Analyzing Staff Motivation Schemes and Employee Retention at M&S

This research proposal examines the impact of staff motivation schemes on employee retention, focusing on a case study of Marks & Spencer. The research investigates the benefits of such schemes, their impact on retention rates, and the challenges faced by managers in implementation. The proposal outlines research questions, objectives, and methodologies, including literature review, data collection through questionnaires, and a combination of qualitative and quantitative research approaches. The study aims to provide insights into effective motivation strategies and contribute to the understanding of employee engagement and retention within the retail sector, with a focus on Marks & Spencer. The proposal also details the research timeline, ethical considerations, and data storage protocols, ensuring a comprehensive and ethically sound investigation.

Research Proposal Form
Student Name: ______________________ Student ID: ____________
Centre Name: _____________________
Tutor: ________________ Date: ___________________
Unit: ____________________
Proposed Title: To analyse the Impact of staff motivation schemes to employee retention.
1

Section One: Background to Research Topic
The present research is performed to analyse the impact of motivation techniques on the
employee Retention in marks and Spencer.
Section Two: Background to Research Organisation
The research is performing the Retail industry Marks and Spencer is dealing in different
variety of goods and services and having a diversified product range.
Section Three: Research Rationale
The present research is based on analysing the way different staff motivation techniques that
can assist in the process of employee retention. It is going to assist in the process of enhancing
the future communication and researching skills. Apart from this it is going to enhance the
personal skill development process by managing the present investigation skills.
Section Four: Research Questions
 What are the benefits of staff motivation schemes for Marks and Spencer?
 What is the impact of staff motivation schemes to employee retention in Marks &
Spencer?
 What are the issues faced by managers & leaders in implementation of various staff
motivation schemes to employee retention in Marks & Spencer?
Section five: Research aim and Objectives
Research Aim
“To analyse the Impact of staff motivation schemes to employee retention”. A case study
of MARKS AND SPENCER.
Research Objectives:
 To determine the benefits of staff motivation schemes
 To examine impact of staff motivation schemes to employee retention in Marks &
Spencer.
 To identify the different issues faced by managers & leaders in implementation of
various staff motivation schemes to employee retention in Marks & Spencer.
.
2

Use of key literature sources to support your research question, objective or hypothesis:
What are the benefits of staff motivation schemes for Marks and Spencer?
As per views of Ian Silevra (2020), Motivation schemes are very helpful for organisations as it
helps in boosting the employee engagement and productivity in long run. Non-monetary
schemes are helping in promoting sustainable long-term motivation among employees.
Traditional awards schemes are also helping many retail sector organisations in offering higher
motivation to employees. When employees are offered with motivation in form of monetary
and non monetary techniques it helps in stabilizing a sense of achievement and belongingness
in Employees. It also assists in the process of creating a base that can ensure that it will assist
in the process of having a highly motivated workforce.
What is the impact of staff motivation schemes to employee retention in Marks &
Spencer?
As per view points of Marianne Calnan (2015), Marks and Spencer is using different types of
employee recognition programs for the purpose of managing the motivation level of the work
force. They have introduced aspects like charity volunteer days by offering employees
opportunity to register for the charity. Marks and Spencer is going beyond pension salaries and
health insurance by offering tangible incentives for signing up to be part of the team. They are
willing to keep their employees engaged by providing them something extra for the hard work.
The managers and leaders are always willing to acknowledge the loyalty of the employees and
remind them exactly what the organisation is willing to get from them. It is helping in
recognising the importance of interrelationship of organisation with the employees.
What are the issues faced by managers & leaders in implementation of various staff
motivation schemes to employee retention in Marks & Spencer?
As per view of Robert half (2021), there are some of the difficulties and challenges that are
faced by employers in the process of having effective retention strategies. Marks and Spencer
it includes inadequate benefits and salaries while employees are feeling overworked or
unsupported. There are also limited opportunities that are offered some times for career
advancement that affects the employee motivation. Apart from this when employees have
developed a mindset for having lack of recognition or no proper work life balance then it leads
3

to unhappiness with the management of Marks and Spencer. There is dissatisfaction with the
overall internal working environment in the organisation that also affects the motivation level
and the difficulty for the management of Marks and spender to implement various motivation
schemes in the organisation.
REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Motivation schemes can build long-term engagement, 2020[online], Available through<
https://employeebenefits.co.uk/issues/june-2013/motivation-schemes-can-build-long-term-
engagement/>
Marks and Spencer takes a mixed approach to staff motivation, 2015 [online], Available
through< https://employeebenefits.co.uk/issues/may-2015/marks-and-spencer-takes-a-mixed-
approach-to-staff-motivation/h>
14 Effective Employee Retention Strategies, 2020 [online], Available through<
https://www.roberthalf.com/blog/management-tips/effective-employee-retention-strategies>
Section Four: Activities and timescales
Activities to be carried out during the research project (e.g
research, development and analysis of ideas, writing, data
collection, numerical analysis, tutor meetings, production of final
outcome, evaluation, writing the report):
Aim and objectives
Literature review
Research methodology
Data collection
Data analysis
How long this will
take:
12 Days
15 days
20 days
25 days
30 days
4

Conclusion and recommendations
Submission of final report
8 days
3 days
Milestone one: ___Literature review ________
Target date (set by tutor): _____03-04-2021_______________
Milestone two: ___Research methodology____________________
Target date (set by tutor): ______24-04-2021________________
Gantt Chart
5

Section Six: Research 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 described as the approach that is related to the concept of describing
the different methods that are to be used by the researcher for the purpose of collecting the
information. Methodologies described as a function that is used for the purpose of collecting
and analysing exact information. In present research there will be use of onion framework so
that there can be support towards performance operations and functions as per methodology.
There are different types of research methodology as mentioned below:
Research strategy: Research strategy is analysed as the thought process and mindset of an
investigator that is connected to approach used by organisation. It includes surveys, action
6

research, case study and experiment. All these ideas are to be used by investigator for the
purpose of performing investigation.
Research choice: In context of present research there are two options that are available for
researcher. It includes quantitative and qualitative research that has to be applied. In present
research was there will be use of both qualitative and quantitative research methods.
Time horizon: It is one of the most important aspects that are associated with the available
time period in which tasks have to be accomplished. For this purpose there will be use of cross
sectional approach as it is going to help in completing the research in the available time
period.
Data collection: it can be described as the procedure that is used by investigator for the
purpose of analysing and meeting the requirements of investigation. In every research was
there are two types of methods that include secondary data collection method and primary data
collection method. In Present research there will be use of secondary method by using existing
online available sources in form of books and journal sources. Apart from this in case of
primary method thereof will be use of questionnaire for the purpose of collecting the required
information from the target segment of employees who are presently working in Marks and
Spencer.
Sampling: sampling is of basically two types that is probability and nonprobability sampling.
In present research report there will be use of simple random sampling for the purpose of
completing investigation as per specific requirements. For this purpose the sample size of 30
respondents will be selected who are presently working in Marks and Spencer.
Research instruments: There are various research instruments that includes observation
interview, Focus group and questionnaire. In present research report questionnaire will be
selected as a research instrument to collect the required information from respondents.
Research philosophy: It is a belief about the way in which information is collected by the
investigator. There are two types of research philosophies that include positivism and
interpretivism. Presentation report there will be use of interpretivism research philosophy.
Research Approach: Quantitative approach will be used by the researcher in investigation.
Ethical approval: It includes the ethical approval or ethical considerations that are to be done
in the course of a research work. It is going to help in completion of the research with proper
ethical considerations.
7

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
8

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 analyse the Impact of staff motivation schemes to employee retention”. A case
study of MARKS AND SPENCER.
Student name:
Student ID number:
Programme:
College Name:
Intended research start date: 24-03-2021
Intended research end date: 24-09-2021
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
Please answer the following questions, giving full details where necessary.
9

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)?
There are two types of approaches that include probability and nonprobability sampling.
In present is there will be use of probability sampling by the researcher.
Describe the processes you will use to inform participants about what you are doing:
There will be use of written form of communication to take the consent of all the
respondents.
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?
For the purpose of getting approval from the respondents it is necessary to cater effectively
in the form of using written form of communication.
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
Section 4: Data Storage and Security
Confirm that all personal data will be stored and processed in compliance with the Data
10

Protection Act (1998)
Yes No
Who will have access to the data and personal information? Researcher
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 details:
After the research:
Where will the data be stored? In soft copy
How long will the data and records be kept for and in what format?
For two years and In soft copy 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).
 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:
11

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.
12