and food products.
Research aim: To identify the impact of staff motivation schemes used within organisation in
developing talent management practices and enhancing employee retention. A study on M&S.
Research Objectives:
 To examine the various staff motivation schemes used by M&S for developing
employee retention within workplace.
 To ascertain the challenges faced by M&S during introducing staff motivation
schemes.
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 To determine the impact of staff motivation schemes over talent management practices
used by M&S.
Research questions
 What are the various staff motivation schemes used by M&S for developing employee
retention within workplace.
 What are the challenges faced by M&S during introducing staff motivation schemes.
 What is the impact of staff motivation schemes over talent management practices used
by M&S.
Section Two: Reasons for choosing this research project
Reasons for choosing the project (e.g links to other subjects you are studying, personal
interest, future plans, knowledge/skills you want to improve, why the topic is important):
The main purpose of conducting the current investigation is to show the significance of staff
motivation in the workplace. The main reason of doing the current topic is to show that
employees in the organisation are significant asset and for making them encouraged companies
use strategies of motivating employees. The two perspectives are: personal and professional
perspective. In term of personal perspective, I will get to increase my knowledge in two
aspects that are: business and research. On the other hand, in respect of professional
perspective I will get to learn about the strategies for motivating employees in the organisation.
Section Three: Literature sources searched
Use of key literature sources to support your research question, objective or hypothesis:
What are the various staff motivation schemes used by M&S for developing employee
retention within workplace?
According to Sylqa, (2020), There are various staff motivation schemes which are used by the
organisation in order to retain workforce. In this manner by providing appropriate rewards and
recognition to employees their motivation level can be boosted and this is related with
encouraging them towards working (Dashper, 2020). On the other hand, by providing
professional development opportunities employees can be motivated and this is the practice
which is used by the organisation in order to manage motivation level of their employees.
Besides this, by providing health and wellness opportunities employees can be motivated and
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in this manner they may provide their fuller skills to the organisation.
What are the challenges faced by M&S during introducing staff motivation schemes
according to Owan, Ekpe and Bassey, (2020), There are various challenges which are being
faced by the organisation in order to develop staff motivation schemes. In this manner fear of
failure is the major challenge which is faced by the organisation during developing employee
motivation schemes within the organisation and this way skills and capabilities of employees
would not be encouraged in prominent manner (Asemah, 2021). On the other hand, the another
challenge is related with developing employee engagement as in order to develop employee
motivation.
What is the impact of staff motivation schemes over talent management practices used by
M&S.
According to Musheshe, (2020), the major impact of staff motivations schemes within the
organisation is related with developing employees skills in such a manner that their skills and
capabilities can be used in order to manage business functions. On the other hand, another
impact of staff motivation scheme is related with developing employee engagement as with the
help of motivation employees feel to get involved in business activities.
Research gap: In the context of research gap, the researcher has faced issues in gathering
information related with the organisation as researcher found articles and books which were
based on the industry. So this was considered as the major research gap which is seen within
the current research.
Section Four: Activities and timescales
Activities to be carried out during the project
Introduction
Aim and objectives
Literature review
Research methodology
Data collection
Data analysis
How long will this
take:
1 week
1 week
2 weeks
1 week
1.5 weeks
1.5 weeks
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Conclusion and recommendation
Reflection
Submission of final report
1 week
1 week
1 week
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Milestone one: ___Literature review ________
Target date (set b
y tutor): _____23-02-22_______________
Milestone two: ___Research methodology____________________
Target date (set by tutor): ______09-03-22________________
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Section Five: Research approach and methodologies
What type of research approach and methodologies are you likely to use and why? What
your areas of research will cover: Research methodology is the chapter that focuses on
providing methods for the collection and analysis of data in appropriate manner. This provides
methods so that research objectives could be attained in systematic way.
Research Philosophy: Research philosophy is methodology that provides certain
beliefs and principles for the analysis of data. This gives two significant kinds that are:
positivism and interpretivism philosophy. Investigator will show dependence over positivism
philosophy so that gathered statistical data could be analysed and evaluated properly.
Therefore, positivism will be selected over interpretivism so that defined objectives can be
achieved with numerical data (Babii, 2020).
Research Approach: Research approach is the method that gives two important parts
that are: inductive and deductive approach. Research will choose deductive approach so that
statistical data can be assembled and analysed in the decided time duration. The major benefit
of deductive approach is it gives more importance to statistical and numerical piece of
information (Fidahic and et. al., 2020).
Research Strategy: Research strategy is of various kinds that are: grounded theory,
case study, action research, survey, literature review and many more. Researcher will be
selecting literature review and survey strategy so that objectives could be attained with
combined piece of information. Survey will be selected because it assists in the accumulation
numerable data and primary data. Under this questionnaire will be developed with certain
number of close-ended questions. On the other hand, systematic literature review will also be
used because it gives importance to theoretical and second-hand information (Hughey, M.,
2020).
Research Choice: Research choice is classified in two significant kinds that are:
quantitative and qualitative research choice. Investigator will select quantitative research
choice so that statistical information can be assembled and pre-determined aim and objectives
could be attained in timely manner. The benefit of quantitative research choice is attainment of
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numerical and statistical data (Nayak and Singh, 2021).
Data Collection: Data collection is the methodology that gives two significant kinds
that are: primary and secondary data collection. Primary data collection will be chosen by
investigator because this helps in first-hand data through questionnaire. On the other hand,
secondary data collection will be used for collection of second-hand data. The sources are:
books, journals, articles, newspapers, publications (Pandey and Pandey, 2021).
Sampling: Sampling is the methodology that provides part for selecting respondents
(Säfsten and Gustavsson, 2020). Probability and non-probability are two kinds and researcher
will use probability sampling because it assists in choosing large number of respondents by
following random method. 30 managers will be chosen by investigator from Marks & Spencer.
Time framework: Gantt chart will be used by investigator for scheduling activities and
tasks of the whole investigation. This chart divides the activities with proper time duration.
Comments and agreement from tutor
Comments (optional):
I confirm that the project is not work which has been or will be submitted for another
qualification and is appropriate.
Agreed: ________________ (name)_______________ Date ______________
Comments and agreement form project proposal checker( IV sampling)
Comments (Optional):
I confirm that the project is appropriate.
Agreed /Disagree: (Name of the IV) Date
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Research Ethics approval form
All students conducting research activity that involves human participants or the use of data
collected form human participants are required to gain ethical approval before commencing their
research. Please answer all relevant questions and note that your form may be returned if
incomplete.
For further support and guidance please see your respective Unit Tutor:
Before completing this form, we advise that you discuss your proposed research fully with your
unit tutor. Please complete this form in good time before your research project is due to
commence.
Section 1: Basic details:
Project title: To identify the impact of staff motivation schemes used within organisation in
developing talent management practices and enhancing employee retention. A study on
M&S.
Student name:
Student ID number:
Programme:
College Name:
Intended research start date:
Intended research end date:
Section 2 Project summary
Please select all research methods that you plan to use as a part of your project:
 Interviews Yes No
 Questionnaires Yes No
 Observations Yes No
 Use of personal records Yes No
 Data Analysis Yes No
 Action Research Yes No
 Focus Groups Yes No
 Others (Please specify) :
Section 3: Participants
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Please answer the following questions, giving full details where necessary.
Will your research involve human participants?
Who are the participants? Tick all that apply:
Ages 12-16: Young people aged: 17-18 Adults:
How will participants be recruited (identified an approached)?
According to the current project, participants will have recruited through probability and
non-probability sampling.
Describe the processes you will use to inform participants about what you are doing:
For informing participants about the topic and many other information related to the
project, there are some techniques that will be used as a research process such as e-mail,
written and oral presentation.
How will you obtain consent from participants? Will this be written? How will it be made clear to
participants that they may withdraw consent to participate at any time?
From obtaining consent from research participants, all information about the topic will be
provided to the participants that in form of written.
Studies involving questionnaires: will participants be given the option of omitting questions that
do not wish to answer?
Yes No
If no, please explain why below and ensure that you cover any ethical issues arising from this
Studies involving observation: Confirm whether participants will be asked for their informed
consent to be observed.
Yes No
Will you debrief participants at the end of their participation (i.e give them a brief explanation of
the study)?
Yes No
Will participants be given information about the findings of your study? (This could be a brief
summary of your findings in general)
Yes No
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Section 4: Data Storage and Security
Confirm that all personal data will be stored and processed in compliance with the Data
Protection Act (1998)
Yes No
Who will have access to the data and personal information?
During the research: Researcher
Where will the data be stored? In computer system
Will mobile devices such as USB storage and laptops be used
Yes No
If Yes, please provide further detail
ls:
After the research:
Where will the data be stored?
How long will the data and records be kept for and in what format?
Will data be kept for use by other researchers? Yes No
Section 5 : Ethical Issues
Are there any particular features of your proposed work, which may raise ethical concerns? If so,
please outline how you will deal with these:
It is important that you demonstrate your awareness of potential risks that may arise because of
your research. Please consider/address all issues that may apply. Ethical concerns may include,
but are not limited to the following:
 Informed consent.
 Potentially vulnerable participants.
 Sensitive topics
 Risk to participants and /or researchers
 Confidentiality/anonymity
 Disclosures/ limits to confidentiality
 Data storage and security, both during and after the research (including transfer, sharing,
encryption, protection).
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 Reporting
 Dissemination and use of your findings.
Section 6: Declaration
I have read, understood and will abide by the institution’s Research and Ethics Policy:
Yes No
I have discussed the ethical issues relating to my research with my Unit Tutor:
Yes No
I confirm that to the best of my knowledge:
The above information is correct, and this is a full description of the ethical issues that may
arise in the course of my research
Name: Date:
Please submit your completed form to your supervisor and also attach to the Research
Proposal when submitting to Turnitin.
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References
Books and Journals
Asemah, M.O., 2021. A Self-Affirmative Discourse on the Relationship between Employee
Motivation and Productivity. SAU JOURNAL OF MANAGEMENT AND SOCIAL
SCIENCES, 5(1), pp.98-110.
Babii, A., 2020. Important aspects of the experimental research methodology. Вісник
Тернопільського національного технічного університету, 97(1), pp.77-87.
Dashper, K., 2020. Mentoring for gender equality: Supporting female leaders in the hospitality
industry. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 88, p.102397.
Fidahic and et. al., 2020. Research methodology and characteristics of journal articles with
original data, preprint articles and registered clinical trial protocols about COVID-
19. BMC medical research methodology, 20(1), pp.1-9.
Hughey, M., 2020. Appendix B. Research Methodology. In White Bound (pp. 209-222).
Stanford University Press.
Musheshe, J.R., 2020. Employees Motivation on Organization Performance: A Case of Humuliza
Organisation in Muleba District (Doctoral dissertation, The Open University of
Tanzania).
Nayak, J.K. and Singh, P., 2021. Fundamentals of Research Methodology Problems and
Prospects. SSDN Publishers & Distributors.
Owan, V.J., Ekpe, M.B. and Bassey, B.A., 2020. Staff placement, retraining and motivation as
predictors of secondary educators’ affective, continuance and normative job
commitment: A path analytic study. Owan, VJ, Ekpe, MB, & Bassey, BA (2020). Staff
placement, retraining and motivation as predictors of secondary educators’ affective,
continuance and normative job commitment: A path analytic study. Journal of the
Social Sciences, 23(02), pp.551-563.
Pandey, P. and Pandey, M.M., 2021. Research Methodology Tools and Techniques.
Säfsten, K. and Gustavsson, M., 2020. Research methodology: for engineers and other problem-
solvers.
Sylqa, D., 2020. Motivation of people-theoretical models and practices.
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