Business Project: Analyzing Talent Management Strategies for M&S

This project analyzes the importance of talent management strategies for attracting and retaining employees, focusing on Marks and Spencer (M&S). The research aims to understand talent management concepts, identify methods, evaluate their importance, and provide recommendations. The project utilizes a qualitative research approach, including a literature review and thematic analysis of data collected from 30 M&S employees through questionnaires. The study explores themes such as the role of talent management in company strategy, effective talent management models, employee involvement, retention, challenges like company culture, and recommendations for improvement. The project includes a project plan, milestones, and a Gantt chart for task management. Findings highlight the significance of talent management in employee retention, motivation, and overall company success, with recommendations for addressing challenges and improving strategies.

SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS
PROJECT

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION......................................................................................................................4
Research Aims and Objectives...............................................................................................4
MAIN BODY.............................................................................................................................4
Project Planning.....................................................................................................................4
Step 2..........................................................................................................................................5
Literature Review...................................................................................................................5
Research Methodology...........................................................................................................6
Gant chart...............................................................................................................................8
Data collection.......................................................................................................................9
Theme: Talent management should be a part of company’s strategic................................10
Theme: Process model is the most effective talent management model..............................11
Theme: employee should be a part of talent management strategy.................................12
Theme: majority of respondents said that through talent management employees are
retained in the organisation..................................................................................................13
Theme: unappealing company culture is the challenge with TM strategy...........................14
Theme: majority of respondents feels that at all the stage of TM company should involve
employees.............................................................................................................................15
Theme: benefits of TM addressing well being for improving employee retention and
motivation............................................................................................................................17
Theme: recommendations for dealing with TM challenges.................................................17
Findings................................................................................................................................18
Recommendations................................................................................................................18
Reflection.............................................................................................................................18
Conclusion................................................................................................................................18
REFERENCES.........................................................................................................................19

INTRODUCTION
Research Aims and Objectives
Aims:
 To analyse the importance of talent management strategies in order to attract and
retain people. A study on Mark and Spenser (M&S) company.
Objectives:
 To understand the concept of talent management (TM) strategies.
 To identify different methods of talent management for M&S company.
 To evaluate the importance of TM strategies for M&S company to attract and retain
talented employees.
 To provide suitable recommendation to company regarding challenges they face while
dealing with talent management strategies.
MAIN BODY
Project Planning
Scope of Project
In this particular project all the work will be performed by the project team covering
the detail aspect of the talent management strategies and how such strategy provide great
success to company. To make this project successful, the qualitative research will be
conducted in order to collect the data from the company’s 30 employees through the mean of
questionnaire. The outcome of doing such research is that the importance and implication of
talent strategies are quite important in the M&S company. The constraint of the project is
that, the study will use only thematic analysis and not SPSS because of unavailability of
resources, limited time and money (Fashina, Abdilahi and Fakunle, 2020). Before starting
this project, the whole project team plan a statement of work in which different activities are
broken down between the team members. The project does will not collect any data and
information by pressurising and forcing any employees of the M&S company. The
information will be collected by taking sign of each employees on the consent form so that
the success criteria of the project is easily measurable. This project will also analyse the
impact of TM strategies over the performance and productivity of the company.
Milestone
The milestone of this project is that it covers the best research method in order to
collect and analyse the view points of the employees regarding the TM strategies. In order to

achieve the objective of the project, the research team make sure that whatever the data they
are collecting are reliable and valid for the outcome and conclusion of the project. As
qualitative research helps the team member in understanding the attitude of each employees
while conducting the survey and also help in crating the human experience (Leep Hunderfund
and et.al., 2017). The project will also cover the data from the company’s past documents for
collection the information from secondary sources. While collecting this, the research team
make sure that all the documents have publicly available. The research considers only
published articles and documents which is one of the milestone activities of the project. The
initiation, planning and execution of the project do not cover much money and along with
that it provides the insights which is specific to an retail industry.
Initiation, Planning and Execution
At the initial stage, the project will decide the theme on which the whole research will
be taken place by the research team member. The different activities will involve in the
project in order to analyse the outcome of the importance of talent strategies for the success
of the M&S company. For this, first the project will establish the aims and objectives based
on the theme of the project. After that the Literature review will be cover in the project for
critical evaluation of the importance and impact of TM strategies in the M&S with the help of
comparison with Tesco. The project will prepare a gang chart specifying the breakdown of
the activities on the timely basis (Yehorchenkova, Teslia and Yehorchenkov, 2020). In the
planning phase, the project will decide the qualitative approach for the collection of data and
information because of limitation of resources in quantitative research. The project will also
plan the research method and decide the type, approach and philosophy of the research
project. 3At the stage of execution, the project will execute the research methodology which
includes the survey of the selected employees of the company in the form of questionnaire.
The project will also include the activity which includes the analysis of data collected earlier.
At last, the project will show the outcome of the research and also conclude and recommend
the best strategy to the company for attracting and retaining talented employees.
Step 2
Literature Review
According to the views of Lin and Peng (2018), with the help of the talent management
strategies Tesco company is able to retain its existing talented employees and also able to
attract the new talented employees from both home and foreign country. Tesco with the right
TM strategy is also able to incorporate a large internet-based retailer all over the world. As

nowadays most of the company’s are facing lots of challenge while predicting the uncertain
environmental changes impact over the business, Tesco talent management easily predict the
change impact with the help of proactive and reactive data. As stated by Patrick (2019),
benchmarking is the best way for the companies having same industry in order to make
changes in their own strategies while analysing competitor’s strategies. So, implication of
talent strategies in the M&S company help them not only in attracting and retaining people
but also help in improving business productivity and profitability. This also help the M&S in
forming large internet-based retailer business as it helps the Tesco. With this, the TM can
provide the fresh talent human resources to the company in order to deal with the new
technological challenge on the timely basis.
However, the Hughes (2018), stated that the implementation of the talent management
strategies might create conflicts among the HR and management at the time when they are
unable to complete the tasks as per the management expectations. Sometimes lack of support
from the TM de-motivates the employees and reduces their level of commitment and
confidence. As the incorporation of such program is also expensive for the company in the
term of time, resources and cost. So, it become important for the M&S to analyse its financial
position before implementation of TM strategies and it is also crucial that the TM are well-
qualified and have knowledge how to deal with employee’s emotions.
Research Methodology
Research Methodology is a complete structure of the report. This involves different
aspects associated with the study that needed to consider while undertaking the study in the
most precise manner. This further includes research type, research approach, sampling, data
collection, data analysis, research limitation and ethical consideration section.
Research Type
Research is off two different types one is qualitative and the other one is quantitative.
Qualitative study is about the theoretical models, theories and information in the same
structure and format (Humaid, 2018). Qualitativestudy always reflects the qualitative aspect
of the study. This type of research study further consume statistics and information in graph
like format but along with that it also involve theories and models to study so that overall
objectives of research study could have been utilised. Quantitative type of study on the other
had is all about statistical format and information to achieve overall objectives behind the
study. This study has consumed the qualitative type of study to deliver the final objectives
behind the study.
Research Approach

Research approach denotes the approaches used to deliver the entire study.
Approaches are further segregated into inductive, deductive and abductive. Inductive
approach i about to utilise the theories and knowledge and achieve the research objectives
(YENER, Gurbuz and Pinar, 2017). Deductive study is all about identifying new aspects of
study on the basis of the needs and requirements of study. Abductive approach is more like a
combination of both inductive and deductive. This study has consumed inductive approach to
achieve the overall objectives behind the entire study.
Sampling
Sampling is all about identifying different sources to achieve the overall research
objectives. When it comes to primary data collection technique sources are identified that can
provide the best level of information. In such a process sampling is a method that used to
identify about different sources that can cater the best level of information under the primary
study. This study has utilised simple random sampling technique to reach at the overall
objectives behind the study.
Data Collection
Data collection is conducted with support of methods like primary and secondary.
Primary method of data collection is about to put the individual effort as a scholar. Secondary
data collection method is about to consume the existing sources of information such as
literature review, books, journals, internet, already established research studios and such
other methods and techniques to collect information under secondary research. In order to
conduct this entire project both the methods primary and secondary has been used to collect
the best level of information (Ekhsan and et.al., 2021). Primary technique will involve
questionnaire method that will further consume 30 employees of Marks and Spencer
Company to provide the views and opinions for reaching at the overall research objectives. In
context to the secondary study literature review will done to reach at the overall research
objectives.
Data Analysis
Data analysis is a technique involves analysing and interpreting the information based
on the need and requirements of the research study. This is a section where all the
information collected are analysed and interpreted to reach at the overall aim and objectives
set behind the research study.
Research Limitation
This whole research has been conducted by the scholar itself so there are plenty of
limitations were attached with this study. Resources like financial resource are limited in

behind this whole study. Financial resources are limited that could not allow the researcher to
approach all potential sources in search of collecting the best level of primary and secondary
information (Sharma and Rathore, 2020). Time in this study was also limited in number that
could further restrict the researcher to achieve the overall objectives set behind the whole
study. Experience is also limited of scholar that could not allow the researcher to reach at the
final objectives in the best way possible.
Ethical consideration
All principles of ethical consideration has been fulfilled in order to achieve the overall
aim and objectives se behind this study. All participant involve in data collection did not
threatened in any way possible for manipulating the whole information. Research has also
signed the consent form from all participant involve in data collection stage so that no further
complications could be arise as a scholar.
Gant chart
Task
Mode Task Name Duration Start Finish Predecessors
Auto
Schedule
d
selecting the topic and framing
aim and objective 4 days Mon
5/24/21
Thu
5/27/21
Auto
Schedule
d
making project management plan 6 days Fri 5/28/21 Fri 6/4/21 1
Auto
Schedule
d
review of differnet literature 8 days Mon
6/7/21
Wed
6/16/21 2
Auto
Schedule
d
listing out methods of research 10 days Thu
6/17/21
Wed
6/30/21 3
Auto
Schedule
d
framing of the questionnaire 5 days Thu 7/1/21 Wed
7/7/21 4
Auto
Schedule
d
providing questionnaire to
respondent 6 days Thu 7/8/21 Thu
7/15/21 3,5
Auto
Schedule
d
collecting the data 10 days Fri 7/16/21 Thu
7/29/21 6
Auto
Schedule
d
interpreting the collected data 15 days Fri 7/30/21 Thu
8/19/21 7
Auto
Schedule
d
concluding and recommending 4 days Fri 8/20/21 Wed
8/25/21 8

Auto
Schedule
d
doing formatting 5 days Thu
8/26/21
Wed
9/1/21 9
Auto
Schedule
d
feedback 6 days Thu 9/2/21 Thu 9/9/21 10
Auto
Schedule
d
making changes as per given
feedback 3 days Fri 9/10/21 Tue
9/14/21 11
Auto
Schedule
d
submitting final research 1 day Wed
9/15/21
Wed
9/15/21 12
Data collection
Q.1) Do you feel talent management should be a part of company’s strategic choice?
 Yes
 No
Q.2) What according to you is the best talent management strategic choice model company should

use?
 5 B talent management model
 Process model
 Integrated talent management model
Q.3) Do you feel employees must be a part of talent management strategic process?
 Strongly agree
 Agree
 Neutral
 Disagree
 Strongly disagree
Q.4) What according to you is the key advantage associated with the talent management model?
 It improve the performance of employee
 It enhance the company’s productivity
 It allow the organisation to retain employees
 It improve growth of company
Q.5) What is the major challenge associated with the talent management strategy?
 Tightening talent market
 Unappealing company culture
 Lack of leadership
 Increased employee turnover
Q.6) At what stage of talent management process company can involve its work force?
 Planning stage
 Strategic development stage
 Implementation stage
 All the above
Q.7) Do you feel talent management allow company to take competitive advantage in respective
market?
 Yes
 No
Q. 8) What according to you is the advantage of talent management in terms of wellbeing for
improving employee retention?
Q.9) What according to you is the recommendations you would give to company for dealing against
the talent management related challenges?

Theme: Talent management should be a part of company’s strategic
Q.1) Do you feel talent management should be a part of company’s strategic choice?
Yes 25
No 5
83%
17%
Yes
No
Interpretation:
The above mentioned graph clearly state that 83% of the total respondent participated
in the interview round reflect that company should emphasis over talent management.
Remaining 17% of the respondent participated in the interview process indicate that company
should not consider the role of talent management strategies at the organisation level. On the
basis of the above mentioned information project that company should emphasis over the
talent management like practices to achieve the overall growth and objectives behind the
business objectives associated with the business objectives (Sharma, Rana and Agarwal,
2020).
Theme: Process model is the most effective talent management model
Q.2) What according to you is the best talent management strategic choice model company should
use?
5 B talent management model 9
Process model 15
Integrated talent management model 6

5 B talent management
model Process model Integrated talent
management model
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
45%
50%
30%
50%
20%
Series1
Interpretation:
The above mentioned graph clearly reflect that 50% of the respondent state that
process management strategy is among the most efficient strategic choice company hold in
order to achieve the best level of work efficiency. 30% employee feels that 5 B talent
management model as the best model to deliver the talent management model. 20% of the
respondent state that integrated talent management model as the best effective technique to
achieve best level of effectiveness in context to the talent management strategic choice
(Kalra, 2018).
Theme: employee should be a part of talent management strategy
Q.3) Do you feel employees must be a part of talent management strategic process?
Strongly agree 12
Agree 8
Neutral 2
Disagree 5
Strongly disagree 3

Strongly
agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly
disagree
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
40%
27%
7%
17%
10%
Series1
Interpretation:
Above projected graph clearly reflect that 40% employee believes that the human
resources associated with the business entity should be a part of the talent management
functions associated with the business entity. 27% agreed to this fact that employee must be a
part of this operation. 17% disagreed over employee involvement under the talent
management operation. 10% strongly disagree to this area of practice. Remaining 7% had no
opinion over the respective area. On the basis of the views stated by the majority of
respondent it can clearly state that employee should be a part of the talent management
functions operate by the organisation (Son and et.al., 2020). This will allow the organisation
and management to cope up with all different requirements associated with the employees at
work place. Talent management i the most prominent functionaldirection which allow the
entity to reach the overall objectives behind the operations entertained by the organisation.
Theme: majority of respondents said that through talent management employees are retained
in the organisation.
Q. 4.What according to you is the key advantage associated with the talent management model?
It improve the performance of
employee
2
It enhance the company’s productivity 3
It allow the organisation to retain
employees
20
It improve growth of company 5

It improve the performance of employee
It enhance the company’s productivity
It allow the organisation to retain
employees
It improve growth of company
0
4
8
12
16
20
2
3
20
5
Series1
Interpretation:
As per the above diagram 20 respondents said that the benefit of talent management is
retaining the employees at the workplace. Every company want to retain top performer in the
organisation so that they can achieve its objectives.
Theme: unappealing company culture is the challenge with TM strategy.
Q.5) What is the major challenge associated with the talent management strategy?
Tightening talent market 5
Unappealing company culture 15
Lack of leadership 5
Increased employee turnover 5

5
15
5
5
Tightening talent market
Unappealing company
culture
Lack of leadership
Increased employee
turnover
Interpretation:
Out of 30respondents 15 feels that the major challenge for talent management strategy is the
culture of company if it will unappealing then TM cannot be applied effectively. 5 feels that
challenge is lack of leadership while 5 feels that it is increased turnover and tightening talent
market.
Theme: majority of respondents feels that at all the stage of TM company should involve
employees.
Q.6) At what stage of talent management process company can involve its work force?
Planning stage 3
Strategic development stage 2
Implementation stage 5
All the above 20

Planning stage
Strategic development stage
Implementation stage
All the above
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
3
2
5
20
Series1
Interpretation:
From the above picture it can be observed that out of 30 respondents 20 feels that at every
stage of TM, organisation should include their employees while 5 said that at planning stage
only employees should be involved, other 5 feels that at strategic development they should be
involved and 5 said that at implementation stage they should involve.
Theme: Yes talent management help company in taking competitive advantages.
Q.7) Do you feel talent management allow company to take competitive advantage in respective
market?
yes 25
no 5

yes no
0
5
10
15
20
25
25
5
Series1
Interpretation:
As per the graph it can be observed that 25 participantsfeels that TM helps company in terms
of competitive advantage. 5 said that they did not feel like that.
Theme: benefits of TM addressing well being for improving employee retention and
motivation.
Interpretation:
Talent management helps the organisation in retaining top performer and alsohelpful in
recruiting those candidates who have needed skills and knowledge. Under TM Strategy
Company provide rewards to the employees which motivates them to work hard and achieve
company’s objectives. When motivation increases in the employees then it also helps in
enhancing their productivity. When employees are happy with their company then they do
not leave the company and that will help company in decreasing employee turnover rate.
Theme: recommendations for dealing with TM challenges
Interpretation:
Company should maintain effective communication with their employees. They should give
employee opportunity to share their view and ideas. Employees should also allow to discuss
their issues so that they feel motivated and does not leave the company. Leaders should
delegate responsibilities according to the knowledge of the employees. This will increase
their focus because they feel that company is valuing them. Leaders should also manage

conflicts, conflicts are very bad for company and if it pertains for longer time then can
produce negative impact.
Findings
Research is based on talent management, study has given scope and milestone related
to research. As due to lack of time and money research tools like SPSS is not used but to
mitigate this problem thematic perception test technique is used so that topic can be identified
effectively. Primary and secondary both research are conducted. Secondary research is
conducted through literature review. Talent management is essential for every organisation
nowadays as it helps company to survive for longer period in the market. It also helps in
taking competitive advantage by retaining high performer employees in the organisation.
through questionnaire primary research is conducted and in that survey is done on 30
employees of the company and asked them question related to TM. Employees also feels that
TM is important and their company is also adopted TM strategy.
Recommendations
Company should have given such advertisement which can attract talented employees
towards the organisation. They can also add more interview tests so that candidate can be
evaluated properly. Start investing in employees by providing them necessary training.
Reflection
By doing this research I learnt that how research is undertaken. I have also learnt that
how time and money is allotted to very activity. Previously I do not know that how important
is to allot time and money to every activity in order to complete research on time and
research will also not go out of budget.Earlier I wasnot aware of the talent management and
its significance. Now via research I understood that TM is important for business because it
helps in retain and recruit top performer employees in the company. I also learnt that how
survey is conducted and how questionnaire is formed. I made questions related to TM and
realised that the investigation has built research skills into me.
Conclusion
Through this report it can be concluded that talent management is vital in every
organisation if it is followed properly then company can achieve its objective and increase
their market share. Report has discussed project management plan, scope and milestones.
Further it has also conducted primary and secondary research and provided findings,
recommendations and reflection.

REFERENCES
Books and journals
Ekhsan, M. and et.al., 2021. Exploring the Relationship Between Employer Branding and
Talent Management to Employee Retention: Literature Review.
Fashina, A. A., Abdilahi, S. M. and Fakunle, F. F., 2020. Examining the challenges
associated with the implementation of project scope management in
telecommunication projects in Somaliland. PM World Journal, IX, pp.1-16.
Hughes, C., 2018. The role of HRD in using diversity intelligence to enhance leadership skill
development and talent management strategy. Advances in Developing Human
Resources, 20(3), pp.259-262.
Humaid, H., 2018. Talent Management and Organizational Performance: The Mediating Role
of Employee Engagement-A Case Study Bank of Palestine in the Gaza Strip
‘. Unpublished Master Thesis), Faculty of Commerce, The Islamic University–Gaza.
Kalra, A., 2018. » Influence of Talent Management Practices on Commitment of Non-critical
Employees in IT Companies in Chennai «. International Journal of Business
Administration and Management Research. 4(1). pp.1-5.
Leep Hunderfund, A. N. and et.al., 2017. Ways to write a milestone: approaches to
operationalizing the development of competence in graduate medical
education. Academic Medicine, 92(9), pp.1328-1334.
Lin, C. and Peng, J., 2018. Analysis and Solution of the Problems in the Distribution of
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Patrick, M., 2019. Talent Management A focus on excelence.
Sharma, M. and Rathore, B. S., 2020. RESEARCH PAPER ON EXPLORING TALENT
MANAGEMENT PRACTICES: ANTECEDENTS AND
CONSEQUENCES. International Journal of Management (IJM). 11(12).
Sharma, R., Rana, G. and Agarwal, S., 2020. Correlates of Talent Management: An Empirical
Analysis. Annals of Computer Science and Information Systems. 24. pp.109-113.
Son, J. and et.al., 2020. Double-edged effect of talent management on organizational
performance: the moderating role of HRM investments. The international journal of
human resource management. 31(17). pp.2188-2216.
Yehorchenkova, N., Teslia, I. and Yehorchenkov, O., 2020. Method of Project and
Operational Processes Integration in the Activities of Project-Oriented Enterprises
Based on Functional 4Р-Environment. In ITPM (pp. 142-151).
YENER, M. İ., Gurbuz, F. G. and Pinar, A. C. A. R., 2017. Development and validation of a
talent management measurement instrument. Journal of Business Economics and
Finance. 6(3). pp.233-245.